Dannyka Manangan

Ahtisa Manalo opens up about growing up without her biological father: 'I think I have abandonment issues'

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Miss Universe 2025 3rd Runner-Up Ahtisa Manalo opened about the effects of not growing up with her biological father and how it shaped her relationships. In an interview with Toni Gonzaga on December 28, Ahtisa shared the challenges of her childhood and the emotional impact of a father who was absent both physically and financially. </p><p>Born and raised in Candelaria, Quezon to a Filipina-Spanish mother and a Finnish-Swedish father, Ahtisa recalled her early years surrounded by hardship.  </p><p>“Nagbebenta ako sa sari-sari store namin, pagbabantayin ako ng mommy ko. Parang halos lahat ng memory ko humahanap ako ng opportunity para kumita ng pera at tulungan yung pamilya at sarili ko,” she shared, reflecting on her need to contribute and support her family from a young age. Prior to this, Ahtisa had already shared in other interviews that she once felt “embarrassed” to admit that she came from a poor family. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSyu-5uCdC-/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A77214.59999999986%2C%22ls%22%3A76386.30000000005%2C%22le%22%3A76949.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>With the absence of her biological father, Ahtisa grew up with a stepfather who married her mother when she was five years old. While grateful for the support of her extended family, Ahtisa admitted that her relationship with her biological father that was non-existent left her with unanswered questions, prompting her not to make big efforts in finding him. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/24/ahtisa-manalo-on-her-miss-universe-journey-1705"><strong>READ: Ahtisa Manalo on her Miss Universe journey: ‘After 18 years, I have finally arrived at my ultimate destination’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>“Naisip ko yun before pero hindi siya yung gustong-gusto ko. Naisip ko lang na ‘ay okay, nasaan kaya siya?’ or ‘magkakakilala kaya kami?’ pero hindi ko siya hinanap talaga na may ginawa ako about it,” she said.  </p><p>She added that a part of her felt a quiet resentment: “Siguro ang point ko noon, siguro may hinanakit ako ng konti. Ang point ko is ‘bakit ako yung maghahanap e siya yung adult?’ Parang ganon.” </p><p>Her father&#x27;s absence, according to her, also left an imprint on her approach to relationships. </p><p>“I think I have abandonment issues. Kasi you got to think about it na parang [daddy issues], exactly. Kasi...yung responsibilidad nung tatay mo is to take care of you. So iniisip ko kung yung tatay ko nga hindi magawa yun, paano pa kaya yung ibang tao,” Ahtisa explained candidly.  </p><p>Amid these challenges, she credited the people around her for providing care and support during her formative years. She also expressed gratitude especially to those who took care of her ever since she started her pageant career in Manila when she was 20 years old. </p><p>“Maraming horror stories. Ako swerte ako na laging merong mga taong nag-aalaga sa akin,” she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DR4WeA0EhLQ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A77235.80000000005%2C%22ls%22%3A76386.30000000005%2C%22le%22%3A76949.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/12/27/ahtisa-manalo-opens-up-about-her-love-life-0828"><strong>READ: Ahtisa Manalo opens up about her love life</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Ahtisa’s revelations come as she begins a new chapter in her personal life, having recently started a relationship with her boyfriend following the Miss Universe 2025 pageant. </p><p>“Bago lang kami,” she shared in an interview with Vice Ganda, noting that while they do not mark months of dating, they have celebrated special moments together. </p><p>In another interview with journalist Kara David, Ahtisa reflected on her pageantry journey, saying it was the perfect closure to that chapter of her life. “I feel like this is the perfect way to close that chapter of my life,” she remarked, adding, “I&#x27;m happy because I feel like I closed that chapter of doing pageants in a nice manner.” </p><p>Ahtisa placed 3rd runner-up at the 2025 Miss Universe pageant held in Thailand in November. After her pageantry stint, the Filipino beauty queen also vowed that she would continue working with the non-profit organization, Alon Akademie.</p>

<p>Miss Universe 2025 3rd Runner-Up Ahtisa Manalo shares how not growing up with her biological father affected her relationships and shaped her experiences.</p>

Miss Universe 2025 3rd Runner-Up Ahtisa Manalo shares how not growing up with her biological father affected her relationships and shaped her experiences.