THE Philippines will host the next edition of the prestigious Miss Universe pageant, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo confirmed Thursday.
In a press briefing, Teo said the pageant will take place on Jan. 30, 2017, at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the private sector shouldering the funds to run the prestigious beauty tilt.
“We have a President who comes from Mindanao, and our Miss Universe is from Mindanao, so I think this is the best time for us to do the Miss Universe here in the Philippines,” Teo said.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed to Teo that President Rodrigo Duterte had already agreed to hosting the pageant and asked her to make the announcement.
Teo confirmed the government will not spend on the pageant, which is estimated to cost $11 million, as several individuals and companies from the private sector—including tycoon Henry Sy and Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada–have expressed their interest in sponsoring the event.
Reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach along with the officials from the Miss Universe Organization last week met with Duterte in a courtesy call at Malacañang to convince him to accept the Philippine bid to hold the pageant here.
The Philippines last hosted the Miss Universe tilt in 1994, which crowned Sushmita Sen of India as winner. The country first hosted the pageant in 1974, when Margie Moran relinquished her title to Amparo Muñoz of Spain.
The last Miss Universe was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Wurtzbach won the crown, ending a 42-year drought for the Philippines.
Binibining Pilipinas Universe Maxine Medina will represent the Philippines in the pageant.