Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) — The Philippines will not host the Miss Universe beauty pageant back-to-back this year, the Department of Tourism said.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo relayed the decision to the Miss Universe organization on Thursday, Assistant Secretary Frederick “Ricky” Alegre told CNN Philippines.
“She said she has informed the organizing committee that we will not host it this year because number one, it’s too soon, having hosted it only last January,” he explained. “Secondly, in November, we’re also hosting the ASEAN Summit.”
The Miss Universe pageant for 2016 was held in the country in January this year. The organizers offered the hosting job to the Philippines again.
But the country is also the venue of year-round activities and meetings as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which will hold its 31st Summit from November 10 to 14 in Clark, Pampanga.
Alegre said Teo suggested hosting the beauty contest again in 2018 or 2019 instead.
Teo previously told CNN Philippines’ The Source that the decision on hosting Miss Universe 2017 was up to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Alegre said she has since decided to drop the project after internal consultations. They relayed the decision to the organization early to allow them more time to look for other possible hosts.
“It will only go to the President if it gets favourable headway from the department,” Alegre pointed out.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach passed on the title to Iris Mittenaere of France last January 30.
