This holiday season, Araneta City is making sure that everyone has a jolly ole’ time at the City of Firsts. Enjoy fun activities and Instagram-worthy moments that will not only bring some holiday cheers to your heart, but will also make your social media feeds more joyful and colorful!
Here are some snap-worthy moments that everyone can look forward to this Yuletide season:
The Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT) announced today that the Philippines is, once again, the World’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2021.
Tubbataha Reef, Puerto Princesa. Photo by Department of Tourism
“This distinction is indeed a great privilege, yet, it underlines our great responsibility of protecting and conserving our underwater resources so that these will also be enjoyed and experienced in their pristine natural state by future generations,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Everyone’s raring to go back to the movies! We’re all looking forward to sitting in a comfortable chair, popcorn in hand, to watch the latest blockbuster on the silver screen! And to make the experience much more special, it’d be best if we enjoyed that movie that we’ve been so hyped about with friends or family!
Sounds like a plan right? Well, wait up because Araneta City has something in store for you to elevate your movie-watching experience. For as low as just ₱400 per head you can have the ultimate private movie experience at Gateway Platinum Cinema!
Under the “Balikan ang Pilipinas” campaign of the DOT, the balikan.ph website aims to encourage Overseas Filipinos (OFs) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to return home for the holiday season and rediscover the Philippines with their loved ones.
Visit the booths and pop-up dog playground for your furbabies to enjoy! Christmas gifts from the event sponsors will also be waiting at the registration booth until supplies last. Registration at the venue starts at 1PM.
Entrance is FREE! All attendees must be fully vaccinated, and will need to present their pet’s Elite Pet Society ID and COVID-19 Vaccination Card to enter the event. One pet is to one owner only.
Not yet a member? Download the Ortigas Malls Mobile App to register your pet for free at the Ortigas Malls Elite Pet Society: http://onelink.to/xx58zg
Visitors can be assured that safety remains the main priority for both customers and employees. Estancia has been given a Safety Seal by the Pasig LGU which is a declaration that it has complied with the city’s precautionary measures set by the DOH and IATF to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Visit the Estancia Facebook page for more details!
Gabee, Rian, and Simeez from Lachica will host Online and in-real-life Experiences for guests from all over the world.
Lachica captured the hearts of Koreans when they appeared on the dance competition series, Street Woman Fighter. Since then, Lachica has earned a reputation as one of Korea's best K-Pop dance choreography teams, having worked with K-Pop superstars including Twice, aespa, Hyoyeon, BoA, and Chungha. Team Lachica is one of the judges on TV series Street Dance Girls Fighter, where teenage dancers battle it out in front of captivated audiences.
When it comes to affordable and convenient gift shopping, there’s only one destination this Yuletide season – the City of Firsts! From fairs to freebies to promos, Araneta City has everything you need to get you in a jolly mood for spending!
Christmas with the Stars will feature Kilabotitos Ogie Alcasid & Ian Veneracion, along with the
country’s best OPM artists such as Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Jose Mari Chan, Lani Misalucha, The Company, Dingdong Avanzado, Noel Cabangon, Christian Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Lara Maigue, Gian Magdangal, Poppert Bernadas, Moira Lacambra, Krystle, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab and more!
Ticket is FREE for every single or accumulated purchase receipt of Php 1,000 from any establishment of Ortigas Malls from November 4 to December 10, 2021. Donation of Php 800 to 1,000 can also be exchanged for a ticket. Visit ortigasmalls.com to claim your ticket.
Check out Greenhills Mall, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria Facebook pages for more details!
To celebrate the release of Home Sweet Home Alone, big brother Buzz will host an overnight stay in his childhood home while the McCallisters are away for the holidays.
This season, fans are set to have their dreams come true with an overnight stay in the original Home Alone house. While the McCallisters are away on their annual trip (all of them but the pet tarantula, this time), four guests will get the opportunity to relive their favorite scenes from the holiday classic and let their inner eight-year-olds run free for the evening without the interruption of pesky intruders.
