DoT Sec. Ace Durano and Happy Slip

Promotion of Philippine tourism, that is.

For the year of 2009, the Department of Tourism (DoT) as headed by Sec. Joseph “Ace” Durano, intends to attract the younger generation worldwide to come and visit the Philippines.

Case in point is digital celebrity Christine Gambito, famously known in the internet as ‘Happy Slip.’ Being a Filipina raised in the US, Happy Slip first stepped on Philippine soil only a few years ago. The experience was an opener for her upon discovering the many natural wonders of the Philippines, aside from the people’s warm hospitality. In fact, she did a series of videos available on the internet about the places she visited in the Philippines. Currently, she takes on the tourism ambassadress hat filming commercials around the country for a Philippine campaign with Music Television (MTV).

Sec. Joseph "Ace" Durano holding Sago

With these objectives in mind, there’s no other way to reach them as one but through a similarly unifying component of human society – music.

As much diverse as the culture and language of different countries, all of them hums in rhythm and jives in beat. Hence, the Department of Tourism, in cooperation with MTV, will launch a series of campaign aired through MTV commercials worldwide to promote various Philippine tourism spots.

Happy Slip with Sago

Locally, there would also be a series of smaller events around the country which would start come February until it culminates on November with Rockapelago. Rockapelago is touted to be the country’s biggest concert in local history. It shall be graced by renowned international artists with Filipino heritage.

(L-R) Ms.Yvonne Tey (MTV Asia), DoT Usec. Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Christine "Happy Slip" Gambito, DoT Sec. Joseph "Ace" Durano, Media Contacts COO & Managing Dir. Mr. Ed Mapa, Jr.

At the same time, the campaign intends to entice fellow Filipinos who grew up in foreign lands but has never stepped on Philippine soil. Perhaps the coming year would be a good time to break that status quo and visit their roots, just like Happy Slip. The event was also graced by Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr., Media Contacts COO & Managing Director Mr. Ed Mapa, and MTV Asia’s Yvonne Tey and Raksha Nanikram.

**Photo credits to Mr. Laszlo Lim of Yehey! for Happy Slip’s first photo & Musicrator.com for Sec.Durano’s photo with Sago as labeled; Name source from Carl Valenzona.