After winning MUPH, Ahtisa Manalo is bound for Thailand to raise our flag

Miss Universe Philippines has a new queen in the person of Ahtisa Manalo, who, like her predecessor Chelsea Manalo, lived up to their surname, which means to win.

- By JERRY DONATO

Ahtisa of Quezon Province aced every competition segment, from strutting as a semi-finalist in an identical outfit with the other ladies and in an Albert Andrada swimwear to a dazzling Val Taguba gown and doing the Q&A.

In an interview for the Top 5, Ahtisa was quick to relate her falling on the stage in the evening gown competition that elicited applause from the crowd.

Pageant enthusiasts couldn't help but remember when Philippines' bet to the Miss Universe 1999 in Trinidad & Tobago, Miriam Quiambao, tripped on her gown on a loose thread for the presentation show or preliminaries. She stood up and continued her walk. The crowd cheered her on. She also talked about it in the pageant's Q&A segment after the Top 5 finalists were announced. Her sterling performance awarded her the first runner-up placement and the Clairol Herbal Essences Style award.

Miss Universe fans might also recall that Miss USA Rachel Smith and Miss USA Crystle Steward also, as others may put it, tumbled or fell on stage in the Miss Universe 2007 and 2008 evening gown segments. They also made a fast recovery and handled it well.