Hontiveros on Senate bid: Like Pia Wurtzbach, maybe 3rd time’s a charm

Former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) director Risa Hontiveros is taking a page off the playbook of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as she strives for her third bid for a Senate seat.

In a press forum on Monday, Hontiveros said that she will emulate the winning attitude of the Miss Universe to hopefully become one of the country’s senators.

“Noong pinanood kong manalo si Pia Wurtzbach, sabi ko ‘uso yung hindi sumusuko.’ Sabi ko talaga, ‘Malay natin, tulad ni Pia Wurtzbach, the third time’s the charm.’ For me, she proved there are really things worth fighting for and worth waiting for,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros first ran for a Senate seat in 2010 where she finished 13th overall. She ran again in 2013 where she placed 17th overall.

Now, the former Akbayan representative is currently in the “magic circle” based on preference surveys, placing between the 10th to 14th places.

On the other hand, Wurtzbach’s third try for a Miss Universe Philippines crown paid off as she ended the country’s 42-year drought for a Miss Universe crown.

On her strategy to secure her place in the winning circle, the administration senatorial candidate said that she will campaign harder to get her message of universal healthcare across to voters.

“Ito po talaga ay kinasasaya ko and at the same time, it’s always a wake up call to just keep working hard. Ang attitude ko, ay kayod kalabaw hanggang sa huling araw ng kampanya,” Hontiveros said.

She said that her desire to give accessible healthcare to Filipinos is the one that keeps her going.

“On my part, maybe working in the Senate for universal healthcare is worth fighting and waiting for,” she said.