Tokyo, Japan – The final question has always been the waterloo for the Philippines’ candidates to international beauty pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World (except Megan Young) and Miss International. In recent years, the Filipina candidates have performed extremely well, making it to the top 5 finalists, only to lose the title in the final question in which  they all have chosen to answer in English, unlike the Latina candidates who have always answered in their native language with assistance from interpreters.
On December 17, the finals for the 2013 Miss International Pageant will be held in Tokyo, Japan. Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago revealed that if she is chosen to be among the top 5 finalists, she will answer the final question in Spanish which will put her on equal footing with the Latina candidates who are expected to make it to the finals.

The Philippines was a colony of Spain for more than three  centuries and many Filipinos, including Santiago, speak and understand the Spanish language.

Miss Philippines is among the favorites to win this year’s Miss International title.