PHL-France strengthening tourism cooperation

MAKATI CITY – The Philippines strengthened its tourism partnership with France through the signing of the summary record of discussion during the 1^st Philippines-France Joint Working Group Meeting.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon Jr. signed on behalf of the country while the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Head of Tourism Promotion Department Clément Laloux represented the French delegation.

“Our meeting aims to discuss the plans and developments of the agreement to recommend programs, projects, and activities for the development of tourism cooperation between our two countries…As we are gathered here, may we continue to help each other to build and promote our respective countries,” Undersecretary Bengzon said.

The inaugural joint working group meeting between the two nations commenced following the signing of the agreement on tourism cooperation in Manila last February 2015.

“We are very happy to be here for this first joint committee on tourism. I think we both worked very actively to increase the number of tourists coming to the Philippines and coming to France. I’m sure that the French expertise of the French companies that are part of the delegation will take part in this development,” Laloux said.

Leading the Embassy of France in Manila delegation are His Excellency Nicolas Galey, French Ambassador to the Philippines and Micronesia, Deputy Head of Mission Christine Carole, Political Counsellor Quentin Biehler, Economic Counsellor Laurent Estrade, and Counsellor Camille Chabe.

Representing other French government organizations include  Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs International Development Officer Maud Hainry and Atout Franc Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Director Morad Tayebi.

The French private sector was well represented by Aéroport de Paris Ingénierie Aviation Marketing Director Guillaume Arrigoni, Pomo Asia Sales Manager Benjamin Fauchier Delavigne, Club Med Regional Development Manager – East and South Asia and Pacific Sébastian Favre, PayinTech Country Manager – Philippines Brian Tessier, and Paris-Manila Technology Corp. President and CEO and member of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines Hubort d’Aboville.

“France is well aware of the huge potential of the Philippines’ tourism sector…Your beautiful and welcoming country can certainly attract many more tourists beyond the well-known destinations in Southeast Asia. As your slogan says, it’s always more fun in the Philippines,” Ambassador Galey shared.

Among the agenda of the meeting covered were the destination promotion efforts and best practices, investment opportunities, air route connectivity and direct flight proposal, and the two-way tourism traffic.

“We have managed to attract almost 75,000 French tourists in 2018, hopefully with better coordination and closer cooperation it can finally reach 100,000,” Undersecretary Bengzon added.

A total of 74,389 French tourists visited the Philippines last year with 22,219 arrivals already for the first two months of 2019. This recorded a double-digit growth of 22.25% against the same period in 2018.

Conversely, over 86,000,000 Filipinos visited France in 2017 mostly on pilgrimage tours. 

France is the country’s thirteenth source market and is the top three for Europe following the United Kingdom and Germany. As of February this year, French tourists are also the ninth top spending tourist with PHP 896,158,004 expenditures or USD 17,171,049.

The DOT targets 114,264 French tourist arrivals by 2020.

In order to attract more French nationals, the DOT conducts product and market research and development with training, webinars, e-learning and incentive programs for the French market, trade development and trade support via French travel agents familiarization trip, joint promotion campaigns, business-to-business workshop with Philippine travel trade and Central Europe roadshow, conduct of French media familiarization tours, and participation at major trade and consumer fairs including dive shows with the notable endorsement of French celebrity freediver Guillaume Néry as the Freediving Ambassador of the Philippines.

The French delegation also toured Intramuros, Rizal Park, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, National Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Museum of Natural History showcasing Manila’s tourism products, park management, heritage conservation, and deep religious culture of Filipinos.

Photos:

“Your beautiful and welcoming country can certainly attract many more tourists beyond the well-known destinations in Southeast Asia. As your slogan says, it’s always more fun in the Philippines.” -  His Excellency Nicolas Galey, French Ambassador to the Philippines and Micronesia (left)

 Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. signs the summary record of discussion during the 1^st Philippines-France Joint Working Group Meeting

Europe and Foreign Affairs, Head of Tourism Promotion Department Clément Laloux (left) together with DOT Undersecretary Bengzon 

DOT invites the public to visit Museo de Intramuros

As the Philippines celebrate National Heritage Month this May, the Department of Tourism (DOT) invites the public to explore and learn about Philippine culture and history by visiting Museo de Intramuros in Manila.

Managed by the Intramuros Administration (IA), Museo de Intramuros is located in two important reconstructions inside the walled city: the San Ignacio Church and the Mission House of the Society of Jesus. The museum was designed to house the period art collections of IA that includes ecclesiastical art, furniture, vestments, and textiles and other artifacts.

