OPPO’s latest flip smartphone the Find N3 Flip is the gold standard in its category, setting itself apart from the competition. OPPO is taking excitement to the next level for every purchase of Find N3 Flip as it offers exclusive MyOPPO App perks for customers. Discover a wide range of benefits covering travel, wellness, beauty, and fashion, when you pair your Find N3 flip with the MyOPPO app. Earn points and redeem different rewards in many ways. Seize these chances to enjoy the benefits while supplies last!
MyOPPO App Premium User Benefits
Embrace luxury while traveling the globe with OPPO’s exclusive partnership with Mabuhay Miles and the fancy PAGSS Premium Lounge. The first 50 lucky OPPO Find N3 Flip owners registered in the MyOPPO App get to enjoy 5,000 Mabuhay Miles rewards they can use for their vacations and holidays. There’s room for more as the first 100 users can bask in the luxury of complimentary access to the PAGSS Premium Lounge at NAIA, blending top-tier service seamlessly with unparalleled convenience. All you have to do is register your device and account to be able to redeem the benefits on the MyOPPO App.
Amid life’s hustle, prioritize self-care with an indulgent session at The Spa Wellness, the country’s first Superbrand spa. The first 100 OPPO Find N3 Flip users can experience a specially curated and luxurious massage treatment in a sanctuary for well-being and relaxation.
Immerse yourself in sophistication through renowned beauty brands including Jo Malone London, MAC Cosmetics, Estee Lauder, Clinique, and Origins. Exclusive gift sets from these distinguished Estee-Lauder Company brands await the first 150 OPPO Find N3 Flip users who will claim in the MyOPPO app.
Get your OPPO Find N3 Flip Today to Enjoy These Perks
The OPPO Find N3 Flip is now available for Php 64,999. Experience the limited and curated perks for new OPPO Find N3 Flip owners which they can claim through the MyOPPO App. More rewards await as the holiday season unfolds so stay tuned to know more.
Enjoy the Present with OPPO Philippines
Spread holiday cheer and enjoy select promos when you purchase OPPO smartphones this Christmas. Make the most out of special discounts and freebies, exclusive benefits and gifts, and exciting festivities until January 7, 2024 for a merrier, more meaningful celebration.
Find out more perks and information about OPPO’s latest flip phone offering. Visit OPPO Philippines’ official website atwww.oppo.com.ph/ or its official Facebook page atOPPO Philippines.
There is nothing like Christmas in the Philippines. As the holiday season draws near, the city is bursting with holiday spirit. After roughly three years of claustrophobic pandemic, in the air is an energetic revival of Christmas Traditions. Philippine Ballet Theatre follows suit with the return of their timeless classic “The Nutcracker”. Prior to the pandemic the ballet company staged this ballet for nine consecutive years. Halted by the pandemic it was unable to celebrate its tenth-year anniversary.
However this breathtaking production choreographed by Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov will see the light of day this December 16-17, 2023 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater . With the generous support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Manila Times, Philippine Airlines, San Miguel Corporation, Sunlife and NYXSYS Philippines, a strong comeback is in the works. Making up for lost time, Artistic Director Ronilo Jaynario has restaged this crowd favorite with spicy additions to the choreography. With a cast of over a hundred artists of different ages the ballet promises to deliver a whimsical experience
Set against the backdrop of sparkling snowflakes and magical land of the sweets with the enchanting music of Tchaikovsky, Philippine Ballet Theater will bring life to Clara’s magical encounters. The Nutcracker Ballet story originated from the “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” (German: Nussknacker und Mausekönig), a story written in 1816, by the German writer E. T. A. Hoffmann.In this tale, Clara’s favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom of sweets populated by dolls.
Mathew Davo and Jessa Tangalin will take on the leads as Nutcracker Prince and Sugarplum fairy. Making their Nutcracker debut are company artists Sophie Tiangco and Therese Riego who will be alternating as Clara. Interestingly enough the cast will feature soloists and company dancers who were originally cast as Nutcracker kids in previous productions prior the pandemic. This includes Sophia Tiangco who headlines this production. The children who have grown to love the ballet, have also grown with the ballet. This season offering will be a fantastic return to tradition for both the dancers and the audiences. Its return will surely bring on the nostalgia for the many who have made PBT a beloved holiday tradition.
