Miss Asia Pacific Philippines 2025

 Anita Rose Gomez continues journey on the global stage 

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte 

Less than a month after being crowned the national Asia Pacific winner, Zambales delegate Anita Rose Gomez has started representing the country in the ongoing Miss Asia Pacific International 2025 competition. The newly-crowned queen is excited to be the Philippines' delegate to the global finals, despite the pageant unfolding on the home court.

"I feel very emotional as this is my very first International pageant. The advantage of the host country is that we can promote our tourist destinations. I come from very humble beginnings yet, like all other Pinoys, I am resilient - overcoming all challenges - and creating an unsinkable character  that even the floods cannot drown," intimated the svelte Zambales looker who is gifted with a 19-inch waistline!

"This is my first time as Asia Pacific Philippines national director. I know you can make it, Anita!" enthused ALV Pageant Circle president, Arnold L Vegafra, during Anita's send-off at the Pandan Asian Café in Quezon City, which was a day before the candidates were locked in the official residence in Manila.

Vegafria got the moniker "Queenmaker" after sending delegates for the first time to new pageant systems in 2024. This began with Maria Gigante who won as Universal Woman 2024, followed by Jean Isabelle Bilasano winning Face of Beauty International 2024, then Dia Mate who won the country's 2nd Reina Hispanoamericana crown. Plus Christine Juliane Opiaza's destined turn to wear the Miss Grand International 2024 crown. And now, Anita is hopeful to imbibe that same luck, being the first from ALV Pageant Circle to compete in the Miss Asia Pacific International quest.

"In 2018, long before I joined pageantry, I started my project of encouraging the youth in my community to continue their schooling. I/we live in a barrio and we were far from the schools. And I have continued with that project ever since. Now, I can also embrace the advocacy projects of the Asia Pacific International organization.

"Pageantry changed me for the better. To aspirants, just continue what you are doing - your best! Never let failure dictate your destiny. My story and experience brought me to very challenging situations where I was living in conditions without a roof over my head and no electricity. But I tell you, never let your past circumstances define who you are.

"We start our lock-in on Sept 21 when the scheduled rally happens. Despite what's happening to us, there's still hope. There are and will be people who still care about our future," intoned Anita during an interview.

Some of the Filipinas who won the Asia Pacific crown were Maria Carmen Ines Zaragoza (1982), Gloria "Bong" Dimayacyac (1983), Lorna Legaspi (1989), Michelle Aldana (1993), and Sharifa Akeel (2018).

"My story is rooted in gratitude. That's why I am driven and full of heart," she said in closing.

The 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International coronation night is scheduled to happen on October 8 in Cebu City. Stay tuned!