The museum will be open to the public starting May 2, 2019, and admission is free.

Museo de Intramuros’ official opening, which took place on April 29, 2019, was among the highlights of the Intramuros Administration’s 40^th anniversary as an institution.

The current in-house exhibition presents the story of the evangelization of the Philippines from the perspective of the Filipinos. It explores changes in the “Filipino” psyche as colonization introduced a new religion and culture to the natives.

With the display of religious images belonging to the IA collection, the exhibition is able to highlight Filipino artistry and craftsmanship that developed from the merging of the indigenous and the foreign.

Curated by Dr. Esperanza Gatbonton, Gino Gonzales, Dr. Cecilia dela Paz, Santiago Pilar and Martin Tinio, theexhibition has six components: (1) The Immaculate Conception, (2) The Religious Order, (3) The Patronato Real and the establishment of Parishes, (4) Religious Colonial Paintings, (5) The establishment of a parish and sacred vessels, and (6) The Indio Response.

In her 1981 book Philippine Relihious Imagey, co-curator Dr. Gatbonton wrote, “This collection of the Intramuros Administration is extremely valuable because it represents the first real attempt to collect and preserve within the Philippines an important aspect of the country’s cultural heritage.

“The collection affords the viewer a panorama of the various styles and enables him to compare them with the artifacts done abroad in the same medium. We, Filipinos, have always tended to accept that we were the passive receiver of artistic stimuli from abroad. This collection proves that the Philippines was as much a giver.”

At the museum’s opening, DOT Secretary and Chairperson of the IA Board of Administrators, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said, “IA’s dedication in ensuring that the tangible treasures that immortalize our history are now accessible to the public is commendable.”

She congratulated IA Administrator Guiller Asido and the cultural workers behind the museum and added, “This project, rooted in passion and a deep love of country, must be emulated and replicated.”

“The Department of Tourism will be investing in the promotion of cultural tourism in the years to come. We’re doing it not just because we need to expand our tourism products, engage a specific market and increase revenue. Cultural tourism is telling the world our narrative. It is also a platform to ensure that our heritage structures and objects such as these will be preserved and enjoyed by our progeny,” Puyat said.

The Intramuros Administration is an attached agency of the DOT in-charge of the restoration, development, and promotion of the historic walled city of Intramuros. 

PHOTOS 

Tourism Secretary Bernadettte Romulo-Puyat congratulated IA Administrator Guiller Asido and the cultural workers behind the museum and added, “This project, rooted in passion and a deep love of country, must be emulated and replicated.”

Tourism Secretary Romulo-Puyat tours the three-story museum which showcases the form of religious images belonging to the Intramuros Administration collection 

Museo de Intramuros will be open to the public starting May 2, 2019, and admission is free

Tourism Secretary Romulo-Puyat with the curatorial consultants and pioneer champions of the Intramuros district

Images of the Religious Orders and the Immaculate Conception exhibit at the ground floor of the museum

Relics and figures of the Establishment of a Parish and Sacred Vessels exhibit at the second floor


Showcase of the future of the Intramuros Administration at the third floor


DOT and Intramuros Administration family during the opening of Museo de Intramuros

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ FIRST ENDORSEMENT APPEARANCE AFTER 2 YEARS IS HE COMING BACK TO THE LIMELIGHT?

Photos and videos of matinee idol John Lloyd Cruz have been surfacing after being on hiatus from the showbusiness since 2017.

Cruz, one of the most bankable actors of the Philippine cinema and very effective endorser once again proved that his fans are still waiting for his return. In a teaser video, which lasted only for a few seconds and only shows the back shot of Cruz’s, and posted in the Facebook page of the number one selling shawarma Turks a few weeks ago had been viewed 3.2M times, shared almost 800 times and gained a huge number of comments.

Without any clue in that teaser video, his fans already assumed that it was him in the video. Actress Bea Alonzo on her Instagram also posted a screenshot of that teaser video, which garnered almost a million likes.

This Monday morning Turks finally revealed in the 1-minute and 17 seconds video of Cruz showing the actor walking through different destinations, which somehow depicts Cruz’s sojourn. The video is very simple, yet there’s drama the way it was created, and in a very subtle shot, he stopped and took a bite of a Turks pita donner.

