Organization of Miss Universe 2016

Stamp sheet of the Philippines dedicated to Miss Universe 2016. Featured are previous Filipina winners of the pageant from left to right: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2015)

The organization of Miss Universe 2016 by the Philippines, the host country began as early as July 2016, even before the official announcement of their hosting rights was made by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).

On July 28, 2016, the country's Department of Tourism (DOT) has unilaterally declared that the Philippines will host the Miss Universe 2016 pageant but it was only on November 3, 2016 that the MUO officially announced the country as host of the pageant.

The pageant was organized by the LCS Group of Companies, the DOT and the MUO.

Background

The Philippines had been making preparations for the hosting even before the Miss Universe Organization confirmed the country's hosting rights in November 2016. Miss Universe 2016 was organized by the Miss Universe Organization along with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and LCS Group of Companies.[1] On November 16, 2016, the Miss Universe representatives, DOT and private sponsors signed a partnership contract signified the Philippines' hosting of the 65th edition of the beauty pageant. Also, the official website and Facebook page were launched during the event.[2]

Development

Negotiations

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach on a courtesy call with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The two had talks regarding the possibility of hosting Miss Universe 2016 in the Philippines.

On July 18, 2016, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach made a courtesy call with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in regards to hosting Miss Universe 2016 in the Philippines. Duterte was initially open to the idea but refused to shoulder the expenses through government funding.[3] Later reports revealed that the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) clarified that the President was never opposed to the idea of hosting the pageant but only had concerns with the financing.[4]

The DOT unilaterally confirmed on July 28, 2016 that the Philippines was to host the pageant. According to DOT Media Director Ina Zara, Miss Universe Organization President, Paula Shugart said that other countries were considered to host Miss Universe 2016, but the Philippines has been a prime choice for the organization.[4] The hosting of the pageant by the Philippines just about two weeks after the announcement by the DOT was reportedly "80 percent confirmed".[5]

On November 3, 2016, the Miss Universe Organization, through a video message from Wurtzbach, officially announced that the Philippines was to host the pageant. The DOT welcomed the announcement.[1][6]

Cancellations and renegotiation

It was later reported that plans to host the pageant in the Philippines were cancelled several times due to undisclosed reasons. The DOT had to send officials to the United States to ensure that the pageant will be hosted in the Philippines.[7]

On December 4, 2016 it was reported that the event, and consequentially hosting rights of the Philippines, was cancelled due to President Duterte's controversial remarks such as his rhetoric towards U.S. President Barack Obama and comments on plans to separate ties of the Philippines with the United States was not received well by the William Morris Entertainment/International Marketing Group (WME), the owners of the Miss Universe franchise. Duterte's expression that he would be glad to kill drug addicts like how Adolf Hitler led the killing of Jews during the Holocaust led to WME CEO Zev Emanuel, who is Jewish, to cancel the hosting.[8]

LCS Group chairman and Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson, one of the key people of the Philippine hosting, considered filing a case for breach of contract but decided against it despite the hosts already paid in full. Singson was inclined to regain hosting rights since he argued that his credibility and the reputation of the Miss Universe brand will be ruined if it gets cancelled. Singson sent a representative along with some of his Jewish companions to convince Emanuel to push through with the event. Duterte's later apology to his Holocaust-related remark helped in the renegotiation as well as Singson's offer to add women empowerment programs to the pageant.[8]

Funding

The funds needed to stage the pageant in the country was planned to entirely come from the private businesses. Among the reported sponsors are Filipino billionaire Henry Sy and Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada. The Okada Manila, a hotel currently in construction, will serve as the residential venue for the Miss Universe 2016 candidates. The projected expense for the event was US$11 million.[9][10]

A group led by LCS Group chairman and Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson handled the financial aspects of the event with the help of sponsoring organizations, such as Philippine Airlines, the SM Group, Solar Entertainment, as well as Japanese businessman Okada.[9]

Security

The confirmed candidates sent by various countries and territories were expected to arrive on January 13, 2017. The Philippine military was to serve as security escorts for the candidates of Miss Universe, as assigned by the Philippine national security council.[11]

Venue

Miss Universe 2016 Venues
Coronation Night venue
(Pasay)		 Ancillary event venues[12] Other event venues[12]
Mall of Asia Arena
(Capacity 15,000)
Map Legend
  • Primary venue
  • Ancillary event venues
  • Other event venues

Main venue

In September 2016, the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay was announced to be the main coronation venue of the pageant according to the Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo.[14]

The Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan was the other venue considered by the Department of Tourism as the main coronation venue of the pageant, but the Miss Universe Organization disapproved of the venue due to "security reasons".[9][15]

When the hosting of the Philippines was confirmed in November 2016 by the Miss Universe Organization, Teo reaffirmed that the pageant's main venue will be in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and will be held on January 30, 2017.[1] The arena will also host several events including the Governor's Ball, National Gift Auction, National Costume Show, Fashion Show, Designer Showcase, Preliminary Competition of swimsuits and evening gowns and the After Party with the new Miss Universe winner.[16]

