Miss Universe Guam 2016 and Miss International Guam 2016 Crowned

Miss Universe Guam 2016, Muñeka Taisipic (left) & her first runner up (right) and Miss International Guam 2016 Annalen Buan! Congratulations! You both will definitely represent us well!  Muñeka will represent Guam in Miss Universe 2016 to be held in Manila, Philippines, meanwhile, Buan will try her luck at the Miss International 2016 in Tokyo, Japan later this year. 

Mall Of Asia Arena - Miss Universe 2016 Venue - Manila, Philippines

The Mall of Asia Arena, the latest and biggest venture to rise at the foremost entertainment and retail destination—the Mall of Asia Complex—is figuratively and quite literally an architectural “eyecon.” Priding itself on exceptional and world-standard amenities unique in all of Southeast Asia, the Mall of Asia Arena shall perfect the integrated shopping and entertainment experience at the Mall of Asia complex—a commitment linked to its vision of “Changing the Game, Elevating Entertainment”.

Owned by SM Investments Corporation and managed by SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc., also the managing arm of SM Cinema, the Mall of Asia Arena began construction in 2010. The distinctive eye-shaped facade symbolizes the Mall of Asia's Arena’s promise of delivering top-notch entertainment to its audience.

According to Mr. Edgar C. Tejerero, President of SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., the Sy family, headed by SM Group of Companies magnate Henry Sy, Sr., is very much involved in the project. The aesthetics of the Mall of Asia Arena were thoroughly conceptualized and the details of the construction, well studied. Apart from its vision to promote local talents, Mr. Tejerero added that, with the Mall of Asia Arena in the Mall of Asia complex grounds, it is a hope that Manila will soon become a choice promoters and tourist destination for entertainment and sporting events.

The Mall of Asia Arena Houses Cutting-edge Facilities

With a land area of an impressive 64,085 square meters, the Mall of Asia Arena is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and world-class facilities. The Mall of Asia Arena’s eye-shaped exterior seeks to channel the message that every single event to be held in its premises will surely be a “feast for the eye”.

The Mall of Asia Arena, with its massive all-glass facade, can accommodate a seating capacity of 15,000, with a full-house capacity of 20,000. This five-level ultramodern events venue also boasts of Robbins floorings, eight-sided, center-hung scoreboards by Daktroniks, retractable Spalding basketball goals and LED ribbon boards—all of NBA standards. CCTV cameras will be provided by Mobotix, the same company that equips the Vatican Apostolic Library at the Vatican with professional-grade, high-resolution security devices.

The Mall of Asia Arena also employs the leading plug-and-play set-up that can enable live beaming through SM Cinema theatres nationwide.

For its patrons’ maximum convenience, the Mall of Asia Arena is designed with 16 comfortable smoking lounges. For ease-of-access, there are 10 elevators available in the premises. 34 units of escalators are also employed, with 8 units in each of the floors. To add, special access lanes for PWDs are also provided for.

To comply with international standards, the Mall of Asia Arena also has four dug-outs, a mess hall for an event's technical team, a room exclusive for press conferences, and even a special area for meet-and-greet-affairs.

Parking-wise, the Mall of Asia Arena has more than 2,000 parking spaces located on the south side of the mall, with an additional 1,400 more accessible at the neighboring Mall of Asia Arena Annex (MAAX) building.

Steve Harvey No More ?

The Philippine President don’t want Steve Harvey hosting the Miss Universe Pageant in Manila!

MANILA, Philippines – If President Rodrigo Duterte gets his way, Steve Harvey won't be hosting Miss Universe 2016.

According to Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Duterte expressed disapproval when he was told Harvey would be hosting given his contract with the Miss Universe Organization.

"When I told the President about that, negative agad. Ang sabi niya, 'Hindi puwede!'" said Teo on Thursday, September 1, during a press conference at Malacañang Palace.

(When I told the President about that, he gave a negative response. He said, "That can't be!")

Duterte might even raise the issue with the Miss Universe Organization himself.

"That's what he told me: 'I'm going to talk to Miss Universe because I don't want him to be the host of the Miss Universe,'" related Teo.

The Tourism Secretary, who championed the Philippines' hosting of the pageant, said she would tell the Miss Universe Organization about the President's concerns.

"Yes of course, I will tell them," she told reporters.

But because of Harvey's 5-year contract to host the pageant, it's possible he will still host the event despite Duterte's misgivings. If so, Teo would find a way to appease the President.

"Siguro that is what I'm going to do para hindi talaga magagalit ang president, siguro maglalagay ako ng girl from the Philippines [who] will co-host," she said, adding the co-host might be from the media.

(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.)

Harvey, when he hosted Miss Universe 2015, infamously misread the name of the first placer, making the audience think it was Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez who won the crown. His mistake, many pageant-watchers said, ruined the moment of the real winner, Miss Philippines and now Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

Teo said 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.

Source: Rappler.com