MANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo will have a homecoming celebration in her alma mater De La Salle Araneta University (DLSAU) in Malabon tomorrow.
Chelsea graduated with a degree in Tourism in DLSAU.
Before the grand homecoming, Philstar.com asked Chelsea's former teachers and friends about the beauty queen as a student in the university.
Sheila Cabidog (former teacher)
“Chelsea (had) been my student in three subjects. In the classroom, I remember her as the pretty lass who is always flashing a smile. Her humility and simplicity despite her beauty and capacity are remarkable. She isn’t boastful kasi she values her relationship with her friends, classmates, and teachers. Pero kapag tinawag s'ya during recitation, napaka-in-depth ng mga answers niya.
“Her class became my 1st Gawad Lasallianeta organizers back in 2017. She was into modeling na that time so siya ang ginawa kong taga-abot ng mga trophies sa mga media personalities and celebrities on stage. She thanked me for that experience. When she joined Ms. World Philippines and did not make it to the final five but made it to the top 15, I told her that soon she should join again and become Miss Universe Philippines. Nagkatotoo nga!
“After graduating in senior high school (SHS), she enroled in another university but a year after nagulat ako when I saw her in a classroom sa DLSAU. I approached her and she told me that she figured out that DLSAU is her home away from home kaya bumalik sya sa DLSAU and graduated years after in college. We love you Chelsea!”
Ramil Pellogo (former teacher)
“I still remember when Chelsea was my student in Grade-11 in Oral Communication way back in 2016. When we had our first speaking task activity, she mentioned in her presentation that she had been bullied because of her color. I was wondering why. I was thinking she has all the good qualities despite her complexion. In her spoken discourse, she mentioned that she had been featured in some magazines. I requested her to bring those magazines, and she did. I was so impressed that is why I was really thinking what the reasons were why she was bullied.
“Chelsea is truly well-rounded, embodying a complete package of intelligence, wit, elegance, respectfulness, and most importantly, a deep faith in God. She consistently embraces qualities that guide her (toward) righteousness. With God's grace, I am certain that she has what it takes to succeed in Miss Universe. God always blesses a person like her.”
Michael Bardinas (former teacher)
“Chelsea Manalo is a very respectful, polite and kind. I will never forget everytime we meet, nagbi-bless siya sa akin. She had been my student for two consecutive trimesters in SHS, in General Mathematics, and Statistics and Probability. She was also diligent in studying. Hindi niya pinababayaan ang studies niya. Noong time na nakita ko na siya sa mga ads, billboards at sa free TV, she was really humble and down to earth. Napakabait ng batang ito. She really deserves kung ano ang naabot niya at maaaabot pa niya. I am really proud of her.”
Sheribelou Alejo (former teacher)
“She is simple, quiet, and a very shy girl, always seated at the corner of the classroom.”
Mochi Evangelista (friend in SHS at DLSAU)
“Chelsea was a stunner dati pa. She was the first person who approached me when we were SHS. I remember that exact moment when we were sitting on both ends of the row and no one dared to speak to me until she said, 'Hi.' And from that day on, we became friends. Marami kaming ‘tambay moments” sa DLSAU campus after school hours. We formed a clique and that barkada will forever be engraved in our hearts.”
Daine Cando (friend in SHS at DLSAU)
“Chelsea is such a sweet and beautiful girl who always exude confidence while remaining humble. She is witty, smart, and friendly. Having her as part of our squad back in SHS, I would remember the days when we would sometimes do group photoshoots for fun, go to ukay-ukay stores, and go on casual food dates. In 2017, Chelsea joined SM Youth.
“I remember our friend Eulan, who is good in photography, did a photoshoot of her that time, which eventually led to securing her spot in the competition. No one doubted her. She has always been a model in the making. She doesn’t overdo things; she’s just her. And that’s what we love about her.
“She’s unapologetically Chelsea. Seeing her win the crown was not a surprise to us at all, but witnessing her coronation night on live TV with her victory plastered across all social media platforms definitely gave us a reality check that one of our dear friends has reached her dream. We’re just happy for her! We hope to see her snatch the MU 2024 title soon in Mexico.”
From Jazmine Quesada (Chelsea’s friend in SHS at DLSAU)
"All of our vacant times in SHS we would just jam to music or just talk about life in general. We all love making Chelsea laugh because it's one of our favorite things! Lalo na whenever we impersonate celebrities, she would be sinking in laughter. We have always called her our sunflower because she genuinely looks at us like we're the sun in her life. She has always made us feel important and included. She has come a long way, from SM Youth to Ms. World, and now the Universe! We are so so proud of her!
Pauline Ramos (thesis partner in college at DLSAU)
“One outstanding trait that makes her stand out is her heart of gold. She used to give us sweet treats because, believe it or not, she thinks sweets are the ultimate brain fuel! This sweet gesture not only lits up her face with a smile but also showcases her kind and thoughtful spirit. She fearlessly shares tales from her modeling and pageant days, giving us a peek into her journey.
“I remember during our final presentation for entrepreneurship course, despite being in the middle of a photoshoot, she did not skip our presentation. She joined us for the project defense. She would always prioritize school duties over personal commitments. Ang galing n'ya mag-multi-task.”
'Embrace yourself': Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo shares pageant inspirations