Filipino beauty pageant fans may be left heartbroken after Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced that the Philippines will not be hosting the Miss Universe pageant this year.

Aside from the fact that the country hosted the pageant only a year ago, Puyat pointed out that the government’s budget constraints and that there were more other issues to address.

“Naisip kasi naming na kaka-Miss Universe lang (dito sa Pilipinas), at saka maliit lang ang budget,” Puyat said in an interview with radio dzMM. “Baka hindi muna.”

“Although pinag-isipan namin, nakita namin ang budget. Medyo bitin,” the Tourism chief said. “We’ll focus on other things. Saka na lang. Hindi muna this year.”

The last time Miss Universe was held in the Philippines was on January 30, 2017, where Miss France Iris Mittenaere was crowned as the international pageant’s grand winner.

Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray will represent the country for the international pageant’s installment this year. /muf