Angelique Manto concludes her Miss Universe Philippines 2023 journey: 'Until the end, #MANTObeTheUniverse'

If there was a beauty queen on the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 stage with the most intense plot twist, it was Angelique Manto.

Angelique wasn't initially part of the Top 10 finalists, but due to technical difficulties, the organization let the Top 18 queens compete for the long gown category, where the Pampanga's bet reigned victorious and earned herself a spot in the Top 5.

She was eventually hailed as the second runner-up.

On Instagram, the beauty queen and content creator wrapped up her Miss Universe Philippines 2023 journey with a montage of all her looks from the preliminaries to the finale.

"I left my heart out on that stage, Universe," Angelique began.

"I took every stride as if it was my last, I embraced every misstep that came along with it, I allowed fate to course through with its plan," she added. "Free from tears, I wholeheartedly accepted when I only made it to the first cut. It was a feat on its own."

But just when Angelique thought finishing in the Top 18 was her fate, the universe decided to give her another shot.

"And I took it, badly. And when I finally had the chance, I spoke what my heart wanted me to say," she said.

As a former courtside reporter, Angelique said she was used to hearing the screams of support for the athletes she reported for. But when the cheers she heard screamed "Pampanga," the city she represented, "You don't know how full my heart has and is still feeling — I am eternally grateful."

In her IG post, the 26-year-old credited those around her. "I am not only my own story — I am a collection of stories of people who have experienced my struggles and even those who have helped build me to become the woman that I am." 

In the end, Angelique said she only hoped to inspire people the way others inspired her.

"Here's to my next endeavor, next pursuit, and I can only hope to be with you still," she said.

"Until the end, #MANTObeTheUniverse," she added.

Angelique thanked all the people who helped her in her Miss Universe Philippines 2023 journey, including her ever-supportive boyfriend, David Guison.

"To my love, [David] — I am gonna need a whole separate post for everything you have done, sacrificed, and stretched for my journey," Angelique wrote.

"But let it be known, you are the half of what made #MANTObeTheUniverse happen — without you, all these wouldn't have been the same," she added.

In the Q&A portion of the Miss Universe Philippines 2023, Angelique was asked: "There were calls by some sectors to ban movies and TV shows that portray the Philippines in a bad light. Should we? Why or why not?"

She answered: "I believe that in every aspect, there are two things—there are the good and the bad. But it's in the matter of how we receive the images that we are sharing about the Philippines. We always share the good—the beauty there is in the Philippines, but we must also accept that in every aspect, there is the bad. And we must learn and grow from that and improve the country that we are in, and then hopefully we see Philippines for the good and the bad and celebrate it, and allow us to appreciate the country we are in."

The candidates were then asked the same question: "Recently, the Department of Tourism has adopted a new branding campaign, '"We give the world our best.' For you, what is the best that we could offer to the rest of the world? Why do you consider it so?"

During her turn, Angelique responded, "I come here, not just sharing my story, but the multitude of stories that we have yet to hear especially for those who are struggling in mental health. I believe the best that we could do and we could share is to remember and to remind everyone of the humanity in us, the empathy that have been inside of us all along, and to unlock it so that we could provide more humanity in humanity. The best way to share that is to allow people safe spaces for mental health so we could further this advocacy and more. Thank you."

On the coronation night held last Saturday at SM Mall of Asia Arena, Michelle Dee was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023.

Meanwhile, Pauline Amelinckx is Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 and Krishnah Gravidez is Miss Charm Philippines 2023.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Angelique Manto ???? (@angeliquemanto)

— Hermes Joy Tunac/LA, GMA Integrated News