A photo posted by Margie Moran Floirendo (@margie_moran) on Jun 29, 2016 at 8:23am PDT

MANILA - The next Miss Universe in the Philippines should feature local performers, insisted former title-holder Margie Moran, adding that the country has singers and dancers who can rival those from other countries.

"It's high time that we show the best of what we have," Moran, who won the pageant-crazed nation's second crown in 1973, told ABS-CBN News' Mario Dumaual.

Moran, who is also the current president of Ballet Philippines, explained that the global pageant will be a perfect venue for showcasing local talent, citing the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit as an example.

Jessica Sanchez, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, apl.de.ap with "The Voice Kids" alumnus Reynan Dal-anay, and dance groups like El Gamma Penumbra and Douglas Nierras' Powerdance all performed at the November 2015 international forum.

"It just goes to show that we have very talented artists in the country, both dancers and singers," the Mindanaoan beauty queen said. "It is a good way of doing it."

In last year's edition of Miss Universe, American pop star Charlie Puth, "Kiss From A Rose" hitmaker Seal, and country singers The Band Perry serenaded the candidates. Their performances, however, were overshadowed by the pageant's controversial end.

Steve Harvey, who will be returning as host, mistakenly named Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the new Miss Universe, when the title was supposed to go to Filipina Pia Wurtzbach.

Toursim Undersecretary Kat De Castro, without going into details, have already said that they will be looking to tap local artists to perform at the next pageant -- the first in the country in over two decades.

(READ: It's official: Miss Universe will be held in PH in 2017)

Moran was speaking in an interview at the sidelines of Ballet Philippines' press conference for the company's local adaptation of "Firebird," which is based on the classic score by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. The production will debut on August 13.