BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO – The pride of the town of Leon, Alexie Mae Brooks, may not have reached the Top 5 of the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant, but her coronation as Miss Eco International 2025 has brought immense pride and joy to her hometown supporters.
The Miss Universe Philippines 2024 competition, known for its rigorous selection, saw a surprising turn on Wednesday night when fan favorite Brooks, 22, representing Iloilo, did not secure a spot among the Top 5 finalists. Despite this, Brooks clinched the title of Miss Eco International 2025.
The local government unit of Leon organized a live streaming event at the town plaza, which drew a large crowd filled with anticipation and hope for Brooks’ success. As the results announced Brooks’ exclusion from the Top 5, the crowd, visibly disappointed, began to dissipate, leading the LGU to end the streaming in solidarity with her supporters.
Jannet Cabunagan, Brooks’ former teacher, shared her initial dismay with Panay News, saying, “I was very sad when she didn’t make the Top 5; I went to sleep right after. But, the next morning, I learned she was crowned Miss Eco International Philippines, which was a huge surprise.”
Miss Eco International is a beauty pageant based in Egypt. Brooks will compete there next year.
Gregorio Caimoso Jr., Brooks’ uncle, expressed his happiness about her making it to the Top 10 and her victory as Miss Eco International Philippines. He revealed that her entry into pageantry was unexpected as it was never discussed within the family.
“She was focused on her studies and athletics, and only later did she start participating in such events,” he said.
Atty. Glenn Cababa-an, municipal administrator of Leon, expressed the community’s initial mixed feelings.
“We had a live streaming event at our plaza. Everyone was happy about her making the Top 10, but we were hopeful for more,” he said.
He hailed Brooks for becoming the pride of Leon and for representing Iloilo well.
“We would like to tell our Xiexie that we believe in her, we love her kag always proud of her.
Cababa-an also extended thanks to all of Brooks’ supporters from Western Visayas, across the country, and abroad.
Plans for Brooks’ homecoming are pending discussions among municipal officials who flew to Metro Manila to watch Brooks on Wednesday night at the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Brooks won the right to represent Iloilo to the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant by winning the Miss Iloilo 2024 pageant in January of this year. The Filipino-American standout of the National University athletics team bested 14 other Ilongga beauties.
Brooks had been a member of the national athletics team and Southeast Asian Games heptathlon veteran.
In 2013, the Ilongga athletics prodigy was scouted by coach Emanuel Pacardo during the 2nd Congressional District Sports Association Meet in Leon town. He saw in her a “gem” in Iloilo athletics.
She then landed at Iloilo National High School to pursue her sports career where, together with legendary Ilonggo mentor Noel Diel, she set a regional record in high jump and eventually became a long jump “queen” in the Palarong Pambansa.
Brooks was later recruited and became a scholar at National University in Manila, while accepting modeling jobs as a sideline./PN
