Caloocan bet is Miss Universe Philippines 2025 best in national costume

Miss Universe Philippines 2025 candidates (from left) Chelsea Fernandez, Valerie West, Allyson Ee, Angeline Cordero Kailani and Gwendoline Meliz Soriano. Image: Facebook/Miss Universe Philippines

Three delegates fielded by overseas communities topped the 2025 Miss Universe Philippines national costume contest, with Caloocan City’s Allyson Ee from Northern California claiming the highest spot.

The national costume showcase was held after the charity gala night at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila in Parañaque City on Wednesday evening, April 30. There, the host said that the winner would be announced at the coronation night.

But no winners were proclaimed at the final competition ceremonies held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday night, May 2. Instead, the national pageant made the announcement on social media the day after the coronation show.

“CONGRATULATIONS to the five winners of the Best in National Costume of the 2025 Miss Universe Philippines competition,” the national pageant posted on Saturday afternoon, May 3, with the images of the winning pieces.

Ee appeared in a creation by renowned costume designer Patrick Isorena, inspired by the mythical creature “Walo,” a being with eight heads and thousands of eyes. She paraded onstage in stilts, with two walking sticks attached to her hands. The scary ensemble had eight creepy heads attached to long necks propped on her shoulders.

This year’s national costumes derived inspiration from the rich and interesting Filipino mythology, with creations representing various characters, beings, landscapes, animal forms and even landscapes.

Coming in second place was Valerie West of Ifugao, representing the Filipino society of New York, in her all-white “Enkanto” costume designed by Renel Suarez. Complete with white face paint and white contact lenses, she glided on stage on her toes in a graceful ballet routine.

Ranked third was Angeline Cordero Kailani from Iloilo Province, representing the Filipino society of England, one of the many delegates who derived inspiration from the “Santelmo,” a fiery orb of bad omen. The The Ruffy Itaas creation came with a giant ball of inferno that opens up to reveal a flame-themed outfit.

Newly crowned The Miss Philippines-Cosmo Chelsea Fernandez was in fourth place with her Jearson Demavivas costume inspired by the “Singkil” dance’s Princess Lawanen, complete with a cylindrical backdrop that features Sultan Kudarat himself and opens up to showcase a collection of drums, jars and “Sarimanok.”

Rounding up the Top 5 was Baguio City’s Gwendoline Meliz Soriano in her “Lampong” costume by designer John Gayapa, inspired by the mythical forest spirit in the Cordilleras that transforms into a deer. The all-white ensemble was dripping in crystals.

The scores from the national costume showcase had no bearing on the final results of the pageant. Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province claimed the 2025 Miss Universe Philippines crown at the culmination of the coronation ceremonies.