By JENA RAJNI EMPEÑO-MIGUEL

IBA, Zambales — Miss Zambales Anita Rose Gomez was named Miss Asia Pacific Philippines 2025 during the finals of the Miss Grand Philippines 2025 pageant on Aug. 24 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Metro Manila.

One of the popular candidates among the 29 competitors in the recently concluded pageant, the Zambales bet will represent the country in the Miss Asia Pacific International 2025 contest to be held in Cebu in October.

Gomez made a courtesy call in Iba on Aug. 29 to thank Gov. Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. and the rest of the Zambaleños who supported and cheered her on during the competition.

She also joined Zambales officials in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring the late President Ramon Magsaysay on the occasion of “The Guy’s” 118^th birth anniversary in this town.

Gomez is the first Miss Asia Pacific International representative under ALV Pageant Circle, organizer of the Miss Grand Philippines and Miss World Philippines contests. She will vie for the Philippines’ sixth crown, after Sharifa Akeel in 2018.  

Miss Asia Pacific International, which is based in the Philippines, is expected to draw at least 50 candidates from around the world this year.

The Miss Grand Philippines 2025 crown went to Pampanga bet Emma Tiglao, who was crowned by Miss Grand International 2024 Christine Juliane Opiaza, another Zambales beauty who hails from the town of Castillejos. 