“I think any sort of positive news to us would be very welcome at this point, and we extend our congratulations to Ms. Arida and to the Filipino Flash for excelling in their particular fields—si Ms. Arida, syempre, doon sa Miss Universe pageant; si Nonito Donaire doon sa kanyang laban,” Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview aired over state-run dzRB.
Donaire scored a come-from-behind ninth round knockout win, Sunday at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas; while Miss Philippines-Universe Ariella Arida was 3rd runner-up in the Miss Universe 2013 pageant held in Moscow, Russia, early Sunday Morning (Manila).
“We appreciate the efforts to bring a little bit of a smile to the faces of countrymen who are going through so much in the aftermath of the typhoon,” Valte added.
Valte also expressed optimism that the victims will overcome the tragedy and damage brought about by the super typhoon.
“We have no doubt that our citizens will get up and rise again. There is no doubt to that. We have seen that in the past, that no matter how heavy the calamity, we have always managed to pick ourselves up and to get back to our normal lives—kung ano ho man ‘yung normal pa sa atin. At katulad nga po ng sinabi ng Pangulo bago ho tumama itong bagyong ito, hindi ho nito mapapaluhod ang Pilipino,” she said. — Paticia Denise Chiu /LBG, GMA News
