discovermarket Marks Official Launch in the Philippines, Launches New Insurance Products with Globe

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Singapore, May 2024 – International insurtech firm discovermarket announces its launch in the Philippines, starting with its partnership with Globe Telecom Inc. - the leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines, to launch its embedded Personal Cyber Insurance product. 

Based in Switzerland with its regional headquarters for South-East Asia in Singapore, discovermarket provides embedded insurance solutions to over 200 million customers across diverse industries - including hospitality, agriculture, and telecommunications. 

While the Philippines has seen exponential growth in mobile and internet users and its digital economy, therein lies the rise of cybercrimes with an increase of such cases reported in the first quarter of 2024 alone, with 4,469 cases compared to 3,668 cases in the same period last year1. 

In light of the situation, Globe has been taking active measures to clampdown and bolster their cyber security capabilities by investing in such solutions2. With this partnership with discovermarket, the company is now able to provide unique insurance products for customers of their core connectivity products, by leveraging discovermarket's innovative embedded insurance solution.

The new cyber retail product covers Globe’s Platinum customers from online identity theft, online shopping fraud and internet payment transactions fraud up to PHP 100,000 (S$2,370/US$1,740). The coverage also provides claims assistance service in the event of a cyber incident. The product will be made available for new and recontracting Globe Platinum subscribers who hold Plan 3799, Plan 4999, and Plan 7999. 

“Having this partnership with Globe has been a great privilege for us,” said Patrick Bühler, CEO and Founder of discovermarket. “By providing a hassle-free and digital-first experience, we are able to help Globe provide innovative insurance products as a safeguard for their users. As the digital presence of Filipino consumers continues to grow, it is crucial that there are comprehensive measures for everyone to be sufficiently protected from malicious cyber-attacks.” 

“We appreciate this partnership we have with discovermarket as we are now able to deliver effective protection solutions through a digital operating model that adds value for our subscribers,” commented Mark Pasaylo, Head and Director - The Platinum Brand, Globe. “The new embedded CyberInsurance products demonstrate Globe’s commitment to ensure the safety of our subscribers’ online presence, giving them peace of mind when they go about their various activities on their smart devices.”  

discovermarket’s core goal is to provide insurance products to the underserved segments of the community. This is achieved through its low transaction costs to tap into these market segments, offering embedded insurance products that are affordable, thereby improving accessibility to insurance. discovermarket’s marketplace-as-a-service platform also functions as a one-stop marketplace for ecosystem partners seeking digital insurance solutions. Partners can simply select from a variety of brokers, insurers, and prevention providers to create diverse insurance propositions and customise their embedded insurance journeys.    

Following the partnership with Globe, discovermarket aims to expand its reach in the Philippines. With cyber products as a key priority, it plans to expand Cyber Insurance offerings for not just consumers, but businesses as well. In addition, discovermarket is also actively looking for opportunities to offer solutions that fosters financial inclusion by working with the relevant ecosystem partners.    

PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil meets the Press, shared his vision for the future of the police force

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The 30th Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil recently meets various media organizations composed of TV, radio and print journalists and bloggers and he shared his vision for the future of the police force.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil 

Acknowledging the dedication of police officers, particularly in tasks like combating illegal drugs, the new PNP Chief pledged to establish legal support for personnel facing court charges linked to their duties.

He also underscored the significance of prioritizing the well-being of police officers to enhance their effectiveness in serving the community.

The new Chief of Police has mandated a ban on mobile phone usage to ensure officers prioritize their duties and responsibilities to the nation and its citizens. All police personnel are reminded to refrain from unnecessary phone use while on duty, with plans to increase police presence in communities.

Under the new leadership, the PNP remains committed to upholding professionalism, integrity, and service standards to safeguard the peace and security of the Filipino people.

Chief Marbil endorses PBBM's non-violent approach to combatting drugs, citing a recent seizure of over two tons of shabu by the PNP on April 15 without any casualties.

