MANILA -- Filipina beauty queen Excelsa de Jesus, who won the Miss Republic of the Philippines New York 2018, has donated $1,000 to Bantay Bata foundation in Iloilo City.
Bantay Bata aims to protect disadvantaged and at-risk children.
The Filipina beauty titlist's mother, Diane de Jesus, relayed this to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an email exchange on Tuesday.
Mrs. de Jesus said her daughter had always wanted to help children who were sick and require medical attention.
Also just this January, De Jesus donated her entire salary from working as a barista in New York to Child Haus in Manila. Child Haus is a hospice care center that gives temporary shelter for indigent and orphan children with cancer and other serious illnesses from various provinces in the country while they are getting medical attention in the city.
De Jesus also organized a fundraising concert for a 2017 mission trip to donate hygiene kits to children in Cebu, Palawan, Estancia, Iloilo, and Bohol. She raised 3,000 kits that included toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, facial towels, and food.
In August 2016, De Jesus was also tapped by foundation Harmony of Praise to give aid to children living in dumps in Mandaue, Cebu.
The beauty queen earlier raised funds for the Michael Angelo Foundation through a concert that aimed to help children with progeria in the Philippines.
De Jesus is competing for the Miss Republic of the Philippines International 2018, which will hold its coronation night on Jan. 31, 2018 at the Sofitel Hotel in Manila. (PNA)
