US Ambassadors’ Tour Successfully Relaunches; President Duterte Welcomes Delegates to Davao
1st Row L-R Consul General Theresa De Vega, Sec. Alan Cayetano, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Usec Katherine De Castro, TPB COO Cesar Montano with the first batch of New York delegates (photos by Rajah Tours)
27 July 2017, New York – The US Ambassadors’ Tour, formerly the Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour, took place from July 11 to 16 in Manila and Davao, Philippines.
The 11th edition of the tour brought nearly 200 delegates from the US East and West Coasts, Hawaii, and Guam to varied and exciting tourism destinations in Manila, the Philippines’ capital and Davao, the premiere city in Southern Philippines and home province of Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The delegates were unanimous in expressing their satisfaction and enjoyment with the conduct of this year’s tour, the first to take place in Mindanao. With destinations like the Philippine Eagle Center, Malagos Garden Resort, Hijo Plantation Resort, Museo Dabawenyo, Durian Candy Factory Apo ni Lola the delegates were introduced to the diverse culture, history, and heritage of Davao.
This year’s tour kicked off with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Park followed by a lunch and cultural show at the newly-restored Ayuntamiento Building in Intramuros. Trips to museums in Metro Manila likewise awaited the delegates. The Manila leg ended with a special reception hosted by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) and AyalaLand.
The tour’s highlight was the “Philippine Reception” hosted by the Department of Tourism with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as Guest of Honor and other special guests Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Tourism Undersecretary Katherine De Castro representing Secretary Wanda T. Teo, and Tourism Promotions Board COO Cesar Montano. The reception featured a combined musical and fashion presentation entitled “Philippine Tapestry” featuring the designs of famed Filipino designer Renee Salud.
At the start of the Davao leg, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte hosted a Welcome Reception for all delegates at the Insular Waterfront Hotel. The Davao Investment and Tourism Offices likewise conducted presentations on tourism and business opportunities in the province.
Top left photo: Delegates join performers in Davao at the Hijo Plantation Resort. Bottom left photo: Commemorative marker unveiled at the Philippine Eagle Center for the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour. Middle photo: Consul General and Mrs. Adelio Cruz have a close encounter with an eagle in Davao. Right photo: Delegates from San Francisco with Consul General Bensurto take part in an impromptu musical number
Among the special guests during the tour were Mayor Ron Harrison of National City, San Diego, California and Mayor Rita Sanders of Bellevue, Nebraska. Consuls General Theresa Dizon-De Vega of New York, this year’s coordinating Consulate, Consul General Generoso Calonge of Chicago, Consul General Gina Jamoralin of Honolulu, Consul General Henry Bensurto of San Francisco, Consul General Marciano de Borja of Agana, Consul General Adelio Cruz of Los Angeles, and Charge d’ Affaires Patrick Chuasoto of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC were on hand to join their respective delegations.
All the Consuls General and Mr. Chuasoto also led delegates in a marker unveiling at the Philippine Eagle Center commemorating the contributions and commitment of the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour to the cause of preserving the Philippine Eagle.
As in previous editions of the tour, the largest contingent of 60 delegates hailed from Hawaii with New York having the second largest group. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the tour, plans are already being discussed for future editions of the Ambassadors’ Tour.
The US Ambassadors’ Tour is a project of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs to help in reconnecting the overseas Filipino Community to the Philippines and to introduce the country to more foreign visitors. Tour arrangements were handled by Rajah Tours Philippines.
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHConsulateNY. END
1sr row L-R Consul General Marciano De Borja, Consul General Generoso Calonge, Sec Alan Cayetano, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Usec Katherine De Castro, TPB COO Cesar Montano, Charge D’Affaires, a.i. Patrick Chuasoto with Delegates from Guam, Chicago, and Washington, DC