The most wonderful time of the year is quickly approaching and with several destinations across the country welcoming Filipino travelers once again — ‘tis indeed the season to be jolly! Whether you’re simply craving a weekend away cozying up with loved ones, a classic Christmas vacation filled with family traditions or a festive yuletide getaway, you’ll surely find a home away from home on Airbnb that suits your style and travel needs. To get you started, here are 12 amazing Airbnb Stays for the holidays:
Are you getting a headstart in your Holiday shopping this Black Friday? Well, the City of Firsts is the place to be for amazing deals and surprises!
Happening from November 26 to 30, 2021, enjoy up to 70% off on some of the most in-demand items from the brands you love the most in Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, Farmers Plaza, and The SM Store.
The Ortigas Community Card raises the bar for retail experiences in the country by allowing mall-goers and shoppers to unlock exclusive privileges from across its merchant members in Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria.
The card boosts the neighborhood charm of Ortigas as it engages people with rewards when they shop and dine at their favorite merchants. Customers can enjoy a borderless world of perks with free parking, discounted car wash service, free use of ShopBox and shopping fee, and complimentary use of the Greenhills customer lounge.
The Ortigas Community Card also serves as a catalyst cultivating a stronger relationship among residents of Ortigas and its environs, through a program that makes their daily bustles seamless and convenient, and with value-added merits and privileges.
To apply for the Ortigas Community Card, download the Ortigas Malls mobile app on App Store or Google Play. Click membership and Community Card to register. Lastly, show the digital card and ID number to redeem discounts and perks.
Ortigas Malls, understanding the plight of entertainment workers, launched a holiday campaign and a fundraising concert to help get the industry back on its feet. Titled Christmas with the Stars, the online fundraising concert will see performances from the country’s brightest stars featuring the Kilabotitos--Ogie Alcasid and Ian Veneracion—Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Jose Mari Chan, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, and many more on December 11, 7 p.m.
“Filipinos love going to performances and to concerts and this is an industry that employs thousands of Filipinos, many of whom found themselves out of work because of the pandemic. Until now, data has shown that unlike other sectors, the entertainment industry is still suffering from 90% loss in revenues since the lockdowns started,” said Arch. Renee C. Bacani, Vice President of Ortigas Malls. “This is why Ortigas Malls, in its aim to leave no one behind in recovery, created Christmas with the Stars to encourage Filipinos to help the entertainment industry, while enjoying the heartfelt and beautiful performances from our biggest stars.”
The City of Firsts has officially signaled the beginning of its holiday celebration with the lighting of its iconic Giant Christmas Tree on November 11.
Decked with dazzling lights, colorful ornaments, and glittering tinsels, the Giant Christmas Tree situated at the Times Square Food Park in Araneta City was lit up in a grand celebration attended by local government officials, senior company executives, celebrities, and patrons with the theme ‘Believe in the Magic of Christmas’.
“We made sure to light up our Giant Christmas Tree in time for 11.11, which tradition says is a special date when anything you wish for can come true. It’s also our way of welcoming the return of our guests to the City of Firsts now that quarantine restrictions are starting to loosen up a bit. Even though we’re now welcoming guests of all ages, we’re still making it a point that all of our customers are safe through the health and safety measures that we’ve put in place,” Marjorie Go, AVP for Marketing of Araneta Group, said.
YouGov polling by Airbnb reveals that 9 out of 10 Filipinos polled would work, live or travel differently, if they had more flexibility at work
Over 70% say that home-sharing accommodation provides amenities that make it easier to integrate living with travel, as well as more unique, one-of-a-kind travel experiences
In May, Airbnb introduced the Airbnb 2021 Release, with over 100 upgrades to improve every aspect of the Airbnb service. Today, the company announces an additional 50+ upgrades that make it easier to host and support the changing needs of travelers.
It’s just a few days before cinemas reopen. And just like many movie buffs, we know that you can’t wait to sit in front of that gigantic screen and enjoy the latest flicks starring some of your favorite stars. But wait! You still need to grab tickets! Well, don’t you worry, because the City of Firsts has got that covered!
You can book your tickets for some much-anticipated films through the Araneta City mobile app, which you can download on any Android or iOS device. The process is simple and convenient; with just a few taps and swipes, you can quickly purchase a ticket to any film that you’d like to watch.
