LAPU-LAPU CITY (PNA) – Thousands of high school students waving colorful flaglets lined up the streets yesterday morning from the Mactan Cebu International Airport to the Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark to greet the 86 candidates of the 65th Miss Universe pageant.
The students and teachers from different high schools in Lapu-Lapu City lined up as early a 6 a.m. Tuesday along the streets where the candidates would pass by to the venue of the Miss Universe swimsuit competition.
Several students wore Miss Universe crowns made of cardboard.
The students from the different schools also wore the national costumes of the countries they represent.
Cultural dancers performed the traditional Sinulog dance to the beat of drums as soon as the first two buses carrying some of the candidates arrived at the sprawling JPark resort at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Cebuanos, including hotel staff, welcomed them with cheers and applause.
This continued until the last of the Miss Universe candidates arrived at the venue.
Security was tight as the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 deployed some 5,000 uniformed personnel along the route and in and around the venue.
Cell sites in Lapu-Lapu City were also shut down as early as 4 a.m. Tuesday as part of an elaborate plan to secure the candidates.
The venue was also declared a no-fly zone, while the waters surrounding the JPark Hotel and Resort was declared a no-sail zone.
The Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and Maritime Police also deployed their sea assets in the seas near the venue.