DOT Unveils New Award to Celebrate Tourism Excellence

Tweet

From left to right: Ms. Maria Cristina Go, SVP of BPI, Dir. Luz Amponin of TESDA, Usec Maria Victoria V. Jasmin, Mr. Patrick Cabusay, Marketing Officer of MyPhone, Lorenzo Formoso, COO Duty Free, Antonio D. Kalaw, Pres. Development Academy of the Phils.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is launching a new set of awards for individuals who have demonstrated strong and deep commitment to the country’s tourism through excellent customer service and investment in tourism development efforts. 

Dubbed as DOT’S TOURISM STAR PHILIPPINES, the awards are divided into two (2) categories: 

 (i) tourism front-liners and individuals who embody the true Filipino brand of warm hospitality, of going the extra mile in the service of tourists; and, 

(ii) local chief executives (LCE), a mayor or a governor, whose projects contribute positively to the tourism industry.

The individuals’ category is open to all Filipinos who have direct or indirect contact with tourists and who may belong to one of the following:

(a) travel agencies and tour operators; 

(b) tour guides; 

(c) tourist transport (tour buses, taxis, kalesas, etc); 

(d) accommodation establishments; and 

(e) individual service providers that may include entrepreneurs, government employees, policemen and others who do not fall under any of the mentioned sectors. 

An individual nominee must exhibit Filipino quality values of hospitality; flexibility, adaptability and creativity; honesty; professionalism; and promptness.

A potential Tourism Star from the local chief executive (LCE/ mayors or governors) category, on the other hand, must have “led”, “headed”, “contributed”, or “facilitated” tourism movement in their community, tourism income, and jobs creation. Nominees must not only be backed up by a list of tourism-related accomplishments, but also a proof of support to DOT regulatory and development functions such as preparation of local tourism office budget and work plan, enactment of local ordinances on mandatory accreditation and collection of tourism statistics, among others. The LCE Star nominees will be judged according to institutional, promotions, planning and product development, regulatory, investments, centerpiece projects, support to DOT advocacies and best practices in tourism.

The local government community of the LCE Tourism Star shall receive a maximum of PhP1-M worth of funding for a community-based tourism project proposed by the awardee (may be in the form of a training, a livelihood project, or a product development or enhancement initiative), a bronze marker to be placed conspicuously in his jurisdiction, free participation/ booth space in a market-matched international travel fair, display of the DOT Tourism STAR logo in the LGU’s website, and a trophy to be awarded by no less than President Benigno Aquino III.

Other prizes for the awardees will be given by the program sponsors Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), MyPhone, Duty Free Philippines (DFP), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

DOT Undersecretary Maria Victoria V. Jasmin said this award is one way of recognizing the valuable contributions made by the people from the tourism industry and local government units alike. “The Tourism Star Philippines celebrates the excellence and dedication exemplified by these industry people in driving the country’s tourism forward,” she added.

The DOT Tourism Star Philippines is also linked to the Department’s branding campaign It’s More Fun in the Philippines!. The Tourism chief is also giving out the Secretary’s Award, a token and a special recognition chosen by the department head for individuals, associations or institutions that made remarkable contribution in any field which support Philippine Tourism.

“The awards program is in honor of the tremendous contribution of many Filipinos in what is now the fastest growing industry in the country, a priority sector that is able to drive inclusive economic growth, one that is worth PhP571.3 billion in the nation’s GDP. It brings to the fore the core strength of our tourism campaign, the Filipino brand of warm hospitality and our commitment to service and outstanding visitor experience” Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. shared.

The program will also mark a significant milestone in the DOT, as it fully implements the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) which leverages on public-private sector partnerships to improve competitiveness of tourism facilities and services, capacitate local government units, ensure sustainable tourism development and initiate focused marketing and promotions.

“Hopefully, the DOT’s Tourism Star Philippines would not only engage more individuals and local chief executives alike to take more proactive roles in our efforts of raising competitiveness in tourism, but also in instilling in every Filipino the culture of tourism. The success or failure of tourism largely depends on how people will respond to the call of nation-building. And that the power is in the peoples’ hand. We are, therefore, counting on their continued dedication and commitment to our bid towards achieving 10 million international arrivals and most importantly generating seven million jobs by 2016,” the tourism chief added.

The deadline for submission of nominations is on May 31 of every year. The first awarding ceremony will be held in September 2014, in time for the Tourism Week celebration. President Benigno Aquino III will be conferring the award to the recipients.

DOT Region 11 Launches The Big Davao FUN Sale

Tweet

The Department of Tourism - Davao Regional Office (DOT-XI) launches The Big Davao Fun Sale, bringing together seven of Davao City’s biggest shopping centers in what is touted as the country’s first citywide shopping festival scheduled on 14 March – 16 April 2014.

