Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The country nearly missed the opportunity to host the prestigious Miss Universe pageant, a major partner organizer said late Wednesday.
“Well, there was a time na kinansela. Ako, hindi pwedeng kanselahin dahil bayad kami fully paid and we signed a contract — it’s a breach of contract,” former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson said during in an ambush interview after the official launch of the pageant Wednesday night.
[Translation: Well, there was a time that [the pageant] was canceled. For me, I didn’t want it canceled because we fully paid and we signed a contract — it’s a breach of contract.]
Read: Miss Universe coronation not at 5 a.m.
Singson is chairman of LCS Group, a local private partner of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) for next year’s pageant. He said MUO’s owners initially cancelled the event. The Philippines is scheduled to host the 65th Miss Universe pageant on January 30, 2017.
Singson said the MUO wanted to proceed with the event, but its owners thought otherwise.
“Mga may-ari mayaman eh. Miss Universe [Organization] gusto nila pero iyong may-ari ayaw na. So ka’ko sabi nila iyong may-ari: babayaran namin pati iyong mga damages,” he said.
[Translation: The owners are rich. The Miss Universe Organization wanted it (to push through with the event) but the owner didn’t want anymore. According to them, the owner said they were willing to pay the damages.]
Singson said the MUO owners are Jewish, and hinted that politics could have led to the initial cancellation.
“So… parang politics, pero after the election, okay na lahat,” he said.
[Translation: So… it’s like politics, but everything was alright after the election.]
“Ang may-ari kasi mga Jew so… si [U.S. President Barack] Obama, chief of staff niya yung kapatid ng may-ari,” he added.
[Translation: The owners are Jewish… the brother of U.S. President Barack Obama’s (former) chief of staff is one of the owners.]
He was referring to Ari Emanuel — the brother of Mister Obama’s former chief of staff and current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Ari Emanuel is the co-CEO of talent agency and marketing firm WME-IMG. Donald Trump sold the MUO to WME-IMG in 2015.
Singson said he sought the help of the Jewish community.
“So nagkataon na marami kaming kaibigan sa buong mundo, kinontact ko rin yung mga kaibigan natin na Jew — nakatulong sila. Especially the Jewish community nakatulong,” he said.
[Translation: So it just so happens that we have many friends around the world, and I contacted my friends who are Jews — and they helped. The Jewish community especially helped.]
Singson said his LCS Group and other major partners raised about $12.9 million [about ₱638.35 million] to stage the pageant.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo has said government will not shell out funds for the event.
“Noong kinansela nandiyan na sila Okada [Manila], si Solar [Entertainment], and others. So mapursige ako na makiusap na please reconsider, because we have talked to a lot of people. We have a commitment and iyong credibility ko masisira, at masisira rin iyong credibility ng Miss Universe.”
[Translation: When it was (initially) canceled, Okada Manila, Solar Entertainment, and others were already there. So I sought to negotiate and tell (the organizers) to reconsider, because we have talked to a lot of people. We have a commitment and my credibility and that of Miss Universe would be damaged.”]
Singson said both parties had been in talks to hold the event in the country “for a long time, even before the (May 2016) election.”
“Bago na mag-eleksyon nag-usap na kaming lahat. Ayos na lahat. Then na tapos, nag-kontrata kami, ayos na lahat — fully paid. Mabuti naman fully paid tayo,” he said.
[Translation: Before the elections, all of us already talked. Everything was alright. Then we created a contract and we paid in full. It was good that we paid in full.]
The agreement marks the third time the Miss Universe pageant will be held in the country. Previous hostings were in 1974 and 1994. The country’s bet next year is Maxine Medina. She is vying to retain the crown won by Pia Wurtzbach last year, which ended the country’s more than four-decade title drought.
Shawn McClain, Miss Universe vice president for marketing and business development, said the show will highlight the beauty of the Philippines and boost tourism.
“We’re going to show as much of the Philippines as we can and it’s a beautiful country, so it’s a great backdrop for the show,” he told reporters before Singson’s remarks.
“We wanted it to be a really timely show, so we want to make sure that by the time it happens, we’re going to have the most relevant talent, the most relevant musical acts and that it’s going to draw a lot of attention. You’re gonna love it,” he added.
