Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters receives a necklace from Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
BASCO, Batanes — Strong winds did not discourage reigning Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and Miss Great Britain Anna Maria Burdzy to tour this northernmost province on Friday last week.
Thick mist covered the islands and some tricycle drivers would not ferry passengers because of the bad weather, but Nel-Peters and her entourage landed here for a four-hour visit.
They were greeted by Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco and other officials, who said Nel-Peters made history for being the first reigning Miss Universe to visit the island province.
Cayco gifted her with a native hat woven from “nito” vine and a necklace crafted by Batanes’ women entrepreneurs.
Nel-Peters described the island as “a paradise.”
“It’s very unfortunate that we were here for only four hours and in this kind of weather but I enjoyed my visit,” she said.
The Miss Universe group visited Honesty Cafe, San Carlos Borromeo church in Mahatao town and the Basco lighthouse. They were accompanied here by Tourism Assistant Secretary Maria Lourdes Japson.
Rains still poured when Nel-Peters and Burdzy waved to the crowd at the capitol grounds as they prepared to fly back to Manila. —Juliet Cataluña