Manila’s factory of dreams

Marikina (Manila), Philippines - Marikina Footwear Museum featuring the thousands of shoes of Imelda Marcos (middle) with husband (left) Ferdinand

PIA Wurtzbach may have to accept that she will always be remembered as the Miss Universe who nearly never was, after show host Steve Harvey made the biggest boo-boo in pageant history when he wrongly announced the winner as Miss Colombia last month.

But there has hardly been any dispute over whether the 26-year-old Miss Philippines deserved the title. The poise, beauty and confidence she exuded, and which won the judges over, were the fruits of three years of training in one beauty-queen boot camp after another.