Hopeless romantics can sip Cosmopolitans, type pensively at their laptop and chat with friends on a circa-2000 cordless phone at Carrie’s Upper East Side apartment.
For the first time ever, guests will enjoy unique access to the style icon’s closet (tutu, too!), alongside fab and friendship-centric experiences like brunch in Chelsea and a fashion-focused photoshoot.
Rediscover the country’s top destinations from the 28th World Travel Awards with these beautiful Airbnb Stays hosted by passionate local Superhosts
Known for its pristine beaches and mesmerizing dive spots, the Philippines once again stood out after the 28th World Travel Awards recognized the country as this year’s leading beach and diving destination in Asia.
Following the easing of travel restrictions, some of the country’s top beach destinations including Boracay, Siargao, and El Nido have already reopened to local travellers. Filipinos are already making plans for their next trip to popular hotspots Panglao, Anda, Balicasag, Anilao, Malapascua, Moalboal, and Puerto Galera.
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| The newly built Clark International Airport Terminal 2. Photo courtesy of Department of Tourism Region 3 |
With the easing of restrictions on leisure travel, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has started to promote the various tourism circuits that it had been developing throughout the year. One of these is the Pampanga-Clark-Cebu City interregional tour that involves a diverse set of tourism attractions and experiences and their respective award-winning international airports.
“We have been ramping up our efforts to vaccinate our tourism workers so that we restore confidence in people to travel again. Now, with the resumption of leisure travel, we are encouraging tourists to visit destinations that have a high number of fully vaccinated tourism workers,” said Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat.
It’s officially the holidays and Ortigas Malls welcomes back its guests with meaningful and genuine experiences perfect for the cool, festive atmosphere, by launching its heartwarming holiday event of the year, the Christmas with the Stars online fundraising concert.
As the local entertainment and performance industry continues to grapple with the effects of the pandemic, Ortigas Malls teamed up with the Kilabotitos—Ogie Alcasid and Ian Veneracion—to create a fundraiser for the benefit of the Independent Production Workers Group (IPWG).
Since its opening in 1960, the Smart Araneta Coliseum has been a fixture of Filipino culture. Countless memorial events took place at the Big Dome. From some of the biggest athletic events (like the world-renowned 1975 Thrilla in Manila to local favorites like PBA and UAAP/NCAA collegiate games), to the prestigious Binibining Pilipinas pageant (which is being staged in the Big Dome since 1964), up to the highly anticipated concerts of big celebrities (like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Super Junior, among others), the Smart Araneta Coliseum in considered the place to be.
More Filipinos are searching for getaways lasting a week or longer, at family-friendly villas and bed and breakfasts
Airbnb today launched its new #TravelAsJuan campaign that aims to energize the Philippines’s tourism recovery throughout the remainer of 2021 and beyond. As part of the campaign, the company is encouraging Filipinos to rediscover their country with their loved ones, while celebrating unique stays and hidden gems across the nation. The #TravelAsJuan campaign also aligns with the Department of Tourism’s 2022 plan to rebuild a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive domestic tourism industry
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| Panglao Island, located in Bohol Sea in Central Visayas,is a famous tourist destination known for its white sand beaches and world-class diving sites. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism. |
“We are elated that the country’s pristine beaches and mesmerizing dive spots have once again been cited as the best in Asia by the prestigious 2021 World Travel Awards. We share this recognition with our tourism stakeholders, local government units, partner agencies, and all Filipinos who have been helping us promote our country’s attractions, products, and culture,” said Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat.
This is the Philippines’ fifth time to win Asia's Leading Beach Destination and the third time in a row since 2019 to win the Asia’s Leading Dive Destination award.
Private operator of LRT-1 Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) is one with the country and the rest of the world in recognizing the role of tourism and economic activities in achieving inclusive growth.
To cap off the National Tourism Week celebrated every year, LRMC has released the ikotMNL train ride video featuring a virtual tour of points of interest near LRT-1 stations. The virtual tour begins at Roosevelt Station all the way to Baclaran Station. The video was produced in partnership with Cities: Skylines content creator Gilbert Roy Alva whose Gilbert Plays YouTube Channel has been active for the past five years.
