@re-joyce 4 May 2025 more from that month

Let’s talk about Athisa Manalo, and why her Q&A was not just correct, but brilliantly authentic. Overnight, many non-supporters have taken it upon themselves to bash her win, saying she “didn’t even answer the question right.” Well, let me put it this way, no filter, that’s exactly how they’ve been unfairly pointing it out. So now, let me educate you on how not only was her answer correct, it was actually spot on. The question was: “They say that a good leader leads by example. Tell us about one event in your life when you lived by example and the impact it made?” And her answer? "I fell a while ago on stage. The thing with me is, whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger. Last year, I was here on this stage, and for the second time this year, I'm here putting everything on this stage to be Miss Universe Philippines, because this is mine and my grandmother's shared dream, and she passed away early this year. This is my ode to her." Now let’s break that down. The question asked for one event in HER life, not mine, not yours, not the judges’, not the audience’s. Just hers. And what did she do? She pointed to something real, something that happened right before our eyes, she literally fell on stage. No dramatics, no made-up anecdotes, just the truth, served with strength, poise, and emotional depth. And then came the comeback. Stunning, composed, radiant. She didn’t need to say more because she already showed what leadership by example looks like: resilience in real-time. Her fall, followed by grace under pressure, was the living metaphor for her answer. She didn’t throw buzzwords. She didn’t try to sound like a textbook. And no, she wasn’t channeling a Miriam Defensor-Santiago-style eloquence. But she didn’t have to. Her answer had something far more important: authenticity. It was raw. It was personal. It was her story. And that’s what made it impactful. We hear so many cliché answers during pageants, education, corruption, empowerment, rags to riches, often dressed up in perfect grammar and emotional bait. But here’s the thing: many of those are performative. Athisa gave us something different. Something real. Something hers. And that’s the kind of answer that doesn’t just win crowns, it wins respect. So, for those saying Athisa didn’t deserve the crown because of that Q&A: maybe the problem isn’t her answer, it’s that some people just don’t know how to listen. #MUPH2025 #AthisaManalo