American host Steve Harvey arrives in Manila

Steve Harvey (center) arrives in Manila for the Miss Universe pageant. (PNA photo)

MANILA—American host Steve Harvey arrived in Manila Saturday morning to emcee the upcoming Miss Universe coronation show on Monday, Jan. 30 (Manila time).

Harvey arrived here before 10 a.m. via special flight N626JE.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) meanwhile vowed to embrace him as family.

Tourism Undersecretary Fredrick Alegre and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Chavit Singson, who is president and chairman of the pageant’s private partner, LCS Holdings, welcomed Harvey at the airport.

“In the tradition of genuine Filipino hospitality, we extend our hand of friendship,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said in a statement.

“We assure everyone that when you are with Filipinos, we embrace you as family.”

To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte previously expressed disapproval to accept Harvey as pageant host after he incorrectly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the 2015 Miss Universe and Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach as the first runner-up during the last pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2015.

Harvey, however, quickly apologized for the mix-up and eventually corrected his mistake.

Teo has since then convinced the President to give Harvey another shot at hosting the pageant, noting that Harvey is on a five-year contract to host the pageant and has already apologized for his blunder.

Harvey will be joined by backstage host, model Ashley Graham.