Boholanos excited over upcoming visit of Miss Universe contestants

Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere from France leads the list of pageant beauties visiting Bohol on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. (Photo from the Miss Universe website)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Miss Universe fever has yet to subside.

Fans and beauty pageant fanatics in Bohol province were excited following the announcement by the Department of Tourism (DOT) that Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere was set to visit Bohol on Dec. 8.

Mittenaere of France would be joined in her Bohol trip on Friday by Miss Russia Kseniya Alexandrova, Miss Netherlands Nicky Opheij, Miss Korea Cho Se-Wheeand, and Miss Canada Lauren Howe.

On Friday, other beauty queens – including reigning Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters – will visit Batanes along with Miss India Shraddha Shashidhar, Miss USA Kara McCullough, Miss Singapore Manuela Bruntraeger, and Miss Spain Sofia del Prado.

Miss Universe-Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters will visit Camiguin with Miss China Roxette Qiu, Miss Great Britain Anna Burdzy, Miss Italy Maria Polveriono, and Miss Malaysia Samantha James.

The visit was part of DOT’s bid to boost tourism in the country.

Most of the fans had thought of different places where they could bring the beauty queens in the province.

“If given the chance to be their tour guide, I will bring them first to our very own Bohol’s pride – the Chocolate Hills so that they can enjoy its panoramic view,” 25-year-old Oliver Acebes said. “Next I will bring them to Loboc River to have some fun while enjoying the great food, entertainment, and savoring the beautiful river of Loboc. And at the same time, I will let them see the endemic tarsier that can only be found in Bohol.”

“I will also bring them to the Calamay factory so that they can taste the most famous dessert and the original calamay that can only be found in Jagna,” Acebes added. “I will also invite them to enjoy the crystal powdery blue waters of Panglao Island. And lastly I will take them to Baclayon Church to have some meditation. I will tell them that our province Bohol is still a safe place to visit because of our people in Bohol. Their visit is our pleasure and joy as well.”

For his part, Dandreb James Arro said: “I’ll bring them to my humble home and make them experience Boholano-Filipino hospitality.”

And Dirk Llup said: “I think the best tourist spot in our beloved Bohol is in the hearts of every Boholanos.”

Others said they would bring the beauty queens to Baclayon and Sierra-Bullones towns to partake in fiestas.

Last January 2017, beauty pageant enthusiasts were dismayed that they didn’t get to see Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach who made a “surprise visit” Bohol. /atm