The iconic OPM Christmas song “Miss Kita Kung Christmas” is making a comeback this holiday season via a new version from Mrs. Universe Philippines 2019 Maria Charo Calalo-Laude. The song debuted on YouTube on Nov. 13.
Calalo-Laude’s cover of the Queen of Visayan Songs Susan Fuentes original, is the carrier single of the beauty queen’s recently launched album Himala’y Laganap, composed and produced by Abe Hipolito and released under Alakdan Records.
Calalo-Laude, who finished Top 18 from 95 contestants in Mrs. Universe 2019, held in Guangzhou, China, has also assumed the role as national director for Mrs. Universe pageant which, for its initial year, will be fielding six representatives handpicked by Calalo-Laude herself.
A former member of GMA-7’s popular teenage television show That’s Entertainment (Monday Group), Calalo-Laude, who was 21 then, joined the Bb. Pilipinas 1998 search that saw the dethronement of its top winner Tisha Silang.
Calalo-Laude’s “Miss Kita Kung Christmas” is available on Spotify and Apple Records. She said that her debut album’s title Himala’y Laganap comes at a most opportune time when we are all struggling during this time of the pandemic. She hopes to do a follow-up album when everything is back to normal.
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Four Fil-Aussies competing in virtual Mrs. Universe 2020 pageant
Four married Filipinas, based in Australia, will comprise Team Australia in the upcoming Mrs. Universe 2020 pageant.
The four are led by Mrs. Australia-Universe 2020 Mary Rose Salubre, presently the national director of Mrs. Universe Australia. The 45-year-old Leyte-born Salubre, is a mother of two and works as a real estate practitioner and entrepreneur. She migrated to Australia in 1994 and has competed internationally in 2016.
Second is Mrs. Classic Universe Philippines 2020 Ceres Calizo Ledesma, a 56-year-old native of Ibaay, Aklan, who moved to Australia in 1993. A former model, Ledesma was Face of Asia in the 80s and now works as a Laboratory Aide in Sydney.
Third is Mrs. Australia Oceana Universe 2020 Olivia Rosete Wheeler, a 44-year-old, mother of two kids who works as manager and barista in a Coffee Shop in Sydney. A native of La Union, Wheeler married an Australian after she migrated to Australia in 1994. She won Miss Wow Blacktown 2014 and Mrs. Tourism Australia 2019.
Fourth is Mrs. Australia Universe 2020 Kristine Tootsie Aseron Santos, the youngest at 40 years old, works as a model and pageant coach in Sydney. Born in Manila, Santos moved to Australia in 1996 and now has three children.
Founded in 2007, Mrs. Universe pageant is open to married, separated, and widowed women from countries around the world, 18 to 55 years old, having a family and career, and are involved in a socially-significant cause.
Mrs. Universe 2020 will be a virtual, remote pageant in the whole month of December. Supporters can follow and vote for the four Fil-Aussie representatives at the pageant’s official Facebook account. The coronation is on Jan. 1, 2021.