Miss Universe fever hits the Philippines

The 86 contestants of the 65th Miss Universe is taking the Philippines by storm as they continue their activities throughout major cities in the country, ahead of the highlyanticipated pageant event to be held in Manila on January 30.

This is the first time in 22 years that Philippines will be hosting the popular beauty contest. After the candidates from around the world met with local government officials in Pasay City at the Governor’s Ball, the girls were flown to Cebu, queen city of the south for the swimsuit round of the competition.

The chilly weather in Cebu was no match for the warmth reflected bythe Cebuanos as they welcomed the candidates with a traditional Sinulog dance, a fashion show and barrio fiesta luncheon.

Students and teachers from schools in Lapu-Lapu City, waving colourful flaglets and ballons, lined up the streets as early as 6am to greet the beauties as they passed through in a motorcade from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to JPark Resort Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu, the venue for the competition’s swimsuit round.

At least 800 people were squeezed into a 600-capacity ballroom and many more were not able to get in as the venue was packed.

“You don’t know what we went through to bring this (Miss Universe pageant) here,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo told the audience after the swimsuit show.

Teo, who is one of the primary forces behind the Philippines’ hosting of the beauty pageant, lauded the efforts of private and public sectors to bring the country to the world stage.

Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, LCS Group president and one of the partners of the pageant, said Miss Universe is back to where it rightfully belongs. The Philippines has hosted the pageant twice – when Margie Moran of the Philippines won the crown in 1974, and in 1994 when Sushmita Sen of India won the title.