Remember Steve Harvey? The man who was the centre of all the Miss Universe controversy? Yes, that Steve Harvey who the Miss Universe Organisation reappointed to host the 2016 Miss Universe pageant as well. Well, there might be a slight change in the plan though. Steve Harvey might not host the pageant. Yes, if President Rodrigo Duterte gets his way, Steve Harvey won’t be hosting the Miss Universe 2016 pageant.
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According to the Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Duterte disapproved when told that Harvey would be hosting the pageant given his contract with the Miss Universe Organization. "When I told the President about that, negative agad. Ang sabi niya, 'Hindi puwede!'" said Teo. (When I told the President about that, he gave a negative response. He said, "That can't be!")
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If sources are to be believed, Duterte might even raise the issue with the MUO. The Tourism Secretary said that she would tell the Miss Universe Organization about the President's concerns. But going by Harvey’s contract with the Miss Universe Organisation, possibility is that he will still host the pageant. If so, Teo would find a way to appease the President. “Maybe that's what I'm going to do so that the President won't get mad, maybe I will choose a girl from the Philippines who will co-host,” said Teo.
When Steve Harvey hosted the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, he mistakenly announced the wrong name as the winner. According to many, his mistake ruined the moment of the real winner, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.
According to Teo, the Miss Universe 2016 will take place on January 30, 2017, but candidates will start arriving in the country on January 13.
The Department of Tourism has identified Metro Manila as the venue for the main events while "ancillary" events will be held in Davao City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, and Vigan City.
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