A photo posted by Pia Wurtzbach | Miss Universe (@piawurtzbach) on Oct 6, 2016 at 8:23pm PDT

MANILA - Filipinos should wait for an official announcement with regards to rumors that the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Manila scheduled for January 2017 has been cancelled, title-holder Pia Wurtzbach said.

Wurtzbach came home to the Philippines last month to celebrate her birthday, but her homecoming was marred with online speculations, based off a Facebook post by Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro, that the international beauty contest in the country might not push through.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News' MJ Felipe, Wurtzbach raised caution in drawing conclusions from mere gossip, especially since De Castro has said that her post about the two of them crying "had nothing to do with the cancellation."

"I understand how people could easily jump to that conclusion because everybody's waiting for an announcement," admitted Wurtzbach, "But you know, we also talk about other things."

The beauty queen, who has been vocal about her wish to crown her successor in front of a local crowd, added: "We're working very hard in making [Miss Universe in the Philippines] happen. Please bear us. Very soon, I promise, we will have an announcement."

A photo posted by Pia Wurtzbach | Miss Universe (@piawurtzbach) on Sep 28, 2016 at 4:31pm PDT

As early as July, Department of Tourism chief Wanda Teo confirmed to reporters that the next edition of the Miss Universe will be held in Manila, even baring plans to include other cities such as Davao for auxiliary events.

But reports about the supposed cancellation have found headwinds in De Castro's controversial post, as well as from the lack of an official announcement from the US-based Miss Universe organization.

An article published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Friday suggested that the recent tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte against US President Barack Obama may have contributed to the organizers' hesitation in awarding hosting rights to the Philippines.