Philippines’ win streak in Thailand boosts Ahtisa Manalo’s confidence

October 24 ------ With contenders from the Philippines clinching victories in recent competitions held in Thailand, Miss Universe Philippines Ahtisa Manalo feels positive that she, too, will reap a sweet reward in the neighboring nation.

Just over the weekend, the Philippines posted the first back-to-back in Miss Grand International history when Emma Tiglao inherited the title from Filipino queen Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza in a competition held in Bangkok. And last month, also in Bangkok, the country bagged a major title in the field of male pageantry with Kirk Bondad becoming the second delegate from the Philippines to win Mister International.

“Now I feel like Thailand is really [lucky] for the Philippines this year, because there’s Kirk, and then there’s Emma, and hopefully there’s me,” Manalo told Inquirer Entertainment at the sidelines of the “Woman of Style and Substance 2025” awards night at Bellevue Hotel Manila in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, on Oct. 20.

She was one of the evening’s honorees, a roster that also included feisty broadcast journalist Karmina Constantino and Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe, the first woman to hold the post. Manalo also congratulated Tiglao on her historic coronation. “You deserve the win. From the last time we saw each other, I knew that you were gonna win because her whole heart and her everything was into it,” she said. “I knew that she was gonna give the Philippines a really good fight. And you see, back-to-back for the Philippines for the first time ever. Amazing work,” Manalo continued. Both Tiglao and Manalo are seasoned pageant queens who had their first international assignments as Binibining Pilipinas titleholders in succeeding editions.

Manalo was crowned Bb. Pilipinas International in 2018 and headed to Japan for the Miss International pageant, where she finished as first runner-up to Venezuela’s Mariem Velasco. Tiglao competed in the national pageant in 2019 and received the Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental title, and set out for a back-to-back quest in the Miss Intercontinental pageant in Egypt. She finished in the Top 20.

Source: inquirer.net