Cebu lands on global tourism map as venue of World Tourism Forum

The conduct of the five-day United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) International Tourism Forum in Cebu next week highlights the province as an ideal tourism destination in this part of the region.

Tourism Usec. Phineas Alburo recently bared the international forum on tourism development puts "Cebu on the global map on tourism as an ideal place for international gathering."

Almost 500 participants consisting of parliamentarians and local authorities from 135 UN-member nations are expected to attend the event which will be opened by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on October 22 at Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapulapu City.

Alburo said the UN-WTO global forum is similar to the 12th Asean Summit but on a smaller scale. The Asean Summit was also held in Cebu in January 2007.
The gathering to be held here as mandated by President Arroyo is mainly due to the success of the Asean Summit, according to Alburo.

The tourism undersecretary once again appealed to the Cebuanos to support the government and show the foreign visitors the popular Filipino hospitality and be courteous at all times.

Alburo said he has met with top officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) and the Cebu Taxi Association for the latter's cooperation and support as he asked taxi drivers not to overcharge the foreign visitors who might want to explore Cebu on their own.

The foreign delegates will be treated with two complementary tours namely the historical and cultural tour and the other will be an industrial tour. Cebu's old-age museums and other historical attractions will be showcased as well as an array of fashion accessories of export quality as they go on a site tour of export companies that cater on fashion jewelries, this is learned.

A book featuring Cebu, its history and tourist attractions as well as other significant information with brilliant photos of some of the tourist spots will be given to each delegate as a souvenir which is one means to promote the province and maintain its strength as the favored international tourism haven among foreign visitors, this is said. (PIA)

Second largest Duty Free Philippines opens in Cebu

Duty Free Philippines (DFP) marks another milestone as it proudly launches its newest store and the 2nd largest outlet in the country right here in Cebu City at the ground floor of the north wing of SM City Cebu tomorrow.

DFP General Manager Michael Christian Kho leads the top officials during the inaugural rites as the new DFP occupies a space of more than 1,800 square meters.

The new DFP is fashioned on a more spacious and upscale setting that is more accessible to customers.

It also aims to maximize the opportunity of the mall's development towards becoming a premier tourist destination of Cebu.

With Cebu fast becoming a major tourist attraction and the opening of a Sofitel Hotel near SM City Cebu, DFP went into talks with the SM Group about a year ago on opening up the outlet in the mall.

Having another mall inside a mall is a unique and challenging idea for a retail business and provides shoppers with an exciting and wide array of products such as chocolates, confectionery, snacks, liquors, perfumes and fashion apparel and is believed not only to capture the tourists' attention but to increase DFP's revenues as well.

Through the years beyond development and challenges, DFP maintained its prevalent status as a performing business institution with improved service facilities, new brands and products as well as the implementation of aggressive merchandising and marketing campaigns.

With its mission to satisfy the international traveler's needs, DFP reassures the people that this pristine outlet will continue to provide world-class products and the same exceptional services showcasing Filipino warmth and hospitality.(PIA)

ALI turns golf course plan in Cebu City mountains into nature park

Real estate giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has dropped plans to develop its property in the hinterlands of Cebu City into a golf course and instead opted to establish a nature park in the area.

Ver de la Cerna, corporate communications head of ALI affiliate Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI), said park opened its first phase Wednesday, covering 20 hectares.

”When the company realized the land is part of a protected landscape, it decided to reposition its original plans into what it should be, an educational facility,” said de la Cerna, whose office serves as the park’s secretariat.

The park is within the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), which covers what used to be known as the Mananga and Kotkot-Lusaran watersheds, and the Sudlon and Central Cebu National Parks.

ALI will open the park to nature lovers, researchers and anybody who wants to see a green zone in Cebu Island where the forest cover is reported to be less than one percent of the total land area

The park was inaugurated and turned over to the Ayala Heights Nature Park Foundation after the launching Wednesday.

Under the park project, ALI is reforesting about 72 hectares of company-owned property within the Kotkot-Lusaran watershed.

The project, which involves residents in surrounding barangays, is meant to be an ecological tourism destination, to serve as an educational facility, and become a habitat of Cebu’s endangered plants and animals.

