Reigning queen Pia Wurtzbach and around 24 Miss Universe candidates joined the annual Panagbenga Flower Festival in Baguio City on Wednesday.
The beauties who arrived early morning at the Loakan Airport were welcomed by cadets of the Philippine Military Academy, who drew their swords as they alighted the private plane that brought them to the country’s summer capital.
Locals from Baguio had a glimpse of Wurtzbach and the rest of the delegates who rode flower-decorate d floats around the City of Pines. The parade, which featured street dancers donning colorful costumes, started at Upper Session Road, then continued down South Drive and ended at the Baguio Country Club.
After the parade, Wurtzbach and the candidates went strawberry picking and participated in a tree- planting activity led by executives of the Baguio Country Club.
Baguio is the fourth city that the Miss Universe candidates have visited since the kick-off event called The Governor’s Ball held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Jan. 16. It was attended by personalities including Mayor Joseph Estrada, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro, and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Over the weekend, around 20 delegates went to Vigan for the Philippine Terno Fashion Show on Calle Crisologo. And on Tuesday, the 86 candidates traveled to JPark Island Resort and Waterpark in Cebu and walked the runway in their swimsuits.
On Jan. 26, the ladies will be scored by the pageant judges for the swimsuit and evening gown preliminary competition. It will be followed by National Costume presentation hosted by Wurtzbach herself.
The coronation night will be held on Jan. 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and will be telecast live simultaneously by the country’s three major TV stations.