DOT names 'Bok' as Phl envoy to Korea's Yeosu Expo 2012

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has named “Bok” as the new Philippine ambassador of goodwill in Korea.

“Bok will serve in that post for the entire three-month duration of the Philippine participation in the international expo slated at the southern coastal city of Yeosu in Korea from May 12 to Aug. 12,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said.

Jimenez extolled Bok’s role at the Yeosu Expo 2012, citing his distinguished diplomacy, energy and many talents bespeaking of the gentle and cheerful character of the Filipinos.

“Most importantly, Bok literally personifies the world-renowned Philippine moniker ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’ since his role as a mascot marks the dramatic comeback of the taklobo (giant clam) to our seas,” Jimenez said.

“The Philippines will give the expo organizers three clams for display at the Yeosu Aquarium, which will be the largest in Asia. In extending the gift, we convey to the Korean people the value the Philippine nation puts on the ocean,” he added.

The giant clam that Bok resembles is endemic to the Philippines and now an endangered species. The clam is depicted with the DOT logo and tagline “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

A Filipino slang for friend, “Bok” is also the sound of the rising bubble generated by the giant clam in cleaning up the ocean floor of natural marine wastes. This clam is the world’s largest at more than a meter long, often displaying a kaleidoscope of colors on its mantle and indicating the marine diversity in Philippine waters at the heart of the Coral Triangle.

Giant clams are an integral part of the tropical reef that shelters smaller marine species. Their resurgence is attributed significantly to the country’s national and multi-sectoral effort to protect nature and bring about environmental renewal.

“The environmental efforts of the Filipinos are among the highlights of the Philippine exhibits, where Bok will welcome visitors to an exciting journey of Sensurround sights, sounds and smell in a magnificent and enchanting underwater world,” said DOT Assistant Secretary and Philippine Organizing Committee (POC) Commissioner General Domingo Ramon Enerio III.

“The computer graphic animation with Bok aboard a Korean car will convey the success of Korean businesses in the country and represent an invitation for investments in the creative industry as well as in consumer goods,” Enerio said.

“Our exhibits will tell a story of Philippine tourism from an unseen perspective, which offers a unique and very memorable multi-dimensional brand experience. To reinforce that brand experience is a wide range of extraordinary souvenir products that will be showcased by ECHOstore at the Philippine Pavilion,” Enerio said.

All these high-end products, unbelievably crafted by the country’s poorest of the poor, are made of indigenous Philippine materials that represent the country’s rich and diverse natural resources from “ridge to reef,” Enerio said.

“Both the ECHOstore and Bok will add more fun to the already fun-filled exhibit showcase of the Philippine Pavilion at the Yeosu Expo,” he added.

The Philippine exhibits’ theme “Islands of Diversity and Seas of Connectivity” is consistent with the overall expo theme “The Living Ocean and the Coast.”

So is the design of the Philippine Pavilion, which will essentially compete with those of the more than 100 participating countries in attracting the attention of expo visitors, whose number is placed at around eight million, 7.5 million of whom are Koreans.

The expo will promote to the Koreans several new Philippine diving destinations such as those in the province of Guimaras, a recipient of the Yeosu declaration project. These will be promoted by exhibiting four types of sand of different colors from various provinces. The sand will be flown in by Cebu Pacific Air, a POC sponsor.

“The country’s participation in the expo reaffirms the strong bond between the Philippines and South Korea as diplomatic, economic and cultural partners,” Jimenez said.

He said this partnership is highlighted by the support and sponsorship of the Philippine exhibits by both Korean and Filipino firms such as the Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), GMA Network Inc., TV5, Philippine representative of world’s leading digital multimedia content provider Getty Images the Get Cre8tive Corp., Travel Time, Cebu Pacific Air, SM Supermalls, Philippine Airlines, ImColor, BiemmanProduktionHaus Inc., WWF-Philippines, Network of Underwater Digital Imagers Inc., and the community of divers who have contributed in putting together an aquarium of diving experiences for the exhibits.

For more details on the expo, contact the POC at +632 525-7320, +632 525-9318 locals 243, 258, 269; fax at +632 525-6165; e-mail at philpavilion2012@yahoo.com or visit www.7107.co.kr/philexpo2012.