Venus Raj: Can finally compete in Miss U

CEBU, Philippines - After a much-publicized and controversial fight to reclaim her crown and chance to compete in this year’s Miss Universe pageant, Maria Venus Raj can finally represent the Philippines in one of the world’s biggest beauty pageants after acquiring her passport from the Department of Foreign Affairs last May 21.

“Just like any other applicant, we just submitted her birth certificate authenticated by the NSO (National Statistics Office) and a duly filled up application form,” Raj’s lawyer, Atty. Gigi Martinez, told the GMA 7 news program “24 Oras” about the seamless process by which the Bicolana beauty got her passport. “And then, wala na, nag-usap lang ‘yong [Citizenship Evaluation] committee, and she’s a Filipino citizen. Citizenship was never an issue.

A valid Philippine passport was the condition set by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) for her to be reinstated as the reigning Binibining Pilipinas-Universe. It will be remembered that Raj was stripped off her title just a few days after her coronation because of alleged “inconsistencies” in her birth documents and in her personal testimonials.

Raj was reportedly born out of wedlock to an Indian father and Filipina mother (from Bicol) in Doha, Qatar. However, by virtue of the “right of blood” principle as stated in the Philippine Constitution, a person acquires the citizenship of his father or mother regardless of place of birth.

While some rallied to the organization’s defense such as former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, who advised Raj to iron out the kinks and join Bb. Pilipinas anew on 2011, the dethronement consequently caused an uproar in this pageant-crazy country—with hometown supporters, social networking sites, as well as people in high places and prominent organizations, including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), offering to support Raj in her crusade to regain her title. Amidst growing pressure, BPCI then announced that out of “humanitarian reasons” they would return the title to Raj granting she would be able to secure a passport.

Now that she has fulfilled BPCI’s requirement, the 21-year-old cum laude journalism graduate now holds the record as the first-ever dethroned Bb. Pilipinas titleholder who became successful in her efforts to be reinstated—a feat that many disqualified beauties before her had attempted to do, but failed. With this development, Raj can now fully focus her energies on her training for the forthcoming Miss U pageant, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States on August 23.

Meanwhile, Cebuana beauty queen and former Bb. Pilipinas-World Anna Maris Igpit expressed her high hopes for Raj in a text message to The FREEMAN. “I got excited upon learning that she got her passport already. I’ve always believed in her packaging, which I think will finally bring back the Philippines in the semi-finals of Miss U. She has that Latina/Asian look that will attract the attention of Donald Trump and the international scene. I hope we get in this time. I won’t be expecting her to bring home the crown. But a place among the semi-finalists will be fine.”