Alexie Brooks mourns death of her grandmother: 'I loved you with everything I had'
Miss Eco International Philippines Alexie Brooks is left "heartbroken" following the death of her lola Basing.
On Instagram, the beauty queen shared the news of her grandmother's passing, penning a heartfelt caption to a photo of them together in black and white.
"Today, I lost the person I loved more than anything, and the pain is unbearable. I'm at a loss for words," she began.
"Lola, I loved you with everything I had, and now I feel completely shattered and unable to move on. I am heartbroken. God please," Alexie added.
The cause of Basing's death has not been disclosed yet.
Friends and dearest from the pageant industry showered Alexie's post message of support and condolences.
"Condolence Alexie and my prayers will be for you and lola," Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo said.
"Sending you love and hugs my dear," Victoria Velasquez Vincent wrote.
"My condolences, Alexie. Sending lots of love and prayers," Raven Doctor commented.
'I am hurt, grieving, and crying'
The Miss Iloilo 2024 titleholder uploaded a letter expressing her love towards her grandmother in a separate post.
"I wrote this when I was next to you last month during my visit home. My hands were shaking, my heart was breaking, and tears were falling from my eyes as I [was] writing," Alexie began.
She added, "I know in my heart that you were never mine to keep. I spent the whole night staring at you, my heart deeply yearning and begging God not to take you away from me. Sitting next to you in the middle of the night for what turned out to be the last [few] moments, I found the strength to write again."
Alexie went on to say that she was hurt, in grief, and crying due to the incident that happened to her grandmother, whom she treated as her "mother, father, best friend, mentor, master teacher, and greatest love."
"But who would have thought it would be my final letter to you?" she said. "God knows how much I love you and how shattered and broken I am.
'My grandma is my life'
In a January interview with ABS-CBN's TV Patrol, Alexie showed how close her relationship was with her lola Basing. The latter took care of her as she grew up by selling vegetables in the market in Leon, Iloilo, while her mom worked as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
"My grandma is my life, without her I don't think I will have this dream, I don't think I would even achieve the achievements that I have right now kasi everything that I do right now, or everything that I ever done is all for her," she said.
On May 22, Alexie represented Iloilo City in Miss Universe Philippines 2024, where Bulacan's Chelsea Manalo won the title.
She was crowned Miss Eco International Philippines and is set to represent the country internationally in 2025.