Manila - The Department of Tourism, headed by the Office of Industry Manpower Development, held an appreciation gathering for resource speakers and partner agencies at the Diamond Hotel last January 5, 2017. Along with fellow ASEAN Master Trainers and Assessors as well as a variety of tourism stakeholders like representatives of Tourist police (TOPCOP), tour guides, accommodation personnel, waiters, cooks, tourist transport drivers, spa/massage therapists, retail staff, community guides, etc. we were called upon individually, to receive a Plaque of Recognition.
Opening the event was Director Rica C. Bueno, from the Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations (OTSR), who expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the resource persons and stakeholders. According to Dir. Bueno, their pool of resource speakers and range of training modules have expanded since 2010 from around 15 trainers & modules to more than 55 speakers/experts and 31 modules today and still growing.
“In 2017, DOT conducted 136 regular trainings and 187 Tourism Industry Skills Program (TISP) trainings, benefiting more than 7000 tourism workers, members of local government units and community-based organizations. With the growth of the Philippine tourism industry, the DOT’s Office of Industry Manpower Development (OIMD) will continue to implement programs, projects, Programand activities to improve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of tourism professionals. The various training programs to be delivered shall instill the Filipino values for Service Excellence: 1) Maka-Diyos (Maylikha); 2) Maka-Tao; 3) Maka-Kalikasan; 4) Maka-Bayan; 5) Masayahin; 6) May Bayanihan, and 7) May Pag-Asa”, said Dir. Bueno. “I have always believed in the Filipino spirit of genuine care and warm hospitality, the best elements in tourism service. Together with our dedicated resource speakers, DOT-OIMD will tirelessly work in transforming our tourism workers to be world-class Filipino STARs (Serving Tourists with thoughtful Attention and Respect), she added.
For the event’s special message was Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination & Resource Generation (TRCRG), Alma Jimenez, who also expressed her appreciation, but more importantly highlighted on her positive outlook of the industry; which was truly motivational, as there are still so much work to be done; and collectively, with the various tourism stakeholders, we can all work together and make things happen.
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| Tourism Industry Board Foundation Inc (TIBFI) Board of Directors with USec. Jimenez and Dir. Bueno (From L-R: Mr. Paul So, Usec. Alma Jimenez, TIBFI Chair Ma. Christina Aquino, Ms. Anabelle Ochoa-Moreno, Dir. Rica Bueno, Dra. Gloria Baken-Siy) |
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| The author; The Filipino Hospitality’s Lead Consultant and Trainer, creator and author of The Filipino Hotelier blog, ASEAN Master Assessor Martin S. Aguilar, with Usec. Jimenez and Dir. Rica Bueno. |
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(From L-R) Charm Sy, Jefferson Sy, Martin Aguilar, Lax Mendoza, Tina Aquino, Belle Ochoa, Bien Claravall
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