If he had his way, President Rodrigo Duterte does not want actor-comedian Steve Harvey to host the 2016 Miss Universe pageant which will be held in the country.
In a meeting with Duterte, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said the President said he doesn’t want Harvey to host next year’s pageant.
“What? Ayoko yun (I don’t want him [to host the pageant]),” Duterte was quoted as saying during a news briefing in Malacañang.
“Hindi pwede (I don’t want). I’m going to talk to Miss Universe because I don’t want him to host the Miss Universe,” the President added.
But Teo said Harvey has an existing five-year contract with Miss Universe.
“So definitely, he’s again going to host Miss Universe,” she said.
Harvey received a lot of flak after making the wrong announcement, declaring Miss Colombia as the winner. He had to retract the announcement minutes later to declare Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, as the real Miss Universe.
She said they were looking for a Filipina to be Harvey’s co-host during the pageant.
“Siguro maglalagay ako ng (Perhaps I would look for a) girl from the Philippines that will co-host,” she said.
“Probably one from the media,” she added.
The coronation night of the Miss Universe pageant will be held at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City on January 30, 2017.
READ: It’s official: PH to host 2017 Miss Universe pageant at MOA
Before the coronation night, the pre-pageant events will be held in Davao, Cebu, Iloilo and Vigan City.
Teo said hosting the Miss Universe pageant would require $11 million but they were assured the government would not spend a single centavo.
READ: PH won’t spend ‘a single centavo’ on 2017 Miss Universe hosting
Teo said the funds to finance the pageant will come from the private sector in coordination with a group led by former Ilocos Sur Governor and now Narvacan town Councilor Luis “Chavit” Singson.
“I’m very sure, 100 percent sure, that the government is not going to spend any money for the Miss Universe,” she said.
Asked how much has been raised, she said ” I believe he (Singson) has already raised half of that, which is the requirement of the Miss Universe.” RAM/rga
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