LRMC has adopted a two hectare-site (equal to 800 trees) with one year maintenance as part of its support to the Plant for Life, the annual program of its MVP Group sister company Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad). Plant for Life was established in 2007 with the goal of planting 10,000 trees every year during the rainy season in Ipo Watershed, Bulacan. Prone to denudation due to illegal logging, forest fires, and kaingin deforestation, the 7250-hectare watershed is the source of 90% of Maynilad’s raw water. Reforestation is crucial to secure its water supply, as well as ensure the quality and quantity for its service areas in Metro Manila. To date, Maynilad has already planted over 550,000 trees in Ipo Watershed, sequestering over 9,200 tons of carbon dioxide.
As the Philippines begins to relax domestic travel restrictions, Airbnb continues to steadily navigate the Covid-19 pandemic with hundreds of new local Hosts joining the platform in the first six months of 2021.
The company announced today that Filipino Gen Zs and millennials are the driving force behind Airbnb’s growing community of Hosts in the Philippines, with over 68% of new Airbnb Hosts in H1 2021 comprising Gen Zs and millennials aged between 18 and 40*.
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| Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. Photo by Sab (@sabrinuuuuuh) |
Coinciding with the recent launch of the More Fun Awaits Campaign, the Department of Tourism (DOT) calls on Filipinos to be “Ambassadors of Fun” and promote their hometown’s tourist attractions using various social media platforms.
This is part of the DOT’s crowdsourcing campaign wherein netizens will become tour guides of their locale by posting their own virtual tours or sharing their own photos on their recommended destination, activity, or dishes.
The campaign aims to build interest on local destinations by assigning a weekly theme, such as must-visit destination, must-try activity, or must-sample cuisine, which will be the basis for the posts. It will tap both ordinary netizens and local content creators as ambassadors of fun.
For netizens, they can choose a platform—Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter—where they will post a photo or video of the destination/cuisine/activities in their area that they think should be experienced by tourists. The post should include the hashtags #MoreFunAwaits and #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines and must tag the official DOT social media pages.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched the More Fun Awaits campaign to strengthen the Philippines’ positioning as a top-of-mind tourist destination in the global market once international leisure travel to the country resumes. 
View from the peak of the well-known Mt. Apo
in Davao. Photo courtesy of Aya Lowe for the
Department of Tourism
More Fun Awaits showcases the preparations that the DOT has been carrying out while tourism has been put on hold because of the pandemic. The campaign is focused on communicating exciting destinations to visit, starting with those that have been ready to welcome local tourists and have minimum health and safety protocols in place.
New UV disinfection system, safety protocols now in place to ensure customer safety
There’s nothing like enjoying a movie inside a cinema, from the gigantic and immersive display, which transports you to the center of the action, to the surround sound system, that envelops you and makes the experience more dynamic and realistic. But most especially, watching a movie in a theater allows you to have a social experience like no other. It provides you with a sense of communal joy and thrill. Truly, there’s no place like the cinema.
Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, and Farmers Plaza are now open from 10 AM to 7 PM for all shoppers. Whether you’re shopping for clothes, the latest gadgets, or essential items such as food and medicine, you can now do so at the City of Firsts!
Meanwhile, as the health and safety of its customers is the top consideration for the City of Firsts, they have devised a few innovative solutions for customers who need alternative ways of shopping.
The Department’s Region 3 office and the provincial government of Pampanga partnered with SM Pampanga to conduct the vaccine rollout, bringing the number of fully vaccinated individuals in the province to over 240,000. The vaccines were provided by the Department of Health.
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| Healthy herbs and spices used for cooking Halal dishes from Babu Kwan restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism |
Coinciding with the celebration of the Muslim festival Eid’l Adha, the Department of Tourism (DOT) launches the Halal Culinary Tourism series that introduces the initiative and showcases unique culinary finds in Mindanao. The video series can be viewed by the public on the Department’s social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and Instagram starting today.
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said that the development of Halal Culinary Tourism aims to promote the culinary heritage of Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and consequently its destinations.
The S.A.F.E.T.R.I.P. campaign video features Scarlet Snow Belo asking the help of the Powerpuff Girls to find a safe way to explore the Philippines now that leisure travel is allowed.
