Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding the “halfies” remark made by male pageant titleholder Brandon Espiritu, emphasizing that genuine love for the Philippines is more important than background when representing the country in pageantry.
In a post shared via her Instagram broadcast channel on Thursday, June 11, Gray highlighted the diversity of Filipinos and their contributions across different fields.
“Ang daming iba’t ibang klaseng Pinoy — mula sa iba’t ibang probinsya, halfsies, hanggang 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation Filipinos — who are making an incredible impact in their industries and positively contributing to our nation,” she said, adding that such individuals are more deserving of platforms that recognize excellence.
Gray also called for greater inclusivity in selecting representatives in pageantry and other public platforms, stressing that commitment to the country should be reflected in consistent actions and values rather than labels.
“Let’s give a platform (pageantry or otherwise) to people who truly deserve it… those whose pagmamahal sa bayan is more than just lip service, but is reflected in their consistent actions, character, and values,” she added.
Espiritu earlier drew criticism online after saying that the Philippines would not be competitive in pageantry without “halfies” like him. He was also criticized alongside fellow pageant titleholder Jether Palomo, who stated that his allegiance lies with the United States.
Following the remarks, several beauty queens and male pageant figures also expressed disagreement, including Gazini Ganados, Emma Tiglao, Stacey Gabriel, Winwyn Marquez, Kirk Bondad, Enzo Bonoan, and Oliver Eugen Kretz, many of whom expressed pride in Filipino identity and called out Espiritu’s statement.