Other venues

Prior to the July 2016 "confirmation" of the host country of the pageant by the DOT, President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly made requests for the Miss Universe 2016 organizers on September 2016 to stage ancillary events outside Metro Manila, in locations such as Boracay, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Palawan and Vigan to lessen additional traffic in Metro Manila due to the pageant hosting, as well as to promote the venues as tourist spots.[15] In November 4, Bohol along with Cebu was mentioned among the "confirmed venues".[17]

The province of Cebu was being considered as the venue of the photoshoot of the swimsuit competition, while Vigan was designated for the photoshoot of the national costume competition.[9] Boracay and Palawan were later decided to be not among the venues of the ancillary events in favor of promoting Cebu as "an international gateway",[9] although Palawan was among the ancillary venues reported later.[12] Baguio was confirmed to be hosting one of the pageant's events on November 2, 2016.[18]

On November 19, 2016, it was announced that the ancillary events which are non-bearing to the contestants' total pageant score will take place in Davao, Bicol, Cebu, and Vigan. A list of photo shoot venues consisting of Baguio, Batanes, Iloilo, Palawan, Siargao and Tacloban was also announced but nothing was stated if the venues are final.[12][19] On December 1, 2016, Iloilo was announced as the main host of the photoshoot of the contestants set on January 19, 2017 but possibly coinciding with the annual Dinagyang Festival on the same week.

Organizing committee

Host Committee[20]
Chairman of Host Committee: Richelle Louise Singson-Michael (from LCS Group)
Organization Members Position
LCS Group Chavit Singson Chairman
Benjamin Palma Gil Chief Financial Officer
Jomar Castillo Legal Counsel
Jonas Antonio Gaffud Creative Director
Okada Manila Kazuo Okada Chief Executive Officer & President
Antonio Cojuangco Board of Director
Takahiro Usui Chief Operating Officer
Steve Wolstenholm President
Solar Entertainment Wilson Tieng Chief Executive Officer & President
Gidget Policarpio-Lao Chief Executive, Business Operation
SM Lifestyle Entertainment Hans Sy Chairman
Edgar Tejerero President
Department of Tourism[21] No information available
Pass It Forward Foundation[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Final date, venue of next Miss Universe pageant announced". ABS-CBN News. November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  2. ↑ "LOOK: Contract signed for Miss Universe 2016 in Philippines". ABS-CBN News. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  3. ↑ Vila, Alixandra Caole (July 28, 2016). "Philippines to host Miss Universe coronation night in 2017". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Montano, Isabella (July 29, 2016). "Philippines to host Miss Universe 2016". CNN Philippines. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Final Date, Venue of Next Miss Universe Pageant Announced". LCS Group of Companies Official Sponsor of 65th Miss Universe:. November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  6. ↑ "It's official: Miss Universe in PH will push through—DOT". Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ Flores, Karen (November 3, 2016). "Did you know? Miss Universe in PH almost didn't push through". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Enriquez, Marge (December 4, 2016). "Chavit Singson: What really happened behind the scenes of Miss U". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chavit Singson secures major sponsors for Miss Universe 2016". Rappler. August 29, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  10. ↑ "DOT confirms PHL hosting of Miss Universe 2016". LCS Group of Companies: Official Sponsor of 65th Miss Universe. November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  11. ↑ Gita, Ruth Abbey (September 1, 2016). "Duterte unhappy on Steve Harvey hosting Miss Universe". Sun.Star Manila. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Tantungco, Vernise (November 19, 2016). "Miss Universe candidates to visit these PH sites". Rappler. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  13. ↑ 65th Miss Universe, Miss Universe Candidates Visits Cebu
  14. ↑ "Duterte doesn't like Steve Harvey to host Miss Universe". ABS-CBN News. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  15. 1 2 Requintina, Robert (August 2, 2016). "PH eyes MOA or Philippine Arena as venue for Miss Universe 2016" (in English and Filipino). Tempo. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  16. ↑ Wang, Nickie (December 13, 2016). "Will Philippines score a back-to-back win at Miss Universe?". The Standard. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  17. ↑ Arnaldo, Maria Stella (November 4, 2016). "Wake up early if you want to watch the Miss Universe". BusinessMirror. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  18. ↑ Catajan, Maria Elena (November 2, 2016). "Baguio City to host Miss Universe 2017 [sic]". Sun Star Baguio. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  19. ↑ 65th Miss Universe, 65th Miss Universe Candidates Visits Siargao
  20. ↑ "65th Miss Universe Host Committee". The 65th Annual Miss Universe® Competition. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  21. 1 2 "65th Miss Universe Sponsors". The 65th Annual Miss Universe® Competition. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
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