Pia Wurtzbach meets with Duterte on Miss Universe plans
Pia is in the country along with Miss Universe executives to discuss plans with the government to host the next pageant in the country.
SELFIE TIME. Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach takes a selfie with President Rodrigo Duterte during her visit to Malacañang, Monday, July 18. Screengrab from Instagram/@jonasofmercator
MANILA, Philippines – Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach met with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 18, to discuss the plans to host the next Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines
Pia was accompanied by her manager Esther Swan. Jonas Gaffud, who trained Pia, posted some photos on Instagram, which included Pia taking a selfie with the President.
Prior to her meeting with Duterte, Pia met with Department of Tourism secretary Wanda Teo.
Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism
Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism
Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism
In a press statement, Teo said about Pia's visit: "I'm so proud and grateful of the full support she is giving us in our efforts to host the upcoming Miss Universe contest in the country.
"Indeed, she has taken up the cudgels and leadership to make this happen. If this translates into reality, our tourism industry stands to gain tremendously.
The statement continued: "We are really hopeful that the President will grant our request, especially now that the private sector have come together to shoulder the production costs of Miss Universe.
"I'd like to emphasize that this undertaking would practically entail no expense on the part of the government."
In the same statement, the reigning Miss Universe said," I’m very happy that I’m back home after a while. The last time I was here was during the coronation night of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. And now I'm back here to work actually."
She continued later: "I don’t think it’s a secret; it’s a public knowledge that it is my personal dream, and I think the dream of a lot of Filipinos, the majority of Filipinos, that someday we’ll see the Miss Universe pageant to be held here. And we are keeping our fingers crossed."
On Friday, July 15, Teo confirmed in a press statement that the President has "approved in principle" her department's proposal for the Philippines to host the next Miss Universe pageant.
DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro earlier confirmed this month that Teo met with the executives of the Miss Universe Organization – led by its president Paula Shugart – about the possibility of the Philippines hosting the pageant. – Rappler.com
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