(From left) Michelle Dee, Celeste Cortesi, Angelique Manto. Images: Instagram/@michelledee, Instagram/@celeste_cortesi, Instagram/@angeliquemanto
It’s no secret that Michelle Dee and Angelique Manto are eloquent speakers — which were shown during the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPh) 2023 pageant — but their communication skills were given a boost with the help of Elmo B, Celeste Cortesi’s question-and-answer trainer.
Elmo B took to his Instagram account on Thursday, May 18 to share that Cortesi asked if he could help Dee with her question-and-answer skills, as she was looking for a trainer at the time.
“Three months ago, I received a text from Cele asking if I could meet Michelle because she is looking for a Q and A trainer. And the rest, they say, is history,” he said in the caption of his post, referring to Cortesi using her nickname, “Cele.”
The trainer then thanked Dee for trusting him throughout her pageant journey, saying she’s “intelligent, passionate and one of the most hardworking” people he ever met.
“[Michelle Dee], I don’t know how we ended up working together but I guess that’s why it’s called fate,” he said. “I always thought that a back to back win was impossible but you made that possible for us. You are intelligent, passionate and one of the most hardworking people I have ever met.”
“I am grateful for the trust that you have given me and the entire team. I know you have learned so much from us but trust me when I say that I have learned so much from you,” he continued.
Between her acting career and MUPh stint, Elmo shared that the reigning titleholder remained “professional and eager” during training.
“She would juggle tapings, businesses, the competition itself and would run in [one-to-two hours of] sleep everyday and still manage to train. And not once I heard her complain or be distracted in training. She showed up enthusiastic, professional and eager,” he added.
“And not for anything, Si Michelle na ata iyong isang text mo lang, nagrereply in one minute. Tapos tatawag ayaw magbaba ng phone. Needy pero iyong magandang needy. Hahahahah. #deepatapos, hanggang El Salvador pa tayo,” he further shared.
‘Goosebumps’ from Manto
The Q&A trainer also expressed his love for Miss Universe Universe Philippines second runner up, saying she’s the one who had “gone through the best transformational journey.”
“[Angelique Manto], in my eyes you have gone through the best transformational journey. I’ve always been worried that you would second guess yourself and [let self-doubt] take over but I know that you’re special,” he said.
Elmo admitted that Manto’s performance gave him “goosebumps” because she always had a passionate demeanor onstage.
“During the coronation night, I get goosebumps everytime you come out because the doubt in your eyes was replaced with fire, grit and passion,” he said. “It may have been someone else’s time that night but believe me when I say that yours is just around the corner. ‘Di pa tayo tapos because you are #mantobetheuniverse (We’re not yet done). See you next year? Scratch that. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.”
Dee and Manto appeared to be emotional with Elmo B’s heartfelt message, as they showed their love for the Q&A trainer in the comments.
“‘Clingy mo naman anak,’ hahaha you to me everyday,” Dee began. “We really wouldn’t be where we are now if you and the rest of the mothas didn’t share that same burning passion to ensure we were at OUR BEST — so thank you.”
Manto, on the other hand, reminded Elmo that her fiery spirit remained throughout the pageant because of his training.
“You, mothers, made that fire happen!! Look where it got us — and where it’ll get us!! You heard it here first!! Hahaha I love you,” she added.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@elmojklmno
During a recent interview, Dee revealed that she prepared for the question-and-answer portion of the national tilt at the most, where she kept on training for about “12 hours” before the coronation night.
“Q&A was what I worked with the most,” she told GMA-7’s Unang Hirit. “On coronation day, I started at 4 a.m. I was like, ‘Mama Elmo, I’m so restless. I want more training, just keep throwing questions at me.’ So all day, up until I was getting my makeup done for coronation, I was just training. I just wanted my mind in the right place.”
Dee, who will represent the Philippines in the global tilt in El Salvador, bested 37 other candidates to succeed Cortesi. EDV