Wazzup Pilipinas!Salamat po sa opportunity of being part of MICECON 2018. It was definitely an enlightening and pleasurable experience not just because of the new learnings, but most especially because of the new friends or acquiantances I gained throughout the three day event.
I've already uploaded so many videos from the first day of MICECON 2018 to the last, including full speeches of the VIPs and event organizers, interviews with some of the speakers like Jerry Sibal, Anton Diaz, KF Seetoh, and Scott Friedman, on Wazzup Pilipinas official social media accounts mostly on Facebook, and other social media networks we have, and a couple of pre-event articles on our site WazzupPilipinas.com, and would write more post-event articles simultaneously as I upload the remaining contents from my phone, camera and other gadgets I brought with me in Bacolod.
Since I was also personally toured by Miss Agnes Maranon-Iida, the daughter of the governor of Negros Occidental, Alfredo Maranon Jr, who offered to give me a guided appreciation tour of Sagay city and other areas like the Children's Museum, visit and seafood lunch at Suyac Island Mangrove Eco Park, an interview with master Nunelucio Alvarado and da drink of their ice-blended coffee and some snacks plus fortunate to be given complimentary artworks by the master himself, a tour at Option MFC, their sugar mill, where I witnessed the entire process of creating sugar from sugar cane, step-by-step., ate the Manapla puto directly bought from its original creator plus an interview opportunity, a visit and interview with Mushroom growers at the Organic Farm Festival which was currently happening at the Provincial Capitol grounds, an overnight stay at Natures Village Resort where I had an interview with one of the Organic Farm Festival speakers namely Rei Yoon from Korea promoting Natural farming, a lot better than organic farming, and lastly a night ending with a grand dinner feast with the governor of Negros, his wife and daughters, his sister, niece, son in law, other relatives, and other guests from Japan.
Thank you as well to my designated tour guide on my second extended stay touring other parts of Bacolod city, Ms. Jang Yap, a staff from the Bacolod Tourism Operations Office, through councilors Em Legaspi-Ang and Cindy Tan-Rojas, as well as the Senior Tourism Operations Officer Ms. Elma "Butch" Gerasmo,
We started our tour with visits if the three heritage houses open to the pubic, alson had an interview with the owner of a famous Masskara mask store setup by a consultant and fellow blogger Jojo Vito but ran by his sister-in-law and brother, lunch at El Ideal bakery where we ate their specialties, a visit and effortless stair climb up to the top of the Pope John Paul Tower, a tour at the Panaad Park and stadium showcasing the many structures from different cities of Negros Occidental, witnessing Bacolod's very first Festival of Lights parade, culminating to dinner at Aida's in Manokan Country, before finally going to the airport on the last flight out of Bacolod and back to Manila.
I have plenty more stories, videos and photos to upload and stories to write about Bacolod city and Negros Occidental province to help boost tourism, most especially community - based tourism, in the mentioned places.
As it is more fun in the Philippines not just because of the sights or tourist destinations, but because of the Filipino people, I've also interviewed and showcased as many people involved throughout the events, not just the delegates and speakers but even interviews with the LGU officials and staff, van drivers, hotel staff, artists and business owners, tour guides, etc. so I could give a greater overview of not just the happenings during MICECON 2018, but also of Bacolod city, and Negros Occidetal, etc.
Hoping I would be a part again of not just MICECON but of your other events, whether solely organized or partnered with others.
Thank you once again and congratulations for a very successful MICE2018. Salamat po again sa opportunity of being part of MICECON 2018.
Kudos to the TPB COO Miss Marie Venus "The Goddess" Tan for her active presence at the events up to the farewell dinner and party.
Thank you to Miss Neng Miranda and Miss Christie Navarro for making it possible for me to be included among the invited media from Manila.
Thank you as well to other staff from both TPB, like Patricia or Rica, MICE OIC Miss Baby de Luna-Landan, the staff from Fuentes Manila PR agency, and the Bacolod LGU, like councilors Em Ang and Cindy Rojas, City Administrator Atty Juan Orola Jr, most especially to the Tourism Promotions Office Team, led by Senior Tourism Operations Officer Miss Butch Sycip. Not to forget the honorable Mayor of Bacolod, Evelio "Bing" Leonardia, and his wife, Elsa Jeruta Fuentes
Thank you also to SMX Sales & Marketing VP and PACEOS VP for Suppliers miss Agnes Pacis, PACEOS Chairman Miss Jing Lagandaon, and a lot more people coming from the delegates representing the many travel and tourism business establishments all over the Philippines.
Thank you of course to our dearest Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat for starting this all for me. I hope my aggressiveness to be actively part of your tourism events, programs and other projects, were positively received. My ultimate intention is to sincerely help our country become the most preferred destination by both local and foreign tourists. Even though I am also being tapped by other countries to promote their hotels, resorts, cuisolines and restaurants, and tourist destinations, my heart remains biased to the Philippines as we do have among, if not the bests, world-class destinations.
God bless and more power to all. Maraming Salamat po and hope to see you all again soon. :)
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
.jpg)
