Much as important events held in Metro Manila might try to proceed on their scheduled dates this year, they ultimately would have to bow to the always fluid and presently-worsening situation with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Take for instance this year’s edition of Miss World Philippines. It was first dated for late July, only to be moved to August 8 due to GCQ restrictions in Metro Manila where the coronation venue is. A representative has to be preemptively selection because of the delay. But now as the NCR Plus area is gearing up for a return to ECQ, the MWP organization has decided to postpone the pageant anew, indefinitely.

The Manila Bulletin reports that Miss World Philippines 2021 has been put off one more time due to the current COVID-19 situation. And this time, the MWP organizers cannot confidently provide a new date to hold the pageant anytime soon. An official statement from the organization reads: “In compliance with the government and IATF’s new mandate for stricter ECQ restrictions in the NCR from Aug. 6-20 due to the alarming upsurge in COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant. The Miss World Philippines organization has decided to postpone its coronation night indefinitely until further notice.”

Trying to get the current iteration of Miss World Philippines off the ground in time to decide the representation for its international franchise pageants has been a struggle with the constantly restrictive community quarantine regulations. When its original July 25 scheduled was scrubbed for August 8, the MWP organizers and contestants had to vote for a representative to Miss Supranational in Poland early. Philippine Army reservist Dindi Pajares was chosen to represent, travelling to the Polish city of Nowy Sacz in time to join the Miss Supranational 2021’s pre-pageant events beginning this Tuesday, August 3.

Given that Metro Manila, site of the Miss World Philippines pageant venue at Okada Manila will be under enhanced community quarantine for roughly two weeks beginning this Friday, August 6, the MWP organization has decided to err on the side of caution, given as there is no guarantee that the quarantine level could revert back to GCQ or less in a short period of time. It should strive for anytime from September to October then, seeing as Miss World 2021 at will be happening at San Juan, Puerto Rico this coming December 16, and 48 national delegates are already confirmed.

Image from Philippine Entertainment Portal