The four-week long sale will offer best-value deals with as much as 80% discount on the widest range of products: from dining, local crafts, fruits, and flowers (14 March - 16 April); health and beauty (16-13 March); electronics and gadgets (24-30 March); home and travel (31 March - 6 April); to fashion and active lifestyle (7-16 April).

]The Big Davao Fun Sale will also feature a food festival organized by the Restaurants Association of Davao Inc. where all its 100 restaurant brand members ranging from home-grown and independent restaurants to franchised businesses are expected to join. Shoppers will also have a chance to win raffle prizes such as iPhone 5 units, all-expense paid trip, and cash prizes worth up to P100,000.

“It did not take long for all seven malls to join forces and partner with the DOT in positioning Davao City as a shopping destination in the country. When the country’s largest malls started opening up in the city over the last two years, competition became steep that Dabaweños, close to two million of them, may not suffice to sustain the malls’ viability.This reality in Davao’s retail industry of late caught the attention of all these mall executives to formally organize the Retail Association of Davao and partner with us in conceptualizing The Big Davao Fun Saleto attract foreign tourists and shoppers outside of Davao,” according to DOT Assistant Secretary Arturo P. Boncato, Jr.

The Big Davao Fun Sale, coinciding with the Araw ng Dabaw (Foundation Day of Davao) in March, is projected to increase arrivals to the city by 15% from the 100,000 visitors recorded in March to April last year.

Davao City’s famous all-black Mabuhay Taxi, which carried the tourism campaign for the region in 2012, has once again partnered with the DOT – Davao Region in promoting the shopping festival by dressing up its fleet of 150 units. The Abreeza Mall, NCCC Mall of Davao, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Davao, Gaisano Mall of Davao, GMall of Toril, and Robinsons are all gearing up with their unique offers and promotions for a total shopping experience.

Cebu Pacific Air also partnered with the Retail Association of Davao for the Big Davao Fun Sale giving a huge number of seat sales from all Cebu Pacific points to Davao, now including Bacolod twice a week, for the travel period from March to April 2014. Silk Air, on the other hand, is the global partner for the shopping festival.

“Shopping, or retail tourism, is one of the country’s tourism products being promoted by the DOT aggressively. With the increasing global attention given to the Philippines now as a tourist destination, we can anticipate more tourists to visit our country for their shopping holiday. The Big Davao Fun Sale in March is precisely the perfect time to experience four weeks of shopping spree and enjoy great premium deals that all seven malls in the City of Davao will offer. What makes it more fun is that it coincides with the Araw ng Dabaw celebration, which highlights the culture, ingenuity, and warmth of the Dabaweños. It’s going to be a thrilling experience. So, get ready to shop ‘til you drop,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. said.

For more details of the Big Davao Fun Sale, please visit www.facebook.com/TheBigDavaoFunSale, email the organizers at dotr11@gmail.com / organiczar@gmail.com, or contact Joyce at 0928-9718988 / 0933-6030003 / 221 0070.

Tough Love : Touching moment with Joy, a touch of Olay

Tweet

A super fun activity I enjoyed last March 5 at the Blue Leaf- Silk Pavilion in Taguig, with a beautiful and true fun celebrity. The trials of housework are highlighted and refreshed through Tough Love, an event that placed Mariel Rodriguez and members of the media in “tough” household situations, but with the aid of Joy with a Touch of Olay, a new dishwashing variant of P&G Joy.

Mariel and members of the media undergo four different household challenges, including chopping vegetables, squeezing lemons, opening bottles and cans through manual tools, and dishwashing.

Chopping Vegetables

Squeezing lemons

Opening bottles and cans

Dishwashing

All of these challenges simulated the experiences women feel whenever they do household chores.

These stations were also time-pressured to mirror the multi-tasking lives of modern women every day.

Joy with a Touch of Olay helps maintain skin’s moisture, making it all set for “touching moments” as we really feel we wave the softest hands even with the toughest jobs at home - dishwashing, ironing, doing the laundry and cleaning the house. Imagine doing all these things every single day, on top of your demanding career.

This is really - tough love. As we celebrate women’s month, lives and experiences of women are given more importance and thought. This includes the challenges of women everywhere when it comes to doing household chores.

Dishwashing can be a draining task. Just imagine coming home from a tiring day at work, seeing piles of plates on the sink, and getting your hands wrinkled and dry from cleaning the dishes. Joy with a Touch of Olay is especially formulated to help maintain the skin’s moisture while retaining the superior grease-fighting power of all Joy variants. It locks in moisture to create moments of pampering as one does chores. 

