Showbiz Roundup: Miss Universe Philippines 2024 and Chelsea Manalo

Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan is the toast of the pageant community after she went home with the Miss Universe Philippines title during the coronation night that began on the night of May 22, besting frontrunners Ahtisa Manalo, Christi McGarry, Stacey Gabriel and Alexie Mae Brooks.

By the end of the national pageant’s ceremony, four other candidates were bestowed with their respective The Miss Philippines titles.

Catching up with the hottest entertainment buzz? Look no further, as INQUIRER.net brings you the biggest showbiz news from May 17 to 23 in one go.

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 is Chelsea Manalo

Filipinos have a new Miss Universe Philippines queen, on whom they will pin their hopes for another Miss Universe crown for the country, and she is Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan.

The 25-year-old beauty queen was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2024 by her successor Michelle Marquez Dee at the culmination of a glittering show held at the Mall of Asia Arena before thousands of cheering spectators.

Manalo bested 52 other aspirants to earn her ticket to the 73rd Miss Universe pageant, where she will attempt to become the fifth Filipino woman to bring home the crown. The global competition will be held in Mexico later this year.

The Bulakeña queen is not new to national pageants as she competed at the 2017 Miss World Philippines pageant, where she finished in the Top 15.

Joining Manalo in the final round of competition were Stacey Gabriel of Cainta (1st runner-up), Ma. Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province (2nd runner-up), Tarah Valencia of Baguio (3rd runner-up), and Christi Lynn McGarry of Taguig (4th runner-up).

Manalo will aspire to bring home the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown following the successful campaign of Dee, who finished in the Top 10 of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant held in El Salvador last year.

The 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant is the fifth edition of the standalone national pageant to choose the country’s representative in the Miss Universe pageant. It was first staged in 2020 with the crown going to national pageant rookie Rabiya Mateo.

The Miss Philippines crowns four more queens

Four more queens were also crowned after Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan was proclaimed the new Miss Universe Philippines, their titles under the national pageant’s sister search The Miss Philippines.

Tarah Valencia of Baguio inherited the Miss Supranational Philippines crown from Alethea Ambrosio, winner of the first staging of The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration held in the same arena in October last year.

Krishnah Gravidez, who was proclaimed as Miss Charm Philippines after finishing in the Top 3 of the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, relinquished her national title to Cyrille Payumo of Pampanga.

Alexie Mae Brooks from Iloilo City received the Miss Eco International Philippines title from Chantal Schmidt, a finalist in the first edition of The Miss Philippines search. She finished as first runner-up in the 2023 Miss Eco International pageant in Egypt in April.

A new title, Miss Cosmo Philippines, was awarded to pageant frontrunner Ma. Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province. In October, she will represent the Philippines in the first staging of the Miss Cosmo pageant in Vietnam.

Ahtisa Manalo and Valencia were second and third runners-up, respectively, in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, while Brooks and Payumo were in the Top 10.

The four new national titles were a surprise addition for the aspirants of the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, who joined the national competition knowing that only one title was at stake. It was announced only on May 13 that the ladies have more crowns to compete for.

Jonas Gaffud, head of Empire Philippines, who mounts both the Miss Universe Philippines pageant and The Miss Philippines search, told INQUIRER.net that three of the four additional titles’ winners will compete in 2025.

Because Ambrosio is still scheduled to compete in the 15th Miss Supranational pageant in Poland in July, her successor will be reserved for the 2025 edition of the international competition.

This is also the case for Gravidez, whose participation in the second Miss Charm pageant is yet to be scheduled. Her national successor will only see action in the global arena next year.

And because Schmidt had just competed in the Miss Eco International pageant’s 2024 edition held last month, her successor will participate in the global competition’s 2025 edition.

Angeline clarifies Nonrev’s kids from past relationship

Angeline Quinto clarified that her non-showbiz husband, Nonrev Daquina, only has two children from his previous relationship after a netizen accused him of having four firstborns already.

On Instagram, Quinto responded to a comment that warned her against “end up like actress Pokwang, who broke up with her estranged partner Lee O’Brian.”

Quinto replied, “I’m sorry, dalawa lang ang naging unang anak niya sa una.”

In 2020, rumors surfaced that Quinto and Daquina had broken up, and an unidentified woman claimed she was the new girlfriend of Daquina. The rumors died out eventually.

In a separate report by the Philippine Entertainment Portal, Daquina’s ex-wife claimed that he had already fathered three firstborns from different women. At the time, Quinto did not respond to the rumors.

In 2022, Quinto said on her YouTube channel that she looked forward to meeting her partner’s other kids if the circumstances permitted.

Quinto wed Daquina in Quiapo Church last April. The pair share one son, Sylvio, and they are expecting their second child, a baby girl.

Albie Casiño now a father to baby boy

Albie Casiño recently flew to the US to visit his baby boy after his non-showbiz girlfriend gave birth following the conclusion of the hit series “Can’t Buy Me Love,” according to entertainment insider Ogie Diaz.

In his vlog on May 18, Diaz said a “young actor” from “Can’t Buy Me Love,” who he eventually revealed to be Casiño is already a father, courtesy of his non-showbiz girlfriend.

“Tumulak na papuntang US ang young actor para makita, mahawakan, at makarga ang kanyang unang anak. Ang kanyang baby boy kasi, ang kanyang jowa na isang foreigner ay nanganak noong April 30,” said Diaz.

Citing a recent encounter with Casiño, Diaz said the actor wanted the report about his baby boy to be revealed once he already left the country. Diaz also shared a blurred photo of a sleeping baby lying on a bed.

“Proud siya ah! Sabi niya kasi sa’kin, ‘Hintayin mo muna akong makaalis, Tito Ogie.’ Nakita ko, napakagwapo. Hawig din kay Albie. Sobrang tuwang-tuwa si Albie, hindi niya ma-contain ang kanyang nararamdamang saya. Congratulations, Albie,” he said.

Casiño himself has yet to officially confirm the reports.

Nash and Mika tie the knot

Longtime couple Nash Aguas and Mika Dela Cruz tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Adriano’s Events Place and Prayer Garden in Tagaytay on May 18.

Dela Cruz walked down the aisle in an off-shoulder serpentina gown by fashion designer Julianne Syjuco, as seen on Instagram. “Walking towards my God-sent, my Love, and my forever,” she wrote.

The actress also added their official wedding hashtag “NASHakanyanasiMIKA.”

The pair’s event planner La Belle Fête showed moments from their special day, giving a glimpse of Aguas in an all-white suit.

Aguas confirmed in October 2018 that he and Dela Cruz were officially a couple. He said that she gave him her sweet “yes” through a 15-page letter.

Both Aguas and Dela Cruz started their acting careers in the now-defunct children’s sketch comedy show “Goin’ Bulilit.” The pair also worked in several shows together in ABS-CBN before Dela Cruz transferred to GMA in 2016.

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