2017 NWM at DOE Culminates with Inspiring Spiritual Insights

First Runner-up in the Miss Universe Pageant in 1999, Ms. Miriam Quiambao, surprised
the audience from DOE and its attached agencies with her passionate talk to unleash her
excruciating journey through life’s struggles and trials during the culmination of the 2017
National Women’s Month celebration held last 27 March at the DOE Multi-Purpose Hall.

Apart from the earlier activities conducted by the Gender and Development Focal Point
System (GAD-FPS) through the Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office (CWPO), to
enhance one’s personality and provide livelihood opportunities, which included Image
Enhancement, Jewelry-Making, Perfume-Cologne-Making, and Chocolate-Making, Ms.
Quiambao-Roberto added a distinctly unique flavor to this year’s NWM theme, “We Make
Change Work for Women.”

Miriam testified, “ Ever since I tripped and fell down at the Miss Universe coronation night,
God has always been there to pick me up and redeem all the mistakes and falls I’ve made
in the hope that it will inspire many to trust that, indeed, God can catch you when you fall.”

She narrated that the slip, led to a triumphant stance, as she stood up and walked
gracefully and confidently back to the center stage where she almost made it in bringing
home the Miss Universe crown from Trinidad.

Being hailed as an international beauty queen catapulted to her stardom. Offers for TV
hostings, movie filming, product endorsements, modeling stints, and a lot of shining
opportunities brought her fame and fortune. More so when she got married to an Italian
business tycoon, Claudio Rondinelli in 2004, who took her to Hongkong and showered
her with all the luxuries of living.

After two years and a half of marriage, she found herself entrapped in a wealth-deceiving
world that stripped her freedom to do things that she really loved doing. Her life after the
divorce was on shambles that led to her depression, which even prompted her to attempt
to commit suicide hoping that this will conveniently end her sufferings.

All story told, she closed with more impactful statements on how her deep relationship
with God miraculously changed her life. In her book, He Can Catch You When you Fall,
which she dedicates to all the women in world who have fallen on- or off-stage, she
expresses her wish for “God of infinite chances to reveal himself with love and lift
everyone higher from one glory to another.”
Miriam and her second husband, a well-known author and business entrepreneur, Ardy
Roberto, through God’s wisdom and guidance continue to inspire and make a positive
change not only in the women’s lives but in all the people as well through their rich and
meaningful experiences.

What a way to end the 2017 NWM celebration as the DOE-GAD FPS also aimed to
prepare both the women and men employees as they make their spiritual reflection in the
coming days.

The DOE-GAD Technical Working Group and Secretariat really endeavored to have a
high-calibre and inspiring speaker that will help achieve the objectives of the 2017
Women’s Month celebration, which include: massive information dissemination on
government programs and services to promote citizen-centric governance; platform
creation and facilitation to discuss good practices, challenges, and commitments and to
inspire women to become agents of change.