TOURISM Secretary Wanda Teo is counting on the sense of forgiveness of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Filipino people, as well, to accept Steve Harvey to emcee the Miss Universe pageant in Manila.
Teo admitted that Duterte expressed hesitations on the likelihood that Harvey would host 2016 Miss Universe coronation night scheduled for Jan. 30, 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) chief said she explained that Harvey is in a five-year contract to emcee the pageant.
Harvey has been vocal in expressing his apologies for his mistake of announcing Miss Colombia as the winner before he realized that Bb. Pilipinas Universe Pia Wurtzbach was adjudged the 2015 Miss Universe.
“Miss Universe Pageant is four months away. That’s more than enough time to assuage President Duterte about his hesitation on Mr. Harvey’s hosting the event. I’ve known him for many years as our Davao City Mayor with a big heart for well-meaning people like Mr. Harvey, who did not hesitate to correct his mistake,” Teo said.
In an interview on DZMM with Noli de Castro, Teo also pointed out, “I will personally speak with the President and may even ask the help of Pia to convince him to give Mr. Harvey the chance he deserves.”
She went on to say, “The reigning Miss Universe, our very own Pia Wurtzbach has the magnanimity to appreciate the way Mr. Harvey stepped up to redeem himself. I’m counting on the same sense of forgiveness and class-act among Filipinos.”
In the Miss Universe Organization Facebook page, a photo of Wurtzbach and Harvey is posted showing the question-and-answer portion of 2015 Miss Universe, captioned “#TBT to the night that changed my life. Steve Harvey, let’s do it again and changed someone else’ life.”
Meanwhile, Teo clarified that the DOT is leaving to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to address the problem of homelessness that one news reporter said may be “eyesore” during the Miss Universe events.
“I do not consider homeless and street dwellers as mere eyesores. They are rather a manifestation of the tragic poverty that the Duterte Administration is addressing right now, through the DSWD and housing agencies,” Teo stressed.
She assured the DSWD under Sec. Judy Taguiwalo would implement humane and long-lasting programs and projects to uplift the lives of poor Filipinos in the streets.
The previous DSWD administration was condemned for hauling street dwellers and billeting them to a resort outside Metro Manila for the duration of Pope Francis’ visit and the APEC Summit last year.