Catch their performances at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on:
In Photo (Left to Right): BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr., Sterling Bank of Asia’s Executive Vice President Clayton T. Lee together with Senior Vice President Luisito S. Mayor and BSP Deputy Governor for Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector Bernadette Romulo–Puyat during the Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremonies held on 27 October 2023 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Head Office, Manila.
The Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremony is an annual event that recognizes the valuable contributions of stakeholders in the financial industry. The awards are given to financial institutions that have demonstrated exemplary support of BSP’s mandates, which include price stability, financial stability, and safe and efficient payments and settlements systems. The ceremony also acknowledges BSP’s flagship advocacy on financial inclusion, which is aimed at ensuring that more people have access to financial services.
“We are humbled and honored to receive this recognition,” said Clayton Lee, Executive President and Treasurer of Sterling Bank of Asia. “This award affirms our unwavering commitment and relentless efforts to support the mandates of BSP, ” Lee added.
“We at Sterling Bank of Asia remain dedicated to providing top-notch service to our customers and upholding our support to BSP mandates,” said Cecilio Paul San Pedro, President and CEO of Sterling Bank of Asia.
L-R: Luisito Mayor, SBA Operations Group Head & Senior Vice President; Felisa Alcala, SBA Business Support Services Head & Vice President; Cecilio San Pedro, SBA President & CEO; Jun Cristobal, BNY Mellon Senior Vice President, Global Client Support, Treasury Services, Client Implementation and Philippines Market Manager; Cedric Chong, BNY Mellon Relationship Manager, Treasury Services; and Christopher Rocero, SBA Trade Services and Remittance Head
Sterling Bank of Asia (SBA) has once again received the Straight-Through Processing (STP) Award from The Bank of New York Mellon for its exceptional payment formatting performance in 2022. The award has been consistently granted to the bank for five consecutive years. It is a recognition of SBA’s commitment to excellence, and its ability to execute payment formatting performance for MT103/MT202 payments with accuracy and speed in financial operations.
STP is a vital performance indicator in the financial industry, measuring payment processing efficiency. The STP Award is a testament to SBA’s fulfillment of BNY Mellon’s strict requirements for processing speed, procedural compliance, and secure transactions for offshore transactions.
This accolade reflects the bank’s unwavering commitment to excellence and dedication to providing seamless and efficient financial services to its customers. “In the banking industry’s dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape, recognition of excellence becomes a crucial benchmark for financial institutions,” said SBA President and CEO Cecilio San Pedro.
Find joy in the everyday with amazing discounts and promos ahead of the holidays
Global apparel retailer UNIQLO gets everyone into a holiday shopping mood with its exciting 11.11 sale, featuring amazing discounts and promos, exclusive freebies, and more. #TreatYourself to #UNIQLOLifeWear shopping and make the most out of these best deals to secure your gifts for yourself and your loved ones ahead of the holiday rush.
11.11 sale’s diverse list of discounted items for your best holiday outfits
UNIQLO’s special 11.11 sale gives you the chance to finally purchase your favorite items at the best prices. Whether you’re planning to spend the holidays abroad or your favorite local spots, these UNIQLO LifeWear pieces are sure to complete your style, while ensuring maximum comfort.
Take advantage of great deals on some of the brand’s signature lines such as the AIRism and HEATTECH products, perfect for putting together your holiday outfits for all those upcoming gatherings.
