Next Miss U pageant to be held in Manila?

FUNFARE By Ricky Lo (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 8, 2016 - 12:00am

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Miss Universe pageants in the Philippines: Guada Sanchez (left), the Philippine bet in 1974; and (right) Charlene Gonzalez in 1994

I’m sure this piece of news will get Miss Universe enthusiasts excited and keep their collective fingers crossed that, the gods of beauty permitting, it will come true: there’s a possibility that this year’s Miss Universe pageant will be held in Manila.

“It might be,” Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta told Funfare in an exclusive interview yesterday at the Novotel Hotel where 2015 Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach will be billeted during her six-day homecoming (Jan. 23 to 29, see story on Page 1). “I was in Las Vegas during the Miss Universe pageant last December but honestly, I didn’t feel anything like that. What I know is that for the past two or three years there has been ‘conversations’ to that effect…you know, that the Philippines would be a nice place to hold the pageant in.”

The first time the Miss U pageant was held here was in 1974 won by Spain’s Amparo Muñoz (she died a few years ago) who came back to do a movie titled Hayop sa Ganda with former Miss Universe (1969) Gloria Diaz. It was reigning Miss Universe (1973) Margie Moran who crowned Muñoz.The country’s bet in that pageant was Guada Sanchez who finished among the Top 12. Then First Lady Imelda Marcos rushed the construction of the Folk Arts Theater for the pageant.

Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta, head of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), and 2015 Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

The second time the pageant was held here was in 1994, at the PICC, won by India’s Sushmita Sen. The country’s representative, Charlene Gonzalez, placed among the Top 6. Sen was crowned by reigning (1993) title-holder Dayanara Torres (of Puerto Rico) who also came back to start her showbiz career. Torres was romantically linked to Aga Muhlach, now the husband of Charlene; she married singer Marc Anthony and then separated from him (they were divorced).

“Now that the new Miss Universe is from the Philippines,” added Madame Araneta, “it might be easier to connect the Miss Universe Organization with the Philippine government.”

Hopefully.

Meanwhile, here’s Madame Araneta’s advice to Pia: “Stay the way you are. You do everything right.”

http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2016/01/08/1540257/next-miss-u-pageant-be-held-manila