The trio of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup emphasized the need to follow S.A.F.E.T.R.I.P., which stands for Sanitize, Avoid mass gatherings, wear Face masks, use Electronic payments, always have your Temperature checked, follow Rules and regulations, stay updated on latest Information, and observe Physical distancing.
In commemoration of Manila Day, the Museo Pambata Foundation Inc. blessed their new playground space last June 24. The Bahay Pukyutan Playground features living and learning spaces for children and adults that emphasize the connection and importance of our environment and the natural world.
Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and Vice Mayor Dr. Honey Lacuna graced the event and the Museo Pambata’s President, Bambi Mañosa-Tanjutco, toured the guests around the new playground space.
“Observing marine wildlife in its natural habitat is incredibly fulfilling and quite an experience you cannot forget,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. She stressed, however, that while this is an extraordinary experience, "irresponsible interaction with marine wildlife can cause severe long-term damage to them and their environment.
For all that he has done for us, Dad deserves a treat on his special day. This Father’s Day, raise your glass to the main man in your life with The Manila Hotel’s Father’s Month treats.
The Home Buffet surprise
For those who prefer to stay at home, you may pull off a grand celebration with The Manila Hotel’s takeout/delivery service and give the ultimate gift for beloved dads—full stomachs and warm hearts. For the month of June, the take home highlight is the Father’s Month Home Buffet that comes in two sets: the Special and Supreme.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) and Tiktok's #SarapMagingPinoy campaign, as of this writing, has garnered more than 35 million views. The campaign aims to encourage locals to celebrate Filipino pride by sharing treasured dishes from all over the country and promote a renewed interest and love for local cuisines.
Under the #SarapMagingPinoy campaign, various content creators from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao shared clips of homemade recipes and dishes. In the videos, with its views growing exponentially daily, local produce and the diverse cooking styles found in the archipelago were creatively presented. Some videos featured home cooks preparing the dishes amidst the scenic destinations where these recipes were made popular.
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| Costales Nature Farm |
In celebration of World Environment Day 2021, the Department of Tourism (DOT) urged hotels and resorts to become DOT-accredited to receive assistance in its rapid adoption of sustainable practices.
DOT Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat stated, "Reviving local economy and creating livelihood is DOT's current priority. However, the pandemic has allowed us to be more persistent in our goal to instill accountability in businesses to become more sustainable."
Puyat explained that the perks of being accredited equate to getting assistance from DOT in many aspects of running a tourism enterprise, but more specifically, access to technical tools and experts that can help an establishment make the transition to going green.
“DOT will continue to focus on marketing sustainability to the public- educating them on how to be sustainable tourists while also encouraging tourists to support accredited businesses that have exemplary green practices,” Puyat said.
AYS Season 2 kicked off with a virtual live show on airasia’s Facebook page and YouTube channel with its very energetic hosts AirAsia Philippines’ Spokesperson and Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Steve Dailisan and former GMA 7 Starstruck finalist, now working fulltime as an AirAsia cabin crew, Princess Guevarra.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) invites everyone to take part in “Flavors of Pampanga: Manyaman!”, which will showcase the diverse culinary heritage and rich food history of the region, particularly in Pampanga, the Culinary Capital of the Philippines.
“Flavors of Pampanga: Manyaman!” will be held on May 28 (Friday) in Clark, Pampanga and will feature the region’s diverse food heritage through cooking demonstrations of culinary experts, including chef de cuisines from hotels in Clark. The event will be broadcasted live and streamed online through the DOT-Region III official Facebook page, and the public is invited to be part of it.
“Pampanga is a leading proponent of culinary tourism in the Philippines and we would like to thank everyone from this region who have supported, promoted, and furthered culinary tourism. The desire to eat good food and immerse oneself in a culture through its cuisine is a powerful motivator for traveling,” said Romulo-Puyat.
According to statista.com there are around 500,000 nurses in the Philippines. Each year, some 38,000 new nurses join the workforce providing adequate health care among Filipinos, especially important in far flung municipalities.
