Miss Universe queens in swimsuit in Camiguin, Bohol

By Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo (philstar.com) | Updated December 8, 2017

Miss Universe beauties arrive in Camiguin on Friday. Facebook/DOT-Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — After a lunch with the children beneficiaries of a charity and a benefit fashion show dinner on Thursday, Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and her sisters in the pageant went on their way to check out some of the Philippines’ best destinations.

The tour is part of the Department of Tourism’s Bring Home a Friend marketing promotion that seeks to give incentives to Filipinos who will invite their foreign friends to explore the Philippines.

Nel-Peters, Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere, Miss Philippines Rachel Peters, and other Miss Universe winners and candidates kicked off their four-day tour of the Philippines on Wednesday.

Among those in the trip are representatives from the Netherlands, India, Italy, Spain, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Malaysia, China, Great Britain and Singapore.

For their first stop, the beauties explored historical sites in Manila such as Luneta and Fort Santiago.

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Then, on Friday morning, Nel-Peters and Miss Great Britain Anna Burdzy flew to Batanes.

Meanwhile, Miss Philippines Rachel Peters headed to Bohol with Miss Russia and Miss Malaysia.

The rest of the Miss Universe queens went to Camiguin, where they were welcomed with a tribal performance. They first took a break in a local resort, then visited the Guiob Church Ruins, where they learned parts of the island's rich history.

“Many of the delegates were surprised to see many people who waited for them upon their arrival! Miss Netherlands said she will definitely come back for holidays while Miss Singapore, who ticked off two items from her bucket list after seeing a volcano and a waterfall, said there is no reason for her not to return since the Lion City is very near the Philippines,” the Department of Tourism shared in a Facebook post.

"We’re all thrilled to be back!" Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart said during her Jollibee birthday party on Thursday.

She told reporters in the press conference that followed that Miss Universe loves to return to the Philippines because besides the fans, "Miss Universe and Philippines have been great partners…We’re also doing a lot of charity here."

She said she and the girls are excited to see the rest of the country.

"As I always tell the girls, 'beauty queens never sleep and I know it’s hard!'"

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