QUEZON City, Philippines (October 11) – In 2017, the Miss Universe pageant, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will definitely be held in the Philippines, as confirmed by the Department of Tourism.
This confirmation belies rumors that the 2017 Miss Universe may not push through, at least not here in the Philippines. The rumor started when Tourism Undersecretary for Advocacy Kat de Castro made a cryptic post on Twitter last September 29, stating that she and reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach were very emotional during a dinner meeting.
The post elicited so much response, especially from the avid fans of the Miss Universe pageant.
De Castro, to clear up the rumors, said that she and Wurtzbach are emotional because they were reminiscing and not because of the 2017 Miss Universe.
DOT’s Wanda Teo, together with de Castro, shared some of the plans for the event, including a tour for the 88 candidates compared to last year’s 80. Some of the places in the Philippines that they are going to visit include Cebu, Davao, Bicol Province, Siargao, Vigan and Palawan. The DOT also has plans to shoot a pageant segment on a famous landmark such as Intramuros.
De Castro also assured the safety of the candidates, and said that they had meetings with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and also the Philippine National Police, for the security of the 88 candidates during their stay in the Philippines.
Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson also has a hand in bringing back the prestigious pageant to the country. The Philippines has hosted the Miss Universe twice before. First was in 1974, the first time in the pageant’s history that the event was held in Asia. Held at the Folk Arts Theater, the pageant crowned Amparo Muñoz of Spain as Miss Universe.
The second time was in 1994 at the Philippine International Convention Center, when Sushmita Sen of India was crowned as Miss Universe.
Singson expressed his commitment to the success of the coming Miss Universe.
The 2017 pageant will be held in the Mall of Asia Arena. WME/IMG – owner of Miss Universe – together with the DOT, is expected to make a formal announcement soon.
As a final note, American host Steve Harvey – who became infamous due to the mistake he made last year in announcing the winner of the Miss Universe – will be given a chance to talk to President Rodrigo Duterte, who made an earlier announcement that he does not want Harvey to host the pageant if it will be held here in the Philippines.
(written by Francis Albuen, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)