Miss U bets get taste of Pinoy hospitality

MANILA, Philippines — Several Miss Universe candidates had a taste of warm Filipino welcome when they visited three emerging Philippine destinations Friday.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said the candidates, in three groups, went island hopping in Batanes, Camiguin and Bohol as part of their four-day visit in the country.

Both Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and Miss Great Britain Anna Burdzy expressed delight in reaching Batanes, where hundreds of school kids and Ivatans braved the rains just to see them pass along the street.

“Batanes is really breathtaking, very stunning. I am very happy to have visited this place. I can’t wait to share my photos on social media, I want to tell the world how beautiful this place is. I will definitely come back,” Nel-Peters said.

Her group traversed the scenic Naidi Hills in Basco before stopping at Valugan Boulder Beach, noted for its incredible landscape and rock formations. They also posed for pictures at the Basco lighthouse and bought some local delicacies and friendship bracelets at the Honesty Shop, where customers simply leave money for what they purchased.

After visiting cultural landmarks like the churches of San Jose de Ivana and San Carlos Borromeo, Nel-Peters expressed awe and admiration for the simplicity and breath-taking sceneries of Batanes.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said the trips to the island destinations would surely make the Miss Universe delegates into “tourist ambassadors” of the Philippines. 

“More than anything else, they will never forget the unique and genuine Filipino hospitality accorded to them,” Teo said.   

On the other hand, candidates Lauren Howe (Canada), Nicky Opheij (Netherlands), Manuela Bruntraeger (Singapore), Maria Polverino (Italy), Shraddha Shashidhar (India), Sofia del Prado (Spain), Kára McCullough  (USA) and Cho SeWhee (Korea) visited Camiguin on Skyjet’s inaugural flight to the island province.

They had a brief photo-shoot at White Island before visiting Balai sa Baibai (house by the beach) where they were each given a sea glass necklace handcrafted by the women of Agoho in Camiguin’s Mambajao town.

In Bohol, where the third group went, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Rachel Peters played host to Miss Russia Kseniya Alexandrova and Miss Malaysia Samantha James, who were treated to festive street musical performances by a group of native Boholano dancers.

They also soaked in the sun at the Bohol Beach Club before heading back to Manila Friday afternoon.

Teo earlier encouraged the Miss Universe candidates to come back and experience Christmas in the country, the longest in Asia, as she promoted the Bring Home a Friend campaign, which aims to create ambassadors of tourism and encourages Filipinos and expatriates to invite their friends abroad to visit the Philippines and win exciting raffle prizes.

The Miss Universe delegation arrived in the country earlier this week and is set to leave today.