Sale Overview
Sale date: November 10 to 16, 2023
Available in all UNIQLO stores nationwide, on UNIQLO.com/PH and on the UNIQLO App
Product Images
AIRism Seamless Type Boat Neck Long T-Shirt (down from PHP 790 to PHP 590)
Ws AIRism seamless boat neck SS long TshirtWs AIRism seamless boat neck SS long Tshirt
AIRism Soft UV Protection Pocket Leggings (down from PHP 1,490 to PHP 990)
Drawstring Bag (small) (down from PHP 990 to PHP 790)
U drawstring bag – smallU drawstring bag – small (2)
HEATTECH Leggings (down from PHP 790 to PHP 590)
W’s HEATTECH leggings
HEATTECH Ultra Light Turtleneck Long Sleeve T-Shirt (down from PHP 790 to PHP 590)
Ws HEATTECH ultra light turtleneck LS TshirtWs HEATTECH ultra light turtleneck LS Tshirt (2)
Ultra Stretch DRY-EX Shorts (down from PHP 990 to PHP 790)
Ultra stretch DRY-EX shorts
HEATTECH Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt (down from PHP 790 to PHP 590)
HEATTECH Tights (down from PHP 790 to PHP 590)
11.11 Click & Collect exclusive treat for you
To further get you in jolly spirits, UNIQLO rewards you for your early holiday shopping. Enjoy a limited-edition UNIQLO Multicase Pouch for every Click & Collect order worth P3,500! It’s the perfect modern accessory that secures your personal stuff and takes your style to the next level.
Learn more about Click & Collect at s.uniqlo.com/3s8owq0. Download the UNIQLO App now and make sure to turn on your notifications to stay updated for 11.11 deals. Visit s.uniqlo.com/3FNWTp2 for more details.
Just when you least expect it, Gen Z’s rising rockstar and femme ingenious Lesha has recently dropped another surefire ‘hit’ single entitled ‘no heart’. Expect this new track to offer fresh spins. Of course, coming from the fearless singer/songwriter Lesha; no doubt she’s going to dish out a different kind of vibe.
“no heart” is an anthem of empowerment and resilience, where the act of dancing symbolizes the ability to move forward and embrace life with a fearless heart. It embodies the essence of danceable dark pop with its combination of catchy beats and lyrics about self- discovery, and unapologetically being oneself.
Lesha is very enthusiastic about this song’s debut. She shares, “I’m really excited for this one ‘coz of how different it is from my last release GO TO HELL!!! This track is leaning more into the dark dance pop side – a genre I’m well known for. I can’t wait to perform this song live soon!”
You can also say that no heart is quite different from her previous tracks. For one, this is a very bouncy danceable anthem. The track that you listen to when you want to boost up your energy and confidence. Lesha has also incorporated different vocal chops into the song’s production working with her US based producer De’La and LA-based songwriter Krizia Carbonell .
“I wrote this song with LA-based songwriter Krizia Carbonell and I remember us just coming up with the concept of empowerment and not caring about what anyone else thinks in reference to the ‘dancing with no heart’ line. While the line “glowing in the dark” metaphorically symbolizes just me being an untouchable magical force or in general as someone who possesses power,” Lesha emphasizes.
It has always been her trademark for all the songs to share her feelings and innermost thoughts. For “no heart” lyrics, she expressed her own imperfections in the context of a troubled relationship. Her self realization led her to make amends that she wasn’t as bad as she was made to believe. While the idea of ‘dancing’ as symbolism used in the song, reflects a sense of liberation or living without holding back and just allowing herself to have control over how she moves through life.
Lesha can only attest how “no heart “ has made a great impact on her life. “It is a song that I wrote about a phase in my life where I finally decided to move on and not care about what anyone thought of me.”
2023 is almost ending but Lesha remains unstoppable in her pace moving forward and achieving a whole lot more. “For now I’m focusing on my upcoming plans for next year as we prepare to drop more singles and hopefully I get to perform all my new songs live soon too!”
As a true believer of manifestation, Lesha shares what’s on her mind lately and what she is manifesting to happen sooner than you think.
“A lot of my fans would agree with me on this, but I honestly can’t wait to drop another unreleased song of mine called Skin2Skin. It’s also produced by De’La and written by me in LA last year. I’ve been performing it at all my live shows this year and it organically built its own fanbase on social media! So, wait for it!”
Listen to “no heart” on Lesha’sSpotify. Check out other social media platforms–Instagram,Facebook, andTiktok for more updates.
