How did Cebu’s bets do at the MUP 2025 Preliminaries?

CEBU, Philippines — After their performances at Monday’s Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) 2025 preliminaries, will Cebu City’s Gabriella Carballo, Lapu-Lapu City’s Natasha Testa, or San Fernando’s Thelma Suzanne Dayao become possibly the next Cebuana to compete at the Miss Universe pageant?

The last time a Cebuana represented the Philippines in Miss Universe was in 2021 with Beatrice Gomez, after Gazini Ganados in 2019, and actress Pilar Pilapil in 1967. Last year, Cebu City’s Kris Tiffany Janson finished as a top 10 finalist at MUP.

Gabbi: Looking at the bright side

Carballo, a 26-year-old doctor who’s won the titles of Miss Mandaue and Miss Cebu, claims she has only been mad once in her life. She credits her grandfather, featured in her introduction video, as the reason for her calm and collected personality.

“He’s so slow to anger. I don’t think in the 98 years, 26 of which I have seen myself, I don’t think I have seen him angry. And I think that’s why he reached that age,” she said during the preliminary interview.

This mindset is why Carballo chooses to look at life with a more positive outlook.

“If we choose to accept people from where they are in their life, and reach out to others out of pure love, shun the anger we might feel in our hearts, I think there is a lot more we can do in this world and a lot of love to spread so we can place love above all,” she added.

At 14, she was hospitalized for severe pneumonia, an ordeal she only realized was serious a few years later.

“What’s funny is that I didn’t even realize the gravity of the situation until a few years ago because I had no memory of that hospital admission at all,” she admitted. “What it taught me was that I have been given a second chance at life. It’s something I took lightly at the beginning, but now that I am aware of it, I know my life is not about myself anymore.”

“There are so many people in this world who need life. And I think we are led by the things that break our hearts every single day. Then we can reach the highest places of our lives in a world that often seems dark and where countries are on the brink of war. It’s people who look at life as their second chance who I think will serve as a beacon of light for everyone.”

She cites this outlook as her strength as a candidate.

“I am an empath, which means a lot of things every single day hurt my heart – not because they’re happening to me directly, but because when I watch the world through the lens of social media, I often find myself discouraged about life,” she admitted.

“But instead of letting that get me down, I am trying to focus more on how I can become light myself. Too many of us, even in this industry, tend to focus on what makes us look good and what makes us marketable. But in reality, it’s not about that.”

At the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Carballo came out in a sleek black-and-white halter gown by designer Jeanom Ursua – combining simplicity and nostalgia to show that a classic never goes out of style. Netizens described her look as “sophisticated” and “looking expensive.”

Thelma: Fashionista in metamorphosis

In her interview, Dayao wore a pink pantsuit by Sydney Villamora with a hand-painted flying fish to symbolize her hometown’s Sikoy-Sikoy Festival. Her evening gown by Mel Maria was an asymmetrical fuchsia lame creation.

At 18, she sold her unused clothes to help children, turning her love for fashion into a philanthropic pursuit.

“This came at a time when I was passionate about my cause. I pushed my advocacy for children, and what I did is that my love for fashion became my source of income to help,” she explained. “I sold my clothes I didn’t need anymore and gave all the proceeds to the children of Hope Mountain Center in San Fernando.”

As the first representative of San Fernando to MUP, Dayao shared that she struggled during her three-month preparation. Nonetheless, she considers the past few months as the best in her life.

“There have been a lot of turbulences, but what I am proud of the most is that I’m here. It’s already far, and every pageant made me a better person. After this, I know I am a better Thelma,” she said. “…whatever happens, crown or no crown, I am ready to take on the challenge the universe will give me.”

Natasha: Nothing to lose

Whether Testa, 20, wins or not, she looks forward to documenting her entire MUP journey in her diary.

“It’s all about the memories – specifically our day-to-day lives here,” she said when asked what her journal entry about MUP would look like. “I will put the pictures of what happened that day because I want to look back at it five years from now. It makes me blush looking back at my journals because I’ve been doing this since I was young. It inspires me. When I grow old, I’m going to look at that notebook and share that story with my children.”

Testa, who wore an evening gown by Glory Ann Sunpongco, has been joining pageants since she was 11. Some netizens have noted her resemblance to Ganados, even in the way she carries herself.

Despite her impoverished upbringing, she remains a dreamer, hoping to become both an educator and this year’s Miss Universe Philippines. “I have nothing to lose. Looking back to where I started, I have gained so much from my experience,” she said.

She briefly returned home attend the funeral of a loved one who passed away on April 7.

“Two weeks ago, my mamay died, and it’s heartbreaking to me. But I am here standing strong and still smiling in front of you, and that makes me Miss Universe – because I can overcome any challenge and hardship life puts me through,” she declared.

Favorites

Pageant observers predict that Teresita “Winwyn” Marquez, representing Muntinlupa, has a strong chance of succeeding Chelsea Manalo. She may follow in the footsteps of her cousin and fellow Sparkle talent Michelle Dee, who represented the country in 2023 in El Salvador and placed in the top ten.

Other favorites include pageant veterans: Quezon Province’s Ahtisa Manalo, Sultan Kudarat’s Chelsea Fernandez, Siniloan, Laguna’s Yllana Marie Aduana, and Taguig’s Katrina Llegado.

The candidates will next parade in their National Costume during tonight’s Charity Gala at Okada Manila, before Friday’s (May 2) finals at the Mall of Asia Arena which will be streamed live on Empire Philippines’ YouTube channel. It will also have a delayed telecast on Sunday, May 4, at 9 a.m. on GMA-7 and an evening encore at 8 p.m. on GTV. — (FREEMAN)