It has been a long night but we finally reached the Top Five Q&A portion. Thankfully, the five beauty queens did not disappoint and continued to prove that they're beautiful women who have the power to inspire and empower others across the universe.
READ: The complete transcript for Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Top 5 Q & A
Miss Quezon Province Ahtisa Manalo
Question: Women learn from each other. What is the biggest lesson that you've learned from another woman and how did it improve your life?
Answer: "My grandmother put me through school and the biggest lesson I learned from her is to always be kind. She is someone who has a big heart and took care of me since I was a kid. I do think that my grandmother is someone that I can look up to. She is someone that is an embodiment of what a great woman is. Thank you."
Miss Baguio Tarah Valencia
Question: What is your breakthrough or biggest achievement and how did it improve you as a person?
Answer: "Being here in this prestigious pageant or the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 is my greatest achievement. The Tarah before is someone who doesn't really limit...ay, who really limits herself when it comes to her achievements. Where I would step here in this Miss Universe Philippines and I see the transformation, the improvement in how I was able to become an inspirational woman that I am now. And that is something that I would be proud of after this journey. Thank you."
Miss Cainta Stacey Daniella Gabriel
Question: Women have inspired you all throughout your life. Now tell us how you have inspired other women.
Answer: "You know I've been told many times that I am too short to join beauty pageants. But now I realize that pageants are a representation, a reflection of that very nation. And tonight, I am not only representing myself, but every Filipina woman who sees themselves in me. I hope to inspire every Filipina that just like the universe, we too are limitless."
Miss Bulacan Chelsea Anne Manalo
Question: You are beautiful and confident. How would you use these qualities to empower others?
Answer: "As a woman of color, I've always faced challenges in my life. I was told that beauty is...has standard, actually. But for me, I have listened to always believe in my mother, to always believe in yourself, uphold the vows that you have in yourself. Because of these, I am already influencing a lot of women who are facing me right now. As a transformational woman, I have here 52 other delegates with me who have helped me to become the woman I am. Thank you."
Miss Taguig Christi McGarry
Question: What is the biggest challenge you faced as a Filipina woman and what do you do to hurdle the challenge?
Answer: "I think one of the biggest challenges that Filipinas face today is being limited by still being shadowed by unfortunately men or the society. But I think that my platform and me standing in front of you today, I can encourage women that you too can stand up. You can be strong. You can be powerful. You can own your own destiny, like I plan to tonight."
READ: The complete transcript for Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Top 10 Q & A
Miss Cebu: "What is one behind the scenes pageant secret that you can share with the world?"
Answer: "This is one secret that I love to share to everybody. Well, not all, really...but a lot of girls call me ate or big sister. When I entered into the pageant I was kind of curious about it. I was a bit shy when these girls would call me ate because it would show my age. But now I'm very, very proud of it because they look up to me. They look up to me and share beautiful stories, and this is one thing I'm very, very proud of. Your ate is here!"
Miss Iloilo City: "If you could hit the rewind button in your MUPH journey, what moment would you play back?"
Answer: "Every day that I get to spend with these girls are the most amazing days of my life, but if there's one moment that I want to go back [to], probably those days that we were in Sultan Kudarat. We did our National Costume [competition] there. Though all the girls were really exhausted, that's when we see the sisterhood that's in there. So this is really more of, like, a celebration for us."
Miss Bulacan: "I wanna know, what are you looking forward to, if you had the choice: Not being able to wear heels, or getting your favorite food delivered to you anytime, any day, wherever you are in the world?"
Answer: "So one of the things that I also wanna share here is that I love to eat ice cream. It's one of my comfort foods. So behind the stage whenever I get to eat ice cream while wearing my heels, is both things that I actually like to share with you guys. So it's a both win for me."
Miss Taguig: "During the pageant, what is the one thing that you missed most?"
Answer: "It would very much be, and I'm sure my girls would agree, spending quality time with family and friends. Because, fortunately we get to spend time with one another, but we do miss out on moments 'cause we're so consumed with the pageants. But soon enough, we're all gonna be able to spend time with them again, so we're looking forward to that for sure."
Miss Bacoor: "After tonight, who in the entire world are you looking most forward to spending your time with?"
Answer: "So a lot of you will know that in 2021, my parents were not able to come and watch me compete in Miss Universe Philippines. But I am so proud to know that they are sitting right over there, and I am so, so looking forward to spending as much time with them as possible, especially given it's Dad's first time back in the Philippines in 10 years. So welcome back, Dad!"
Miss Pampanga: "You can't always have good days here. So when you're not feeling your best, who did you call or what did you do to feel better?"
Answer: "You know, when I'm not feeling at my best I would always call my sisters. I have 52 lovely sisters behind my back, and every time I feel down, whenever people would always question my capacity, there will always be 52 lovely sisters in my heart who will always push me to be at my best."
