TACLOBAN CITY – The national costume competition of Miss Universe Philippines will be held here for the first time on Thursday, May 4, at the Leyte Normal University.
The 38 candidates of Miss Universe Philippines will vie for the award.
(Photo from Tingog Party List)
As the host, Tingog Partylist will choose one Tingog ng Pilipina Awardee each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The candidates' 5-day visit started with a Flores de Mayo motorcade Monday (May 1) hosted by the office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, City Government of Tacloban, Department of Tourism 8, Provincial Governments of Leyte and Samar.
After the motorcade, they will cruise along the iconic San Juanico Bridge, which connects Tacloban City in Leyte, and Santa Rita, Samar.
They will also visit Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge; Secret Kitchens of Samar Food Festival; Banig Weaving at Saob Cave; St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church and the Banig Fashion Show.
On their third day, they will visit Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte where another dinner will be hosted by Tingog Party list and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
A photo shoot on the rice fields of Sta. Fe, Leyte and a costume rehearsal will be done on the fourth day hours before the actual National Costume competition at LNU.
The National Costume Competition (NatCos) leads to the coronation night on May 13 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.
“This competition, although a non-points bearing event, is the most anticipated portion by pageant enthusiasts. The MUPh will determine our next crowned queen who will represent our country on the world stage,” said Romualdez.
The official expressed optimism that the candidates' Eastern Visayas tour will help promote the region's tourism.
His wife, Tingog Rep. Romualdez shared that it is also an opportunity to show the country and the whole world the beauty and wonders that Eastern Visayas can offer.
"We hope the Miss Universe Philippines pageant helps us get our message through," the former Binibining Pilipinas International 1996 said.
Meanwhile, the candidates are also set to visit SOS Children’s Village for their last day, as well as Astrodome Yolanda Memorial Park, Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño, Price Mansion, Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, Anibong Shipwreck in Tacloban, McArthur Landing Memorial National Park, and the Yolanda Mass Graves.