From the Instagram of Miss Singapore 2020 Bernadette Belle Ong
Filipino by heart pa rin talaga si Miss Singapore 2020 Bernadette Belle Ong dahil ang gumawa ng kanyang National Costume na kulay ng bandila ng Singapore na pula at puti na may slogan na ‘Stop Asian Hate’ ay mga Pinoy.
Ang nasabing slogan ay tumukoy sa nangyaring kaguluhan sa Amerika dahil sa racial discrimination kung saan pinag-iinitan nila ang Asian-Americans.
Kahit walang dugong Pinoy si Bernadette ay hindi naman mawawala sa kanya ang kulturang nakagisnan dahil sa Pilipinas siya ipinanganak at lumaki kaya aminado siya sa panayam niya kay Ms Olivia Quido-Co ng OSkin and Medspa na official skincare ng 69th Miss Universe ay mahal na mahal niya ang mga Filipino.
At sa katatapos na National Costume ay inamin ni Belle na mga estudyanteng Pinoy designer ang gumawa ng costume niya na sina Arwin Meriales at Paulo Pilapil Espinosa pero siya ang nag-disensyo nito.
Nasa IG account din ng Metromagph, “Miss Universe Singapore Bernadette Belle Ong’s (@bernadettebelle) national costume at the Miss Universe pageant was both a beautiful tribute to her country and a powerful statement the world needs to hear today. The beauty queen wore a dress designed by #ArwinMeriales and hand painted by #PauloEspinosa inspired by Singapore’s National flag and delivers a message of resistance against prejudice and violence against the Asian community. #StopAsianHate.”
At base rin sa post ni Ms Singapore sa kanyang IG account nitong Biyernes, “Can you believe that this was made in only 2 days???”
Sa pagpapatuloy niya, “I reached out to Filipino designer @arwin_meriales04 to create a design of my own and he executed! When he offered to get @kuyapawlo to hand paint something at the back I knew straight away that it had to be about the movement revolving racial spite and prejudice!
“Given the slim timeframe we had to get it sent from the Philippines to Singapore before I flew out to the US, I’d say this is a HUGE win for everyone! We got our message across loud and clear! Thanks for roaring back at us with love and praise!! (emoji Singapore flag).
“Kudos to Arwin for making this along with 2 other dresses in preparation for my time in @missuniverse! He was actually juggling his examinations at that time so I really appreciate his undeniably impressive work ethic!
“This costume is inspired by the Singapore National Flag. The red represents equality for all. White symbolises everlasting virtue. Singapore is a place for all races and they are very proud to be Asian. It sure would be great, to #StopAsianHate” #SINGAPORE
“Thank you #MissUniverse for giving me this opportunity!!! 😭 I can’t believe I’m in a TV screen for all the right reasons! I wear my country proud and strong! 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗛 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗔!
#StopAsianHate #AsianPride #AsianRepresentation #MissUniverse2020 #MissUniverseSingapore #MissUniverseSingapore2020”
National Costume by @arwin_meriales04
Hand painted by @kuyapawlo
Designed by yours truly, me