Philippines to host 2017 Miss U pageant on Jan. 30

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will be hosting the Miss Universe beauty pageant on Jan. 30, 2017, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced yesterday.

“I would like to inform everybody that the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant will be on Jan. 30, 2017, here in the Philippines,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced during a press briefing.

Teo said the DOT is looking at Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, Vigan and Mall of Asia in Pasay City as possible venues for the pageant.

It will be the third time the Philippines would be hosting the event.

The Philippines hosted Miss Universe pageants in 1974, held at the Folk Arts Theater, and in 1994 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The Philippines has three Miss Universe titleholders to date: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973) and current title holder Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Teo, for her part, decided to announce the country’s hosting of the pageant even after reports came out yesterday saying President Duterte rejected the invitation to host the event.

The article quoted the President as saying he does not want to spend government money for the pageant.

“There was this news article that came out that the Miss Universe will not push through, so I called Executive Secretary BingBong (Salvador) Medialdea and told him, ‘Is it okay for me to announce that the Miss Universe will be here in the Philippines?’ And he said yes,” Teo said.

Last July 18, Miss Universe president Paula Shugart, Miss Universe vice president Shawn McLain and Wurtzbach paid a courtesy call on Duterte to discuss the possibility of holding the pageant in the Philippines.

In her social media accounts, Wurtzbach, who hails from Cagayan de Oro City, proudly noted her connection to the President, both of them being “Mindanaoans.”

Wurtzbach also wished to crown her successor here. By the time that happens, her reign will be one year, one month and 11 days. 

The Philippines’ bet is Maria Mika Maxine Medina, The STAR’s Face of Allure on Sept. 7, 2014.

Teo gave assurance that the private sector has volunteered to cover the $11-million funding needed to host the event.

“The government is not going to spend a single centavo on it, it will be the private sector that will shoulder the expenses,” she said.

The DOT said it is just waiting for the official go-signal in the form of an administrative order to be signed by Duterte before the end of the month.

A memorandum of agreement will also be signed between the DOT and sponsors from the private sector.

She added President Duterte would be meeting with the National Security Council to assure the safety and security of locals and tourists during the pageant.

Teo said she is confident hosting Miss Universe in the country will give a boost to the local tourism industry.

“Once we announce that Miss Universe will be here, people will start looking at the map, ‘Where is the Philippines?’ So I’m sure we will have increased tourist arrivals,” she said.