The park is also developed to become a model for proper watershed management that will showcase biodiversity restoration and stakeholder partnership, involving the public and private sectors.

ALI senior vice-president Emilio Tumbocon said the park will also complement the adjacent Ayala Heights Cebu by “providing a healthy and desirable environment for village residents.”

Ayala Heights, a 20-minute drive from downtown Cebu City, is ALI’s upscale residential project.

ALI partnered with CHI, Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW), Soil and Water Conservation Foundation and the University of San Carlos Water Resource Center to form the Ayala Heights Nature Park Foundation, which will serve as the “steward” in the enhancement of the park. The park will be managed according to the Protected Area Management Plan for the CCPL.

”We are confident that with the help of our partners and the community, we can create a world-class nature park,” said ALI vice president Francis Monera.

Planning for the rehabilitation started three years ago. Last November, ALI completed the building of facilities at the park, such as interpretive trail, administration office or park ranger outpost, reception office, staging area, tree nursery, restrooms, information stations and a small restaurant.

It also replaced exotic tree species that were grown there with native trees to attract endemic animals and restore the area’s biological diversity.

CHI reported that there are about 27 bird species found in the area, including the white-collared kingfisher, olive backed sunbird and the Asian glossy starling.

”The construction cost is less expensive because facilities are made out of light materials sourced from around this area. It is also built by workers from the community,” said de la Cerna.

He said maintaining the park would not entail a lot of cost as the park is “economically sustaining.”

There is no target date for the completion of he development, he said, because it will depend on how the public will accept it.

The park can hold a maximum of 60 people divided into 15-member groups. Trained local residents will serve as tour guides.

Entrance fees are as follows: P50 for adults, P25 for children. It will be managed by the Ayala Heights Nature Park Foundation to maintain the facility.

”We are maintaining this park to be low-impact, environmentally-sound, and community-participatory tourism activity,” said CUSW executive director Socorro Atega.

As phase two of the development will deal with swampy areas, the foundation is already thinking of having a nature center that will serve as a major educational facility where visitors and researchers can get information about the park’s history and the various plant and animal species inside the park.

It also plans to establish a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) zone and a bird watching area, put more food plants and build a historical perspective of the park with the help of senior citizens from the community. (PNA)

Cebu To Host 6th World Tourism Forum In October

Cebu takes the global center stage as the chosen venue to host the 6th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Forum in October 2008 focusing on climate change, poverty reduction and role of women in tourism.

Cebu in Philippines takes the global center stage as the chosen venue to host the 6th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Forum where at least 400 members of Congress from at least 100 countries worldwide are expected to attend.

China would have bided for the hosting of the 2008 UNWTO Forum but retracted its intent to give way to the Philippines and instead will host the same event in 2010.

The international tourism forum for parliamentarians held every two years is the first time that will be held outside the country's capital.

Dominique Bernadette, UN-WTO Conference Secretariat Chief said Cebu has been chosen as the venue of the international forum because it meets the UN Conference's criteria of certain standards in terms of facilities such as an international air service connectivity which is highly important.

Bernadette added that Cebu being the most favored international tourism destination is also a factor behind the decision as it serves as a role model in giving more awareness to local authorities on their significant role in the development of communities through tourism.

Shaping global tourism needs policy changes and adjustments to have a substantial impact which is basically the essence of the forum but local chief executives likewise have a critical role as they are the ones that implement these policies in the local level.

A technical tour to Bohol is also part of the itinerary to showcase how the local government unit (LGU) of the province managed to balance development and sustained eco-tourism growth together.

Bohol is the fastest growing destination in the country because of the efforts of the LGU to strike a balance between development and the preservation of nature, the tourism secretary added.

The WTO Forum is an additional economic activity for Cebu and Bohol on top of what it is enjoying right now, DOT Secretary Ace Durano claimed. Cebu and Bohol are the top tourist destinations among foreign visitors.

A post conference tour will also be offered to the delegates if they want to travel anywhere in the country like in Boracay, Palawan, Cagayan, Davao and Manila among other tourist destinations, Durano said.

