PHL to host Miss Universe pageant next year

The Philippines will host the Miss Universe pageant next year.

The development was confirmed by Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo in a press conference on Thursday.

"I would like to inform everybody that the Miss Universe pageant will be on January 30, 2017 in the Philippines," said Teo.

She added that the private sector will shoulder the expenses for the pageant, which is estimated to cost $11 million.

"The government is not going to spend a single centavo," Teo said.

The Philippines' Pia Wurtzbach is the reigning titleholder of the prestigious pageant, which was also held in Manila in 1974 and 1994.

As part of her campaign to bring the pageant back to the Philippines, Wurtzbach discussed the matter with President Rodrigo Duterte in a courtesy call in Malacañang on July 18.

Interior designer and model Maxine Medina will represent the country in next year's competition.

Beauty queens react

Medina is thrilled that the pageant will be held in the Philippines. Medina on Thursday exclaimed "Yazz!" on Twitter after the news was confirmed.

Yazzz! It's official, Miss Universe will be held here in Philippines. Calling out all Miss Universe 2016 Candidates. ????????

— Maxine Medina (@maxinemedina) July 28, 2016

Her fellow beauty queen Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves shared a video on Instagram, documenting their reaction to official announcement.

 

When we heard the news ???? @maxine_medina

A video posted by Nicole Cordoves (@binibiningnicolecordoves) on

Jul 28, 2016 at 4:40am PDT

In a report for GMA News' Unang Balita, Medina said that she would pick El Nido, Palawan as a venue for the coronation night because of it's status as one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Teo revealed in an interview with GMA News' News to Go on Thursday that Palawan is being considered as a location for the pageant, along with Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Boracay, and Manila. 

Medina is currently busy preparing for the competition and she assured fans that she is doing her best. —Virgil Lopez and Aya Tantiangco/JST/BM/KG, GMA News