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Re-elected Senator Cynthia Villar was among the awardees of the Rotary Club of Manila's (RCM) 15th Tourism Awards held at New World Hotel in Makati. Villar was recognized for her valuable contributions to the country’s tourism through various programs in the agriculture sector.  She authored the  Farm Tourism Law, which enabled small farmers to earn additional income by converting their farms into tourist farms and learning sites.  When the law was passed in 2014, there are 300 farm schools which grew to 1,855 at present.   RCM headed by its President Jesus Pineda and Director Bobby Joseph presented to Villar a Plague of Appreciation for her role in “the development and promotion of farm tourism which led to the promotion of economic growth of the Philippines and attracted local tourism.

A Filipino-Belgian was crowned Face of Tourism Philippines 2019 during a pageant held at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City last April 7. Roxanne A. Baeyens, 22, from Baguio City edged out 14 other girls in the tourism-driven national pageant. She will later represent the Philippines in the Miss Tourism Culture Universe 2019 pageant in Myanmar later this year. "I can’t wait for the next chapter of my journey knowing I have a supportive family beside me," said Baeyens on Instagram. A graduate of St. Louis University in Baguio City, Baeyens is an artist at Cornerstone Entertainment, Inc., the talent group that handles popular artists such as Angeline Quinto, Claudia Barretto, Dominic Roque, Empoy Marquez, Inigo Pascual, Jaya, Yeng Constantino. etc. During the finals, Baeyens was asked the common question: "Why should you be the next Face of Tourism Philippines 2019?"  Baeyens answered: "As a tourism gradu...

Twenty seven aspiring travel ambassadors - 14 men and 13 women - were presented to the members of media for the Mister and Miss Travel Ambassadors of the Philippines 2018 contest. Organizers say that the winners of the contest will become travel ambassadors and promote travelling as a valuable and educational form of leisure. "The winners hope to inspire the youth and millennials to spread positivity and a truthful voice that will rise up against the divisive and misconstrued information most especially in social media," an official of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) National Capital Region-North Chapter and Quezon City Tourism Council, organizers of the contest, says during press presentation in Quezon City recently. The grand finals of the Mister and Miss Travel Ambassadors of the Philippines 2018 pageant will culminate on October 14, the third day of the Philippine Travel Show scheduled on Oct. 12-14. Candidates in the in...

Wanderers unite! Fly around the world at World Travel Expo 2018 at the SMX Convention Center on October 26-28. On the third year of the expo, expect affordable and amazing deals, says JC Baron, spokesman for  World Travel Expo 2018, during an interview at One Esplanade in Pasay City. "There will be sweet tour packages and treats you cannot resist. Also, there will be lots of tour package promos and deals for your next travel destination," says Baron. World Travel Expo aims to be the marketing platform for the travel industry. The event will serve as a channel between the international and national tour operators, airline companies, and travel authorities. Baron says that the event will showcase at least 275 booths in over 5,200 square meter of space and will consist of forums, workshops and activities related to travel and tourism which can provide useful and helpful information for both the exhibitors and visitors. Show activities will also include product la...

Amelia "Amy" Sunio-Abarquez, philanthropist and organizer of the Miss Tourism Philippines beauty pageant, has called on other beauty contest organizers to prove the people that they are for real and not just for show. "There’s so many pageant these days and it’s so hard to gain the trust of people. Sana dapat tayong mga involve sa pageants, hindi lang tayo dapat kumikita. Let us show them that our advocacy is for real," said Abarquez in an exclusive interview in Pasig City recently. Joining Abarquez in the team is Antonio "Tony" Abarquez, an entrepreneur and civic leader. Amelia also said: "Critics have the right to bash us but we really need to show them that we are for real. Heto kami. Hopefully, in the near future, we will gain the trust and confidence of the people. We really have to earn our stars." She added: "Pageants are here to help translate the dreams of candidates into reality." Amelia said that the Miss To...

Restaurateur Erwan Heussaff has been tapped to be the content creator of this year's "Buhay Carinderia....Redefined," a culinary event which aims to promote the best Filipino dishes. "I may not be a Filipino food expert yet, there are so many dishes that I still need to discover but I'm curious to keep learning and I am a staunch advocate of our culinary culture," said Heussaff, husband of Kapamilya star Anne Curtis-Smith and brother of actress Solenn Heussaff, during the launch of Buhay Carinderia...Redefined'' at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila recently "For us, Erwan clearly represents the 'Buhay Carinderia....Redefned' advocacy: to focus and understand the history of local dishes; to popularize the use of natural and native ingredients; and to accentuate Filipino home-cooked flavors," said Linda Legaspi, of Marylindbert International, organizer of the event. Aside from being a restaurant and bar investor, Heussaff ha...

