Pia Wurtzback tells fans: My journey has just begun

MANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe Pia Wurtzback capped her grand homecoming parade on Monday, by thanking the Filipino public for their support, for their cheers and online votes that boosted her campaign to snag the title that eluded the country’s beauties for four decades.

Wurtzback acknowledged the public support by calling her crown, “our crown.”

“My goal was to bring back the crown. I said ‘we’ because this is not my crown but Our crown. This is for you. Mabuhay kayo. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. Mahal ko ang Pilipinas (Long live you all.  Long live the Philippines. I love the Philippines,” Wurtzback said.

The 2016’s Miss Universe’s float arrived at the Araneta Center in Cubao at around 6:30 p.m. Addressing the crowd in front of the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Wurtzbach said her experiencing the public’s support and affection face to face has been overwhelming.

“Grabe, I’m so overwhelmed.  Nararamdaman ko na ngayon na nandito  na ako sa Pilipinas. Sana maging inspirasyon sa inyong lahat ang storya ko, kung paano ako nanalo sa Miss Universe, (This is great, I’m so overwhelmed.  I can really feel it now that I’m in the Philippines. I hope my story becomes an inspiration to all of you — how I won in the Miss Universe pageant),” Wurtzbach said.

She told the crowd that her journey has just started and called on Filipinos to keep on supporting her.  “Please continue to support me and my journey. Follow me on social media,” the candid beauty queen said.

She thanked her supporters and Stella Marquez Araneta, the head of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, for giving her a memorable homecoming parade. She also thanked “every person who cheered and voted for me (online). You all are an instrument” she added.

People then shouted in response, “Pia for president!” “We love you,Pia!”

A 10-minute fireworks display ended the parade and event around 8 p.m. SFM