Pia Wurtzbach meets President Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach paid a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañang on Monday.

The 26-year-old beauty queen arrived in Manila on Saturday hoping to discuss with the newly-elected president, the possibility of holding the next Miss Universe Grand Coronation Night in the Philippines.

Fingers crossed! Hoping for the best! Please, Lord!

— Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) July 15, 2016

Wearing a jumpsuit in hue of pink, the video showed the two have an exchange in a local language. Wurtzbach is a native of Cagayan de Oro making Visayan her first language.

After the meeting, Wurtzbach shared a snap of her and the president on social media.

New Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, who joined the meeting, has been supportive of the plan to host the coronation night in the country. The president, for his part, has "approved" the proposal in principle, Teo said.

In an exclusive interview with the STAR, Teo said hosting the pageant would boost the tourism industry of the Philippines.

“We will be broadcasted all over the world; we expect more tourists to come to the Philippines and that’s the benefit that we will get," she said in a text message.

It was in 1994 when the country last hosted the prestigious pageant. — with Efigenio Toledo IV