MANILA, Philippines – For the first
time, the Philippines will bid to host the Miss World beauty pageant in
2013, Cory Quirino, president of the Miss Philippines World franchise,
said Wednesday.
Quirino also said that the Miss World Limited (MWL), headed by its
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julia Morley has vowed to
help the Philippines through fund-raising events as she instructed her
“to find a poor, barrio lass” who has the chance to become the next Miss
World.
Asked about expectations under the “Cory administration,” “I will
find her,” said Quirino, a tri-media personality and wellness expert. “I
will also be hands-on in choosing our representative for the next Miss
World contest later this year.”
Quirino issued the statement after Morley awarded her the exclusive
licensee agreement of Miss World Philippines at a ceremony in Makati
City last Tuesday.
Miss World is believed to be the longest-running international beauty
pageant. But for 60 years, the country has not won the title. The
highest rank the country has achieved was first runner-up won by
Evangeline Pascual in 1973.
“I want to tell them that being poor is not a hindrance to success.
That’s why we will encourage the poorest of the poor to join our
pageant,” Quirino added. Quirino also said that Morley and her party and
Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim have discussed plans for the possible
holding of the beauty pageant in Manila.
Morley was also accompanied by Miss World Ltd. Events Director
Stephen Douglas and Consultant to Miss World-Asia Paul Lee. “It will be a
big responsibility and we will need the help of the government and the
private sector if plans will push through. Pero, ang balik naman nito sa
atin ay malaki, lalo na para sa turismo ng ating bansa (But our goal is
to boost tourism to the Philippines),” she said.
Morley, accompanied by 2010 Miss World Alexandria Mills of the USA
and first runner-up Emma Wareus of Botswana, left the country Wednesday
morning. But Quirino said that last Tuesday night, Morley promised to
return to the country to help raise bigger funds for charity. “Julia
Morley will be back in August. She loves the Philippines, and she wants
to help our country,” said Quirino, also chair of World-for-All
Foundation.
Tuesday night, Quirino accompanied Morley and her party made special
trips to the Ospital ng Makati in Makati City, Philippine General
Hospital (PGH) on Taft Ave., Malate, Manila, and Tuloy Street Children’s
Foundation in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. “Julia and her party cried at
the Tuloy Street Children’s Foundation. Even Miss World cried. They were
touched by the reception of the children,” Quirino said. She added that
the MWL has “adopted” two heart patients at the Ospital ng Makati.
The organization is celebrating its 60th
year of “Beauty with a Purpose” and has raised more than $400 million
in support of children’s charities across the globe since its inception.
At the luncheon ceremony, Mrs. Morley recalled the pageant’s history.
Founded by her husband Eric Morley in 1951, the first Miss World pageant
was welcomed by an audience greater than those in other international
events such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games. At its peak, the
show claimed an audience of 27.5 million in Britain alone.
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Sun Jan 30, 2011 4:53 pm
