President Rodrigo R. Duterte meets with Miss Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach during a courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday July 18, 2016. (MNS photo)
MANILA (PNA) – The Philippines will definitely host the 2016 Miss Universe pageant, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Katherine de Castro assured on Tuesday.
The statement came after rumors surfaced last week that the Miss Universe competition will not push through in the Philippines.
According to de Castro, rumors broke out after she posted a status on her Facebook account on Thursday evening, which read, “Naiyak si Pia. Naiyak ako. Sana nandito ka Jonas para 3 na tayong umiyak ( Pia cried. I cried. I wish you were here Jonas so the three of us could cry together).”
De Catro immediately demised the rumors through her Twitter account, but her status has spread quickly on social media.
“Meeting with the Miss Universe Organization is still ongoing and official announcements will be made in the next few days ,” de Castro said.
Miss Universe officials arrived in the Philippines last week to conduct ocular inspections on the proposed venues for the competition including Manila, Vigan, and Cebu.
The much anticipated Miss Universe beauty pageant will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 30,2017.