Miss Philippines Precious Lara Quigaman ended the country's 26-year beauty title drought by capturing the Miss International title in Japan late Monday.
Quigaman, 22, is the country's 4th Miss International titlist. Gemma Cruz first won the title in 1965 followed by Aurora Pijuan in 1970 and then by Mimilanie "Melanie" Marquez in 1979.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated Quigaman for her feat saying "on behalf of all Filipinos, I congratulate Precious Lara Quigaman for winning the Miss International title."
"She joins a long list of Filipinas who have brought our country honor and prestige, not only for their beauty but also for their intelligence, charm and grace. May she serve as a responsible role model for young women in our country," Arroyo said.
Quigaman's victory came four months after her father died in a road mishap in London. She is a media production and communications graduate of the Fulton College in the UK and she also took up a course in childhood and youth studies in Bristol.
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