The rugged look of Cruz in the Turks video titled Ang Pagbabalik is way too far from his guy-next-door image and a lot of people in the industry are asking if this signals his return to the limelight. His fans are still wondering about the life he’s been living since his hiatus.

According to Turks president Gem L. Zenarosa that during the course of his talks with Cruz, they never talked anything about his showbiz career or plans. He added that he got Mr. Cruz as the latest ambassador of Turks because of his great confidence working with Cruz.

“I am really grateful that John Lloyd trusts our company, he is a brilliant and very creative young man. Aside from acting we have discovered some of his remarkable talents,” Zenarosa stressed.

The Ang Pagbabalik according to Zenarosa is actually about Turks Small Pita Doner, which will be available again in all its branches.

“John Lloyd is the best endorser for this because like him, despite his absence in the showbusiness for a couple of years, the warmth and love of his fans for him never dwindles. With our Small Pita Doner we believe that our customers will be happy to know that it is back in our menu,” Zenarosa explained.

Just like Cruz who is seen to have a different image since he last appeared in the big screen, a clear indication that the actor is recreating himself and exploring different grounds, Turks is also doing the same thing to keep its customers excited whenever they visit a branch.

In time for the release of Cruz's endorsement video, Turks also released to the market its newest offering --- Turks Rice Bowl, which is a complete meal. You can choose beef or chicken for your rice topping, and it is priced at P50. The Small Pita Donner on the other hand, is priced at P35.

"To keep up with the demands of our customers, Turks continues to improve our menu and offerings to satisfy the discriminating taste of our loyal patrons," Zenarosa stressed.

John Lloyd Cruz now joins the roster of endorsers of Turks such as Piolo and Inigo Pascual.

To watch the full video of Ang Pagbabalik visit https://youtu.be/Uh0WwLnIEDQ. 

You can also watch the video on Turk FB page: official.turks.

Big Manila Food Tour: May 4, 2019

Rediscover the culinary gems of Manila! 

The Big Manila Food Tour will take you to some of Manila’s iconic restaurants and eateries. These are the places we grew up with, the food we have fond memories of, the stuff of dreams.

From Pre-colonial times, through the Spanish and American eras, up to these modern times, the City of Manila has always been a melting pot of different cultures and nowhere is that more evident than our food.

Manila is home to some of the country’s most iconic eateries and legendary dishes. And while the food scene has been more dynamic outside Manila, some of the city’s classic favorites still stand and still make people happy.

Let’s discover these gems all over again.

The LINEUP

Aristocrat

Wok Inn

Cafe Felisa

Emerald Garden

Shawarma Snack Center

Hizon’s

Puesto

***

The Team

Established in 2018, WanderManila is an up-and-coming custom tour provider that specializes in creating bespoke tourism experiences for local and foreign tourists.

A+V Design Consultants is an events management and marketing services company that specializes in events and activations since 2017.

The Details

Date: May 4, 2019

Assembly Time and Place: 11:00am, Aloha Hotel

Projected duration of tour: 6 hours

Ticket Prices:

Php 1,500 - regular rate

Php 1,250 - early bird rate

Selling Period:

April 15 to April 30, 2019

Ticket Link:

https://ticket2me.net/e/1791

For more information, visit WanderManila’s Social Media accounts

Facebook.com/wandermanila

Instagram.com/wander.manila

Official Hashtag:

#BigManilaFoodTour

AquaPlay Park In The Philippines

Finally! Don't Miss out on April 3rd week!

The Inflatable Aqua Parks company is really unstoppable in providing fun, excitement and extreme adventures to all beach lovers! After seeing and experiencing the thrilling obstacles in CBI Water Park.

Batangas, Kamia Bay Resort Puerto Princesa Palawan, and the inflatable park at The Sabando Ocampo Beach Resort Albay, now comes the floating parks at THE SEASHORE BEACH CLUB and THE SIARGAO WATER WORLD.

This newest tourist attractions in San Juan, Batangas and Siargao Island comes mostly in blue and white inflatables and will highlight the world-renowned MONSTER SLIDES.

Brought to you by the Canadian inflatable water park designer and manufacturer AQUA PLAY PARKS.

The Seashore Resort floating water park is making waves on social media. The resort will have their target opening on the holy week so start planning ur break at the water park. For rates, please stay tuned as the resort is yet to announce as it draws nearer the opening. 

Our inflatable water parks promise to feature the most adrenaline-pumping obstacles and social media-worthy sceneries amid the blue waters of Batangas.

