Palace wishes Maxine good luck
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MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has thrown its full support behind Miss Philippines Maxine Medina and wished her good luck in her quest to win the Miss Universe crown in the pageant’s 65th year.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella also enjoined the pageant’s contestants from 85 other countries to further explore the Philippines, which is hosting the beauty tilt for the third time, after 1974 and 1994.
Police have provided tight security all throughout the Miss Universe pageant, which will end with the coronation event tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“We convey our most heartfelt felicitations for all the Miss Universe candidates and throw our support to the Philippines’ candidate, Maxine Medina, who deserves all the moral boost she can get for working very hard and giving her best in a competition that promotes goodwill and friendship among nations,” Abella said. “As the country’s representative, Maxine is able to show the beauty, warmth, hope, and dignity of the Filipino. We are truly proud of her.”
Leni invited
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo also made clear Vice President Leni Robredo is invited to the pageant’s coronation night, as the DOT has reserved for her two VIP tickets worth P50,000 each for the event, while Cabinet secretaries and other government officials were given lower box tickets.
Last Friday, Robredo said she would not attend the coronation because she was not invited.
Teo said Robredo was at the top of her list for the event, but the DOT could not provide her the tickets right away because it only got lower box tickets for Cabinet secretaries and other government officials.
“The DOT will be honored if she will grace the 65th Miss Universe coronation night,” Teo said during the Lunar New Year countdown at the Chinese Garden in Rizal Park Friday night.
Teo said the DOT had also sent an invitation to the President, but no confirmation of his attendance has been received as yet.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) projected yesterday a doubling of tourism arrival this year, or one or two million more visitors, as the contestants were toured in various spots in the country in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Teo said the Miss Universe beauties would go back to their countries on Feb. 1, giving them a one-day rest after the pageant.
Meanwhile, Malacañang did not declare Monday a special non-working holiday despite calls from some groups to give way to the coronation day.
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