The 59th Miss International 2019 held its coronation night on November 12 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall.
One of the highlights of the prestigious event was Miss International PH 2019 Patch Magtanong’s speech to the question, “Why should women live in fear of harassment, violence and discrimination when basic human decency calls for respect, tolerance and compassion?”:
I will just leave this here.
My Miss International Queen ?#PA7CH #MissInternational2019 pic.twitter.com/Ze9fgesAwp
— ᴅᴏʀᴇᴇɴ (@doreenlicosss) November 12, 2019
“When I was younger, I found it strange that I was subjected to different standards as other boys my age. When I got older and even more so when I became a lawyer, I began to question these standards and challenge them. Why should women live in fear of harassment, violence, and discrimination when basic human decency calls for respect, tolerance, and compassion? To cheer all women means to support all women regardless of race, religion, or background. But not only this. It also means to remove the barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential. Miss International does this by fostering a global culture of women empowerment and gender equality, and through this platform, we can ensure that no woman anytime, anywhere is left behind.”
But as much as Pinoy netizens were rooting for Lawyer & Model Patch Magtanong to snatch the 7th Miss International crown of the country (the last was Kylie Versoza in 2016), she fell short, placing Top 8.
Thailand’s Sireethorn Leearamwat was reigned Miss International 2019.
So the internet, being passionate as ever, took to Twitter to express their heartache over the results:
#PA7CH deserves atleast runner up #MissInternational2019 ?? pic.twitter.com/fweBaIv4V8
— Sperm Whale ? (@JhanBaybay) November 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/marchpls/status/1194171513257095168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1194171513257095168&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosmo.ph%2Fentertainment%2Fnetizens-twitter-patch-magtanong-miss-international-2019-a1031-20191112
Congrats to Miss Thailand, but what's upsetting is that Miss Philippines deserves the title or a place in the top 5 when she had the best answer out of all these girls. Miss Philippines and Miss Indonesia are totally robbed. #MissInternational2019 #PA7CH https://t.co/0frjhsdU6N
— markybaby (@markcorales_) November 12, 2019
While majority remained supportive:
Patch Magtanong may not bag the title as Miss International 2019 or even a runner up but maybe she is meant for Miss Universe. Continue to Raise the Flag, Atty. ???#MissInternational2019 pic.twitter.com/UbbmlNhEtX
— sha (@biyayahh) November 12, 2019
Patch Magtanong gave us the answer that we all need not only for women but for the equality of all. An answer that has substance, intelligence, and authenticity but MI discounted that for no possible reason. Still Congrats Atty. Patch! We r so proud of u! #MissInternational2019
— Gigi (@iambvlgary) November 12, 2019
Gracefully accepting defeat. Im such a fan Atty. Patch Magtanong! Philippines! ???#MissInternational2019 pic.twitter.com/tGQ3osYjMq
— Gerald (@radhernandez) November 12, 2019
Queen Patch later on went to Instagram to share her thoughts about the 3-week training for the Miss International 2019, stating that she was expecting it to be emotionally draining then eventually proving herself wrong — revealing that it was the “most amazing cultural experience” of her life.
She also posted congratulatory comments on Miss International 2019 Sireethorn Leearamwat’s Instagram post.
We love women who support women!
Robbed of the crown or not, no woman is left behind. You’re still our Atty./Queen Patch! #PA7CH ??