Upon assuming office as PNP Chief, Marbil pledged to prioritize the protection of human rights in the government's intensified anti-drug efforts, aiming to minimize street killings.

Marbil asserts that the PNP will conduct anti-drug operations resulting in thousands of arrests and the confiscation of millions worth of illegal drugs, all without any fatalities.

As the event concluded, Chief Marbil expressed gratitude to the organizers for providing a platform to share his vision for the Philippine National Police.

"I am grateful to the organizers for this event because it gives me a better chance to meet all media people, not just those assigned in our organization. I hope we could all work harmoniously for our country and for our safety," he remarked.

Love the Philippines draws widespread support

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Widespread support has poured in for the country’s freshly-released enhanced tourism campaign, Love the Philippines.

News5 reported that social listening tool Sprinklr recorded 59.1 million approval emotions from the public and a combined 28.9 million smile, happy, and appreciation emotions on the Love the Philippines campaign in the last 24 hours as of 4:50PM of Thursday (Jun 29).

Former Senator and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Richard GORDON, the brains behind the successful “WOW PHILIPPINES campaign, manifested his support, saying that he found the enhanced campaign "instantly appealing".

In a report, he said that Love The Philippines is "catchy and easy to recall", adding that the phrase also "provides a double-meaning call for Filipinos to love the country more than just its physical wonders but also the people’s good traits. He said it is also a statement of appreciation for the Philippines experienced by tourists."

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay L. Carlson also expressed her support to Love The Philippines through a tweet, manifesting her personal love for the Philippines since she came here as diplomat.

“Almost one year since I arrived and I already have lots of reasons to #LoveThePhilippines—the food, the culture, and definitely the people,” she said.

National government officials have also conveyed their support to the enhanced tourism campaign.

“I love it!”, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri was quoted by a news report, complimenting the branding campaign as “clear and concise”.

Posting “Love the Philippines” on her Instagram, Senator Loren Legarda said that there are countless ways to love about the country, and expressed her full support to the newly launched campaign.

Former Senate President Pro Tempore and now House Deputy Speaker Ralph G. Recto, who described the Philippines as a destination like “garden of roses”, also aired his support through a statement.

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. As a travel destination, Philippines is a garden of roses. I support the DOT’s new campaign,” the House Deputy Speaker enthused.

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe recognized the efforts of the DOT to lure more tourists to visit the Philippines. 

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero encouraged the public to “support it instead of criticizing it outright”.

Tourism achievements in numbers

Half into this year, the DOT has already recorded 2.67 million international visitor arrivals as of June 29, 2023, 2.44 million of this are foreigners. This year, the Department is targeting a baseline of 4.8 million international tourist arrivals.

South Koreans remain the top source of foreign markets with 665,757 travelers to the Philippines, followed by the United States (509,526), Australia (128,232), Japan (127,139), and Canada (123,439).

In 2022, the industry contributed 6.2 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) having churned in PHP1.87 trillion in tourism revenues.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed her gratitude to the public and to all officials who have given widespread support for Love the Philippines.

In a television interview addressing the question of some whether Love the Philippines is a “demand” from tourists, the DOT chief said that love is not demanded as it is a natural thing that must emanate from the heart.

On the aspect of tourism, by reflecting the bountiful assets of the Philippines—from its natural wonders to its heritage, traditions, and culture–into Secretary Frasco said she has high hopes that the campaign will reawaken love for the country.

“You cannot “demand” love. It is a natural thing that must emanate from your heart. “Love the Philippines” goes to the heart of every Filipino that loves their country. You can no more force one person to love their country in the same way that you cannot force them to love themselves, or somebody else. It is a natural feeling that must come from your heart. And we truly believe that in reflecting our love of country in our new tourism tagline, we would be able to reawaken in our fellow Filipinos their own love of country,” she said.

Further, Secretary Frasco said that the tagline is also the Philippines’ “love letter to the world”, giving international tourists an opportunity to discover and know more about the Philippines, beyond the promotions and stories done in the past primarily focused on fun, reiterating that there is so much more that the Philippines can offer from its heritage, culture, history, food, experiences, and especially the love and warmth of the Filipino people.