Main Features:

☑ Double Monster Slides

☑ Human Launcher

☑ Trampoline Volleyball

☑ Huge Icebergs

☑ Puddle Boards

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Learn more on http://escapewithalyzza.com/aqua-park-in-the-philippines/

Check out exciting and good read features on http://inflatable-island.com

Interested to invest and own the NEXT inflatable water park? Be the new talk of the town? Visit www.aquaplayparks.com. We will show you how!

An Aqua Play Park Means Endless Summer Fun

Are you ready for a water park escapade? It will be an adventure like no other! It is the trendiest way to play on water nowadays! You have just got to go to have an awesome time on an AquaPlay Park!

Inflatable floating parks provides several fun challenges. It's a walk in the park on water. That adds another level of play to the park as it can be used to dive off from and more.

What can you do to stay afloat on water? You can take a ride on a boat, float using a raft, use a life jacket, go on a paddle boat, and use other stuff that floats. Yet, those things provide limited use when it comes to having fun. An AquaPlay Park is designed and manufactured with your kind of fun in mind and made with safety design elements.

For those who just want to hang out while in water, going on an AquaPlay Park is the right way to do so. Yet, there is more to an inflatable park than using it to relax. The activities that can be done make it the ideal way to do various sports while on a floating obstacle course!

An inflatable water park can have a race track, a running track, water slide, trampoline, monkey bars, flippers, a climbing wall, hurdles, springboard, rocker, rollers, swing, and a jungle gym. There can even be two or more of these!

And there are much more inflatable play parks like this Swan inflatable tow-able trampoline!

These Aqua Play Parks can be found at

Kamai Bay Resort
The Seashore Beach Club San Juan Batangas
Siargao Waterworld

About AquaPlay Parks

What exactly is an inflatable water park?

These are different from the aqua parks that are placed in an indoor leisure pool. There is no need for fast flowing water to have fun on the ocean. These next gen of water parks is a floating obstacle course.

These can be placed in freshwater inland lakes or even in a sea. The wonderful thing about an inflatable water park is that it is easy to set up. The modular elements are interconnected so if desired, you can use it as a circuit to tackle various obstacles and challenges as you go. In the water obstacle course, there can be slides, swings, trampolines, and slippery walkways.

Do you want an inflatable water park? 

Are you aware of the fact that an AquaPlay Park can be designed to your specifications to include the activities that you want! If you have a body of water to use, it is time to place an inflatable park! The Philippines does have the longest shoreline in the world. Aside from our beautiful shores, there are lovely bays and alluring lakes. Our country has loads of water space that are ideal for an aqua sports water park.

AquaPlay Park was founded by its  CEO Peter Appleton. He is a Canadian designer and inflatable expert with 30 years of experience in the inflatable industry. A pioneer in this industry, he can design and build a water park for you based on your budget. The inflatable water park that he may create to cater to your dream play inflatable park can give you enough profit to return the investment in one season. It can be one of the highlighted attractions of our shores.

It is a must that we encourage more tourists to visit our country. An inflatable water park can attract both local and international tourist and helps promotes water sports. There are related activities that can supplement the park such as paddle boards and jet skis.

If you can dream it, your AquaPlay Park can happen.

For Inquiries:
Contact 0917-949 1926 or send an email at peter@inflatable-island.com
For more information
Website: AquaPlay Park
Facebook: AquaPlay Parks Philippines
Instagram: @aquaplayparksadventure 

Image credits: Kamia Bay Resort Facebook page and AquaPlay Park Facebook page

Pet Patrol: Luxury Grooming

Here are just some of the happy (and sleepy) faces of our furry friends who recently visited Pet Patrol in their newly-opened Pilar Village branch. Pet Patrol's Complete Groom promo (only P350) is still on-going!

Get your dog or cat groomed at Pet Patrol. Their expertise and the excellent products used makes this dog grooming place one of the most popular in the South.

Pet Patrol has two branches. Their first branch is located at 280 El Grande Ave, BF Homes. This dog shop is near the BF Thai El Grande street guardhouse. The other Pet Patrol branch is located at 828 Dona Pilar Aguirre road, Pilar Village. 

Pet Patrol is your pet's destination for a variety of pet food, supplies, and services. Their professionally-trained dog and cat stylists are at your service. It has safe and comfortable lodging provide a welcoming environment for pets to stay while you’re away!

It is best to bring your dog or cat to a grooming salon. It makes them super clean as the services include treatments for health concerns that will make their skin, fur, teeth, and even butt area much better. 

