Miss U to unfold as Duterte likes it
Published
by AA Patawaran
At yesterday’s lunch briefing at the Makati Garden Club in Makati City, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo divulged that when she first sat down with President Duterte about hosting this year’s Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines, whose estimated cost would run up to $11 million, the President had two things to say.
“One,” Teo told Manila Bulletin, “do not spend a single peso of government money on this project and, two, do not inconvenience the public (and do not cause traffic).”
Teo believes, however, that hosting the 65th Miss Universe pageant will be a great boost to the tourism industry, especially now that all eyes of the world are on the Philippines, its food and its many travel destinations specifically, and so she approached former Ilocos Sur governor now Narvacan, Ilocos Sur councilor Chavit Singson to make it happen. Singson readily agreed to help, seeing to it that all costs would be shouldered by the private sector. “We’re doing this for the Philippines so this is the project of every Filipino,” he said.
Unlike the last Philippine hosting of the 43rd Miss Universe pageant in 1994, which was limited to Manila, DOT with Teo at the helm, is determined to use the pageant as a platform to aggressively promote the Philippines, particularly key destinations like Vigan, Bicol, Cebu, and Davao, which the 90 Miss Universe candidates, including Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maxine Medina, will visit as part of their activities. Also in the lineup of activities are photo shoots of some of the candidates in places like Baguio, Palawan, Siargao, Batangas, and Iloilo.
NO GRAND PARADE
In response to President Duterte’s directive number 2, no parade has been planned so far, except for the parade at the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, in which only eight of the candidates will participate. Teo also said, “there might be some form of activity at the SMX area, where the girls will be staying toward coronation ceremony on Jan. 30, as well as in Intramuros and the areas around Manila Hotel.”
As the pageant is going to be held in the Philippines for the first time in 23 years, and DOT is leaving no stone unturned to make it a platform to promote and showcase the very best of the country, Manila Bulletin asked Teo if there was any possibility the Philippine contender Maxine Medina would speak in Filipino in the all-too-crucial “Question and Answer” portion. “That’s a good idea,” the DOT secretary said. “I will propose it.”
KICKOFF ON JAN. 15
Miss Universe 2017 activities will kick off with a terno fashion show in Vigan on Jan. 15, where Singson is also organizing a governor’s ball, and a Mindanao tapestry show in Davao on Jan. 19. All the candidates will fly to the oldest City of Cebu for the swimwear presentation. They will have a photo shoot in their beach wear in Batangas and will do some strawberry-picking in the summer capital of the Philippines.
A Malacañang visit and a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte is also slated on Jan. 23.
The coronation ceremony will be held on Jan. 30, 8 a.m., and will be broadcast live in 190 countries and territories.
Apart from Gov. Singson, also at yesterday’s luncheon were Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz and Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran-Floirendo, who are throwing their full support behind this year’s hosting.
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/05/miss-u-to-unfold-as-duterte-likes-it/
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário