Ahtisa Manalo on late grandmother: 'A lot of the way I am is because of her"

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Ahtisa Manalo continues to honor her late grandmother after winning the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 crown.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ahtisa, alongside her fellow Miss Universe Philippines winners, met members of the media and reflected on her lola's enduring influence in her life.  

Ahtisa recognized her late grandmother in her winning answer during the pageant and during Tuesday's press conference, she was asked what her message was for her lola.

Holding back her tears, Ahtisa said, “I feel like, through my heart, if it makes sense, I speak to her a lot ‘cause a lot of the way I am is because of her, is because of how she raised me.”

“And I just wanna, like more than anything, I’m grateful that even though she had passed from this world, she’s still with me, and she pushed me to go for my dreams, and I’ll forever remember her. And forever, she’ll be in my heart,” she said.

Ahtisa bested 65 other candidates during the coronation night held on Friday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.

During the evening gown competition, Ahtisa tripped and briefly fell to the floor, which she also mentioned in her answer.

She was asked: “They say that a good leader leads by example. Tell us about one event in your life when you led by example and the impact it made.”

Her winning answer was: “I fell a while ago on stage. And the thing with me is, whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger. Last year, I was here on this stage and for the second time this year, I’m here putting everything on this stage to be Miss Universe Philippines because this is mine and my grandmother’s shared dream. And she passed away early this year. And this is my ode to her.”

Ahtisa will represent the Philippines in Miss Universe 2025, which will take place on November 21 at the Impact Muong Thong Thani Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. — LA, GMA Integrated News