In a separate online interview with Facts First with Christian Esguerra, veteran advertising executive Matec Villanueva shared the same observation.

“From the ground up, the first question is always: sino ba ang kinakausap ko? Who is my target audience? The target audience mo, in this case as I understand, would be foreign tourists kasi ang tiningnan din pala nila is yung kalaban in the regions,” Villanueva said.

“So, what they are trying to do is that they are trying to encapsulate that message to something that is inspiring, something that is catchy. Therefore, they come up with what we call the big idea. But the big idea is actually based on a consumer insight or your target insight,” she added.

To Secretary Frasco, the launch of “Love the Philippines” was based on the demands of the industry after the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. This, as what was once a global health emergency has changed travelers’ motivations, preferences, and behavior, leading to what is now referred to as “the changed traveler.”

The advertising executive also realized this in the enhanced tourism campaign.

“Tatlong taon tayong nakalockdown. Iba ang turista before the pandemic. Iba ang turista ng after the pandemic. Nag-iba 'yung pananaw nila kasi before the pandemic, people are already traveling, enjoying, and then suddenly you can’t move for three years,” Villanueva said.

Building love as a concept

Love The Philippines as a concept, Secretary Frasco said, was conceived with careful consideration of the results of extensive market research and studies.

According to a market research released by Euromonitor, one of the world’s leading independent providers of strategic market research, travelers are seeking new and authentic real-world experiences, which means immersing in other cultures, seeking curated experiences that are unique or out of the ordinary.

Further, travelers want to find a connection to love, and the word “love” has always been primarily associated with the Philippines. Based on Brandwatch, one of the world's most trusted social media monitoring and analytics applications, the word “love” is frequently mentioned in high volume globally with total mentions of 140.4K (previously 92.24K) and a reach of 91.21M (previously 59.72M).

The enhanced tourism campaign, Secretary Frasco said, was designed to highlight more of what there is to love about the Philippines.

“What food do they love? What destination do they love? What experience do they love in the Philippines? It’s also an opportunity for our foreign friends from all over the world to discover so much more beyond the surface that we have scratched in how we have marketed the Philippines thus far,” Secretary Frasco said.

In an interview, Villanueva also said: “In this age of communication, ang advertising ngayon is always based on research because access to information, access to data. Now apparently, the group who did this, even the group (who conceptualized) the It’s More Fun in the Philippines had data supporting them when they came out with It’s More Fun in the Philippines. Apparently, DOT says tourists who came to the Philippines, the feeling when they came here, nag-exceed ang expectations nila. They were happy with what they experienced kasi nga tourism is an experiential thing. When they took a deep dive sa mga social media, into the internet, nakita nila na ang expression ng tao ng satisfaction o yung exceeding expectations was’t fun, it was love,” she emphasized.

“The verbalization of the enjoyment was love,” she added.

DOT's 50th Anniversary celebration highlights “Love the Philippines”, PH's new tourism slogan

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DOT’s enhanced branding is Philippines’ Love Letter to the world

On the celebration of the golden year of the Department of Tourism (DOT), President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., together with Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and other officials, led the unveiling of the country’s enhanced tourism campaign “Love the Philippines” as the highlight of the Department’s 50th founding year celebration at the iconic Manila Hotel, Tuesday (June 27)

Proudly presenting “Love the Philippines” to a crowd composed of former DOT chiefs, officials and employees of the Department's central and regional offices, heads of government agencies including Cabinet Secretaries, house representatives, tourism stakeholders, and the media, Secretary Frasco described the enhanced campaign as timely for the DOT’s golden anniversary celebration.

“As we cap the last fifty years of the DOT and welcome this new era of tourism for the Philippines, it is but right that we welcome this opportunity to reintroduce the Philippines to the world,” Secretary Frasco said.