However not all nursing graduates end up in hospitals or clinics as some have chosen a different path, just like our allstar cabin crew who are making good use of what they learned in the nursing profession by way of taking care of our valued guests in the sky.
However, for working moms, life has become more challenging during the pandemic--- juggling professional careers, and balancing household responsibilities while keeping everyone safe at home.
A MOTHER’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
For allstar ground staff Klarisse Uy, a single mom to a son with special needs, a day isn’t enough to get everything done. For nine years, raising a young child meant finding contentment and happiness in the simple things in life.
airasia today sealed a new strategic partnership with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) - hailed as the “best digital bank in the Philippines” - as the airline’s transformation continues to become Asean’s leading travel and lifestyle platform of choice.
The collaboration allows for digital purchasing and delivery of popular international lifestyle products through airasia Shop.
airasia Shop offers value-for-money travel retail shopping, allowing customers to purchase a wide range of quality authentic products from categories such as Beauty, Fashion, Electronics & Gadgets, Health & Wellness, Kids products and exclusive airasia merchandise.
These items are also able to be conveniently delivered right to the doors through airasia’s logistics venture, Teleport.
From 4 - 15 May 2021, customers can enjoy Php120 OFF any purchase at airasia Shop when they use the promo code “RCBC120”. The promo code is applicable with a minimum purchase of Php1,000.
AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said, “Our partnership with RCBC – the Best Digital Bank in the Philippines - strengthens our direction of fully automating the way we do business in the country. RCBC has a renowned track record of maintaining inclusive, convenient and accessible digital banking which is especially important during these times of the COVID pandemic.
All other domestic flights to and from Manila will continue to operate subject to compliance with Local Government Unit (LGU) restrictions on frequencies and capacity.
Of this number, 39,429 are from the National Capital Region (NCR); 26,908 from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); 45,709 from Region 1; 17,293 from Region 2; 55,974 from Region 3; 61,392 from Region 4A; 56,955 from Region 4B; 11,468 from Region 5; 45,429 from Region 6; 31,712 from Region 7; 13,327 from Region 8; 6,609 from Region 9; 13,939 from Region 10; 26,095 from Region 11; 5,661 from Region 12, and 7,630 from Region 13.
Now in its 4th year, the festival is taking to a virtual stage with the best of film, painting, photography, sculpture, and so much more!
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures for the art community, and what betterwayo to uplift spirits than to bring art closer to everyone through Ortigas Malls' award-winning and admission-free Ortigas Art Festival 2021
The Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale aims to further promote domestic tourism among the public and encourage them to see Bohol’s natural and cultural wonders. To avail of Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale deals, visit traveloco.ph/balikbohol.
“With the upcoming Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale, we look forward to more people travelling to Bohol to see and experience the beauty and wonders of the province,” DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
She added, “We, at the DOT, along with provincial and local leaders in Bohol, are committed to protecting the health and safety of locals and tourists alike. Regaining the trust and confidence of Filipinos to travel again is essential to the revival of the tourism industry.”
The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauds the Provincial Government of Bohol's efforts in setting up this year's annual Ubi Festival under the new normal.
Running until February 24, the festival, which has been celebrated since 2000, is proof of the Boholanos’ love for Ubi or purple yam. The root crop was revered as a “savior crop” as its discovery led to the alleviation of hunger in the province during pre-Hispanic times. Now, it has become a staple food for Boholanos because of its taste, long shelf-life, and the many food varieties that can be made from it.
As the largest producer of ubi in the country, Bohol is home to many ubi farmers who turn to the root crop for their livelihood. With this year's theme, “Pagpananum ug Ubi Napuslan, Kagutom Na Dala Sa Covid19 Nabatukan,” the festival aims to celebrate the root crop that has become an agro-historical-geographical-religious symbol for the province and highlight the impact and contributions of ubi farmers.
The inclusion of these two destination gems in the prestigious travel publication’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, is sheer recognition of their unparalleled beauty and uniquely diverse resources.
“We would like to thank the travelers who voted for our destinations. We draw inspiration from this warm reception and solid vote of confidence from our satisfied patrons. As our destinations gradually reopen with health and safety measures in place, we will continue our conservation and protection efforts of these areas,” remarked Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
