After a full day of immersing in Sorsogon’s nature and cultural gems and joining in on celebrating Kasanggayahan Festival 2023, delegates of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) Bicol travelled to the Pepperland Hotel in Legazpi City for a Welcome Dinner hosted by the Provincial Government of Albay.
“I am deeply honored to stand before you today to represent our beautiful province of Albay. It is with immense pride and excitement that I lend my unwavering support to the Philippine Experience Program particularly as it embarks on its journey to the Bicol Region. Parading the call to experience Bicol, a tapestry of history, tradition, and arts. This program embodies the essence of what makes a region unique and exceptional,” Albay Gov. Grex Lagman said.
“Albay, with its enchanting landscape, rich cultural heritage, and untapped potential plays a pivotal role in the national tourism industry,” Lagman stressed.
Meanwhile, in a video message, Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman expressed his confidence that the visit from the DOT chief will “inspire” the tourism industry in Albay.
“We are certain that your visit will be both memorable and productive.”
“Thank you for your visit, Secretary Frasco, and we are certain that your visit will be both memorable and productive,” Rep. Lagman said.
In her message, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed her gratitude to the Governor and provincial officials for extending warmth and hospitality to the PEP delegates to cap their first day in Bicol Region.
“The majesty of Mayon is exceeded only by the love and the work of the people of Albay. And while, as Congressman Edcel earlier said, the fury of Mayon may show itself once in a while, this is surely tempered by the compassion, the beauty, and the incomparably excellent hospitality that the people of Albay have shown us thus far,” \ Frasco said.
The PEP, the tourism chief said, achieves the aspiration of reintroducing the Philippines to the world, based not only on the strength of its natural assets but also, most importantly, upon the strength of the Filipino people.
“It is our hope that through the Philippine Experience, this collaboration between the national and the local government units of our country can lead to further development of our tourism destinations.”
“It is our hope that through the Philippine Experience, this collaboration between the national and the local government units of our country can lead to further development of our tourism destinations, and that these developments can be felt on the ground,” she stressed.
“We have seen, all of us, the devastation brought forth by the pandemic, especially in areas where tourism is a major economic driver. Having seen that for myself in Cebu, paired with calamities that have struck our province—and I’m sure this is not unfamiliar to you—the sense of urgency of recovering, but also transcending, is ever-present. That is why we’re here. And what I can assure you is that the hard work, the commitment, the love that we have seen you, Governor, and all your officials, put in to welcoming our delegation of the Philippine Experience will be matched by our commitment to support the province of Albay, to honor the majestic glory of Mayon, and to push forward your vision for the province, and that is to ensure that the culture, heritage, and arts of this absolutely beautiful Province of Albay can be reintroduced to the world,” Frasco concluded.