“Love the Philippines goes to the very heart of every single Filipino with the distinct grace and hospitality with which we welcome every guest that comes into our shores, our communities, and our homes. Love the Philippines is a recognition of our natural assets, our long and storied history, our rich culture and diversity,” she said, while noting that there is so much more to the country than “the fun and adventure” that has so far been articulated.

“The Philippines is a powerhouse of mega biodiversity, being only one of 18 mega biodiverse countries in the world, a deep well of culture and history, a profound burst and taste of flavor and gastronomy, a tapestry of indigenous peoples and creative communities by whose work of their hands have safeguarded the dignity and integrity of the Filipino identity. This is who we are. These complexities and nuances of the Philippines have yet to be fully articulated to the world for indeed, the story of the Filipino has yet to be fully told, and we shall tell that story by telling them the story of love. Love the Philippines,” Secretary Frasco said.

PBBM’s unequivocal support

Gracing the milestone event for Philippine tourism, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed his utmost support for "Love the Philippines", saying that the enhanced tourism campaign “springs from the genuine love that you, me, and all of us have for the Philippines.”

“And what better way to express that love than by directly incorporating it into our country’s newest tourism campaign slogan, Love the Philippines. This new branding which we unveil today, will serve as our guidepost for the Philippine tourism industry moving forward. Allow me then to express my sincerest appreciation to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and for the DOT team, because aside from the promotion of the country’s tourist destinations, the campaign that you have conceptualized aims to enhance the overall experience of every travel, included in that list of targets are to promote regional products, build more infrastructure for ease of travel, and champion green movements, among others,” the President enthused.

Adjusting to the post-pandemic tourism landscape and changing trends

With the everchanging global tourism landscape post pandemic, and the growing desire of travelers for more immersive experiences in their travels, the DOT viewed the enhanced brand as a timely response to the demands of the industry.

In a recent survey conducted by the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) among its member countries, market repositioning and rebranding strategies is among the priorities identified after the pandemic based on its Survey Findings on Member Priorities for UNWTO program of work 2024-2025.

With an enhanced tourism campaign in tow, the DOT’s focus now is to show more of what there is to “Love the Philippines” as it works towards the realization of President Marcos, Jr.’s vision for the country to become a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

“Indeed, if we are to compete with our neighbors in our effort as well to partner with them for Asia to become a powerhouse tourism region in the world, the time has come for us to add to the value proposition of the Philippines by telling the world how much more we have to offer,” Secretary Frasco said.

“We have multiple facets of tourism destinations that present a golden opportunity for we have only scratched the surface thus far,” she added.

Rosy prospects for Philippine tourism

According to Secretary Frasco, the world has “the world has noticed that there is so much to love about the Philippines.”

This, as the Philippines has recorded 2,641,993 visitors from January 1 to June 26, 2023, and is close to breaching the 2.65 million arrivals it recorded for 2022.

Further, the tourism sector is regarded as a stalwart as far as contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) is concerned. According to the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) for 2022, the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) share of the sector to the Philippine economy, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was estimated at 6.2 percent and amounted to PHP 1.38 trillion in 2022.

The Philippines is also seeing a boost in tourism-related enterprise employment, with 5.35 million estimated tourism employment last year.

As she rallied their support for the DOT’s vision of showcasing the best of the Philippines to the world under the Marcos administration, the Secretary said: “As we usher in this golden era for tourism, for our fellow Filipinos, for our beautiful country, let us find it in our hearts to have that burning pride of place for the Philippines, to Love the Philippines, to usher us into the continued recovery and vigorous comeback of the Philippines to the world.”

PSA: PhilSys, a Pivotal Step Towards Inclusion Through Identity

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The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has reiterated the significance of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) in promoting inclusion through fulfilling the right to legal identity of all Filipinos.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights state the right to be recognized as a person before the law. The right to legal identity, including registration at birth, is also a key component of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The PhilSys was signed into law in 2018 to establish a foundational identification system to provide a valid proof of identity for all citizens. It also intends to simplify transactions and serve as a link in the promotion of seamless service delivery.

