MJ’s Kins, Town Mates Confident She Will be Crowned Miss Universe 2015

Tulunan, North Cotabato (PNA) — Relatives, friends and town mates of the country’s representative to the most prestigious Miss Universe beauty pageant offered prayers for her to bring home the crown and make this tiny town even more popular.

When Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimoso, the 28-year-old Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2014, steps on stage, the entire Filipino people is hoping she will take the crown.

“Who wouldn’t want her to succeed? All of us, all those who know MJ personally and all our kababayan wanted her to win, of course,” Sheryl Lastimosa, MJ’s cousin and childhood friend.

Sheryl’s mother Belen took care of MJ since she was seven years old in the village of Sibsib here.

“We are more than just cousins but true sisters, she was a very nice girl, friendly, confident and dreamed of winning the Miss Universe title even at the young age of eight,” Sheryl said.

MJ’s classmate Paula Loton, 28, said she was confident MJ will take the crown and make her home town included in the world map of beauty titlists.

MJ and her sister entrusted by their mother Marites to Belen Lastimosa, her sister in law when she left for Saudi Arabia in 1994.

MJ’s mother and father, Saud al-Shabrami, had been living in Saudi since that time and return home during vacation.

Sheryl said she too was very confident “MJ will win and make our country proud, I have that feeling.” However, she added, whatever the results, for them MJ is already a winner and has reached her dream of walking on stage in a Miss Universe contest.

She said even when she was young, MJ always “play” the Miss Universe, Miss Philippines at home as if she was preparing since that time until today.

“Determinado talaga siya kaya naniniwala kami na mananalo siya (She was very determined and we believed that she will win),” Sheryl, 29, said.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, who MJ said is now her “third mother” as her “real mother” and her “second mother Belen” are both abroad.

What ever the results, Mendoza said, the provincial government will have a grand welcome for her when she returns.

Ernesto Salinas, a beautician in Tulunan town, said he will make a video of the pageant so he can upload the town’s reaction on what ever the results would be.

Francis Galang, a retired teacher, said all her town mates have been praying hard for the success of MJ.

“We had the rosary prayer, we want her to win because her victory is also our victory,” Galang said, adding that when MJ was still in secondary school she has shown her beauty inside and outside.

“As a person she was really good, very religious so God will help her,” she said.

“I will not be surprise if she wins because she really deserve that title,” Galang added.

Galang said the entire community will be glued to the live coverage of the Miss Universe pageant at 10 a.m. Monday (Manila time).

MJ started her “career” as beauty title holder when she represented Tulunan town for the Mutya ng North Cotabato in 2004. She won the 1st runner up award.

In 2006, she was named Campus Beauty Queen in the University of Mindanao in Davao City. In 2008, she joined the Mutya ng Davao search and won the title.

In 2011, she joined the prestigious pageant in the country, Binibining Pilipinas, where she ended up second runner up. But she did not give up.

Showing she was not happy with the outcome, MJ joined for the second time around in 2012 having won two special awards.

Still convinced she should win a Binibining Pilipinas crown, she competed again in 2014 and won the crown.

“To all our kababayan, let us pray so MJ will be crowned this year’s Miss Universe,” Conchita Espera, a devout Catholic here, urged the Filipino people.

MJ was born Nov. 23, 1987. (PNA) CTB/NYP/EOF