MANILA, Philippines - It’s confirmed: Manny Pacquiao will sit in the judging panel of the 2015 Miss Universe on finals night, Jan. 25 (Jan. 26 Manila Time, to be aired live on ABS-CBN), in Doral, Miami. This was announced by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) last Thursday.
That makes Pacquiao the sixth Filipino to do so, after Gen. Carlos P. Romulo in 1974 (Manila), fashion designer Josie Natori-Cruz in 1989 (Cancun, Mexico), Kuh Ledesma in 1991 (Las Vegas), Manila Bulletin chairman Emilio T. Yap in 1994 (Manila) and Lea Salonga in 2011 (Sao Paolo, Brazil).
Pacquiao will be joined by TV host/shoe designer Kristin Cavallari, TV/film actor William Levy (once named Sexiest Man Alive by People En Espanol) and Louise Roe (author, host of Plain Jane and Style by Jury, etc.).
Among the performers are Nick Jonas (during the evening gown competition) and Prince Royce (swimsuit competition). The Philippine bet, Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa, comes from North Cotabato. Pacquiao is from GenSan, South Cotabato (also the home city of 2011 Bb. Pilipinas/Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup). Meanwhile, according to New York-based Venture Capital Post’s report on Jan. 7, “As the pageant’s season is heating up, there have been the early crowd favorites named including Miss USA Nia Sanchez, Miss India Noyonita Lodh, Miss Brazil Melissa Gurgel, and Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa. As of the moment, Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa garners the most likes and shares on the official Facebook page of Miss Universe. The contestant has been loudly recognized on the social media for being ‘such an advocate for peace and humanity’ considering that she grew up in a war-torn province in her country.” — Reported by Celso de Guzman Caparas