2024 Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo (center) with her proud parents, Randy Angeles and
Contessa Manalo.
Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
CURRENT Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo believes that “everything happens for a reason.”
As a child, she experienced bullying: “Yes, bullying doesn’t stop and still happens to any one… I keep
focusing on what I am more passionate about and on what I can only control.”
She adds: “I have always believed that bashing comes from people who are only hurt and negative.”
Trials and hardships motivate her to be a better person. Through these means, she has learned to excel
in whatever pursuit she does and uses these to do the right thing.
Her parents are very supportive of her dream, stating, “I have always been telling them that I love them
and that I am so glad that they have become my parents who are supportive of my dreams.” During
weekends, she spends time with her parents and friends going to Mass and dining out. She has also
been supportive of charity works that deal with the youth and indigenous people.
She wants to try acting, singing and dancing in a Filipino theatrical musical play. “Anything that will
unleash my star and diva childhood dreams of performing. Whatever comes I would gladly accept. I have
actually been dreaming of one day performing as a drag queen.”
This dark-skinned beauty from Bulacan will compete in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico on
November 16. Good luck and a myriad blessings!
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I am fortunate to have met in July this year Jo Berry (the lead actress in GMA7’s TV series “Lilet Matias:
Attorney-at-Law”); Dagul, or Romeo Pastrana in real life (a Filipino actor and comedian best known for
being a host of the children’s sketch program Goin’ Bulilit on ABS-CBN); and former Miss Universe
Philippines Michelle Dee who holds a special place in her heart for children with developmental
disabilities, with autism awareness as her advocacy during the Miss Universe pageant. Thanks to
Richard Hinola for letting me to meet them in person during the Legacy Awards.
* * *
Jade Maris is my former student at Holy Angel University in Angeles City, Pampanga. She has done
several commercials for PAG-IBIG Fund, PsBank, Magic Creams with actor Donny Pangilinan, Grab,
Payless Pancit Canton, Jollibee Chicken Joy, Cliqq Card-7 Eleven, Jollibee Aloha Burger, at TGP with
actor Jericho Rosales. She also appeared in a movie on the life of Philippine hero Jose Abad Santos
played by Richard Cepeda in the lead role (with former beauty queen Marina Benipayo and actor Alex
Vincent Medina). She is a resident theater actress of Uyat Artista, an Aliw Award and L.E.A.F. Award
winning theater group in Angeles City.
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The planned new Pacific Coast City, which is 80 kilometers from Central Manila, is situated on the
eastern Luzon seaboard between Infanta and Dingalan municipalities. It is envisioned to have developed
industrial cities, a government center, forest and wildlife preserves, residential areas, a worker’s city, an
educational city, a tourism center, a religious center, a movie capital, and a sports center.
Infanta, which is considered the “Gateway to the Pacific,” is a first class municipality and the largest
lambanog manufacturer in Quezon. Also known for its bayugo (giant mountain snail) dishes, the town is
the center of economic activity in the northern part of Quezon province.
Meanwhile, Dingalan, dubbed as the “Gateway to Southern Tagalog,” is a 3rd-class municipality in
Aurora province. It has several caves, of which the Lamao Caves are the best known. The town’s rough
shoreline and very high waves make it attractive to surfers. It is envisioned to be the next Port of Manila.
“In the pursuit and implementation of the strategy of development, a crucial and paramount component is
the proper interrelationship among the government, the business sector and the educational system. If
each of these three vital sectors performs their designated roles to the hilt, the cycle of economic growth,
development and industrialization will continuously spiral towards greater heights,” said New York-trained
think-tank Atty. Romeo G. Roxas, the man behind the new Pacific Coast City concept and author of the
book Pathways to Progress, a compilation of articles he wrote for the Philippine Star.
He continued, “Pacific Coast City is an actual model of a sustainable community with a livelihood
component.”
* * *
Promising artist and swimmer Isaac Antheo Diaz Medina, a freshman Fine Arts Major in Advertising
student at the University of Santo Tomas, divides his love for visual arts and sports. At a young age, he
had already joined an arts exhibit in SM mall in Mandaluyong City and won medals in swimming, having
been trained by an Olympic swimmer. He competed in the Philippine National Games in 2023 and is a
member of the Philippine Aquatics Inc. and the Palms Kingfisher swimming team in Montalban, Rizal.
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Spotted during the recent 2nd Philippines Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers at The
Hexagon Events Place in Quezon City were talented artists and broadcasters from GMA Network, 24
Oras, PTV 4, Aliw Channel 23, DWIZ 882 AM, 97.9 Home Radio, Net 25, DWAN AM 1206, IBC, Light TV,
Light Radio, Balitang A2Z, Zoe TV, Media House Express, Sword TV Philippines, and Win Radio 91.5.
* * *
former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta.
Young performing members of the “Sibol” showcased their talents in the recent Goldenberg Concert
Series at the Goldenberg Mansion, San Miguel, Manila. In attendance were First Lady Liza Araneta-
Marcos, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and Presidential Sister Irene Marcos-Araneta.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the
opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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