GCash chief strategy officer Rowie Zamora (6th from left) awarded GCash credits as a tokens of appreciation to the 10 awardees of 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos
In line with its advocacy to promote nation-building through financial technology, GCash, the country’s no. 1 finance super app, paid tribute to the distinguished awardees of the recent Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos. The awardees received GCash credits as tokens of appreciation for their exceptional service to the public, unwavering passion, and impact on the community.
A lunch organized by the Metrobank Foundation was recently held at the GT Tower International on Ayala Avenue, Makati City to honor the awardees and was attended by presidents, directors and department heads of the Metrobank Foundation and other Metrobank subsidiaries and affiliates.
GCash president and chief executive officer Martha Sazon was also part of the esteemed final board of judges, which was chaired by Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero and co-chaired by the Supreme Court of the Philippines associate justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting.
“We strive every day to serve more Filipinos and empower them through accessible financial services,. I believe that GCash, the Metrobank Foundation, and our awardees share a common goal, which is to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos every day” said GCash president and chief executive officer Martha Sazon.
“You are role models for all of us, in a country that is hungry for true service. We celebrate you today as outstanding Filipinos, whose contributions have uplifted other Filipinos’ lives. You have all gone beyond performing your duties to helping build our nation in your own ways. We are honored and humbled by your commitment and your exemplary efforts as dedicated public servants. We are excited to see how you extend your advocacy and continue to serve the nation with your future service,” said GCash chief strategy officer Rowie Zamora, who attended the ceremony on behalf of GCash, to congratulate and present the tokens to the awardees.
GCash is proud to stand alongside the Metrobank Foundation in recognizing and congratulating the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos of 2023. Their unwavering passion and dedication to serving the community serve as a source of inspiration to all, and GCash remains committed to supporting their noble endeavors.
Regardless of the season, SM malls in Marilao, Baliwag, and Pulilan will make everyday a holiday as the malls bring in some of the latest additions to their exciting mix of food tenants for a fun and exciting shopping experience.
Perfect for the season of giving, SM City Marilao welcomes Caramia Cakes & Gelato. Sweet tooth or not, one can’t resist Caramia’s premium lineup of cakes, gelato, and shakes that are enough to make any celebration or a simple day merrier.
Here you may find Caramia’s bestseller cakes, such as Ube Cake, Midnight Dream, Pistaccio Cioccolato, and Salted S’mores. Of course, their all-time favorite gelato flavors include Pistachio, Chocolate Therapy, and Cookies & Cream. Also try their newest offerings— Mango Cream Pie, and gelato in Maltesers and Peach Mango Caramel flavors. Whether it’s a gift, a treat, or a simple craving, Caramia Cakes & Gelato will surely fit any occasion or anyone’s heart. Visit them now at the second level of SM City Marilao.
A highly recommended place to drink, eat, and unwind unveils as Nextgen Cafe opens at the ground-level, mall annex of SM City Baliwag. Shoppers will be thrilled, as Nextgen Cafe is the ideal place to stay with its cozy ambience and enticing menu.
Seize the day with a sip of their specialty coffee, such as Café Español, Café Yemen, and Vietnamese Coffee. Compliment your drinks with their bestseller menu—bacon, sausage, spam, choice of wafflesor rice- serve with omelet. The store also offers refreshing Sensazione series drinks available in 10 irresistible flavors, among others. Furthermore, Nextgen Café is pet-friendly, so fur parents are welcome to chill here with their pets, with rules applied accordingly.
Call the squad and assemble for a yummy feast as The Crunch – Boneless Fried Chicken opens at the ground level of SM Center Pulilan. Indulge in their unique style of tasty and mouthwatering boneless fried chicken. The store offers Chicken Shots, Shots Bucket, Half Chicken (6 pcs/flavor), and Whole Chicken (12 pcs/flavor), available in different delicious flavors such as Classic, Honey Garlic, K-Style, Spicy K-Style, Teriyaki, Cheesy Bacon, and Texas BBQ.
