Tulfo kay Frasco: Turismo ang i-promote, 'wag mukha mo

ni Mylene Alfonso @News | February 4, 2026

File Photo: Senate of the Philippines

Ginisa ni Senador Raffy Tulfo si Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco matapos niyang ipakita ang mga tourism promotion materials na may mukha ng kalihim.

Sa isinagawang pagdinig ng Senate committee on Tourism, sinabihan ni Tulfo si Frasco na hindi makatutulong ang pagiging tila vlogger ng kalihim sa pag-unlad ng turismo ng Pilipinas.

“Isa pa, sa nakikita ko, I'm very sorry, Secretary Frasco. Parang lumilitaw na ikaw ay nagiging vlogger na it will not sell 'pag doon sa mga marketing materials natin, puro mukha mong nakalagay doon. It shouldn't happen,” wika ni Tulfo.

Ipinakita rin ni Tulfo ang magazine sa Japan na may mukha ni Frasco at mga groundbreaking ceremony sa halip na umano’y mga tanawin sa bansa.

“Halimbawa meron tayong, meron 'tong sa Japan, Japan ba ito na magazine. I think it's a free magazine. Pagkakataon na sana natin na para sumikat tayo sa Japan. Sa halip, ang nakalagay dito, ikaw, ikaw ng ikaw, and then, 'yung mga groundbreaking, pinapakita natin sa halip na dapat, 'yung underground river, 8 wonders of the world, Tabon cave... ang pinakita doon, kayo po at saka 'yung mga groundbreaking ceremony, which will not sell,” punto niya.

“If we want to sell, ipakita po sana natin ‘yung mga tanawin o ‘yung mga reasons why tourists will visit the country,” diin ni Tulfo.

Samantala, dumepensa naman si Frasco at iginiit na ginagawa lamang niya ang kanyang trabaho para ma-promote ang mga tourist destinations sa Pilipinas.

“I did not pay for that magazine, no government funds were used for that magazine, and my consent was never obtained in the use of my image for that magazine,” ayon kay Frasco.

Wala rin umano siyang balak tumakbo para sa 2028 national elections.

'Pinas, nominado sa World Travel Awards 2023

ni Eli San Miguel - Trainee @News | October 25, 2023

Ibinahagi ng Department of Tourism (DOT) ang magandang balita nitong Miyerkules, na nominado ang Pilipinas para sa apat na kilalang parangal mula sa prestihiyosong World Travel Awards (WTA) 2023.

Ayon sa DOT, nominado ang bansa sa mga sumusunod na parangal sa iba't ibang kategorya: World's Leading Beach Destination, World's Leading Dive Destination, World's Leading Island Destination, at World's Leading Tourist Board.

“We welcome these nominations that show growing global interest and love for the Philippines,” ani DOT Secretary Christina Frasco.

“With the natural beauty of our beaches, dive sites, and islands, the wealth of history, heritage, and culture, the festivals, flavors, and adventures across our diverse regions, every tourist’s journey guarantees a lifetime of memories,” dagdag niya.

Binanggit ni Frasco na higit sa limang milyong Pilipino ang nakahanap ng mapagkakakitaan sa industriya ng turismo. Itinuturing bilang “Oscars” ng travel industry ang WTA, na isang London-based award-giving body na itinatag noong 1993.

Kinikilala nito ang mga natatanging tagumpay sa industriya ng turismo sa tatlong antas: pambansa, rehiyonal, at pandaigdig.

Binuksan noong Oktubre 16 ang botohan para sa world category ng WTA.

Magsasara ito sa hatinggabi ng Nobyembre 17 (GMT).

DOT holds 1st Tourism Pride Summit

by Info @Brand Zone | September 30, 2023

The Department of Tourism (DOT) held the first-ever Tourism Pride Summit in line with the inclusive development thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

The Summit held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on September 28, 2023 gathered leading figures from the government, academe, tourism, and the LGBTQIA+ community, highlighting how government investment toward this niche market that spends around $200 billion a year can contribute significantly to the growth and development of Philippine tourism. Panel discussions are slated for promoting an inclusive and progressive tourism industry, expanding opportunities through benchmarking successful pride tourism initiatives of other countries, and the role of the creative industry in developing the LGBTQIA+ tourism market, which is projected to reach over $.5 trillion by 2030.

Secretary Frasco led the series of panel discussions, where she was joined by Congressman Christopher “Toff” de Venecia of the Fourth District of Pangasinan; Ronil Villacorta of the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP); Regine Carmelli Reyes of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW); Atty. Regal Oliva, President of Cebu Lady Lawyers Association Inc.; Girly Gravador, owner of Cygnal Travel; and Assistant Professor Rielle Alcantara-Castro of the Asian Institute of Tourism, University of the Philippines Diliman.

Also discussed were the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ professionals and advocating for workplace and gender and development inclusivity; the unique experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals and how their travel stories can enrich the DOT’s mission to create an all-encompassing, secure, and forward-looking tourism industry; LGBTQIA+ trends as a niche market in tourism; educational programs that incorporate LGBTQIA+ awareness and sensitivity training; and policies that harness the power of tourism to promote understanding, respect, and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ travelers and tourism workers, making destinations more inviting for everyone.

”We at the Department of Tourism take pride in the enormous contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community across the tourism value chain in all of the regions of the Philippines. With the very first Tourism Pride Summit, we are responding to global trends that present massive opportunities for growth by pursuing niche markets that will create more jobs in tourism,” said Secretary Frasco.