Cayetano rallies support for ‘Love the Philippines’ tourism campaign

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano rallied the public to move forward and join hands in promoting the country amid the controversy surrounding the new tourism branding campaign called ‘Love the Philippines.’

 This after the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Monday terminated its contract with an advertising agency that was found to have used stock footage taken from foreign countries in promoting tourism in the Philippines.

 “Issues have been brought out and discussed, mistakes have been acknowledged both by the DOT and the advertising agency. Isn’t the purpose of criticism to correct? So mission accomplished!” Cayetano said in a post on his official Facebook page on July 5, Wednesday.

The senator commended the country’s vibrant democracy for enabling the exposure of such issues to light, causing both the DOT and the ad agency to acknowledge both their mistakes.

He however said there needs to be a balanced view in this issue where partisan and political interests may be present.

“Once a wrong is exposed (or explained) and mistakes are acknowledged and remedied, do we keep pounding on it, shooting ourselves in the foot in foreign media… or do we come together and, with the corrections, promote the beauty of our country and people?!” he said.

Cayetano said in promoting tourism in the Philippines, part of the draw should be the country’s number one asset: the Filipinos.

“GOD created such a beautiful country, such talented people! Yes, beautiful mountains, hills, valleys, islands, beaches, modern cities etc., yet  our number one asset is our people!” he said.

“The problem is not many people around the world know much about the Philippines! Yet many love the Filipinos! With more than 10 million Filipinos abroad, the first insight about the Philippines comes from the Filipino!” he added.

The senator warned against the prevalence of fake news that similarly penetrated social media platforms during the country’s successful hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019, which he headed as Chairman of the Philippine SEA Games Organizational Committee.

“Remember the allegation that kikiam (pork) was served to Muslims during the SEAGames? It turned out to be fake news! It was chicken sausage! We found out there was a big PR firm launching the attack. It all turned out to be fake news, a political agenda packaged as constructive criticism,” he explained.

He said this fake news hurt the Philippines, and the country’s hosting scared off many sponsors due to the negative news in Southeast Asian countries.

At the end of his post, Cayetano expressed confidence in Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco’s handling of the tourism campaign issue.

“I know the DOT Secretary, she listens! She cares about people’s views and ideas! Let’s try communicating, not for her but for the country which we all claim to love,” he said. 

“Let’s go to the next phase! Support DOT, promote the Philippines!” he added.

Sen. Grace Poe, Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco lead empowered Filipina campaign of Kultura

This season, the proudly Filipino store celebrates every Filipina

BY MB LIFESTYLE

  

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CELEBRATING EVERY FILIPINA Sen. Grace Poe and Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco (Photo courtesy of Kultura Filipino)

Kultura’s #CelebrateEveryFilipina series features a diverse range of amazing women who embody what it means to be an empowered Filipina in today’s society.

With this, it takes this opportunity to honor all the women that nurture and care for us and are the light of our homes; the soul sisters who have our backs and lift us up; the women artisans behind our handicrafts and local industries; and all the women whose wisdom, grace, and strength are the backbone of our communities.

Smart, passionate, courageous, beautiful, and strong, these women are gorgeous proof that we can achieve anything we put our mind to. More importantly, we can do all these things in style.

Ana de Ocampo, Jasmine Alkhaldi, Felicia Hung Atienza, Patricia Gatus

The list includes women in public service like Senator Grace Poe and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco; as well like women in business like restauranteur Ana de Ocampo. With more and more Filipinas embracing fitness, also highlighted are Olympic swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi, volleyball player Michelle Cobb, and fitness coach Patricia Gatus.

Kultura also celebrates women with meaningful advocacies: educator and Philippine Eagle advocate Felicia Hung Atienza and mental health advocate Steph Naval. Broadcast journalist MJ Marfori and beauty queen Laura Lehmann also bring their talent and good looks to the list.

From March until May, Kultura will be featuring one Filipina a week on its social media pages. Wearing fabulous modern Filipiniana, they will be sharing their thoughts, tips, and personal experiences—not just on being an empowered woman, but on uplifting other women as well.

Michelle Cobb, MJ Marfori, Steph Naval, Laura Lehmann

As Senator Grace Poe shares, “An empowered Filipina is someone who is confident, who can stand up for herself, but an even stronger Filipina is somebody who can stand up for everybody else.”

Catch Kultura’s #CelebrateEveryFilipina series on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

DOT chief highlights PH recovery in MAP assembly

by Jun Marcos Tadiosm Manila Bulletin

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco has highlighted the government’s effort to overcome the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic by pushing through a much eager campaign to ensure the full recovery of the Philippine economy.

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (Courtesy of DOT)

Talking in front of 1,000 attendees in the general membership assembly of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Thursday, Oct. 13, Frasco thanked the top management executives for spearheading the resiliency of Philippine tourism.

“We all have a vital role to play in our aspirations for the economic resurgence of the Philippines,” Frasco enthused.

MAP is a 70-year-old management organization composed of top-tier practitioners, educators, and officials from local and multinational companies operating in the country.

With the overarching theme “Tourism Outlook Beyond 2022,” the DOT chief underscored the importance of the private sector in carrying out institutional progress not only in the tourism industry but also in regaining Philippines’ fiscal stability.

Joining Frasco at the assembly were Philippine Airlines (PAL) President and COO Capt. Stanley Kua Ng and Manila Marriott Hotel General Manager Bruce Alexander Winton.

Frasco assured the MAP members that the DOT is in a “right place” in executing plans and actions to ensure the strengthening of tourism through institutional improvements in terms of connectivity, convenience, and equality in tourism product development and promotion.

Furthermore, Frasco uttered that the DOT shares a positive outlook on the potential of economic resurgence through tourism, as the country remains a top-of-mind destination among travelers.

“The success of the tourism industry means more jobs for our people, more active spending activities, a more productive workforce, sparking a recovery not only for the industry but also for the national economy,” she added.