Plan your next food crawl and visit the latest food destinations only at SM Bulacan malls. Stay updated, as the malls will unveil some of the best store concepts in the coming days. Follow the social media pages of SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag, and SM Center Pulilan for the latest trends and happenings.
TCL C755 presents outstanding brightness and darkness in every corner of the frame.
TCL Electronics, a leading brand in consumer electronics and TV manufacturing and the World’s Top 2 TV brand, is finally revealing the next generation gaming TV dubbed as the “Ultra Game Master”. It is set to break barriers in QD Mini LED technology.
The new TCL C755 gives superior light control and precise dimming zones in all corners of the TV screen. With its incomparable picture quality, more defined color perfection and exceptional gaming features, you’ll be amazed by this ultra revolutionary product.
“The long wait is over! We are very happy to announce the coming of the new TCL C755 that will give every gamer’s fantasy in terms of giving them the ultimate gaming experience. This one is truly going to level up your expectations in a gaming TV,” says Mr. Loyal Cheng, TCL Philippines Chief Executive Officer.
A Visual Masterpiece
Speaking of exceptional eye feast, the TCL QD-Mini LED is a superb visual masterpiece that presents astonishingly vivid visuals with lifelike colors and an ultra-high contrast ratio. It is highlighted with higher peak brightness, a wider color gamut, a larger screen size, and a longer lifespan, making it a leading-edge display technology.
In terms of its dimming capability, the entire screen is finely divided into over 1344 zones. The full array local dimming precisely corrects and balances the backlight and image by calculating the brightness intensity for each zone based on image signals, ensuring that each frame can show more light and shadow details in ultra contrast ratio.
The TCL C755 also utilizes the Quantum Dot technology where it unveils over 1,000,000,000 hues of vibrant and precise colors, providing a wider color volume of up to 96% according to the DCI-P3 standard. Immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of colors, where every shade comes to life with unmatched brilliance and depth. The HDR 1600 nits peak brightness capability provides a remarkable vivid visual for variable lighting conditions, even in broad daylight. Enjoy the details hidden in the sunny or shadowy scene.
This newest model also boasts of AI picture quality processor through the AiPQ Processor 3.0 that perceives and thinks like a clever mind to capture every detail in the real world into its rich database and to perform simulation and optimization based on human recognition. It finally reproduces visual outputs based on vibrant color, excellent contrast, and crystal clarity as you see in the natural world.
Exceptional Gaming
Experience next-level gaming with the best elevating technology in action dubbed as the Game Master 2.0. Unlock advanced display and audio experience by trying smoother streaming with the TCL Game Master.
The TCL C755 also puts an end to choppy gameplay and broken frames with fluid,
artifact-free performance at virtually any frame with its AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology. For a better gaming performance, the HDMI2.1*4 allows for higher resolutions, higher frame rates and a lot more bandwidth.
While the Aiming Aid feature helps you quickly and effortlessly aim at your target. Go find the Aiming Aid in the game bar and activate it! For the smooth gaming experience, the revolutionary variable refresh rate @144Hz lets you on track with your need for speed.
Superb Sound Quality
Bring the ultimate theater experience to your home through the TCL C755’s combined power of ONKYO’s 2.0 CH 50W Hi-Fi. Immerse yourself in the captivating stereo sound and thunderous bass, capturing every detail as if you were at a live band performance.
Dive into sound reimagined and be amazed with the unprecedented depth, clarity, and details that the Dolby Atmos feature can offer.
While the DTS® VIRTUAL:X™ brings a compatible and immersive sound master at your home. Experience improved sound immersion and heightened realism that make every scene intensely shown on the screen.
Discover more about TCL C755 Ultra Game Master and level up your gaming experience. Available at all authorized TCL Dealers. For more information about the TCL C645, go to https://www.tcl.com/ph/en.
Folk dancers hired by the City Tourism Department welcome the passengers and crew of the luxury cruise ship – MS Silver Whisper as it arrives in Puerto Princesa. The 610-foot, 10-storey vessel is touted as a cruise ship for the rich and famous; the first of six cruise ships that will be visiting Puerto Princesa’s shores.
