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Senate OKs resolution commending Venus Raj


The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution congratulating and commending Miss Philippines Venus Raj for being crowned fourth runner-up in the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. In sponsoring Senate Resolution No. 140, Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid said Raj showed the world the "spirit of Filipino beauty, excellence, and grace" when she placed fourth runner-up among 83 contestants from around the world. "This honor brought by our Filipino beauty queen deserves to be commended for the pride and recognition she brought our country," Lapid said in his resolution. At the House of Representatives, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Ako Bicol party-list representatives also filed a resolution commending Raj. In House Resolution 287, Pacquiao and Representatives Alfredo Garbon, Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe noted that Raj’s poverty did not prevent her from reaching her dream and winning numerous beauty titles. Raj spent her childhood and teenage years in Bato, Camarines Sur. She competed and won in various local beauty pageants including Miss Bicolandia in 2007. "Her efforts and hard work eventually paid off when she won fourth runner up in the Miss Universe pageant amidst several issues that surrounded her and the country…She has made her fellow Bicolanos proud by persisting for the title that she deserved," the House resolution read. Raj was almost replaced by Bb. Pilipinas runner-up Helen Nicolette Henson after being stripped of her crown and title when organizers of the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe pageant found "inconsistencies" on her birth certificate. Raj was reinstated when she obtained a valid Philippine passport from the Department of Foreign Affairs, as required by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.. The Miss Universe 2010 winners were announced after one final strut across the stage in the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete was crowned Miss Universe 2010; Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps was first runner-up; Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell was second runner-up; and Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska was third runner-up. The contest, co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC, was judged by celebrities including 2010 Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek and actress Jane Seymour. It was hosted by Natalie Morales and Bret Michaels. — Kimberly Tan and Amita Legaspi/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV

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