Palace congratulates Miss World runner-up Gwendoline Ruais

Malacañang congratulated Miss Philippines-World Gwendoline Ruais who was named first-runner up in the 2011 Miss World Pageant in London, United Kingdom on Monday. In a press statement, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda noted that Ruais tied for the highest finish for the Philippines in the Miss World pageant. Evangeline Pascual was also first runner-up in 1973. The Philippines has yet to win the title. In a telephone interview aired on GMA News TV's "News To Go" on Monday, Ruais said she was nervous but she chose to do her best for her country. "Syempre po, I'm competing against 112 gorgeous girls from all around the world, so mahirap po 'yan. Pero, 'yan lang, nag-focus ako sa sarili ko. Hindi ko po iniisip 'yung ibang kandidata. Ako lang po and 'yung buong country ko po, 'yung Pilipinas," Ruais said. "You never know what will happen, so hindi ko talaga iniisip kung anong mangyayari. Inisip ko lang na I should do my best talaga to make the Philippines proud. 'Yun lang po ang nasa isip ko," she said. Ruais said she hopes she has made her country proud. "Sana lahat po kayo proud sa akin. Ginawa ko talaga 'yung best ko para sa buong Pilipinas. Sana happy po kayo," she said. Miss World 2011 Ivian Sarcos, 21, human resources graduate from Venezuela, who grew up an orphan and spent five years in an orphanage, was crowned Miss World 2011 on Sunday (Monday in Manila). The Miss World Finals was held in London, where the first Miss World pageant was staged in 1951. Miss World is considered a British Commonwealth rival to the US-organized Miss Universe pageant. Shamcey Supsup was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in July. - VVP, GMA News