Red carpet welcome laid out for Miss Universe candidates in Vigan, Baguio

VIGAN CITY—At least 1,000 policemen have been assigned to secure 20 candidates of the Miss Universe pageant when they visit this heritage city on Sunday, as residents help clean up Calle Crisologo where Ilocanos will be given their best chance to watch the contestants up close.

Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson is one of the producers of the Philippine staging of the pageant at Mall of Asia Arena on Jan. 30. Singson is bringing the candidates to Baluarte, his sprawling vacation house and a private zoo, which will showcase the native industries of Ilocos Sur province, such as jar making and “abel Iloco” weaving.

Trucks have been ferrying Ilocano clay jars, which are manufactured in Barangay 7 here, as well as Ilocos woven fabrics made in Caoayan town.

At Calle Crisologo, where most of Vigan’s preserved Hispanic houses are located, work crews put up crowd control barriers and new signs with uniform designs in preparation for the visit.

The candidates will proceed to the city’s Plaza Burgos for a highly anticipated fashion show, where they will parade the clothes put together by fashion designers from the Ilocos and Metro Manila.

The classic kalesa (horse drawn carriages) of Calle Crisologo will be restricted to an area outside the fashion show venue.

“This is a big and momentous chance for Ilocos Sur to be featured to worldwide audience… That is why we really prepared for it,” said Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson.

Miss Universe candidates visiting Baguio City on Jan. 18 will wear these ponchos and skirts designed and woven by Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts. —EV ESPIRITU

 20 candidates

Expected to arrive here are candidates from Belgium, Brazil, British Virgin Island, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Guatemala, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Thailand, the United States, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam. Miss Philippines Maxine Medina will join this batch of candidates.

In Baguio City, four floats are being built to carry 32 candidates when they visit the summer capital on Jan. 18 with reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.

Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts is preparing 40 sets of individually woven ikat ponchos “sungkat” to be worn by the candidates when they join floats representing Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao and a grand float carrying Wurtzbach.

The floats have been commissioned by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, which is financing the Baguio leg of the Miss Universe candidates’ Philippine tour. These have been fashioned after heavily decorated floats that participate in the annual Baguio Flower Festival in February.

The floats will be paraded from upper Session Road to the city’s South Drive on the way to the Baguio Country Club, where several activities have been scheduled, including a meeting with local artists.  —LEONCIO BALBIN JR. WITH REPORTS FROM VINCENT CABREZA AND EV ESPIRITU