17/11/2025
More than 30 years have passed since the death of Teresita Sanchez, yet her legacy continues to shine. Sanchez holds a historic place as the first Filipina to compete internationally in a beauty pageant, proudly representing the Philippines in the inaugural Miss Universe pageant in 1952.
Today, Ahtisa Manalo becomes the 70th Filipina to carry the Philippine flag at Miss Universe. Throughout the decades, the Philippines has earned an impressive 28 total placements in the competition.
Interestingly, in the same year Sanchez competed, the crown went to Armi Kuusela of Finland, who would later marry a Filipino and live in the Philippines. In a charming twist of fate, Ahtisaβs father is also Finnish. Some pageant fans canβt help but wonder, could this unique link be a sign of the stars aligning for her?
Winners
β’ 1969 β Gloria Diaz
β’ 1973 β Margie Moran (Miss Photogenic)
β’ 2015 β Pia Wurtzbach
β’ 2018 β Catriona Gray
1st Runner-Up
β’ 1999 β Miriam Quiambao
β’ 2012 β Janine Tugonon
3rd Runner-Up
β’ 1963 β Lalaine Bennett
β’ 1980 β Rosario Silayan
β’ 1984 β Desiree Verdadero
β’ 2011 β Shamcey Supsup
β’ 2013 β Ariella Arida
4th Runner-Up
β’ 1975 β Rose Marie Brosas
β’ 2010 β Venus Raj
Finalists (Second to Last Q&A)
β’ 1994 β Charlene Gonzales, Top 6 (Best NatCos)
β’ 2017 (65th Edition) β Maxine Medina, Top 6
β’ 2021 β Beatrice Gomez, Top 5
Semi-Finalists (Competed in Swimsuit/Evening Gown)
β’ 2015 (63rd Edition) β Mary Jean Lastimosa, Top 10
β’ 2017 β Rachel Peters, Top 10
β’ 2023 β Michelle Dee, Top 10 (Best NatCos)
Semi-Finalists (Swimsuit Only)
β’ 2021 (69th Edition) β Rabiya Mateo, Top 21
Other Semi-Finalists
β’ 1965 β Louise Vail, Top 15
β’ 1966 β Clarinda Soriano, Top 15
β’ 1972 β Barbara Crespo, Top 12
β’ 1974 β Guadalupe Sanchez, Top 12
β’ 1987 β Geraldine Asis, Top 10
β’ 1954 β Blesilda Ocampo, Top 16
Quarter Finalists
β’ 2019 β Gazini Ganados, Top 20 (Best NatCos)
β’ 2024 β Chelsea Manalo, Top 30 (Best NatCos)
Representatives Who Competed but Were Unplaced
β’ 1952 β Teresita Sanchez
β’ 1953 β Cristina Pacheco
β’ 1955 β Yvonne delos Reyes
β’ 1956 β Isabel Rodriguez
β’ 1957 β Carmen Corrales
β’ 1962 β Josephine Brown
β’ 1964 β Myrna Panlilio
β’ 1967 β Pilar Pilapil
β’ 1969 β Rosario Zaragoza
β’ 1970 β Simonette delos Reyes
β’ 1971 β Vida Doria (Miss Photogenic)
β’ 1976 β Elizabeth de Padua
β’ 1977 β Anna Kier
β’ 1978 β Jennifer Cortez
β’ 1979 β Criselda Cecilio
β’ 1981 β Caroline Mendoza
β’ 1982 β Maria Isabel Lopez
β’ 1983 β Rosita Capuyon
β’ 1985 β Joyce Burton
β’ 1986 β Violeta Naluz
β’ 1988 β Perfida Limpin
β’ 1989 β Sara Paez
β’ 1990 β Germelina Padilla
β’ 1991 β Lourdes Gonzalez
β’ 1992 β Elizabeth Berroya
β’ 1993 β Dindi Gallardo
β’ 1995 β Joanne Santos
β’ 1996 β Aileen Damiles (Miss Photogenic)
β’ 1997 β Abbygale Arenas (Top 11, Miss Photogenic)
β’ 1998 β Jewel Lobaton
β’ 2000 β Nina Ricci Alagao
β’ 2001 β Zorayda Ruth Andam
β’ 2002 β Karen Agustin
β’ 2003 β Carla Balingit
β’ 2004 β Maricar Balagtas
β’ 2005 β Gionna Cabrera (Miss Photogenic)
β’ 2006 β Lia Ramos (Miss Photogenic)
β’ 2007 β Anna Theresa Licaros (Miss Photogenic)
β’ 2008 β Jennifer Barrientos
β’ 2009 β Bianca Manalo
β’ 2022 β Celeste Cortesi
Crowned locally but did not compete internationally
β’ 1958 β Carmen Tuason
β’ 1959 β Christine Matias
To be Determined
β’ 2025 β Ma. Ahtisa Manalo
Note: In 1960 and 1961, no local pageant was held. The Philippines withdrew from the Miss Universe franchise during these years.
Summary:
β’ Winners: 4
β’ Runners-up: 9
β’ Semi/Quarter Finalists: 15
β’ Unplaced: 41
β’ Representatives who competed: 70
β’ Crowned locally but did not compete: 2
