Miss Int’l Bea Rose Santiago gets warm welcome in Bicol homecoming

Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay—Hundreds of fans warmly welcomed on Tuesday newly crowned Miss International Bea Rose Santiago, a Bicolana from Masbate, as she stepped down a commercial plane and walked down the terminal ramp at the Legazpi domestic airport.

Santiago, in her first trip to the province after winning the international title, was accompanied by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda on board a Cebu Pacific plane that arrived here at 8:45 a.m.

Department of Tourism officials, along with  Albay provincial and Legazpi City officials, met the international titlist, who was scheduled to visit  in the afternoon an evacuation shelter for hundreds of victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda  from Eastern Visayas who were adopted by Albay province.

Wearing a maroon sleeveless blouse and slacks, and a native necklace, Santiago was elated by the warm welcome. She sported a big a smile and thanked the hundreds of residents who carried streamers in greeting the Bicolana beauty queen.

“Sobrang pasasalamat ko sa inyo for the warm welcome na binigay sa akin,” (I am deeply grateful to all of you for the warm welcome you gave me) she said.

Asked if she could still speak in Bicol, she snappily answered “Yes” and  jokingly said “Basta Bikolana – magayon (As long as Bicolana—beautiful).”

Santiago joined a motorcade through the main streets of this city and neighboring town of Daraga.

She was to hold a luncheon press conference at the Oriental Hotel Legazpi and also visit the children’s ward at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital here.