Walang mapagsidlan ang sayang nararamdaman ni Contessa Manalo sa pagkapanalo ng anak niyang si Chelsea Manalo sa Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
Si Chelsea ng Bulacan ang kinoronahang Miss Universe Philippines 2024 sa grand coronation na ginanap sa SM Mall of Asia Arena, sa Pasay City, nitong Miyerkules ng gabi, May 22, 2024.
Dinaig niya ang 52 pang kandidata mula sa iba't ibang bayan at lungsod sa Pilipinas, pati na ang Filipino communities sa ibang bansa.
Read: Dark horse Chelsea Manalo wins Miss Universe Philippines 2024
Matapos ang coronation night, nakapanayam ng ABS-CBN News ang ina ni Chelsea na si Contessa.
Emosyunal nitong ibinahagi ang paghihirap ng anak bago nito nakamit ang koronang pinakaaasam-asam niya.
Umiiyak na pahayag ni Contessa, "Sobrang saya po na hindi ko ma-explain... matagal na po itong pangarap ng anak ko na dumating.
"Sabi niya, 'Mommy, I'm ready.' So, yun po, sinuportahan namin yung anak namin."
Read: Tamang Manalo ba ang nanalong Miss Universe Philippines 2024?
Inalala pa ng ina ni Chelsea ang sakripisyo at suportang ibinigay sa anak alang-alang sa pangarap nitong maging Miss Universe Philippines.
Si Contessa at ang stepfather ni Chelsea ang nagsilbi nitong PA (personal assistant) sa buong journey niya sa Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
Sabi ni Contessa, "Kami po, the whole time po, kami lang po kasama niya, ako at ang asawa ko.
"Kami lang po yung umalalay sa anak ko. Yun yung gusto niya, pangarap niya, susuportahan po namin siya.
"Hanggang sa ito na nga po."
Read: Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Question and Answer
Sundot na tanong ni ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo, "May time ba na medyo down siya? Any time during, you know, from the time that she signed up noong February until now?"
Mabilis na sagot ng ina ni Chelsea: "Hindi po. Masayang-masaya siya.
"Alam niya sa sarili niya na lalaban siya. Kaya niya at sabi niya mananalo daw siya.
"Kaya naiiyak, masaya [ako] nagpa-flashback lahat ng hirap. Yung pangarap namin mag-ina, lalo na siya.
"Sinusuportahan ko yung anak ko sa lahat ng gusto niya, sa lahat ng pangarap niya.
Sobrang saya ko po, naiiyak ako sa sobrang saya.
"Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon, natupad po yung pangarap niya. Sabi ko nga, the Lord's will be done.
"Noong bata po siya, maliit pa lang, nabu-bully din po siya at ako yung nag-e-encourage siya kanya na, 'Anak maganda ka.'"
Sa huli, may mensaheng nais ipaabot si Contessa sa anak niyang si Chelsea.
Aniya, "Anak, deserve mo yan. Ito na yung pangarap mo, natupad na.
"Mahal na mahal ka namin, alam mo yan. Mahal na mahal ka namin."
Read: Marina Summers opens Miss Universe Philippines 2024
Chelsea dedicates MUPH 2024 crown to parents
Samantala, sa hiwalay na panayam ni Dyan Castillejo kay Chelsea, sinabi nitong inaalay niya ang napanalunang korona at titulo sa kanyang ina, namayapa niyang American father, at ang kanyang stepfather.
Pahayag ni Chelsea: "When they announced my city, my province, I instantly thought about my parents.
"I know that this was not just my dream but also their dream to be Miss Universe Philippines.
"I always have this dream of actually looking at myself in the mirror of wearing that sash and that crown.
"So when they announced my province, I couldn't feel anything, like literally, and I'm really happy to be here."
Read: MUPH 2024 scene stealers, trending candidates, and bloopers
Kung tutuusin, naging emosyunal daw siya nang makitang umaakyat sa entablado ang kanyang mga magulang pagkatapos niyang makoronahan.
Lahad niya: "I was becoming emotional more when I saw my parents.
"Because when you're here on the stage, I was trying to look for them, because there's so much light.
"You can hear the crowd, you know, you have your sisters behind you.
"But when I saw them literally came up here on the stage, that's when I felt most emotional. Because it's been really four months for this coronation night to happen.
"So, for me, to embrace them was just really important for me for that moment.
"And we all go through challenges. We all go through that phase, you know.
"I didn't have that standard of beauty when it comes to beauty pageants. You know, I didn't have that color, that hair.
"But I told myself, and my parents have always told me to believe in yourself. You know, there's a story for you to tell.
"And this is me right now—to be your next Miss Universe Philippines and hoping to be the next Miss Universe as well."
Read: Chelsea Manalo dedicates MUPH 2024 crown to parents
Mensahe pa ni Chelsea para sa mga magulang: "I love you mom, I love you dad.
"This is not just for me but for you and for all of those people who have supported me. I will do great, we will do good.
"I know that this is already my journey but, you know, I hope that no matter where I am, you know, you will still be there to support me.
"I love you, Mom and Dad."
Read: Ahtisa Manalo, Alexie Brooks also win titles at MUPH 2024