The 65th Miss Universe Candidates will visit Miagao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site to do a Glam Shots.
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| Miagao Church |
Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon requested that the Miss Universe Glam Shots be held in Iloilo.
ILOILO - Get ready, Ilonggos! The most prestigious and much awaited beauty pageant Miss Universe 2016 in the Philippines is coming to Iloilo, as one of the pre-pageant events will be held in the City of Love.
Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon revealed through a statement released to the media that he had personally requested to Tourism secretary Wanda Teo that Glamour Shots photoshoot of the pageant be held in Iloilo.
The candidates will be having a themed photoshoot with Miss Universe official photographer Fadil Beresha.
"As we host the beautiful contestants of the Miss Universe 2016, it is also a good time to share to the rest of the world the unique beauty of Iloilo, and how she is steadily recovering her role as the Queen of the South," Drilon said.
"Iloilo's many tourist attractions - such as the Miagao's Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Iloilo River Esplanade and the Iloilo Convention - along with the colorful culture and cuisine of Ilonggos and heritage houses, will ensure that any guest will leave Iloilo behind with so many good memories of this place and its people," Drilon said.
Drilon said that the tentative date of the photoshoot is on January 19, but he said he would not discount the possibility that it will coincide with the annual celebration of Dinagyang Festival on January 22.
Among the venues that are being considered are the Miagao's Church, Iloilo Esplanade, the Iloilo Convention Center, the Molo Church, Drilon said.
Drilon appealed to the whole Ilonggo community to be one in working to make the historic event successful.
"This event is an affirmation and acknowledgement of Iloilo's rise as a progressive and developing center in the Visayas," he added.
The 65th Miss Universe coronation night will be held on January 30, 2017, 8:00 – 11:00 AM at the Mall of Asia Arena. Aside from Iloilo, other pre-pageant activities will also be held in Vigan, Cebu, Baguio and Davao.
Maria Mika Maxine Medina will represent the country at Miss Universe competition, which will held in the Philippines for the third time.