Through PhilSys, the PSA has registered 78.9 million Filipinos nationwide, with 65 million PhilIDs and ePhilIDs issued including 31.4 million printed PhilIDs and 33.8 million ePhilIDs.

To ensure inclusivity and to bring PhilSys registration closer to Filipinos in far-flung areas, the PSA deployed registration teams to implement mobile registration. Moreover, school-based registrations are also conducted to register school-aged children, parents and communities near schools. The PSA also launched the PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP), which aims to help the marginalized in securing their birth registration and assist them in registering to PhilSys.

“The right to identity of every Filipino is recognized and promoted by the PSA, and we continue to enjoin everyone to register to PhilSys to make a socially inclusive society a reality,” said PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General.

To ensure that Filipinos can immediately access the benefits of being PhilSys-registered, the PSA is working closely with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Post Office to expedite the production and delivery of PhilIDs.

Parallel to PhilID delivery efforts, the PSA continues to issue ePhilIDs, which can already be used as valid and sufficient proof of identity. PhilSys-registered individuals can visit https://appt.philsys.gov.ph to check if they may already claim their ePhilIDs.

Visit:

● Website: https://philsys.gov.ph

● Facebook page: https://facebook.com/PSAPhilSysOfficial

● Printed ePhilID appointment: https://appt.philsys.gov.ph

● PhilID/ePhilID authentication: https://verify.philsys.gov.ph

Philippines hits 260M negotiated sales, bags recognition at the ITB Berlin 2023

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Buoyed by the country’s participation in the recently concluded Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) in Berlin, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agency, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, as of this writing, recorded an impressive estimate of Php 260 million worth of negotiated sales from more than 300 business meetings during the 3-day networking event.

The aforementioned figures show the Philippines’ strong demand in the world’s largest travel and tourism trade fair, further brightening the prospects for the local tourism industry’s recovery and for the country’s positioning as a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

“We brought the biggest Philippine delegation to the ITB Berlin 2023 with the intention of showcasing the best of the best of our country and our culture, and to reintroduce to the world our greatest asset: the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people. The optimism and excitement with which all of this was received shows the world that the possibilities are endless for the potential of Philippine tourism to transform under the Marcos administration,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

The Philippine delegation included tour operators, online travel agencies, travel websites and communities with 26 co-exhibitors, showcasing the country’s natural beauty and rich culture to over 160,000 guests.

TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles cited that the positive outcome of the Philippines’ participation in ITB Berlin strengthened the country’ position to be a world-class tourist destination. “We are proud to bear witness once again at how ITB continues to live up to its reputation for being the largest travel trade show in the world. I am so happy to share that the Philippines truly championed in giving the world a view into our distinct and diverse destinations, culture and heritage in this momentous event,” TPB COO Nograles added.

Further bringing home accolades, the two cities in Negros Occidental, Sagay and Bago won in the Green Destination Story Awards for its inspirational initiatives for sustainable tourism. With its entry, “Mangrove Forest Protection through Community-based EcoTourism Project”, Sagay placed second in the Nature and Scenery Category and won the People’s Choice Award while Bago City’s entry, “Reviving the Majestic Diversity of Bago Watershed” took the third spot in the Environment and Climate Category.

The event highlighted the Philippines rich culture and sustainable tourism with its weavers’ hand-loom products which are passed down from generations to generations to preserve its tradition and heritage including the Tinalak of South Cotabato and Yakan of Zamboanga. Aside from that, Kape de Filipina’s coffee and chocolates and Ayan’s delicious Filipino cuisine were also served to delight the guests.

ITB Berlin News, the show’s official daily, has partnered with Click A Tree for its sustainability partner. Chris Kaiser, award-winning speaker, entrepreneur and founder of Click A Tree, has selected the Philippines to be the site of its tree planting project for this year’s cause. The site will be in Davao Oriental, Mindanao. Kaiser will be visiting the Philippines in September for the tree planting initiative.