Negros Oriental Product Bags Top Award in International Fair

A product from Central Visayas won the most trendy product award out of 378 food products from all over the Philippines at the recently concluded International Food Exhibition (IFEX) 2008 held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

This award, usually won by more established large companies in the country, was the first in the five-year history of the IFEX to be given to a small enterprise --- Orient Foods Inc. of Negros Oriental.

What is even more remarkable was that the product, a fruity bar, was a direct result of the Partner Region Program (PRP) of the government which provides assistance in food packaging development to make products competitive in both domestic and international markets.

According to judges from the private sector, Orient Foods’ chewy fruity bar won based on packaging design, product innovation and adaptation to consumers’ lifestyle.

The fruity bar concept is similar to granola bars sold in high-end health food stores. However, it uses all natural local ingredients such as rice crispies and native dried fruits, making the product not only nutritious but also cheap and convenient since it is wrapped in foil. It also has an attractive packaging design that appeals to consumers of all ages.

Meanwhile, Chantilly’s budbod kabog, still from Negros Oriental, came in a close second.

The budbod kabog of Chantilly is unique because aside from its ingredients which are bird seeds or millet, the product also uses banana leaf to wrap the delicacy and is vacuum packed and retorted in foil to increase shelf life without using preservatives. Its packaging not only retains the fresh food flavor but also gives the product an ethnic look.

The other contestants representing Central Visayas were Eco Nuestra (bottled sardines, amahon), Andre Choco (chocolate products), Lola Pureza (broas), Bohol Bee Farm (honey spread, honey products), Jojies's Bakeshop (bakery products), Tienda Boholana (oatmeal cookies), BQ Bread Basket (kalamay, star peanuts, breads, cakes), Bohol Quality Pastries (tajada cookies, broas, kinatloan), Candabong Ric Multipurpose Cooperative (ginger tea, salabat candies), Jose’s Budbod Delights (budbod sa Tanjay), Ivon's baye-baye, Tessies's Sweets and Pastries (bakery products), Sans Rival (jam squares, sylvannas), Orient Food Industries (dried tropical fruits), Ever (peanut broas), Duran's (banana fries) and Jainin's Pastries (tortalita).

The Trendy Awards was first introduced during the Asian Ethnic Food Festival, the original name of what is now called the international Food Exhibition (IFEX)

IFEX 2008 board of judges are: Margarita Fores – chef and restaurateur, Linda Floro – food stylist and restaurant owner, Engr. Abner Villahermosa – technical consultant for food packaging and branding.

Because of its participation in the PRP, Central Visayas food producers were given priority in terms of promotion, and location of product display during the IFEX 2008 (at the forefront of the main exhibition hall).

IFEX 2008 gathered several industry authorities and key stakeholders from various food sectors to the show to meet and discuss the latest trends and opportunities in the global food market and how to approach local and export markets in today’s fast, highly competitive environment.

The show introduced new food trends that help boost the marketability of food products and related commodities through innovative trends and concepts -- sustainable packaging, healthful eating practices, green production and marketing techniques, and new technology and allied services for catering and retail industries.

The IFEX was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Center for International exposition & Missions (CITEM) Partner Region Program (PRP).

The PRP is made possible with the cooperation of the Philippine Trade Training Center, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Science and Technology.

Under the program, food companies have been getting assistance in food packaging development/ enhancement to make their products competitive in both domestic and international markets.

The DTI has provided appropriate assistance to SMEs under the PRP in the form of trainings, seminars and updates on food quality and safety, food packaging, marketing and branding.

After application of the relevant technical and marketing related interventions, these products are showcased in a special setting at the IFEX Philippines for market testing.

The PRP gives focus on regional food products that have potentials in both domestic and international markets.

Bohol: Country's model for eco-tourism

Eco-Cultural tourism was then an unthinkable word, until the Boholanos showed what it is.

Entirely packaging a tourism that is a spin-off from the traditional definitions, Bohol's eco-tourism has made it a model for the Philippines, admits Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, during awarding ceremonies of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Turismo Mismo grantees in Magtangtang Danao, Bohol, May 1.

"Even at a time when eco-tourism was not crafted yet, the Boholanos were able to define it," he said after going through the Eco, Educational, Extreme Adventure Tourism (EAT) in Danao.

