Miss International’s Nanny Speech

Status: Probably a hoax
imageLast month Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss Philippines, was crowned as the 2005 Miss International. An email now going around relates a story about her answer to a question asked during the final round:

Precious Lara Quigaman, the Miss Philippines who took home the 2005 Miss International crown, was asked during the final round the following question:
What do you say to the people of the world who have typecasted filipinos as nannies?
Precious Lara replied, “I take no offense on being typecasted as a nanny. But i do take offense that the educated people of the world have somehow denegrated the true sense and meaning of what a nanny is.”
Quigaman further elaborated: “Let me tell you what she is. She is someone who gives more than she takes. She is someone you trust to look after the very people most precious to you - your child, the elderly, yourself. She is the one who has made a living out of caring and loving other people.”
In closing, Precious ended her nanny speech with, “So to those who have typecasted us as nannies, thank you. It is a testament to the loving and caring culture of the Filipino people. And for that, I am forever proud and grateful of my roots and culture.”
That’s a winning answer, ladies and gentlemen!


I've been unable to find any source to confirm that this question was indeed asked to Quigaman during the final round. But it seems like it would have been a very odd question to ask. And according to Crispina Belen of the Manila Bulletin, there were no questions of this sort asked during the pageant:

There was no Question & Answer portion at the 45th Miss International beauty pageant in Tokyo but the finalists were asked to write an essay about their advocacies and plans to help the less fortunate. Precious Lara concerns the streetchildren. She has said in the past that she would like to be a missionary doctor to be able to help the poor and the needy.

And a post on Filipino.ca states that:

That wasn't Quigaman's winning answer. Miss International traditionally doesn't have a final question. The finalists each do a speech about what their cause is and what they would do if they were Miss International. Her speech was about helping children and their need for education.

So it would seem that the email is a hoax. Personally, I had never realized that Filipinos were typecast as nannies. I thought it would be the British, if anyone, who would be typecast in that way.

Email Hoaxes

Posted on Wed Oct 19, 2005



Comments

Yeah, those British nannies really know how to shake it!
Posted by Craig  on  Wed Oct 19, 2005  at  10:51 AM
Filipinas have an international reputation as nannies and maids, particularly in the rest of Asia and the Middle East, where they predominate in that field. The Philippines export labor to the world.
Posted by Charles Haberl  on  Wed Oct 19, 2005  at  12:08 PM
I've got to say that being typecast as nannies would be vastly preferable to being typecast as beauty pageant contestants.
Posted by Big Gary in Dallas  on  Wed Oct 19, 2005  at  04:37 PM
amen big gary!!
Posted by thephrog  on  Thu Oct 20, 2005  at  02:28 AM
yes, we were taken in for that answer. it raised up our spirits especially during these times of crises in our country. but as one commentator said, should that question be really asked of precious lara, she would be able to answer in approximately the same way. after all, her mom is an OFW in london. i'm not sure though if she's a nanny. :lol:
Posted by noel  on  Sun Oct 30, 2005  at  05:30 PM
Everytime I travel to London, some parochial white man would eventually ask me if I am a nurse (as opposed to a domestic help some years back) just because I hold a Philippine passport. Never mind that I am flying business and he is on coach!

British as nannies... with the strength of the pounds right now, how many in the world can actually afford a British nanny???

Though the crass newly-rich of America should really consider that as an investment for the sake of their children.... a bit of culture is what they need.

See what happens when we feed off cultural stereotypes?
Posted by Mariel  on  Sat Nov 19, 2005  at  04:20 AM
Lara's mom is indeed an ofw in the U.K. She is a regitered nurse.
Posted by Bennie  on  Sat Dec 10, 2005  at  06:45 AM
Not just in UK, especially in the US. They've been undermining Filipinos, you can feel that if you are working in a call center. and it's so ironic cause your co filipinos abroad doing that to you. Imagine a Filipino asking you, Are you Filipino? in a call center. What a stupid Question from From the most stupid and unethical Pilipino abroad to a simple call center agent who are ready to help them offshore. What are they trying to point out? Racial Dicrimination to their own Race?
Posted by Ariel Polintang  on  Tue May 02, 2006  at  02:41 AM
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