A photo posted by Kylie Verzosa (@kylieverzosa) on Oct 25, 2016 at 7:12am PDT

MANILA -- Is it just a mere coincidence that both Bea Rose Santiago and Kylie Verzosa won the Miss International title after taking their "selfies" with Philippine presidents who happened to be in Japan at almost the same time as the pageant?

Back in 2013, Santiago took a "selfie" with then-president Benigno Aquino III, and she went on to bring home the crown.

Last Wednesday, Verzosa said that she felt "lucky" after scoring a photo with current president Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Japan for an official visit.

A photo posted by Bea Santiago (@bea.santiago) on Dec 12, 2013 at 7:11am PST

According to Santiago, in an interview with ABS-CBN News' Mario Dumaual on Friday, she happily shared with Verzosa her rituals that she believed helped her gain the confidence to win the international beauty contest.

"She listened to me. Nakaka-proud na she listened to every detail. She's so cute and adorable. And nagpapa-picture din siya with the president so parang marami kaming similarities na ginawa back when I was competing. So I'm very happy na nanalo talaga siya," Santiago said.

She added: "I also told her na pagdating na pagdating niya sa Japan, sabi ko, ang gawin mo, i-inhale at i-exhale mo, 'This is it, this is the country I'm going to win in.' I hope she did that."

Santiago also warned Verzosa that if she botched her speech during the final round, she might as well give up on winning the title. "Speech is everything. Whoever gives the most profound and honest speech, siya iyong nanalo," she said.

• WATCH: Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa's winning speech

Verzosa was named Miss International 2016 in a coronation night held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo on Thursday. She shared that she prepared for the pageant for over a year, overhauling how she presented herself prior to competing.

• READ: Pageant as a science: How Kylie prepared for Miss International