SECURITY preparations for the Miss Universe beauty pageant that culminates on Monday, January 30, received high praise from the Miss Universe Organization (MUO). “We are very happy; this is definitely beyond our expectations,” MUO President Paula Shuggart said after meeting with representatives from the Philippine National Police and the Department of Tourism (DOT) over the weekend at the Conrad Manila.
In a news statement, the DOT said during the meeting, the group discussed the security plans for the ancillary events leading to the grand coronation day at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“The target is zero incidents,” said DOT Assistant Secretary Frederick M. Alegre. “All the security preparations are in place,” he stressed.
Public vigilance, as well as adequate law enforcement, will ensure the safety and security in the Philippines of the beauty contestants, Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo added.
“Let’s make sure that our guests, the delegates and the [MUO] staff, are secure and safe. It’s all part of the whole experience of Filipino hospitality that we have a great opportunity to show to the world,” she said.
As of Sunday, some 86 candidates to the beauty pageant have already arrived in Manila. Some went to Boracay on Saturday and were in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, for a Terno Show on Sunday.
The DOT said 16 candidates were given a rousing welcome when they visited Boracay Island, famous the world over for its long, powdery white-sand beach.
Hundreds of local residents were present at the Godofredo Ramos Airport in Caticlan, waving and cheering at the candidates and their entourage who arrived from Manila via Skyjet Airlines.
The contestants then took a 15-minute speedboat ride to Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa.
Malay town officials, along with an Ati-Atihan dance group, led the throng who welcomed the candidates, which included: Miss Argentina, Miss Australia, Miss Belize, Miss Chile, Miss Costa Rica, Miss Ecuador, Miss Guyana, Miss Malta, Miss Mexico, Miss Myanmar, Miss Namibia, Miss Nicaragua, Miss Poland, Miss Turkey, Miss US Virgin Island and Miss Honduras.
“This is unbelievable! All these folks, young and old, turned out to welcome us,” Miss Australia Caris Tiive enthused.
For her part, Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Htun said: “Boracay is even more exciting and meaningful. The people are very friendly and joyful to be with.”
Apart from the dragon-boat rowing and swimwear photo shoot, the delegates also got an insight of the indigenous Ati culture by trying their hand at weaving and fishnet making. “The intricate weaving shows the rich Filipino culture,” Miss Mexico Kristal Silva said.
Private sponsors led by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson of the LCS Group and Solar Entertainment Vice President for Programming and Marketing Tessa Paz Alviz, were joined by Malay, Aklan Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, and Alegre. Miss Universe 2011 first runner-up Shamcey Supsup hosted the event.
“All of the 86 Miss Universe hopefuls have arrived to experience the genuine Filipino hospitality for two weeks on the road to the big night, and we are welcoming them with the generosity of our private sponsors and no added expense on the part of the taxpayers,” DOT Undersecretary Katherine de Castro said.
She also took exception to claims that the competition is designed to “objectify” women and that the country’s hosting aims to hide its perennial social ills, such as massive poverty.
“It is a great honor for the Philippines to host the Miss Universe competition, which celebrates the physical beauty, the talent and the humanitarian side of women,” she emphasized.
“For 65 years, the Miss Universe pageant has given women the opportunity to voice out and carry out their respective advocacies,” de Castro said.
The Philippines has produced three Miss Universe winners, namely, Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973) and the reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach (2015). The country’s hopeful for the forthcoming pageant is Maxine Medina.