Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach was conferred the congressional medal of distinction at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The presence of Wurtzbach, arriving at a tightly packed plenary hall, resulted in a declaration of a quorum, with 173 members responding to the call shortly after she left the plenary.
“Now therefore resolved by the House of Representatives to confer the congressional medal of distinction to Miss Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach for being crowned Miss Universe 2015,” the House secretary-general Marilyn Barua-Yap read as Wurtzbach headed for the podium.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. conferred the congressional medal to Wurtzbach, who was joined by her mother Cheryl Alonzo Tyndall.
Wurtzbach now joins the roster of personalities given the medal, next to boxing champion now Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
In her short statement at the Speaker’s Hall, Wurtzbach urged members of the House to craft laws with the people in their minds and hearts.
“I’m very happy to be with you, ang gumagawa ng mga batas na ikaaunlad ng bansa,” Wurtzbach told a tightly packed audience.
“On that note, pareho tayo ng inspiration—ang Pilipinas,” she said.
“Let’s continue to keep working confidently beautiful with a heart for the people,” she told the congressmen, using her now famous response in the pageant’s question and answer portion.