Over 20 more Miss Universe candidates are expected to arrive in Manila on Fri, Jan 13, to attend pre-pageant events leading up to the finals on Jan. 30 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said pre-pageant activities will kick off in Boracay on Jan 14, followed by Vigan on Jan 15, Cebu on Jan 17, Baguio on Jan 18, and Batangas and Davao on Jan 19.
A Governor’s Ball will also be held in Manila on Jan 16 and a courtesy call with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang on Jan 23.
Candidates from the following countries are expected to arrive: Austria, Switzerland, Barbados, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Portugal, Paraguay, Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Slovenia, Aruba, Denmark, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Bolivia, Spain, Israel, Colombia, Panaman, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Korea, France, Sweden, and Guam.
Those who arrived earlier on Fri, Jan 13, are candidates from Jamaica and Venezuela.
On Thu, Jan 12, at least 46 candidates arrived including bets from Nicaragua, Canada, Costa Rica, Myanmar, USA, British V1, Mexico, Namibia, Vietnam, Russia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovak Republic, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Uruguay, India, Cayman Island, Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Malta, Spain, Turkey, Belize, Curacao, Netherlands, Indonesia, Japan, Peru, China, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Bahamas, Ecuador, Angola, Haiti, Iceland, and Kazakhstan.
Also here early were candidates from US Virgin Islands, Guyana, Brazil, and Sierra Leone.
Over 80 bets are expected to compete in the world’s most prestigious pageant.
The Philippines has hosted the pageant twice, in 1974 and 1994. —Azer N. Parrocha, Philippine News Agency (PNA)
