(UPDATED) Steve Harvey arrived in Manila at past 9 a.m. on Saturday ahead of the coronation day of the 65th Miss Universe competition scheduled on January 30.

Harvey was met at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and tycoon Chavit Singson.

In a statement, the DOT said that it is "happy, honored and proud" to have Harvey in the Philippines, and assured him that Filipinos will "embrace [him] as family."

The American TV personality was asked to host the event again despite his now famous flub last year, wherein he mistakenly named Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the new Miss Universe, when the title was supposed to go to the Philippines' Pia Wurtzbach.

Harvey reportedly told the Miss Universe Organization that he wanted to personally apologize to Filipinos after making a hash of the announcement, hence his decision to accept the hosting stint anew.

In previous interviews with media, Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro said that Harvey is under a multiple-year contract with the Miss Universe Organization to host the pageant.

Welcome to the Philippines, Steve Harvey! pic.twitter.com/Kby7VjLSR8

— Kat De Castro (@KatDeCastro) January 28, 2017

Wurtzbach said that she has long forgiven Harvey for his error, welcoming the news that he will return as host. Posting on Instagram a photo with Harvey during the infamous moment, she wrote: "Let's do it again and change someone else's life."

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Andrea Tovar, Miss Universe Colombia 2016, was all smiles when she was asked for her message for Harvey. "This year, no mistake," she quipped.