With the long-term goal of securing increased arrivals, receipts, and investments for the country, TPB annually participates in ITB Berlin, which provides the Philippine travel trade an opportunity to network with relevant decision-makers from new and existing tourism markets across Europe, America, and Asia.

Vivian Velez leads "ISAng Pilipinas", a coalition pushes the Isko Moreno - Sara Duterte tandem

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Veteran actress and the current director-general of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Vivian Velez spearheaded the launch of a coalition called "ISAng Pilipinas" held at Club Filipino, San Juan City, Wednesday, March 9.

Velez, the lead convenor of the "ISAng Pilipinas" (an acronym for the first names of Moreno and Duterte) said the group’s choice of Moreno and Duterte was a result of a long vetting process of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Velez said that "ISAng Pilipinas" is a private initiative and not officially endorsed by the President. Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno formed a coalition, an alliance backing the tandem of Moreno and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, for the upcoming elections.

Velez added that the Manila chief executive is the best choice among all presidential candidates.

One of the main reasons was, they are both Mayors, who know how to govern anything (especially crisis) to have a good nation. 

“I think the mayors are the best people to run this country especially when we have a crisis,” said Velez

Along with film producer Edith Fider who released the recent biopic of Moreno, Velez, also said she chose Moreno mainly because of his clear platform in supporting the recovery of the film and allied entertainment industry, which is not resonant in other candidates’ programs of the government.

"Yan ang pinanghahawakan ko kaya sinusuportahan ko si Isko,” Velez said.

Antique Rep. Loren Legarda leads Manila Bulletin-Tangere’s February senatorial survey

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Three-term Senator, Deputy Speaker, Antique Rep. Loren Legarda topped the latest Manila Bulletin-Tangere senatorial preference survey for the May 2022 elections.

Conducted from Feb. 25 to 27, 2022, with 2,400 respondents, the survey results showed Legarda with 51.92 percent of the voter preference.

Ranking 2nd and 3rd were former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (46.04 percent) and Broadcaster Raffy Tulfo (46 percent).

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (45.58 percent), Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero (41.71 percent), Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (37.79 percent), and Senator Joel Villanueva (34.67 percent) ranked 4th to 7th.

Completing the top 12 were Senator Risa Hontiveros (30.13 percent), actor Robin Padilla (28.63 percent), Taguig-Pateros 1st District Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (27.54 percent), former Senator Jinggoy Estrada (22.04 percent), and former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (20.83 percent).

The survey results showed former Vice President Jejomar Binay (20.79 percent) at 13th place.

At 14th to 16th places were former Senator JV Ejercito (20.29 percent), Senator Richard Gordon (18.83 percent), and former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (18.08 percent).

The Manila Bulletin-Tangere survey was conducted among 2,400 mobile application users—552 in Northern and Central Luzon, 552 in Mindanao, 528 in Southern Luzon and Bicol, 480 in the Visayas, and 288 in the National Capital Region.

Philippines named 2nd most ‘Instagrammable’ place in the world

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MANILA, Philippines —The Philippines was named the second most Instagrammable place in the world by world travel site Big 7 Travel. 

Hailed as the second most “Instagrammable”, very appealing to photographed and shared on the social media site Instagram—place in the world in 2021.

Home to incredible natural wonders like an underground river and tranquil rice terraces in addition to a vibrant culture and history spanning several millennia; and over 7,500 islands – the Philippines as a whole are extremely Instagrammable. From the bustling capital of Manila complete with colourful colonial streets to the absolute oasis of Boracay, the gram opportunities here are endless. 

Only Japan beat the Philippines from the top spot, but second place is still a huge honor considering we beat the likes of Paris, New York City, Cuba, London, and more.

In its list released Thursday, travel website Big 7 Travel said that the Philippines was “home to incredible natural wonders like an underground river and tranquil rice terraces in addition to a vibrant culture and history spanning several millennia.”

