Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo visited the Antipolo Cathedral to pay homage to the Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Y Buenviaje or the brown skinned image of the Virgin Mary which is enshrined in the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. Shrine rector and administrator, Fr. Reynante Tolentino welcomed Manalo and her team who got the chance to pray in front of the 17 th century old image of the brown-skinned statue of the Virgin Mary on Saturday, June 22.
According to the Facebook post of the Antipolo Cathedral, Manalo, the first Philippine woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines, offered flowers at the foot of the Virgin of Antipolo before praying in silence during her visit. In a video clip shared by Fr. Nante to this reporter, Manalo was seen crying while inside the room where the antique Marian image was.
Fr. Nante gave Manalo a white veil and a portrait of the Our Lady of Antipolo before the beauty queen from Bulacan and her group left the shrine. The shrine administrator told Manila Bulletin that Manalo was introduced to Fr.
Nante by fashion designer and jeweler and mentor of Manalo, Manny Halasan, who happens to be a friend of the priest. The priest also revealed to Manila Bulletin that Halasan was the one who donated the bejeweled crown which was put on the head of the antique image of the of the Our Lady of Antipolo during the ceremony of the solemn declaration of the Antipolo Cathedral as an internation.
