After a week of the previous pageant, the Miss Universe 4th Runner Up Maria Venus Raj paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of Malacañang. That was her first time that she was able to enter such famous place in the country.
Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj gets much needed advice from President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.


In her courtesy call to the President, Aquino told her to be careful now that she’s a public figure.


“Since I am now entering public life, I should be careful of the people surrounding me,” said Raj.


Aquino also thanked Raj for giving positive news amid the Quirino grandstand bloodshed that left eight foreign tourists dead.


“Of course it’s an honor to be here at the Palace being congratulated by no less than the President of the Philippines,” Raj said after her brief courtesy call in Malacanang.


Raj said she is willing to help the government improve the Philippines’ image through tourism.


“If they will ask me, I will gladly help,” said Raj. She said she is also willing to enter show business “if there are offers.”


Wearing a modern Filipiniana terno, Raj waited for Aquino for almost 45 minutes. She gamely posed for pictures with several officials, including members of the Presidential Security Group.


She was accompanied by her mother, Ester Payoniyo, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Head Stella Marquez-Araneta and Uniprom Director for Entertainment Sienna Maris Olaso.


Raj is the first Philippine Representative to the Ms. Universe to have made it to the top 5 since 1999. A crowd favorite, Raj was touted as a strong contender but choked when she was asked a question by actor William Baldwin.


Baldwin posed, “What is one big mistake that you’ve made in your life and what did you do to make it right?”


Raj replied, “You know what, sir in my 22 years of existence I can say that there is nothing major major, I mean, problem that I have done in my life. Because I am very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me. So, thank you so much that I am here, thank you thank you so much,” she answered, making her an instant online sensation, her ‘Major major’ expression even a trending topic on Twitter for several hours.


Raj has made it that far but she even made it the farthest..if only!

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The mom of Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj recalled when she was still working abroad and she was offered by the Arab nationals that they will buy her baby daughter for $60,000. She said no for she had her own reasons.

In an interview she said, “Inalok ako. Sabi nila bibilhin namin mga $60,000 ‘yong anak mo. Sabi ko, ‘Ang $60,000 makukuha din ‘yon ng anak ko kung dito siya sa akin. Pag-aaralin ko siya kahit kami mahirap lamang,”

Venus Raj was the one who is chosen to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe Pageant and she carry with her the Filipino-Indian beauty who lived a very simple and quiet life in Bato, Camarines Sur before she joined the glamorous world of beauty pageants. (more…)

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