Gabrielle Galapia asks: How does a host-delegate prepare for the pageant?

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Miss Asia Pacific International third runner-up Gabrielle Galapia shared that nobody prepared her for being the host-delegate before she embarked on her global pageant journey.

A pageant veteran in the local circuit, the Kapampangan lass got her first international assignment after receiving her national title in June, just four months since placing as Second Princess at the 2026 Miss World Philippines competition.

But unlike most of the country’s international delegates whose global pageants are outside the Philippines, Galapia had the convenience of staying in familiar territory. However, this also came with a challenge — that is, to help welcome her fellow delegates to her home.

“No one trains you for being the host country. So, I trained for three years ever since I started doing pageantry. And the preparations were always for, ‘oh if you’re going to another country this is what you’re gonna expect,'” she said at the pageant’s victory press conference held at Marco Polo Cebu in Cebu City on Oct. 11.

“But I don’t think anyone can really prepare you for being the host country. Because there’s a lot of expectations, there’s definitely a lot of pressure. You always have to give your 100 percent,” Galapia continued.

And she did make Filipinos proud. Aside from her runner-up spot, she also received both the Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown awards and two corporate titles.

But as the host-delegate, another way for Galapia to raise the Philippine flag proudly was to make sure her fellow delegates were enjoying the country. “I always wanted to make sure they went back to their countries with a great experience, something they would want to come back to,” she said.

“I know that the food was different, the culture, the weather especially is very different. It was so hot, it was so hot when we came here. But I like to think that… you gained new experiences and I know that they enjoyed it, because I enjoyed it,” Galapia continued.

The delegates stayed in Cebu for the duration of the competition. They explored the entire province, from north to south, and visited the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Carcar, Mandaue, Naga and Danao. They also visited the towns of Alegria, Argao, Badian, Bantayan, Cordova, Madridejos, Sibonga, Moalboal and Santa Fe.

“What I wanted them to come out with is a good experience, new memories. I wanted them to want to come back,” said Galapia, who welcomed 37 other delegates from around the world to the Philippines.

“When you come across something different, instead of asking ‘Why is it like that?’ you have to ask with empathy, ‘Where does that come from?’ And that’s where understanding really starts, and that’s how you start to connect with people. So that’s how I think we’ll be able to bridge people together,” she said.

At the end of the competition, Thailand’s Sasiwararin Atsawahirankarn inherited the title from 2025 winner Isabela Fernandes of Brazil. Also returning to the country were her runners-up Bowonrat Maneerat of Thailand and Elmira Wildboer from the Netherlands. /ra