“Joy with Olay strives to take care of women. It is formulated with Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps repair the skin and nourishes the hands by locking in the skin’s moisture. Joy with Olay does not dry the hands, making them “touching moment” ready,” says P&G Brand Communications Leader Anna Legarda.

Every dedicated and hardworking woman will appreciate even the littlest things that will comfort and pamper her. It helps even more to have a product that will indulge her even while she performs household chores daily.

Feel the difference that Joy with a Touch of Olay makes in your dishwashing routine.

As seen in Tough Love, housework will never be the same again because of Joy with a Touch of Olay. Women can do all the tough jobs, but still be “touching-moment ready”.

Enjoy washing everyone ! This is tough love!

Click Here for more photos. 

Job Hunting ? Here's Day Shift Telemarketers

Tweet

The company. RSO Corp. is a search and staffing company in the Philippines with decades of experience in recruitment and hiring. It has been tasked by its client to recruit telemarketers and have them hired and on-board by March 20, 2014.

Job requirement. The client of RSO Corp. is looking for ten (10) full-time telemarketing call center agents or reps that will report to work at the client’s Ortigas Center office in the Philippines. This is a full-time, onsite, day-shift schedule, from 10:00 AM till 7:00 PM. Prospective customers or leads being called by telemarketer will originate from English-speaking populations of East Asian countries. Initial projects or campaigns include appointment setting.

Work site. The location of the client’s office is in AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Avenue Corner Garnet & Sapphire Streets, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines. This is where hired applicants will report for work everyday.

Skills requirement or job qualification.

The applicant must have the following qualification:

Has had at least one (1) year experience as a telemarketer

Good command of conversational English

Good selling skills on the phone

High school diploma with some college units

In good health and good standing as a Filipino citizen

Compensation and benefits. 

The applicant, if hired, will receive a starting basic gross salary of P15,000.00 a month plus employee benefits accorded to by the labor laws of the Philippines. Additional benefits and incentives based on performance and tenure will also be given.

Start of work – March 20, 2014.

Please send your CV or resumes by e-mail with the title of the email’s SUBJECT = RSO TELEMARKETER 1 to any of the following e-mail addresses:

enjoyingwonderfulworld@gmail.com

arb@rsocorp.com

Do not forget to put the title or subject of the e-mail as RSO TELEMARKETER 1.

Japanese singer Aisaku releases new Tagalog single

Tweet

Japanese act Aisaku, with his convincing skill at singing Tagalog songs, releases a new single which like his previous hit, is another Japanese original interpreted by Ted Ito.

The song is called “Alaala Mo” a moving love song first recorded by Ito as an album track. This time, Aisaku’s version premiered its way to mainstream radio when it was first played recently over Barangay LS FM. Production of the music video of "Alaala Mo" is now underway. Watch out for the video premiere on MYX and MTV Pinoy which will happen really soon. "Alaala Mo" is an equally strong follow up to Aisaku's hit single "Ikaw Pa Rin" which was heavily supported on local radio and music channels.

“I am a Filipino by heart even though my pair of eyes makes me look like I'm asleep,” quipped the Japanese-born singer whose rendition of Ito’s signature piece “Ikaw Pa Rin” won Best OPM Cover at last year’s Gawad Musika Awards & Consumers Quality Awards.

A mall tour to promote the new single promises Aisaku’s growing fan base the exposure he deserves. He will be performing this Saturday (March 8) 5 pm at the Atrium of Robinsons Magnolia. Copies of his album, wherein both “Ikaw Pa Rin” and “Alaala Mo” are included, will be sold at the venue as buyers will get the chance of having their CDs signed by Aisaku himself. Awesome prizes also await those who are going to watch the show. Products like K-Palette Japanese Eye Make-up & Cure Natural Aqua Gel (by Beauty Box Corp distributed in all Beauty Bar branches) will be given away to lucky winners during the show.

The self-titled album is produced by Janette Ito of Japan's i&i Records in tie-up with Japan Home Centre and distributed by Universal Records.

A partnership with a major content provider is in the works and will definitely provide a greater reach for Aisaku’s music.

Vocal about his love for Filipinos, he shared, “I find the Filipinos more fun to be with. I love the Filipino humor, the culture, and best of all, the close family ties. I love my parents and I am glad that I know how to show my love to them like a Filipino son can do.”

Other cover songs Aisaku recorded for his album are “Remember Me” (Renz Verano), “Honey My Love So Sweet” (April Boys), “Isang Tanong Isang Sagot” (Donna Cruz), “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit” (Leah Navarro), and other Tagalog tracks of Japanese roots.