It’s not over yet.
Pia Wurtzbach took to social media to ask her followers to keep calm in the face of a petition urging the Miss Universe Organization not to hold the international beauty pageant in the country next year.
READ: No truth to Miss U cancellation rumors! PH still hosting pageant in 2017, says DOT
The petitioners cite what they believe as the “objectionable, scandalous, and demeaning sexist attitude” demonstrated by President Rodrigo Duterte as the reason why the pageant organizers should reconsider holding the event in the country.
It added that holding the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines “would serve as a reward of this intolerable behavior.”
The petitioners include leaders of various women’s groups such as Miss International 1970 Aurora Pijuan and former Commission on Human Rights chairperson Etta Rosales.
READ: Pia Wurtzbach finally speaks up on rumored romance with Marlon Stockinger
Pia, in a tweet on Tue, Oct 11, assured fans she is doing her best to make the 65th Miss Universe pagant will happen in the Philippines.
“Akong bahala guys. Kalma lang. Ipaglalaban ko yan. I want the competition in my home country!” she wrote.
(Let me handle this, guys. Just calm down. I will fight for it. I want the competition in my home country.)
Akong bahala guys. Kalma lang. Ipaglalaban ko yan. I want the competition in my home country!
— Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) October 10, 2016
This comes after rumors sparkerd earlier this month that the Philippines will no longer host the 65th Universe pageant on Jan 2017.
“I’m really hoping and praying that the pageant will be held here. And we’re working very hard in making that happen,” Pia said on her Facebook Live video on Sun, Oct 2.
The Department of Tourism acknowledged the online petition but said the plan to hold the Miss Universe pageant in the country has already received “overwhelming public support.”
READ: Amid cancellation rumors, Pia ‘working very hard’ to make sure PH hosts Miss Universe
The Miss Universe Organization is yet to make an official announcement regarding the venue and date of the 65th Miss Universe pageant.
Interestingly, Ricky Lo of The Philippine Star hints that “everbody should wait” for the official announcement by the Philippine government and Miss Universe representatives as early as next week.
Until then, we’ll just keep our fingers crossed.
