PICTURE PERFECT. Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte. The site will be visited by candidates of the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines for the photoshoot of their costume competition next week. (Photo from Kalanggaman Island, Leyte FB page)
TACLOBAN CITY – The 38 candidates of the 2023 Miss Universe- Philippines will visit tourism sites in Eastern Visayas from May 1 to 5 as part of the national costume competition.
They will arrive in the city on May 1 for a series of activities ahead of the coronation night on May 13 at the SM Mall of Asia.
The awarding of the costume competition will be held at the Leyte Normal University on May 4, said Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes in an interview Friday.
Tiopes, who leads the coordination meeting of all government agencies and local government units, said all is set and venues have been prepared for all the activities.
“This gives us the opportunities to promote various destinations of the region, show our culture, our local products, and even the food that we serve. This will provide a good mileage for Eastern Visayas and our people here,” Tiopes said.
Destinations tapped for the Miss Universe-PH costume competition are the Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte; Sohoton Cave, Sa-ob Cave, Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Basey, Samar; Caluwayan Palm Island Resort in Marabut, Samar; some sites in Tacloban City; the McArthur Park in Palo, Leyte; and rice fields of Sta Fe, Leyte.
They were considered potential sites after good reviews by visitors, tourism readiness and accessibility.
Although, there is no tourist destination in Sta. Fe, the town was chosen because of its vast rice fields, which will be used as a backdrop for the national costume photoshoot.
"The most important thing is on the day that they will have their photoshoot is the best time for that activity. The scenery will be perfect, and it will give justice to their theme,” Tiopes added.
Samar tourism officer Marvin Piczon said the visit next week of the Miss Universe Philippines candidates to Basey and Marabut towns would boost the promotional campaign of the province's tourist destinations.
“Their visit to Samar next week will help in introducing the province to those who have not yet heard it nor visit our place, so they would know more about Samar,” Piczon added.
Candidates will also be served with some of the local dishes in the region. This includes the different types of suman (glutinous rice cooked in sweetened coconut milk), tamalos (steamed slabs of pork belly with peanut sauce and wrapped in banana leaves with rice), and tahong (green mussels).
The Miss Universe Philippines organization brought the competition to Eastern Visayas through the efforts of Tingog Partylist and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Next year, Borongan City will host the coronation night of the Miss Earth Philippines, which they planned to stage at Baybay Boulevard. (PNA)
