The Department of Tourism (DOT) hosted a celebration of cultural unity and gastronomic richness in the event “Bismillah: An Evening of Faith, Love, and the Flavors of Mindanao” held recently at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati.
The occasion led by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who emphasized the importance of cultural appreciation and culinary awareness in fostering tourism diversification and inclusivity, aims to unravel the intricate and diverse halal cuisine of Mindanao to an international audience.
Ambassadors, dignitaries, and officials from different foreign embassies in the Philippines were invited to partake in a flavor-filled odyssey through the vibrant tastes of the Mindanao Islands’ cuisines with the ultimate intention to spread the invitation to their countrymen to come and visit Mindanao.
“Mindanao is the land of promise to be fulfilled.”
In her speech, Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco emphasized, “Beyond partaking of the delectable halalmeals this evening is faith, love, and the flavors ofMindanao, the start of something new that is opening youreyes, your palate to the possibilities that are endless in thepromise that is Mindanao. As our President has saidMindanao is the land of promise to be fulfilled.”
Inviting tourists to reconsider their perception of Mindanao, Frasco enthusiastically encouraged travelers, both local and international, to explore this vibrant island.
“We signed with the Department of National Defense andthe Philippine National Police an agreement to ensure thatthe reopening of Mindanao to tourism is firmly based on adata-based approach in terms of the very stable peace andorder situation of the Mindanao regions.”
“In the pursuit of reinforcing the country’s image as a halalfriendly destination the Department of Tourism has pursuedvarious programs and projects started in the previousadministration and continued under our President’sadministration. Other initiatives that have manifested thecommitment of the Marcos administration to fully reopenMindanao to tourism is the milestone agreement that wesigned with the Department of National Defense and thePhilippine National Police to ensure that the reopening ofMindanao to tourism is firmly based on a data-basedapproach in terms of the very stable peace and ordersituation of the Mindanao regions,” the tourism chief added.
The event was graced by the presence of Brunei Ambassador Megawati Manan, Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Netherlands Ambassador Marielle Geraedts, Russian Ambassador Marat Pavlov, Pakistani Ambassador Imtiaz Ahmad Kazi, UAE Ambassador Mohamed Obaid Alqataam Alzaabi, foreign embassy representatives Johnson Badawi of the British Embassy, Mathias Kruse of the German Embassy, Shigehiro Matsuda and Rintaro Shigeyoshi of the Japanese Embassy, Michael Alexander Ang of the Jordan Embassy, Hasan Mehanna Al-Ajmi and Awab Elahmar of the Qatar Embassy, Amanda Cheah of the Singapore Embassy, Witsarut Piyabongsomboon of the Thailand Embassy, and Major Khoa Tang of the US Embassy as well as Philippine National Police Chief of Security Operations Division Coronel Crisaleo Tolentino.
DOT Undersecretaries Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, Shereen Gail Yu-Pamintuan, Ferdinand Jumapao, and Verna Buensuceso, Assistant Secretaries Maria Rica Bueno and Christopher Morales, Directors Ronald Conopio, Judilyn Quiachon, Reynaldo Rosas, Lyle Fernando Uy, and Czarina Zara-Loyola, as well as Regional Directors Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez (Region VI), Karen Tiopes (Region VIII), Dara May Cataluna (Region IX), Marie Elaine Unchuan (Region X), Tanya Virginia Rabat-Tan (Region XI), Nelia Arina (Region XII), Ivonnie Dumadag (Region XIII), and guests from the private sector were also in attendance.
The event was aptly spearheaded by the Office of Undersecretary Abubakar in charge of Muslim Affairs and Mindanao Promotions.