The eco-tourism concept is one where there is responsible travel to nature areas, doing activities like birdwatching, caving, farm visits and rice field walks, kayaking or simply sightseeing.

In Danao, local officials led by Mayor Thomas Louis Gonzaga also put in a twist in their adventure tourism by introducing river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock and root climbing and even bungee jumping.

The concept is to integrate all these in a huge nature park which has been the base camp of a revered Boholano hero; Francisco Dagohoy, while instilling in the tourists' mind the idea of preserving nature, the natural landscape, the watershed, the forest ecosystem and the town's history and cultural heritage, said a billboard at the park's jump-off point.

In fact, even Bohol Representative Edgar Chatto also confessed that when the House of Representatives deliberated on the bid for Bohol to be declared an eco-cultural tourism destination in the country, legislators called it a misnomer.

Legislators said [being] cultural also encompasses the ecology and the environment.

Chatto said he argued that it took the Boholanos about seven months to craft the vision for Bohol, and eco-cultural tourism is what they meant.

He said the House legislators finally agreed to adopt the term, after the local representative detailed the meaning of the word according to the Boholanos.

Chatto, who was a vice governor then was a key instrument in the crafting of Bohol's tourism vision as a province.

On eco-tourism, Durano asserts that Danao Bohol's tourism direction is basically what the DOT's Turismo Mismo is all about.

The department spun a campaign of not just giving people jobs, which seems to be superficial, but on giving people livelihood, which would make the projects sustainable.

Turismo Mismo is one where it is the people of the place who benefit from the resources, one he calls as Pilipino Mismo.

In Danao, the DOT brought Grass Roots Entrepreneurship and Employment in Tourism (GREET).

Meanwhile, Danao Mayor Gonzaga agreed that tourism to be sustainable should not just be about jobs but about livelihood as well. (PIA)

BOHOLANO food products go international in IFEX 2008

In no time at all, favorite peanut kisses, calamay, caycay, tajada, mango spread, salabat (ginger tea) and broa would be gracing international market shelves as they debut in the upcoming International Food Exhibition (IFEX) this month at the Mall of Asia in Pasay.

The event, an exhibit component of the Partner Region Program (PRP) by the Asian Ethnic Food Festival now commonly called IFEX 2008, would feature local food and processors, which benefited technical help from experts and resources of Conventions and International Trades Expositions and Missions (CITEM) a trade promotion organization.

In Bohol, up to take their respective spots in upcoming IFEX are BUCAREZ Food Processing’s Peanut Kisses, BQ Breadbasket’s Calamay, Jojie’s Bakeshop’s Caycay, Bohol Quality Pastries’ Tajada, Bohol Bee Farm’s Mango Spread, Candabong RIC Multipurpose Cooperative’s Salabat Ginger Tea, Tienda Boholana’s Mango cookie and Tessie’s Sweets and Pastries’ ladyfingers or Broas.

These Bohol food products benefited mainstreamed and developed food packaging systems from government and technical experts, bared local Department of Trade and Industry authorities.

The Citem, the country’s export management authorities said the named Bohol products were identified through their PRP, and were assessed as having the potential in both domestic and international markets.

Under the program, select food companies from the identified regions are given assistance in food packaging development and enhancement to make their products competitive in both domestic and international markets.

For nine months, trainings and seminars were given to company owners in production and marketing-related topics to help them improve their production towards safe and quality products and equip them with knowledge in negotiating better with both local and foreign buyers.

During these periods the selected food companies underwent trainings and seminars on food packaging and labeling, current good manufacturing practices, brand management, food process cost management, marketing management, visual merchandising and negotiation techniques.

One-on-One consultancy and In-plant assessments are likewise provided by the PRP experts to these firms.

The products, in their enhanced packaging and labels, are showcased in a special setting during the International Food Exhibition or IFEX.

For this year’s edition, the Central Visayas Region has been identified as the Partner Region for IFEX 2008, set for exhibition this coming May 16-18 at the SMEX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

The Central Visayan food products identified went through rigorou screening by CITEM experts, the Department of Science and Technology-Packaging Research and Development Center (DOST-PRDC), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and San Miguel Packaging Products.