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Fundacion Pacita, the bed & breakfast that used to be the artist's workshop of author Vicky Abad Kerblat's late sister, the renowned visual artist Pacita Abad | Photo by NTZ, January 2011

A look back on “Untouched, Unspoiled Batanes”

On January 31, 2012 By

This post by Filomeno St. Ana III on Vicky Abad Kerblat’s book, Jawid sawen nu Vatan!, brings me back to one of my best Philippine holidays ever, in the practically untouched yet progressive province called Batanes. Allow me to share with you this retro post, published exactly a year ago, about the group of islands that I believe every Filipino should visit at least once in their lifetime.

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Why the Philippines? To expats in China, the new slogan is just a reminder

On January 10, 2012 By

Here is my un-FB/Twitter-ized view on the slogan. It’s brilliant. Who cares if Switzerland used it 60 years ago? The delivery and the message is spot-on.

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Lawis garden 01

10 Reasons to Go (or Go Back) to Bohol (Part 1 of 2)

On December 13, 2011 By

I had been to Bohol twice—both times within the context of work, and each time bound to an itinerary that just offered bite-sized portions of Bohol’s many charms without actually letting us savor the full portions of its delectable fare. But I am a creative soul in frequent need of inspiration, and I find that, of the places in the Philippines that I’ve been to so far, Bohol is one of those locations where I’d like to be a frequent flyer.

Here’s a rundown of the things I’ve enjoyed, the things I’d like to go back for, and the things I’d like to try (in no particular order):

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NAIA terminal 1 makeover

Kenneth Cobonpue reimagines NAIA terminal 1

On October 27, 2011 By

On Kenneth Cobonpue’s Facebook page, he published a video on how NAIA terminal one could be made over. The proposal is pro bono from Budji Layug, Royal Pineda and Kenneth Cobonpue in cooperation with the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines.

Cobonpue writes, “Its [...]

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A "Hollywood-ized" Philippines from the air

Let’s label the entire Philippines!

On October 21, 2011 By

I like labels. It caters to the obsessive-compulsive in me and it works to establish order and boundaries. One of my favorite childhood activities, especially during the grade school years, was labeling all my school supplies using Dymo (revealing my age, yes) and those different colors of Dymo labels.

However, it is one thing to label personal property and another to label natural wonders and cultural treasures such as, say, a volcano.

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Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in ABS-CBN's "Bottomline" (October 8, 2011)

“It’s the policy, stupid”–or why we’re driving tourists away

On October 20, 2011 By

In a disconcerting double-whammy, the Philippines’ Ninoy Aquino International Airport was voted the worst airport “for sleeping in” on the same week that Air France-KLM announced a phasing out of its Manila-Amsterdam route.

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PPUR text promo to give away more than P30million in cash prizes

On October 11, 2011 By

To quote what the Departmet of Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez Jr. said, “Believe in the beauty of (the Philippines). Sell it at every turn. Sell it on Facebook. Sell it on Twitter. Sell it on Multiply. Talk about (the Philippines). We deserve a visit from the world.”

And [...]

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Pilipinas, Tara Na!

Department of Tourism reveals new Pilipinas, Tara Na! video

On September 11, 2011 By

The Department of Tourism published on their YouTube page, videos of the new Philippine Tourism branding.

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Old Intramuros. Image from Wikipedia.

Heritage and forgoing fast food tourism

On September 10, 2011 By

With Jimenez’s advertising experience I hope that conceptual shortfall will finally be addressed. Along side Jimenez was outgoing Secretary of Tourism Alberto Lim. Who, for all the criticisms hurled at him by the curiously constructed Tourism Congress, was one of the best men for the job.

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Rebranding the Philippines: Giving the Philippines a total makeover

On July 24, 2011 By

Top 7 bidders successfully met the tedious process of selection of the Department of Tourism’s Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) for the formulation of a new Philippine country brand.

The top 7 bidders who were carefully chosen out of the 26 companies who joined the bidding will [...]

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