Page 45 - 2017 JUL -DEC KAAKBAY

45July to December
2017

Filipino-American New York Media Visit Philippines

Eight (8) members of the Filipino-American media corps based in
New York participated in a familiarization tour of Manila and Davao from 21
to 28 November 2017, hosted by the Department of Tourism, in cooperation
with the Philippine Consulate General New York.

The participants toured Intramuros and the Bonifacio Global City in
Manila, visiting historical sites and new tourism developments in the city.

The group spent most of their stay in Davao Province visiting key
tourism spots and taking part in adventure tourism activities.

The media group was taken to the Philippine Eagle Center to see
the endangered Philippine Eagle and to learn more about conservation
efforts. The Eagle Center visit was capped by the unveiling of a The Fil-Am media Tour Group enjoying the beaches in Davao
commemorative marker of the group’s visit. They then went to Malagos
Garden Resort and Chocolate Museum, the first of its kind in Mindanao, where guests were invited to witness freshly-

harvested cacao processing from tree-to-bar in their workshop.

The next day, the group toured Hijo Resort and Banana Plantation, the first and
only eco-agri tourism destination in the Philippines, where they were briefed on nature

conservation and sustainability efforts by the local government and Hijo Plantation
management.

For two days, the group enjoyed Samal Island, witnessing the Mindanao tribal
weaving tradition, Pearl Farm, Cultural Presentations and Fire Dancers.

The media members who joined the tour were Grace Labaguis (GMA Pinoy

TV), LP Pelayo (Filipino Reporter); Rolan Gutierrez (FilAm Who’s Who); Cristina Pastor
(The FilAm.net and Makilala TV); Ricky Rillera (Philippine Business Mirror); Don Tagala
(ABS-CBN); Carol Tanjutco (Inquirer and Filipino Reporter); and Momar Visaya (Asian
Journal).

The Filipino-American Media Group in historic At the Philippine Consulate General in New York’s Year-End Appreciation
Intramuros, Manila (photos by LP Pelayo) Night for the Press held on 18 December 2017, the tour participants expressed their
appreciation for the unique experience. “It was an eye opener on the richness of our
tourism offerings back home,” tour participant Grace Labaguis of GMA TV enthused.

Filipino Artists Highlight Summer Art Viewing at Philippine Center New York

Back-to-Back exhibits by Filipino artists, “Recreate” by Diana Grace F.
Manalastas and “Filipino Values” by Celso Duazo Pepito were featured at the
Philippine Center in New York.

“Recreate” was the third solo exhibit of Ms. Manalastas, a

businesswoman and self-taught artist. The exhibit features junk and scrap

material reimagined into mixed media works. Diana has conducted a workshop

on using scrap materials for art in cooperation with the Rotary Club of

Guiguinto,.Bulacan, of which she

is an active member. Artist Diana Manalastas (3rd from left) with guests at the
“Filipino Values”, the Recreate Exhibit (photo by Philippine Center NY)

latest solo exhibit of Cebu-based

artist Celso Pepito, featured a series of canvasses devoted to depictions of the

Filipino family, at work, at play, and in harmony with one another. Some of his

landscapes were also featured in the exhibit, which will run until mid-September

Consul & Philippine Center Manager Arman Talbo (1st at the Philippine Center. Works by Mr. Pepito are on display at the Department
from left), Consul General Theresa De Vega (3rd from of Foreign Affairs Regional Consular Office in Cebu.
left), Artist Celso Pepito (4th from left), and Ambassador
Teodoro Locsin (2nd from right) join guests at the Filipino Manalastas and Pepito are among the latest batch of talented Filipino

Values Exhibit opening (photo by NYPCG) visual artists who have exhibited works in New York City.