“From the bustling capital of Manila complete with colorful colonial streets to the absolute oasis of Boracay, the gram opportunities here are endless,” the website added. 

Topping the list of 50 places, was Tokyo, Japan. Included in the list was Paris, France which placed third; New York City, New York which got fourth place; and Istanbul, Turkey is top five.

Top 10 most Instagrammable places in the world: 

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. The Philippines
3. Paris, France
4. New York City, United States
5. Istanbul, Turkey
6. Dubai, UAE
7. Havana, Cuba
8. Sydney, Australia
9. London, England
10. Chicago, United States

The Department of Tourism (DOT), in a Facebook post, welcomed the travel website’s recognition of the Philippines.

“The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the inclusion of the Philippines in the Most Instagrammable Places in the World list of the renowned travel website Big 7 Travel for the year 2021,” the DOT said.

Malacañang declares June 24 a special non-working holiday in Manila

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MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang palace has declared Wednesday June 24, 2020 a special non-working day in Manila in connection with the capital’s 449th founding anniversary.

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The holiday declaration was signed on June 9 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, a copy of which was released by the Palace on Monday evening.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the city of Manila be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to community quarantine, social distancing, and other public health measures.”

This year’s celebration marks the first Araw ng Maynila commemoration under the leadership of Mayor Isko Moreno after winning against former President Joseph Estrada. Moreno served as Estrada’s vice mayor.

Experts say Tourism industry will recover

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MANILA – The tourism industry will recover amid the uncertainty brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. 

This is the consensus of tourism experts tapped by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) in partnership with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in a webinar Tuesday.

In the virtual talk titled “The Future of Travel: A World Travel and Tourism Council Exclusive Panel,” DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat expressed confidence in rebuilding the local tourism industry with the help of WTTC, whose primary initiative is crisis preparedness, management and recovery in the travel and tourism industry.

“The WTTC has worked with the World Economic Forum, the World Health Organization and key stakeholders in coming up with recommendations to minimize the impact of past pandemics in the industry. Acknowledging this fact, we are definitely certain that their insights will be greatly beneficial to our local tourism players,” she said.

WTTC president and chief executive officer Gloria Guevara Manzo focused on discussing a global coordinated approach to re-establish effective operations, remove travel barriers and re-open borders.

Manzo underscored the need to add health components and combine the latest technology, and necessary protections and protocols to enhance a seamless traveler journey experience.

She said global protocols or standards defined by the travel and tourism private sector, health experts, and public sector can help gain back travelers’ confidence.

Craig Smith, president and managing director of Asia Pacific Marriott International, shared optimism the industry will “certainly recover” and that Asia will recover faster than any part of the world, though one can expect that it will happen in different segments and geographies.

Smith has lauded the bullish travel and tourism industry in Philippines for the past five years, citing the construction of at least 21 projects in the country undertaken by Marriott International, 

“Travel will change and there will be a new normal, we have to be ready for that,” he said.

Foreseeing major uncertainties in global capital flows, Shirley Tan, chief executive officer of Rajawali Property Group, reminds investors of the importance of securing new investments, while putting in effort in asset management, capital preservation, and liquidity management at the same time.

She also cited increased collaboration among the private sector and government as one of the keys to tourism industry recovery.

Tan also encouraged Philippine tourism industry players to explore and take advantage of the latest technologies in offering novel and more creative on-site experiences that can attract the younger travel demographic.

Gary Chapman, president of the Group Services and DNATA Emirates Group, forecasts a three- to four-year recovery period for the airline industry. 

He underscored the necessity of setting “consistent and clear standards,” adding it will be a “different world, a different tourism industry in general”.

Meanwhile, Puyat enjoined the support of all sectors to ensure that health and safety protocols are in place to regain travelers’ confidence.

“There is more to tourism than just counting the numbers of arriving tourists. We are in the business of selling destinations so communities will thrive; we market adventure so our people will be employed; we promote culture as a way of preserving our heritage. The concept of tourism is deeply embedded in our consciousness, and I would like to believe that this is what makes our industry resilient from all the challenges, even the toughest one that we are about to overcome,” she said.