Grooming is also a treatment. The ears of a dog deserve a good cleaning. It eliminates the worries that come with dry skin or even the horrible ticks that can live in the ear. That smelly ear could have yucky stuffy, so have your pet's ears cleaned regularly. 

A solution to the common problem of ticks and fleas is to get rid of as much fur as possible. That makes it impossible for ticks to hide in the fur. Since the ticks are visible when the dog is close shaven, removing these by hand for extermination is made easier. If there are no worries about fleas and ticks, then a dog or cat must be groomed to look their very best. 

The summer heat can make our dogs and event feel lousy. Getting them trimmed is a way to make them feel cooler. It is also a way to make them look a lot better and cuter. A grooming session can be pampering. 

Dogs and cats need regular grooming. Their nails have to be cut. They need proper care and it is a nice experience for them to be bathed, brushed, and fur cut by the professional groomers of Pet Patrol.

Bring your dogs and cats to Pet Patrol.
Their pet services are excellent.
Pamper your pet with luxury grooming. 

For Inquiries: 

Visit the Pet Patrol Facebook Page

https://web.facebook.com/PetPatrolPH/

ONLINE PREMIERE of "I Love You, LC!" Movie

Because you asked for it, here it is! Salamat sa inyong suporta. Please share to your family, friends and loved ones, or to everyone. You'll never know, you are saving some lives from obesity. Here's to Obese-Free World! Ihanda na ang chicharon at ang zero carb softdrinks! Tara na at manood ng "I Love You, LC!" Movie!!!

Today is the ONLINE PREMIERE of "I Love You, LC!" Movie! Who needs the cinema house when you can watch at the comfort of your own home wearing whatever you want together with the people you love? Watch the most anticipated indie movie of the year (by every single Filipino who is doing the low carb or LCIF way of eating) at the comfort of your home via Vimeo Video-On-Demand (VOD).

Aside from the movie, you will get to watch the never-before-seen bloopers! Rent the movie today for 3 days and you'll be able to save US$5.00!!! Just use the special code below. But hurry as this promo is only until tomorrow or the first 100 renters.

Special Code: ILYLCOnlinePremiere

Click https://vimeo.com/ondemand/iloveyoulcmovie 
for the "I Love You, LC!" Movie VOD Page. 

#ILoveYouLCMovieVideoOnDemand #ILoveYouLCMovieVOD #ILoveYouLCMovieOnlinePremiereDiscount #ILoveYouLcMovieOnlinePremiere

The Grumpy Puppy: A Dog Party Venue and Coffee Shop

Host a dog party, chill with your pooch, and create bonding moments with your canine companion when you visit The Grumpy Puppy.

The Grumpy Puppy is a pet-friendly cafe. This place makes it possible for a dog owner to bring their pet to a restaurant with the ideal seating for chilling. The Grumpy Puppy where all dogs are happy is located on the second floor of 280 El Grande Street, BF Homes. This resto is above Pet Patrol dog grooming and boarding. You'll find your Waze to it when you want to celebrate life with your pooch!

The Grumpy Puppy is for doggie celebrations and for hanging out with your pooch. 

The Grumpy Puppy is truly a great place to bring a dog. It has special nooks for the needs of the dogs such as clean up, has dog diapers to prevent mess, and a display of affordable and delicious doggie treats.

This pet-friendly resto serves excellent food and drinks. You'll love the food such as the baked spaghetti and the waffles. You'll also like to hang out to enjoy the coffee.

You can plan a party for your pet with coordination with them so you can get ready the banners and scene, or have an instant celebration, just because you can!

Watch my dog Luna dance at The Grumpy Puppy after her dog grooming at Pet Patrol.

The Grumpy Puppy is the perfect place for your pets.
For more information, visit The Grumpy Puppy Facebook page https://web.facebook.com/thegrumpypuppyph/

Image credits: The Grumpy Puppy Facebook page

Purple Paw Palaro: Giveaway March 1, 2019

Be online on time for the Purple Paw's palaro on March 1, 2019. It gonna be a lot of fun and who knows, you might be one of the lucky enough to win! The games will start at 8 pm.

What is in store for those who join? It's going to be a surprise that is well worth your time! Join the fun as there might be a prize for your canine friend!

Here's the link to the Purple Paw Facebook page. https://web.facebook.com/purplepawph/
You have to like their page to join this pawesome giveaway on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 8 pm! 



Photo and video credits: Purple Paw Facebook page