The 1st Food and Hotel Expo Manila which aims to promote local dishes and destinations will be held at Halls 3 and 4 of SMX in Pasay City on February 16-18. "We hope to promote pagkaing Pilipino sa gathering na ito. Every time nagkakaroon ng hotel and food expo, ano ba yung mga pini-feature? Nag iinvite pa nga ng mga foreign chefs when in fact nalilimutan na yung Filipino food," said JC Baron, spokesman for the Food and Hotel Expo Manila, during an interview at the press launch of the event at the Bayview Hotel in Manila recently. Baron said that the event aims to deliver access to business network opportunities where the industry players can come together, interact and share their view in promoting and strengthening the food, beverage and hotel sector locally and globally. "Ang Filipino food ay sobrang diverse at sobrang laki. Ang daming pwedeng ma achieve when it comes to Filipino cuisine. So 'yun ang gusto naming ibalik. Madalas nakakalimutan na natin...

A one-stop shop portal about the Philippines has been launched to help spread the good news about the country's tourism industry and its wonderful people. Dubbed Yapak.ph, the portal hopes to invite travelers, especially domestic tourists, to check out new places in the country where they can enjoy their activities. "One of the problems in local tourism right now is that the campaign is focused on inviting foreigners here. We forgot about the locals and they are bigger in number," said Diane Zoleta, founder and chief executive of Yapak.ph, during an interview at the launch of the portal at the Manila House Private Members Club at the BGC in Taguig City recently. Diane Zoleta (right), founder and Chief Executive of Yapak.ph and Trichie De Vera, Chief Operating Officer. Zoleta said that many establishments do not value the Filipinos as paying customers and they are more inclined to international visitors. "If you will notice, if it's the peak of ...

Popular stars and celebrities will spread holiday cheers at the "Christmas By Manila Bay'' on December 15-17 which will benefit the children of Marawi City, Leyte, and Hospicio de San Jose in Manila. "The event aims to make the Filipinos and the whole world appreciate the uniqueness of Filipino Christmas by highlighting what is the distinct celebration from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao," said Mina Gabor, who served as the tourism secretary during the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos, at a press briefing held at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila recently. Gabor said that the three-day event is filled with different activities to showcase the spirit of giving the Filipino way, promote crafts and products of the Philippines and relive some of the Original Pilipino Christmas Music and traditions to make the event more festive. Among the activities lined-up are Christmas Market, Christmas Gift-giving, Christmas Concert and Christmas Parade. She enc...

The Miss Philippine Islands 2017 beauty pageant took to the next level after the resorts wear and swimwear competitions were held at the Torre Venezia Suites in Timog, Quezon City. Thirty candidates are competing for three titles at the Miss Island Philippines 2017 beauty pageant. Presented by Mediascapes Inc. the grand coronation of the Miss Island Philippines contest will be held at the Tanghalang Pasigueno on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The inaugural winners of the Miss Island Philippines will represent the country in competitions abroad namely Miss Glory of Universe in India, Miss World Bikini Model International in India and Miss Lumiere International in Singapore. At the preliminary competitions, Sammie Anne Legaspi was chosen Best in Resorts Wear. First runner-up honors went to Miss Laguna while Miss Paranaque was second runner-up. Joymayane Barcoma of Tarlac City was awarded Best In Swimsuit. Miss Ilocos Sur was first runner-up while Miss Paranaque, second runner-up. ...

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) will have a soft launch of an online video contest on Aug. 31 which will highlight the reasons for “loving” to travel to any part of the Philippines. Open to both Filipino and foreign participants, the contest dubbed “Phil the Love” is expected to provide the various brand definitions to “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” based on the tourists’ own perspectives and experiences. TPB Chief Operating Officer Cesar Montano said the contest would optimize the country’s online brand presence and visibility, broaden its value proposition, position it as a preferred global destination, and reach and capture a sizable block of the millennial market, both in the Philippines and abroad. “The campaign (Phil the Love) will virtually serve as an international and domestic market survey or census involving primary data sources, upon which we can base our future marketing strategies and tactics.  It will thus enlighten us on which of our selling poin...