About 230 Filipino-Americans or “Very Important Pinoys” are in Negros Occidental to visit various tourist destinations as part of their 10-day country-wide Ambassador’s Tour 2024.
Provincial Tourism Office Cheryl Decena said that the VIP’s met with Negros Occidental Gov. Jose Eugenio Lacson at the Provincial Capitol, and attended a “Super City Bacolod Mayor’s Night” at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday, July 23.
They visited various tourist destinations on Wednesday and will depart on Thursday, Decena said.
The Very Important Pinoy Tour or 2024 Ambassadors’ Tour is a 10-day tour of the Philippines led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Promotions Board and Rajah Tours.
This year’s visitors are touring Metro Manila, Bacolod City, and Cagayan De Oro from July 21 to 30.
The 230 US-based Filipino-Americans are led by Consul General of New York Senen Mangalile.
They visited various Negros Occidental tourist spots on Wednesday like The Ruins in Talisay City, heritage houses in Silay City, Lakawon Island in Cadiz City, and other attractions in Victorias City, Decena said.
The visitors also went to the showroom of provincial government-owned Technology and Livelihood Development Center, and the Association of Negros Producers.
Decena said that this event is also a way for tourism stakeholders and businessmen to network with the visitors who are composed mainly of retirees and members of Filipino associations in United States.
After their tour of Negros Occidental, the visitors will go to Cagayan De Oro for the remaining days of their tour.
This year’s tour, which includes US delegates from New York, Hawaii, California, and Guam, aims to reconnect Filipino-Americans with their heritage and promote the Philippines as a premier travel destination.
After the tour’s kick-off in Manila earlier this week, the Bacolod leg was highlighted on Tuesday by the unveiling of the bazaar of Bacolod’s best local products, such as local delicacies and handcrafted items as well as Bacolod-style Filipino dishes like chicken inasal, KBL (kadios, baboy, langka) and bangus paksiw.
The guests were also treated to a performance of the world-renowned MassKara Festival dancers and introduced to the city’s other festivities, including the Bacolaodiat Festival, Chicken Inasal Festival, and Rum Festival.
“We are honored that the VIP tour for this year has chosen Bacolod as the only stop in the Visayas”, Bacolod Councilor Em Ang said.*with a report from PNA