Catriona looks stunning in her waling-waling inspired gown for Bb. Pilipinas 2019 coronation night

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Magnayon Gray gets really emotional while delivering her speech on the night of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 Grand Coronation.

The Binibining Pilipinas 2018 winner bid her stage farewell at Smart Araneta Coliseum where the coronation took place. Catriona expressed her gratitude to everyone who believed and supported her journey as the reigning Miss Universe.

“My heart is overflowing with gratitude because here, on this exact stage, I was given the chance to pursue this dream. This journey has been made even more meaningful because every single step of the way, I felt each and everyone of you right there with me,” she said.

Gray also discussed the hardships she experienced and how she dealt with it. She even pointed out her three fears, characterizing these as three Mayon Volcanoes, where she overcome by having faith in herself.

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Waling Waling The Waling-waling is a paragon of unmitigated beauty. Many regard it as the rarest, most beautiful and the most expensive among all the flora our country has. This rightfully gives justice to its being dubbed as the “Queen of Philippine Flowers”. Moreover, even the native Bagobos revered it as a “diwata” (fairy) because of its unparalleled and captivating beauty. This representation fits perfectly to what our Miss Universe Catriona Gray is. She is absolutely a queen of beauty and substance. This flower, like Catriona, continues to be on treetops and aspires for greater heights. The Queen of the Filipinos’ hearts bids farewell to her reign here. Yet, she will incessantly reach and touch the bright sun, making her justly symbolic of the Filipino’s unceasing hope and tenacity.

A post shared by Mak Tumang (@maktumang) on Jun 9, 2019 at 9:42am PDT

For Catriona’s final walk, she wore a waling-waling inspired gown made by Mak Tumang. Tumang created the gown as he believes this is a prefect representation for Catriona since most Filipinos sees waling-waling as “the rarest, most beautiful and the most expensive among all the flora our country has.”

“Inside each and every one of us is a king or queen with the ability to conquer the universe, whatever that may be for you. But we must first conquer ourselves, conquer what others perceive of us, and finally, conquer with a purpose,” said Catriona in the latter part of her speech.