20-year-old and standing tall at 175 cm, Maria Ahtisa Manalo is from Candelaria, Quezon. She was crowned Miss International Philippines 2018 by her predecessor Miss International Philippines 2017 Mariel De Leon at the coronation night of Binibining Pilipinas 2018 On March 18, 2018, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines.
Maria started pageantry at the age of 16 and graduated from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF) with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.