These days, all sorts of rumors and wish lists are aplenty in the pageant world, Omicron notwithstanding. It’s almost as if the ladies being mentioned as potential joiners are immune to the COVID-19 variant and free to go through their trainings, photoshoots and the like under any alert level. Truth be told, they are just as cautious of what’s happening around us.
Be that as it may, former BbPilipinas International Ahtisa Manalo is being egged on to finally push through with Miss Universe Philippines this year.
We’ll see. She recently came out in the open with her good-looking boyfriend Marco Suarez with an IG post as proof. Is she even keen on adding a significant division to her already busy skeds between business (Koomi) and love life?
Ahtisa with boyfriend Marco Suarez
I intentionally reserved this blog entry for the homestretch tail-end of my series on pageant teasers simply because it was one of the first news items picked up by showbiz/entertainment websites regarding ladies who are said to be interested in joining Miss Universe Philippines 2020 (the other one being Patch Magtanong whom we have already resolved as joining possibly in 2021 and not this year).
If I were in the shoes of Ahtisa, and extending the pageant stay would be the most productive and empowering move to make, then I’d go for it as well. Hierarchy-wise, her Bb. Pilipinas title is in spot #3 among the Grand Slam competitions worldwide. Doing MUP would be two steps up and the risk is still worth taking. Even Miss World Philippines would be a step up so that is another option she could get herself into by mid-year.
I have been eyeing this beautiful lady for the longest time, like even when she just graduated from High School. I also know that her family values education to the fullest. So off she went to enroll at the De La Salle University. Now, she is a Bachelor of Science graduate major in Management of Financial Institutions. Magna. Cum. Laude.
I know that Pat has been getting her regular doses of training under Aces & Queens even as far back as the time when the country hosted the 65th Miss Universe when she was part of the tribute event for Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. And since then, she has been improving slowly but surely. 
I am no statistics whiz, but this is how I computed the average performance average of our Bb. Pilipinas 2018 titleholders based on placements/non-placement during their respective pageant missions:
If we are to assign a letter grade to the overall performance of our 2018 titleholders, they would collectively get an “A”. Our winning performances in both Miss Universe and Miss Intercontinental – plus a 1st Runner-Up placement in Miss International – are responsible for pulling up the final average to this level. Of course, we all want an “A+”. That would be a tall order for the next batch of winners – but not an impossible objective, nonetheless.
Much has been said and discussed about the updated age limit of the Miss International Beauty Pageant. So just to put the nagging questions to rest, I took the liberty of chatting with someone from the inside of the Japan-based organization who confirmed with me that – indeed – they have upped the requirement to 27 years old. But there is a condition. The representative should have turned 27 on or before November 12, 2019. So anyone who is currently 27 and turning 28 by that date (like Aya Abesamis whose birthday falls right smack on November 12) cannot be considered anymore.
But in my head, this honor is the perfect fit for Vickie Rushton. Her face and aura scream Miss International without sweat. And I have it in good authority as well that she is one of the few (I won’t name the other two anymore) being eyed by Miss International in their wish-list. If she ends up being Bb. Pilipinas International, then it will be like a ringless three-point shot in basketball – smooth and sweet. 
BTS shots of the Bb. Pilipinas 2018 titleholders during their photoshoot with Raymond Saldaña earlier in the day. Watch out for the final images soon! 
So have you had your fix of sweet delights for Valentine’s Day? You still have a few hours to do so.
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