"I MUST REMAIN TRUE TO MY VALUES." Miss Côte d'Ivoire Universe 2025 Olivia Yacé has announced her resignation as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania and cuts ties with the Miss Universe organization following the coronation night of Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. She finished as 4th runner-up in the pageant.
I took my time to process Shuvee’s issue, and along the way I had some realizations. Bear with me, this is gonna be lengthy.
Shuvee said things I completely disagree with, and I won’t dismiss that. But I also remind myself that she said those before she entered PBB. Inside the house, she had her mishaps, shortcomings, and violations, but with those came lessons she’ll surely carry with her. As Kuya said, “Isang housemate na marunong tumanggap ng kamalian.” I want to believe that PBB helped her grow.
I also want to believe that her heart is in the right place, even if her beliefs were clouded. Years ago, she openly condemned EJK, spoke against abuses of the PNP, and was disheartened by the ABS-CBN shutdown. When she said, “I stand for and with the Filipino people—always,” I truly believe she meant it. To me, she was just also a victim of the disinformation machinery that the Marcos-Duterte system has spread for years. Yes, she was old enough to know better. But, like many others, she was caught in an echo chamber where lies were repeated so often they started to sound like truth, and breaking free from that cycle takes both courage and awareness she may not have fully had at the time.
This made me realize, if we want a better government, we can’t deprive people of the chance to change. Those who want to be educated deserve patience and guidance. With 2028 ahead, we need allies, not enemies. That means being open to people like Shuvee, who are still learning, so that one day she can fight alongside us.
When she said, “Huwag po kayong mag-alala, natuto na po ako,” I choose to hold on to that. I choose to hope for her growth. I still believe she has to improve in terms of being more vocal and political. Her wide and growing platform must be used to speak more courageously; hence, I choose to believe that patience now can lead to stronger voices for the people in the future. We cannot afford to lose again in 2028. Kailangan natin ng mga lalaban kasama natin.