In an exclusive interview last January with ABS-CBN News, Miss Universe president Paula Shugart said that she believes this is the right time to hold the pageant in the Philippines.
“For years, I’ve talked about someday having the pageant here. I do know with Pia (Wurtzbach) right now, the entire worldwide focus is on the Philippines. I think it’s a great opportunity. I would love to be able to make it work. We’ll see,” she said.
“We have new owners that came in in October. All we did is we focused on let’s get the show on and we’ll talk and now they are seeing things. When I go back, we’ll figure all that out. I keep my fingers crossed. This might be the right year,” she added. ABS-CBN News
Meanwhile, in a separate news article published by ABS-CBN News posted July 1,2016, DOT Chief under President Duterte Administration.
Read the news below:
Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach says she would like to pass on her crown in front of a home crowd. Fernando G. Sepe, Jr, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – The Philippines is the frontrunner to host the next Miss Universe pageant, the new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Friday.
DOT Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo told ABS-CBN News that organizers of the New-York based international pageant have laid out to them their plans for the country to host the next edition to be held in January.
Should it push through, Teo said that local tourism will receive a significant boost. She also revealed that the win of reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, the country’s first title-holder in more than four decades, influenced the decision of organizers.
Wurtzbach has been vocal about her support for the call to have the Philippines host a Miss Universe pageant again.
The last time the country hosted the global event was in 1994. Wurtzbach said she wants to pass her crown to the next winner, in front of Filipinos.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News in January, Miss Universe president Paula Shugart said she believes that this is the right time to hold the pageant again in the Philippines.
“For years, I’ve talked about someday having the pageant here. I do know that with Pia right now, the entire worldwide focus is on the Philippines. I think it’s a great opportunity. I would love to be able to make it work. We’ll see,” Shugart said.
Teo said that the government already has plans to make the necessary improvements to local infrastructure to prepare for the pageant if a deal is finalized. She also plans to hold talks with stakeholders and sponsors in the coming months.
According to Teo, she aims to attract more than 10 million tourists in the country this year with the help of social media and by continuing the success of the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign.
