MANILA -- Philippine bet Maria Ahtisa Manalo is all set to compete at this year’s Miss International beauty pageant in Tokyo, Japan.

From being a festival queen in her hometown in Quezon province, Manalo will be parading on a much bigger pageant stage at the Tokyo Dome on November 9.

She is scheduled to fly to Japan on October 18.

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A post shared by Ma Ahtisa Manalo (@ahtisa) on Sep 23, 2018 at 3:40am PDT

“Konting nervous but I’m more excited, because I know that I prepared a lot of things here and when I’m there na, I just relax, do my thing and talk to many people,” Manalo said in an interview with ABS-CBN News during her official send-off on Thursday.

Manalo also revealed some of the tips she received from our former Miss International winners.

“Always be on time!” Manalo said. “Because the Japanese, they’re really specific sa time, so that’s one thing they told me -- just be on time always.”

The 21-year-old beauty queen also gave some details on what she will wear for the evening gown and national costume competition

“My national costume is inspired by Subanon tribe from Mindanao. It’s by Amir Sali and my evening gown is by Micheal Cinco but he told me not to share anything pero it would be bongga,” she teased.

The Philippines has won Miss International six times: Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Santiago (2013) and Kylie Verszosa (2016).