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MANILA – Beauty queen-turned-actress Bianca Manalo is still emotional every time she recalls the sea mishap that she, her boyfriend and their friends went through in Antique last week.

Manalo returned to Manila on Tuesday or five days after the accident and she related to ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview what was going through her mind while they were floating in the ocean waiting for the rescuers for three hours.

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“I was trying to calm everyone down. Naging pacifier ako ng group. May takot sa puso but lagi akong nagdadasal. Sabi ko Lord save us, Lord save us. Please Lord, calm the waters. 'Yun ang lumalabas sa bibig ko. Never akong sumigaw. Puro prayers and kapag natataranta na ang mga kasama ko, kinakalma ko sila. Sabi ko mas malulunod kami kapag nataranta,” she said.

Thankfully, Manalo knew what to do because of the training she had from being a former flight attendant.

“Meron akong basic na [training] so ang una ko pong ginawa was hinubad ko 'yung damit ko para hindi mabigat and kapit. Ang lakas ng waves, kapit. Bawat hampas po ng alon, sumisigaw ako sa group na kapit, walang bibitaw. Ganun lang po,” she said.

Manalo, however, did not lie when she confessed that she also almost lost hope at some point.

“Yes, pumasok na 'yun sa isip ko na baka hindi ko na makita 'yung family ko. Lagi kong sinasabi na Lord kung ito na 'yun, so be it. Basta hanggang sa dulo, nagpe-pray lang ako ng nagpe-pray. Hanggang sa dumating na yung rescue,” she said.

They were on their way to Mararison Island from Pandan when the speed boat they were on capsized.

Manalo’s politician-boyfriend Jonathan Tan, and one companion, Torrebeo Barrientos, decided to swim towards the shore in the hopes of finding help.

“Two and a half hours silang nag-swimming. Akala namin he will never make it. Iniisip ko baka mamaya naghihintay kami sa wala. Paano kung wala palang dadating na rescue?” Manalo said.

When the rescuers finally arrived, Manalo said she couldn’t stop herself from crying.

“When I was in the ocean, I was praying pa na ‘Lord, if two or three are gathered in Your midst, You are with us.’ Ganun na 'yung mga prayers ko,” she said.

“When I saw the rescue, I was crying nonstop. Lord, thank you. 'Yun ang unforgettable, 'yung pabalik na kami ng laot. Naisip ko, salamat Panginoon ko.”

Throughout the ordeal, Manalo said her faith and her family were the two things that kept her hopes afloat.

“Instead of saying na bakit ko ito pinagdaanan, ang iniisip ko, why do I deserve to be given a second chance to live. Siguro meron pa nga akong mission sa buhay, may purpose pa ako in life,” she said.