The after-effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic which crippled the tourism industry can still be felt in the Philippines. However, Puerto Princesa, the “Heart of the Best Island in the World,” harnesses its vast potential not only as a destination of choice but also as a preferred center of MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and events) to forge ahead and move forward.
Paradise in Profile
Puerto Princesa is the center of trade and commerce, education, communications, and public administration of Palawan. Its strategic location is within the growth corridor of the BIMP East ASEAN Growth Area.
Known for its UNESCO World Heritage site Underground River, it shares 50 percent of the tourist arrivals in Palawan and in the region, making it the biggest contributor to its economic growth. In 2020, Palawan logged a partial number of 157,051 tourist arrivals, 71,889 of which were visits to PPC.
A tropical paradise with a bustling urban center perfect for business-with-leisure trips, PP is blessed with lush rainforests and white-sand beaches hours away from the city proper, where a banking and commercial boom has made life easier for workaholics and busybodies.
Puerto Princesa is a relatively young settlement, having been established as a city only in 1970. The first settlers arrived on March 4, 1872; a date celebrated every year as the foundation day of the city.
As part of the Philippines’ last frontier, the city is rich in natural resources. It is the country’s largest city with a land area of 253,982 hectares. A chain of mountain ranges runs through the entire length of the city, dividing it into two distinct areas – the East Coast and the West Coast.
A significant portion of the city retains its indigenous vegetation, rainforest, mangroves, and coastal ecosystem, all of which support an amazing array of wildlife. In terms of species biodiversity and its wide range of ecosystems, Puerto Princesa is of national significance.
The famous and must-visit Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which was formerly known as Saint Paul’s Subterranean River National Park, covering a protected area of 22,202 hectares is a haven to endemic flora and fauna. UNESCO has inscribed the park as a World’s Heritage Site on December 4, 1999.
Calendar of Events
The Norwegian Jewel carrying with it around 3,000 passengers and crew is the second of the six cruise ships calling port in Puerto Princesa.
With a tropical climate and the warm welcome of its people, foreign and Filipino tourists can bask in Puerto Princesa’s embrace all-year round. In January is the Chinoy Festival, which celebrates the new year with ground firecrackers at the Chinatown Center, and with dragon dances and lion dances in major malls and hotels. Every February 14 is the Love Affair with Nature, which is marked by a mass wedding as well as letting citizens express their love for Mother Nature through participating in mangrove tree planting activities.
In March is the Balayong Festival, which commemorates the founding anniversary of Puerto Princesa highlighted by street dancing, float parade and planting of Palawan Cherry Blossoms. In April is the Pangalipay sa Baybay, a summer extravaganza at the baywalk. Activities kick off with parade and fireworks display, dance competition, cheerdancing and boat race.
In June is the “Pista y ang Cagueban,” a time when citizens celebrate the Feast of the Forest and plant thousands of different tree species.
September is Tourism Month, which is celebrated with great performances, exotic cuisines and a showcase of various talents and services in the local tourism industry. Every third Sunday of September is Coastal Cleanup Day, an international activity whose objective is to preserve and safeguard Mother Earth’s resources along the shorelines.
November is the Subaraw Festival, which is a fun-and-activity-filled celebration of Puerto Princesa’s very rich biodiversity. December celebrates Light a Tree, a merry event where a giant Christmas tree is lit up to start the Yuletide Season. This comes with Christmas carols, dances, and music.
Mighty MICE
The Department of Tourism sees the huge potential of Puerto Princesa, a city known for its remarkable attributes in MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), as a preferred location for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE).
In May, Regional Director Zeny Pallugna of DOT MIMAROPA in a discussion with City Tourism Department (CTD) chief Demetrio Alvior Jr. Said they are pushing for Puerto Princesa as a MICE destination, where tourists can be enticed to stay longer to enjoy the city’s attractions.
During the “Amos Ta Ren sa Puerto Princesa” radio show, Pallugna said that the city is well on its way into becoming a MICE location because of it is capable of hosting events such as Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa and an international dragon boat competition.
