The Miss Universe 2017 delegates capped their tour of the Philippines with a fashion show featuring the collection of renowned Filipino designer Renee Salud at a special charity gala night hosted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila on Saturday night.
Dubbed “Women of Significance,” the event also celebrated the accomplishments of Filipino women.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo led the awarding of recognition to eight women from different fields:
- special education teacher Aileen Apostol
- “Modern Nanays of Mindanao” founder Nadine Casiño
- nongovernment organizer Sol Balbero
- medical intern Charleanne Jandic
- SpP03 Esnairah Lucman
- screenwriter and filmmaker Baby Nebrida,
- Nurture Wellness Village founder Catherine Brillantes-Turvill
- former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor
Balbero is the executive director of Kanlungan sa Er-Ma (Ermita, Malate), the beneficiary organization of the charity event.
Jandic made headlines when she assisted a passenger of the Metrorail Transit who fell on the tracks and severed her arm. Lucman led the female team sent to Marawi City.
The guests of honor shared the same runway the Miss Universe queens walked to showcase the fashion creations of Salud, who used indigenous woven fabrics from the different tribes in the Philippines.
Serving as backdrop for the “Philippine Tapestry” fashion show were scenic locations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Leading the bevy of beauties was reigning Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.
Miss Universe Philippines Rachel Peters also walked the runway, along with her batchmates from Canada, Spain, the United States, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Russia, Italy, China, The Netherlands, Great Britain and India.
The ladies, together with Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere, went on a tour of the Philippines that brought them to Fort Santiago and Intramuros in Manila, and to Batanes, Bohol, and Camiguin.
The Philippine tour was meant to promote the country as a tourist destination and to highlight the DOT’s revived “Bring Home a Friend” campaign. /atm