Since April, the DOT has successfully organized a handful of online learning courses that aim to help local tourism players become more competitive, with new knowledge, technological advances, and ways to innovate and to be able to cater to a new breed of travelers.

“The challenges brought about by the current health crisis that we are experiencing should not deter us from fulfilling our mission to ensure that the industry is seamless, secure, safe, inclusive and sustainable,” Puyat added.

PIA rallies PH youth to be responsible online users thru #cyberREADI

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QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Information Agency, the official information arm of the Republic of the Philippines, has taken huge strides to safeguard the youth against the dangers in the online world by aggressively pushing for the promotion of its nationwide cyber wellness campaign.

Nationwide cyber wellness campaign targeting the Filipino youth dubbed #cyberREADI stands for the five (5) ASEAN Core Values on Digital Literacy- Responsibility, Empathy, Authenticity, Discernment and Integrity.

This campaign is part of the ASEAN-Japan Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for the Youth Project which the PIA is spearheading in partnership with the InfoComm Media Development Authority of Singapore and with funding support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

The campaign official logo and branding focused on #cyberREADI – with READI representing the five (5) ASEAN Core Values on Digital Literacy adopted by the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information in May 2018. These values served as a framework for the digital literacy programs in the region:

CORE VALUES DESCRIPTION

Responsibility  -  We should think first and be responsible for what we post online.

Empathy   -  We should be respectful and thoughtful of how our online interactions may affect others.

Authenticity  - We should be sincere in our online interactions and prepared to stand by what we post.

Discernment        - We should critically evaluate the online information before acting on it.

Integrity - We should do the right thing, stand up for what is right and speak up against negative online behaviour.

After the logo and branding were launched, the PIA has released various multimedia materials and resources developed with the help of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Foundation Inc. (UPCMCFI). These materials are products of an audience analysis on youth’s level of awareness regarding online safety, using focus group discussions conducted with Filipino youth representatives in different areas in the country.

Also greatly considered in the production of these materials were the insights on the changing media consumption habits of the youth and initiatives and best practices in promoting media and information literacy as discussed by speakers from the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, UNESCO, and Facebook and in group workshops by representatives from public information, media, academe, and youth sectors of the ten (10) ASEAN Member States during the ASEAN-Japan Forum on Media and Literacy: Cyber Wellness for the Youth on March 2018.

o Cyberbullying

o Online gaming

o Online dating

o Online scam

o Online privacy

o Internet addiction

A dedicated webpage for the cyber wellness campaign is also in the works. PIA regional and provincial offices are rolling out their respective activities to further spread the cyberREADI advocacy.

H.E. Kung Phoak, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community stressed that the Cyber-Wellness campaign is a timely project since digital media has increasingly become the primary source of information among ASEAN people. He says: “There is a need to build information resiliency among the youth and protect them from the risk of getting misled by fake news and misinformation. With enhanced media and information literacy, the youth is expected to become smart consumers and responsible producers of online information. Through this project, we hope young people would better understand, inquire, create, communicate and think critically while digitally engaged”.

To know more about #cyberREADI, visit https://web.facebook.com/CyberREADiPH/?_rdc=1&_rdr

About the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund

The Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) was officially established in March 2006, based on a pledge made by then Japanese Prime Minister H.E. Junichiro Koizumi at the 9th ASEAN-Japan Summit held in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

JAIF aims at supporting integration efforts to create the ASEAN Community by facilitating the implementation of the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together, which consists of the blueprints for the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), as well as the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan III and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025. JAIF also aims at promoting greater cooperation between ASEAN and Japan.

About the Philippine Information Agency

The Philippine Information Agency is the official information arm of the Republic of the Philippines and is an attached agency of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). It was created through Executive Order No. 100 signed by President Corazon Aquino in 1986.

Visit the website: http://pia.gov.ph