Dethroned beauty gets passport, finally

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:46:00 05/22/2010
INQUIRER.net

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—After her long fight to get her crown back, dethroned Binibining Pilipinas Maria Venus Raj finally got her passport Friday morning, which means she will now be allowed to compete in this year’s Miss Universe pageant to be held in Las Vegas.

Securing a passport was the condition of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) for Raj to be reinstated after she was stripped of her title last month due to inconsistencies in her birth records and her verbal account of birth.

The BPCI Inc. claimed “misrepresentation” as its ground for unseating Raj, a cum laude journalism graduate and native of Bato, Camarines Sur.

The dethronement sparked public uproar in online forums.

The Bicolana beauty being a “poor countryside farm girl yet determined to reach her dreams” got much support and sympathy from the people.

Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) declared that Raj is a Filipino citizen by virtue of the “jus saguinis” principle in the Philippine Constitution.

The jus sanguinis (Latin for “right of blood”) principle means that a person acquires the nationality of his natural parents regardless of his place of birth.

Eduardo Malaya, DFA spokesperson, said that after evaluating the beauty queen’s birth certificate, documents, and passport application, the committee formed to look into Raj’s case recommended the issuance of a passport.

Raj was born to a Filipino mother and an Indian father in Doha, Qatar, but they were not married. She was brought to the country a month after birth and was registered three years after.

Raj, in a phone interview, said she is happy and relieved that all her efforts and those of her supporters finally paid off.

She said that when she woke up hearing the news about the release of her passport, she got up and rushed to the DFA to claim it.

Raj said it had been a roller coaster ride for her. In as much as many people were there for her, there were also those who criticized her after the controversy.

“But I also thank those people because they have made me stronger and motivated me to push the fight,” Raj said.

She said they would still be waiting for the official statement of the BPCI reinstating her, after which she expects that her name will finally be cleared.

Raj has been training for the Miss Universe along with other Binibining Pilipinas winners since April.

In Barangay San Vicente in Bato town, Raj’s 59-year-old mother Ester Bayonito cried when she heard of the news.

“I cried out of joy and gratitude. I cannot thank those who helped my daughter enough. Thank God!” a jubilant Ester told the Inquirer in a phone interview. Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon