Cagayan de Oro wants chance to welcome Pia Wurtzbach

Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach           JORY RIVERA/CONTRIBUTOR

THE TOWN mates of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach want their own turn at rolling out the red carpet for her.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has written Stella Márquez Araneta, chair of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., to complain that his city, Wurtzbach’s hometown, appears to have been left out of her itinerary for her grand homecoming this month.

“I read in various reports that her itinerary will include a press conference, charity work, a courtesy call on Malacañang, the Senate and the House of Representatives, a homecoming special at Smart-Araneta Coliseum and a grand parade starting at Araneta Center in Quezon City, stopping in Manila and Makati, then going back to Quezon City,” Rodriguez wrote.

“CDO has been left out of her itinerary,” he lamented.

Wurtzbach, who will be based in New York for the duration of her one-year reign, has a scheduled trip home from Jan. 23 to 28.

Rodriguez, who furnished the Inquirer a copy of his letter, said Pia’s homecoming should include a visit to her hometown “in order for us to welcome our beloved Miss Universe.”

“While I understand that her stay in the country will only be for a short time, a visit to Cagayan de Oro City will definitely enhance her experience and she will feel the love and pride of her fellow Kagayanons who will certainly roll out the red carpet for her,” he added.

Rodriguez also sent Marquez a copy of a House resolution he filed in Congress congratulating Wurtzbach on her victory and designating her as “Ambassador of Goodwill from the Philippines and CDO.”

“Also, I filed a bill exempting all her winnings and earnings as Miss Universe from all forms of taxes,” he said. DJ Yap