00:00I mean, I'm so excited. As was mentioned a little earlier, this has been a brainchild for quite a while.
00:05Why? Because we've been able to mount programs to give back during the pandemic to young focus in the form of feeding programs.
00:13That was back in 2020. And I've helped in my own little way because there are child sponsorships.
00:19You can sponsor a child to go to school. But I really envision something big.
00:23Why big? Because it's filling that gap of awareness.
00:26The end goal really is to have more people, more brands, more companies discover that there continues to be a need.
00:32A need in places like Tondo, Manila, which is so close to where we are here in Metro Manila.
00:38It's not far flung and there is a need that is easily filled without education.
00:42Because it's not just something that we go big and it's like, oh, okay, Miss Universe happened.
00:47And then the outpouring after I was able to compete was absolutely incredible.
00:52So much awareness was given to young focus.
00:55But then as it happens, in the years after, it started to waver again.
00:59So we really want to boost them once more to show that there is a need and that we can all help in our own little way.
01:05You don't need the most platforms or to be a beauty queen to be able to help someone in need.
01:11Just like Sir Jeff said.
01:12So this Legacy Gala is really an accumulation of all the things that I'm passionate about.
01:19Of course, at the core is a focus in giving back to the community.
01:22So young focus is the main beneficiary of this event.
01:26The funds that will be raised, the proceeds will go towards giving those school sponsorships,
01:32improving their learning facilities and their buildings.
01:35They also give extracurricular programs in the form of job preparation courses, I.T. courses.
01:43There's also programs dedicated to drop out students and a lot more.
01:47So it's a very comprehensive approach that they give at Young Focus, which is why I believe in what they do so greatly.
01:53And it's just so heartwarming to me to see that there is so much support.
01:59That's why I'm ever so grateful once a City of Dreams Manila for allowing us to mount it in such a big way.
02:04Maraming salamat to the whole team who believed in this cause.
02:08And of course, to my Cornerstone family.
02:10It really means a lot to me that not only Cornerstone, but even some of the brands that I work with
02:16believe in what I believe in.
02:18And this is not just me as a public personality.
02:20This is me to my core.
02:22And seeing the importance of continuing to give back to Young Focus after all these years.
02:30So my heart is so full.
02:32It really, really is.
02:33I am so, so, so, so grateful for the opportunity to continue to keep casting a spotlight onto Young Focus
02:41because they are the real heroes.
02:43The staff, the hardworking staff behind an organization such as that.
02:48They work the hours.
02:49They're on the ground.
02:50They're there through rain or a shine, a typhoon or not, pandemic or whatever lays in between.
02:57They are continuing to serve the community in such a big, impactful way.
03:01Because I know I speak for myself and maybe for the most of you that I was so impacted in such a positive way by my own education.
03:09It allowed me to feel like I have potential and that I have the means of exploring it.
03:13And what an injustice it is to have Filipino children who will not believe in their potential
03:19because they were never given the means to feel like, oh, actually, I can do that.
03:23I can do it.
03:25I am capable.
03:27And so that is the bigger message that we hope to give not only to the kids, but to everyone.
03:33Not everyone of us has potential that has the ability to be explored.
03:37And it sounds like I'm bouncing back to what I said in the pageant, but it's really true.
03:42If someone believes in you, then you can believe in yourself.
03:45So thank you.
03:47Thank you again to everyone who is a part of this.
03:51And hopefully, it's not just a one night that will happen on November 22.
03:55I hope that it will continue this outpouring of whatever resources that we have,
04:01be it big or small, to get your friend groups, your peers, your co-workers, your companies involved
04:07in giving back to whether it be Young Focus or another cause near you.
04:11Because there's always a need.
04:13And there's always people willing to give.
04:15But it's just connecting the dots.
04:17So thank you so much for being that connector for me in this pursuit of mine.
04:21It means a lot to me, talaga.
04:23Maraming maraming salaman po to every single one of you.
04:26Thank you so much.
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