‘Because of them, tourism in the country is shooting for the stars’

MANILA, Philippines - Either by the power of their pen or by their personal and official influence, they have made the Philippines a must-see destination. And for their outstanding contributions in the promotion and advancement of the tourism industry in the country, the Rotary Club of Manila, the oldest club in Asia, honored them at the Tourism Awards 2017 held recently at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

“We recognize today the personalities who have certainly made their respective marks in making the Philippines as the place to be in the world through our annual RCM Tourism Awards,” said Rotary Club of Manila president Teodoro Ocampo.

“Our 15 awardees are men and women of honor and influence. They have consistently worked hard to promote Philippine tourism. Because of their help, tourism now in the country is shooting for the stars,” said Rotary Club of Manila director-elect and chairman of the Tourism Awards Robert Joseph Jr.

Joanne Rae Ramirez, editor of The STAR’s Newsmakers and Allure sections and editor-in-chief of the prestigious and no-nonsense PeopleAsia magazine, was honored as the sole awardee in the media category.

“The heart of Philippine tourism is its people. And by training the light on its people, perhaps I have underscored how great the country really is — from the smiles that you not only see but feel, to the sincerity that you don’t only feel but see,” said Ramirez after receiving her award.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, who proudly said in her speech that “Bobby Joseph was my mentor when I started in the tourism industry,” was also thrilled to receive her Tourism award.

Other awardees included US Ambassador Sung Kim, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua and Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa (for tourism arrivals boosting in the Philippines category).

Also honored were Philippine Airlines president and CEO Jaime Bautista (airline category); Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu (transportation category); Melco Resorts and Entertainment chairman and  CEO Lawrence Ho (integrated resort category); RAKSO Travel & Tours president Jin Woo Jung (foreign tour operator category); and New World Makati Hotel GM Farid Schoucair (hotel category).

Other awardees included former Tourism Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan (tourism personality award); former Tourism Secretary and International School of Sustainable Tourism founder and president Mina Gabor (sustainable tourism category); Trade & Investment Promotion Group assistant secretary Rosario Virginia Gaetos (tourism and trade events category); and Narvacan, Ilocos Sur councilor Chavit Singson.

Former congressman and Minister of Tourism Jose Aspiras was also given a posthumous award.

The country does not run short of people who promote the Philippines as a prime tourist destination. Their efforts contribute to the economic growth of the country.

Teo, who was also the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Manila’s Tourism Awards 2017, said it best at the conclusion of her speech: “Let us continue to enrich our partnership. Let us work together for a more vibrant, more meaningful Philippine tourism.”