“Aside from that, maybe in the future we can conduct a 101 on MICE. We can do that, and then identify the different function facilities for the MICE market,” Pallugna said, as quoted by Palawan News, so the regional tourism office can start promoting the city at the end of the year, or next year.
Another goal for Palawan, Pallugna emphasized, is to train more community tour guides, and recalibrate their skills continuously, so they could help promote and showcase the “Filipino brand of service” globally.
“The second thing is—MIMAROPA is, whether they like it or not, we are the cruise capital of the Philippines. Imagine it, we have 139 cruise calls in the Philippines, 22 of them is in Puerto Princesa; 41 total within the MIMAROPA Region,” Pallugna pointed out.
The regional director of the DOT also mentioned that they plan to introduce the national program called “Philippine Experience” to the city, which includes the well-received Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo, which the local tourism body plans to replicate.
Alvior, meanwhile, said that Puerto Princesa’s main focus is on the MICE industry. As such, City Mayor Lucilo Bayron actively encourages investors and venture capitalists to build convention centers in strategic areas such as Quito and the environmental estate in Barangay Sta. Lucia.
“Actually, we were discussing tourism activities, and the mayor suggested that we should expand the Quito area. There is a focus on MICE, so we are working on establishing convention centers,” Alvior was quoted by Palawan News.
Cruise Capital
This November, Puerto Princesa City enjoyed a surge in tourist arrivals with the celebration of the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival, which drew international participants, and the scheduled arrivals of more cruise ships as Christmas approaches.
During the opening ceremny of the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival, Mayor Lucilo Bayron said that the aim of the city to make the event international is once again gaining momentum after being adversely impacted by the pandemic. In recent years.
“We need to add more international events to attract more tourists from other countries. And this year, we have incorporated international events in the celebration – wild bird photography race, Ironman 70.3 challenge, and international dragon boat race. Our Miss Subaraw is already a national event with the winner coming from Angeles, Pampanga, and this year, we already have 10 foreign candidates,” Mayor Bayron said, as quoted by Palawan News.
Meanwhile, a luxury ocean liner called MS Silver Whisper dropped anchor in the city in early November, indicating greater opportunities for the local tourism industry to prosper.
Touted as a cruise ship for the rich and famous, the MS Silver Whisper brought 382 vacationers and a crew of around 300. Registered in Nassau, Bahamas, the 610-foot, 10-storey vessel is operated by Monaco-headquartered Silversea Cruises.
The MS Silver Whisper is the first of six cruise ships that will be visiting Puerto Princesa’s shores this November, the City Tourism Department excitedly announced.
CTD chief Demetrio Alvior, Jr. said that guests aboard the ship will tour several key attractions in Puerto Princesa, with the underground river in Barangay Cabayugan on top of the list. The ship will then sail off to their next port of call in Coron, also in Palawan.
The city anticipates heightened tourism and overall economic activity with upcoming cruise ship arrivals scheduled on November 4, 8, 16, 18 and 28, Alvior shared.
Five more massive vessels are scheduled to arrive in November and December will welcome the MV Norwegian Jewel and the MV Aida Bella. The MV Norwegian Jewel will bring in about 2,500 people; the MS Westerdam, 1,964 individuals; and the MS Star Breeze, around 327 passengers.
Alvior noted that unlike in the past when international tourists arrived mainly by airplane, the city’s expanded tourism program has paved the way for more visitors to arrive by sea.
The city official said that stakeholders in the tourism sector are being encouraged to provide exemplary service that will showcase the renowned Filipino hospitality to solidify Puerto Princesa’s place as a tourism center and give the local economy a much-needed boost.
Alvior also encouraged Puerto Princesa’s tourism frontliners to treat all visitors with the highest level of care and to exemplify the unique Filipino standard of service.
“The influx of tourists will keep us on our toes, but it’s a bustling pace we look forward to,” Alvior told Palawan News.
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Perfect for the season of giving, SM City Marilao welcomes Caramia Cakes & Gelato. Sweet tooth or not, one can’t resist Caramia’s premium lineup of cakes, gelato, and shakes that are enough to make any celebration or a simple day merrier.
