DOT: Phl won’t host Miss Universe 2017

No, the Philippines will not host Miss Universe 2017.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed yesterday that the Philippines will not host the Miss Universe pageant this year due to financial constraints and schedule conflicts with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in November.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said that it is too soon for the Philippines to host the 2017 Miss Universe pageant in November, just 10 months after the successful 2016 Miss Universe pageant that was held in Manila.

Teo said the government could not host the pageant because of the conflict in schedule with the ASEAN summit, set to be held in the country in November.

Teo said they have informed the Miss Universe organization about their decision during their last meeting.

“I actually talked to some people and they said it’s too soon to hold it here. We just hosted last January and they want to have it here again this coming November,” Teo said.

“We talked to the Miss Universe organization and I said we’ve changed our mind because we will be hosting the ASEAN summit in November also,” she added.

Teo, however, said that the Philippines is more than willing to host the Miss Universe pageant in 2018.

The 65th Miss Universe pageant was held in the Philippines last January, where Iris Mittenaere from France won the coveted crown.

The Philippines’ bet Maxine Medina landed among the top six of the pageant.

As far as financial matters are concerned, DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro admitted that they could not get private individuals who would sponsor the event so soon after the successful hosting of the 2016 Miss Universe pageant.

“But they (sponsors) are willing to have it next year ... logistically speaking we might not be able to do it this year,” said De Castro, who was the over-all in-charge of the Miss Universe 2016.

De Castro admitted that they regret the decision to withdraw from hosting the Miss Universe pageant but they are not yet financially ready for the event.

De Castro, however, said that the DOT is not closing its doors to hosting the Miss Universe pageant again in the future.