After more than two decades, the Philippines will once again be the host to the Miss Universe beauty pageant next year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary confirmed on Thursday.
In a press conference shared by Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro, DOT Secretary Wanda Teo confirmed the prestigious pageant will be held early next year.
"I would like to inform everybody that the Miss Universe pageant will be on January 30, 2017 in the Philippines," she said.
Teo added that the government would not "spend a single centavo" on the pageant since the private sector will shoulder the expenses estimated at $11 million.
The Philippines last hosted Miss Universe way back in 1994.
Last year, Philippine beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach won the crown and has since been revered internationally as one of the best titleholders for her kind and cheerful personality.
For next year's pageant, model-designer Maxine Medina will attempt to give the country a rare back-to-back victory in the Miss Universe pageant.
© FHM.COM.PH
