Friday, 14 October 2016 | MYT 5:54 PM

Duterte ‘supportive’ of hosting Miss Universe title in Philippines

 

MANILA: Despite noise that the Philippines will no longer be hosting the Miss Universe pageant following the controversial remarks made by President Rodrigo Duterte, reigning queen Pia Wurtzbach is confident it will still be held in her homeland. 

Amid rumors that the Philippines would no longer push through for hosting the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, reigning queen Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach has expressed optimism that she would be able to do her final walk in her home country.

In a series of tweets, Wurtzbach said President Rodrigo Duterte was supportive of hosting the prestigious beauty title in Manila.

This is amid an online petition asking the Miss Universe organization to reconsider holding the pageant here due to the “objectionable, scandalous, and demeaning sexist attitude demonstrated by the leaders of our country.”

“When I met our President, he was very much a gentleman. He’s supportive in the idea of having the competition in the Philippines,” Wurtzbach wrote.

Wurtzbach paid a courtesy call on Duterte last July at Malacañang Palace, where they first discussed the possibility of holding the pageant here.

Reports surfaced that William Morris Endeavor/IMG, the owner of the Miss Universe franchise, is backing out of its agreement with the Philippine government due to “political instability, security concerns and the Philippines not paying the hosting fee yet.”

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the presidential palace previously said the government will not spend a single centavo in the Miss Universe hosting, adding that the expenses will be shouldered by the private sector.

There were also rumors that the franchise holder’s Jewish chief, Ari Emanuel, was offended by Duterte’s controversial remarks that cited Adolf Hitler’s killing of Jews during the Holocaust.

Calling for calm among Filipinos, Wurtzbach said she would push for the pageant to be held in the country.

“I think having MU in the Philippines would be great to boost tourism. It will definitely showcase the beauty of the Philippines,” she said.

“(I will take care of it. You can calm down. I will fight for it.) I want the competition in my home country!” Wurtzbach wrote in an earlier tweet.

The DOT previously denied rumors of a cancelled hosting, noting that talks were still ongoing with the Miss Universe organization. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network.

www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2016/10/14/duterte-supportive-of-hosting-miss-universe-title-in-philippines/