Tourism’s Bring Home a Friend Launches in New York
Some launch guests join DOT Undersecretary Katherin De Castro, Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Tourism Attaché Purificacion Molintas at the BHAF launch at the Philippine Center in New York (photos by PDOT-NY)
06 November 2017 NEW YORK – The Philippine Department of Tourism led the launch of one of the Philippines’ signature tourism campaigns Bring Home a Friend (BHAF) at the Philippine Center on October 30.
The event saw members of the Filipino-American Community including second generation Filipino-Americans, the travel sector, media, and influencers grace the occasion during which the official BHAF campaign video featuring popular Filipino actor Piolo Pascual was shown for the first time in the US Northeast.
The evening’s guest of honor Tourism Undersecretary Katherine S. De Castro enjoined the overseas Filipino Community and all the Philippines’ friends in media and the travel industry to invite join the BHAF program and invite their friends and colleagues to experience the Philippines’ firsthand. She noted the plaudits which the Philippines’ most popular destinations such as Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu, continue to collect from international visitors.
Tourism Representative Purificacion Mollintas explained the mechanics behind the BHAF program and the many incentives and prizes for those joining the Philippine Government’s efforts to invite more foreign tourists to visit the Philippines. Under the BHAF, Filipino passport holders overseas could register in the program and have the chance to win various prizes when they are able to invite a non-Filipino friend to visit the Philippines.
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed all the guests and said that they could be in their own way Ambassadors for the Philippines in their respective communities and workplaces.
The evening was made even livelier with a performance from popular Filipino-American singer Martina San Diego and her band. Filipino food prepared by Chef Aris Tuazon of New York’s Ugly Kitchen and signature Philippine drinks such as Tanduay Rhum and San Miguel Beer made for a fun gathering.
The Bring Home a Friend Program runs from 15 October 2017 to April 2018. Details on the program may be found at www.bringhomeafriend.online. The program’s main proponents are the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority with the support of Duty Free Philippines, Philippine Airlines, Megaworld, Toyota, JPark Island, El Nido Resorts, and Pearl Farm Beach Resort. END
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/
From left: Consul General Dizon-De Vega, Undersecretary Katherine De Castro, Tony and Grammy-winning Fil-Am producer Jhett Tolentino, and Tourism Representative Purificacion Mollintas at the launch
From left: PDOT-NY’s Emelita Blaza, Ms. Molintas, Program Emcee Mr. Wayne V. Lee, Jr., Undersecretary de Castro and Consul General Dizon-De Vega. In the background is Fil-Am singer Martina San Diego and her band.