INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
Candidates in the 65th Miss Universe Pageant might just be persuaded to forget their diet when they’re offered the country’s famous lechon (roast pig) in Cebu, which will host the pageant’s swimwear competition. The beauty queens could also work off the extra pounds when they swim with the whale sharks of Oslob in the first of many out-of-town stops before the coronation night on Jan. 30, 2017, at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
At the welcome party on Saturday at the Conrad Hotel, Miss Universe Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach joins at least 10 other beauty queens, the tourism department said on Wednesday.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said Miss Australia, Miss China, Miss Indonesia, Miss Japan, Miss Korea, Miss New Zealand, Miss Malaysia, Miss Myanmar, Miss Thailand and Miss USA were scheduled to arrive on Friday for the kickoff party.
“Pia Wurtzbach is extremely excited and so proud that this is happening in the Philippines during her reign for all the world to see,” Teo said in a statement.
President Duterte was also expected to receive in Malacañang the first batch of contestants, including Binibinining Pilipinas-Universe Maxine Medina, the tourism official added.
Prepageant segments will be held in the country’s tourist destinations outside Metro Manila, including Cebu where the candidates in their swimwear will compete at JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, one of the top local destinations for diving, snorkeling and water activities.
Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro said the International Press Center under the Presidential Communication Operations Office will administer the accreditation for some 500 international and local media representatives expected at the pageant.