House Independent Bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Thursday vowed to work along with his colleagues in adopting a resolution exempting newly crowned Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach from paying tax on her earnings and multimillion-peso gem-studded crown as a return of “malasakit” (compassion) to her.
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, said granting tax exemption to Wurtzbach before her scheduled return to the Philippines on Jan. 20 this year (2016) would be a great way of returning a huge favor that she had contributed for bringing honor to the country after winning the world’s most prestigious beauty pageant.
“Exempting from tax her earnings and crown is a simple way of giving Ms. Wurtzback accolades from government for bringing honor to the country. We have to return the favor by showing malasakit to her,” Romualdez, a senatorial aspirant, said in a statement Romualdez said Congress should include in the resolution to be adopted when it resumes session on Jan. 19, 2016 the congratulatory message to Wurtzback and recognizing her rare achievement for the country.
The Czech Republic-made crown of Wurtzbach, 26 and a Filipino-German beauty raised in Cagayan De Oro City, costs $300,000 and comprises of diamonds, blue topaz, blue sapphire, crystal, and gold.
He recalled the case of a 27-year-old Jujeath Nagaowa, a Filipina boxer and mixed martial arts fighter, who expressed disappointment after she was initially ordered to pay P5,819 in taxes by the Bureau of Customs for the release of her championship belt after winning the international light flyweight title of the Women’s International Boxing Association against Chinese fighter Lou Yu Jie last June 8.
“We do not want a similar incident to happen again because this will be hurtful. Ms. Nagaowa fought hard for the championship belt only to be knockdown by government’s seeming unjust tax policy for Filipino athletes reaping international honors,” Romualdez said.
He congratulated anew Wurtzbach for winning the Miss Universe crown, saying her victory would inspire many Filipinos to carve their own names in various international competitions.
“Ms. Wurtzbach’s composure, strength, dedication and sincere malasakit for causes that affect the youth and our country is a source of inspiration for us Filipinos to strive for greatness and to remember to pay it forward to others. Be the voice for the weak and the disadvantaged. And serve as an instrument of positive change,” Romualdez said.
Wurtzbach became the third Filipina to win the Miss Universe crown and ended a title drought of 42 years for the country after taking the last crown in 1973, courtesy of Margie Moran.
The first Filipina winner was Gloria Diaz in 1969.
Wurtzbach’s victory was considered as the most awkward Miss Universe in history after pageant host Steve Harvey wrongly proclaimed Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as winner.
Immediately, Gutierrez had to be decrowned on live telecast to give way to the rightful queen, Wurtzbach.