CITY OF MALOLOS—“This is my time,” Ms. Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Anne Manalo humbly and joyfully addressed fellow Bulakenyos in “The Queen’s Homecoming” hero’s welcome given to her on Saturday by the province top officials.
At a mini stage in front of the Bulacan Capitol, Manalo in tears of joy thanked her province mates who prayed and supported her in her battle for the crown.
Manalo was crowned the Ms. Universe Philippines 2024 in this year’s annual most prestigious beauty competition held on May 22 at Mall of Asia Arena.
She thanked her parents as the strength and the wings beneath her wings for always encouraging, inspiring her and believing that she will one day reach her dream to be a beauty queen.
“They always believe in me. They always tell me to hang on in my dreams, to remain humble, to keep my faith, to believe in myself”.
“I am just one of the many youth who have their dreams. But mine was too high and too ambitious to reach to wear a crown, to become a Ms. Universe and that I thiught I would never reach”.
Manalo also shares the same inspiration she lives on to her fellow Bulakenyo youth. “We are our own heroes. Do not give up on your dreams but continue to pursue it. Just believe in yourself, be humble, keep the faith. Your dreams and your time will come. This is my time and my time will continue when I bring home the 5th crown for the Ms. Universe”.
“If there is one person who is there supporting you all the way throughout your life, hang and cling on tightly to that person, because that person will bring you to the top of your dreams,” she said.
Manalo said it is her greatest honor to give back to the people of Bulacan and to the whole country that she is now their Ms. Universe 2024. Her path to the crown is not easy but filled with challenges. The same challenges she faced iin her daily life, she said.
The 24 year old beauty queen from the City of Meycauayan said that she had to work as a model to support her college education and to also help her family.
She also thanked her inner circle of pageant experts, her friends including Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alex Castro who supported her morally and financially all throughout the activities until she bagged the crown.
Fernando and Castro, she said, supported her more than a hundred percent of what she needed.
Fernando said Manalo has been inspiring and supporting the education of the minority group Dumagat in the mountainous areas of Bulacan.
“Chelsea is the light and inspiration for every Bulakenyo and Filipino yourh,” the governor said.
“We will be rooting and cheering for you Chelsea, when you bring our country in the world competition in Mexico in November,” the governor added.
“Bibigyan ka namin ng baon,” (we will continue to provide you with the financial support you needed).
Castro thanked Manalo for making Bulacan shine further in the country and in the world.
The vice governor also reads Provincial Board Resolution 461 dated May 23 and was spearheded by Sixth District Board Member Arthur Legaspi recognizing Manalo’s innate Bulakenya beauty, intelligence and charm that made her won the title as Ms. Universe Philippines 2024. Castro calls on every Bulakenyo for “bayanihan” of support and prayer for Manalo for her next major battle for the crown.
Come November, Manalo will represent the country in the Ms. Universe tilt in Mexico.
“Isa lang po ang mahihiling ko sa inyo, ang patuloy niyong suporta at panalangin upang maiuwi ko ang korona ng Ms. Universe 2024,” (I have only one request from all of you, that is your continued prayers and support for me to bring home the crown of Ms. Universe 2024), she said in the end of her short speech.
