Page 44 - 2018 JAN-JUN KAAKBAY
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44 January to June
2018
(continued from page 43… PH to Top US Agents) Diskubre Tour for Young
Filipino-Americans Launched in New York
culture tours as well as product updates on the top 10 destinations
within the country’s 7,106 islands. These included, Palawan, Diskubre Tour, the
Boracay, Cebu, and Bohol, Davao, Siargao, Banawe, Baguio, heritage tour for young Filipino-
Ilocos Region and the Bicol Region. Americans aged 18-35, was
launched on 14 April at the
Mr. Joesyl Vasquez (Area Manager) and Ms. Jean Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine
Charisse Rodriguez, (Account Manager – International Passenger Center in New York. It was
Sales) of Philippine Airlines New York presented before partner officially presented during the
travel agents. These travel agents also learned about the newest New York event for TFCU Talks
non-stop flight that the national carrier, Philippine Airlines will be that spotlighted the stories and
operating in October 2018; PR 127 – JFK-MNL (02:00 – 06:10 +1) journeys of Jhett Tolentino,
and PR 126 MNL-JFK (18:30 – 21:00) giving international Sarah Meier, Norman Dalager,
passengers more time on ground in the Philippines with only a 15- and Rich Tu.
hour flight as opposed to the usual 18-hour journey currently with
one stopover in Vancouver. Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz Popov revealed
the program initiated by the Philippine Consulate
PAL was also given the long overdue four-star rating from General in New York, with the support of the Philippine
SkyTrak early this year and a befitting cap to all the efforts they Department of Tourism New York and its official media
have done having been the first Asian international full-service partner, ABS-CBN Global Studios’ Discovering Routes.
airline having started in February 1941.
The Diskubre Tour will take the pilot batch to
“The US market is a significant source for tourists who Manila, Corregidor, Baguio, Banaue, Sagada, and Subic
want to explore, experience and enjoy the Philippines, given our from July 6 to 17 to immerse the participants in the
close country ties and our shared historical milestones. We are communities of the Mountain Province. The group will
pleased by this exciting travel trade destination update event commune with the locals, learn farming practices,
organized by Fernando (Virgolino) of Downtown Travel, experience the culture of the indigenous tribes, and live
established 30 years ago and has expanded into one of the largest the Filipino way of life, to ultimately discover their roots.
consolidators in USA and to Europe.” Ms Susan del Mundo
enthuses. She further added, that as early as 2014, the US Diskubre is an educational opportunity for
market has been rediscovering the Philippines placing this country second-generation and young Filipino-Americans
on the top preferred destinations along with China, India and designed to promote a deeper appreciation of their
Japan. For the first time in a long time, in 2016, the North Filipino heritage, and a spirit of giving back to the
American market has reached a growth rate of more than 14% and motherland through intellectual capital and sweat equity.
has remained the second largest source market with more than Filcom organizations may elect to sponsor their young
1M visitor arrivals, yearly. members, as a way to train them to be future leaders in
the community.
The event was capped off with a prelude of the flavors in
the Filipino Restaurant Week (14-26 May 2018 in NY) with one of The project was initially conceived as a means
the participating Chefs, Aris Tuazon of Ugly Kitchen preparing a to promote Philippine tourism to the Filipino-Americans.
spread of bold, unique and authentic Filipino dishes. The immersion experience was included as the core
component, after observing that millennials and young
travelers value experiential travel more than the usual
tourist or visitor activities.
(Continue to page 45)
Attendees to the TFCU Talks NY launch held at the Philippine Center
New York learn about Discovering Routes Travels with Diskubre
partnership, introduced by Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz Popov .
