BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 16(PIA) - - The search of who will represent the country in the Miss Universe 2020 pageant is on its last stages with activities mainly for filming audiovisual production for the digital special "Miss Universe Philippines 2020" ongoing in the city and nearby La Trinidad, Benguet.

The Miss Universe Philippines candidates arrived in the city in two batches and are billeted at the Baguio Country Club (BCC) where the pageant preliminaries and grand finals will also be held.

There are 48 candidates in this year's Miss Universe Philippines beauty pageant including Bea Theresa Maynigo of Baguio City and Noreen Victoria Mangawit of Kalinga. The winner will be crowned on Oct. 25.

BCC General Manager Anthony De Leon in the Kapihan sa Baguio media forum here on Wednesday, said conducting the event in Baguio is an initiative of the pageant organizer headed by Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner up Shamcey Supsup- Lee, in coordination with the City Government of Baguio and the Baguio Tourism Council(BTC).

This will be a great opportunity to showcase Baguio in this time of pandemic and help bring back the tourism industry of the city. It will be a tourism bubble event wherein all activities are confined within the BCC premises in close coordination and monitoring by the city government through the city tourism office, De Leon added.

City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo assured that all pageant candidates would pass through the health and safety protocols of the city including the required COVID -19 confirmatory tests.

BTC Chairperson Gladys Vergara lauds the Miss Universe Philippines organizer for eyeing Baguio City as a safe event venue even at this time of pandemic.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong welcomed this activity as it helps promote tourism which is a major industry of Baguio.

"As we are slowly and surely opening up the economy, we will never compromise the safety, security and health of both visitors and Baguio folks" the Mayor said as he assured that the city government has a system in place for infection control and case management.

The pageant candidates had photo shoot at the famous Strawberry Farm and Mount Costa gardens in La Trinidad on Thursday. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)