‘Less talk, more action,’ Megan Young urges Filipinos

While in New York, two hotdogs and a tour of the Hudson River. Photos by Elton Lugay

Newly-crowned Miss World Megan Young paid a courtesy visit to Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. on October 23.

After the meeting, she met with members of the community media where she called for unity among Filipinos and asked for support for two Philippine charity organizations.

“We’re here to bring together the Filipino community,” said Young, 23, in an impromptu press conference. “We’re here to show them what’s happening, what we’re doing and to get them involved.”

Young said the Miss World Organization (MYO) is taking her to 40 countries during her one-year reign.

“Megan is a very special Miss World,” said Miss World Events Director Steve Douglas who accompanied the FilAm beauty to the Consulate building on Fifth Avenue.

“Wherever we go we want to engage the Filipino community because that’s what Megan’s wish for the year,” he said. “She’s proud of her heritage and she really wants to use that in a positive way and unite people throughout the world.”

Young said MWO is supporting two charitable institutions: the Tuloy Foundation in Alabang (TFA) and Wing in the Philippine General Hospital.

TFA, a non-profit that provides homes for marginalized youth, started with 12 children from the streets and now houses more than 900 in a compound, she said.

“One thing that I’ve learned and appreciate from Fr. Rocky (of Tuloy Foundation) is you can give (street children) clothes and material things…but what he hopes to bring back to these kids is their dignity,” Young said.

Wing in PGH is trying to raise funds for ventilators for little babies.

“They only have five right now,” said Young. “One ventilator costs P800,000.”

“Itong pagkapanalo ko hindi lang para sa akin, as cliche as it may sound, para sa Pilipinas naman talaga to. It’s not about winning it’s about the year that you go through and what can you do for that year,” she stressed.

It is important to inform people how they can help, she said. “Hindi lang tayo puro sabi or salita kundi nasa gawa din.”

With Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. and Vice Consul Khrys Corpuz