I am Marivic Abrera Murray. I was born on November 10, 1976 in Brgy. II Pasig Daet, Camarines Norte in the Philippines. I attended my primary finishing at Top 1 at Abaño Pilot Elementary School. They say primary schooling is the best year for any school kid, but I reckon nothing really beats high school! I graduated my secondary (with honours) not without it’s fair share of teenage struggles. Camarines Norte National High School is where I started to form friendship from schoolmates, batchmates and even teachers. Those pink and blue dresses and slightly curled hair at JS Proms are all but vivid! With the help of my siblings, I completed my tertiary education (achieved with honours) with a degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English from Mabini College. Straight after college I became one of the pioneer Academic Instructors of AMA-CLC in Daet Camarines Norte. Not long after my first job, I met and married a New Zealander and moved to New Zealand in 2001 and started a family. I now have 2 children, Maria Victoria 18yo and Vaughn Mitchell 13yo. I stopped pursuing my career in teaching as I find it tedious to be taking home work and looking after children at the same time hence a career in sales/retail became a convenience. I am the current President of the UragoNZ, a Bicolano organization in NZ and also an active Management Committee Member of The Filipino Society Inc. in Auckland where Welfare, Media and Public Information are in my portfolios. My amazing and incredible journey to becoming Mrs. NZ Tourism Ambassador 2017 began with a simple thought of supporting the cause that Beauty With A Vision (formerly Ms. World NZ) is undertaking. Which is helping young adults of domestic violence and sexual abuse get through everyday life. Motherhood truly softens a woman’s heart. Winning the title has landed me the role as the Recruitment Manager for the organization. Stepping in on a door that is slightly ajar can be scary because you don’t really know what is waiting for you on the other side. Doing things for the good of humanity always strikes the chords for me growing up underprivileged. Helping others promotes survival but acting with an unselfish regard for others doesn’t always come naturally. The purpose of life for me is NOT to be happy. It is to be ethical. To be venerable. To be tender-hearted. To be benevolent. I am an active supporter of countless charity organizations esp. the Rotary Club both in NZ and in the Philippines to name a few. Making a difference in people’s lives is not only knowing that we lived, but also knowing that we lived well. NOT for self-fulfillment BUT for the greater good, for I always believe that we can make this world a better place one kindness at a time.
