19/11/2025
FESTEJADA
Queen of Philippine Festivals
Ahtisa Manalo for Miss Universe in a costume by Mak Tumang
Representing the Philippines, she embodies the splendor of the nation’s grand celebrations — the festival queens who dazzle with beauty, grace, and cultural pride. Her costume is a living canvas of Filipino artistry and tradition. The camisa with its bell-shaped sleeves, saya or skirt, and the modest pañuelo draped across her shoulders honor the timeless silhouette of the traje de mestiza, a garment deeply rooted in Philippine identity.
This silhouette recalls María Clara, the beloved heroine of Dr. José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. During the Spanish colonial era, María Clara became the symbol of the ideal Filipina — virtuous, modest, and dignified — and her name would forever be linked to the traje de mestiza, later evolving into today’s terno, the national dress of the Philippines.
Her upper ensemble is crafted from hand made piña, an extraordinary textile unique to the Philippines, woven from the delicate fibers of pineapple leaves. This fabric alone is a testament to Filipino ingenuity and heritage, a treasure admired for its rarity, luster, and cultural significance.
Embroidery motifs include:
Abanico (Fan) — A classic traje de mestiza accessory, once used as a secret social and courtship “language,” expressing emotions through graceful gestures.
Palay (Rice) — A symbol of abundance and bayanihan, honoring rice as a blessing from the land and a celebration of shared community.
Complementing it is a magnificent skirt, fashioned from dyed fabric adorned with hand-cut, die-cut, and heat-pressed petals, more than 65,000 petals - each meticulously sewn one by one. Together, these elements transform the skirt into a vibrant homage to the festivals of the Philippines, with every layer radiating joy, color, and celebration
Some of the notable festival includes:
PATTERN Reference
• The Giant Lantern Festival of Pampanga, with its kaleidoscope of star motifs, symbolizes light, hope, and unity during the world’s longest Christmas season. The skirt features three distinct tiers, inspired by the key elements of the Kapampangan parol: the Tambur, Siku-Siku, and Palimbun, echoing the craftsmanship and brilliance of these iconic lanterns.
COLOR Reference
• The Pahiyas Festival of Lucban, honoring the harvest, inspires the vibrant hues of green, yellow, orange, pink, and red — the colors of abundance and thanksgiving.
TEXTURE Reference
• The Panagbenga Festival of Baguio, the grand festival of flowers, lends texture and flourish to the skirt, echoing the blooms that adorn its iconic floats.
To complete the ensemble, she is crowned with a reimagined PEINETA, which rises like a halo above her impeccable coiffure— Adorned with tambourine and filigree-inspired gold accessories, mirroring the opulence of traditional Philippine jewelry and the artistry of our goldsmithing heritage
The Philippines is a nation of fiestas, where every town and barrio bursts with celebration — from bountiful harvests to the joyous Christmas season. This costume captures that spirit, turning history, tradition, and festivity into a single vision.
With every step, she becomes the living festival of the Philippines — carrying the brilliance of a thousand lanterns, the warmth of Filipino hospitality, and the timeless grace of María Clara onto the Miss Universe stage.
