The 2022 New Year's Edition

INSIDE: MANIGONG BAGONG TAON!

N°.72 | VOLUME 14 NEW YEAR’S DAY EDITION JANUARY 2022 ISSUE ON THE COVER

Hello, 2022!

Photo by Vernon Raineil Cenzon on Unsplash THE ASIAN JOURNAL’S QUARTERLY BRIEFING ON THE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRESSION OF THE PHILIPPINES.

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Manigong Bagong Taon!

Another year has come and gone.

The past two years have brought about their own unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has tragically claimed the lives of millions globally. It is more important than ever to appreciate the many blessings that life has to offer and say thank you to the people around us.

While this season allows us to celebrate the successes of the previous year and the diffiulties you have overcome as well, I hope you also take the time to reflect on your hopes and dreams for the next year and beyond.

Enjoy this new edition, where we will share with you our favorite Filipino traditions and highlight new trends to come in 2022.

Have a safe, healthy holiday with your family, friends and loved ones!

Warm wishes,

Roger L. Oriel CEO & Publisher Asian Journal Media Group Balikbayan Magazine | Page 3

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A MESSAGE FROM

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat Secretary of the Department of Toursim

On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I send my warmest greetings to all the readers and the people behind Balikbayan Magazine!

When we welcomed 2021, we were confident that it would be a better year for everyone, including the Philippines’ tourism industry. The year proved challenging still with a few setbacks, but we managed to achieve a high vaccination rate for the sector leading to more people travelling and destinations thriving.

As we welcome 2022, we remain optimistic that it will be the time for the tourism industry’s comeback. In the past months, tourism operations have already resumed in most of the country’s destinations and increased tourism activity has been observed.

These triumphs would not have been possible without the constant support of our stakeholders and partners in the Philippines and abroad, including our beloved balikbayans, who have always been our ambassadors of tourism.

With all Filipinos coming together in the spirit of Bayanihan, we are hopeful for a year of breakthrough and success for all of us.

May we all welcome 2022 with joyful and grateful hearts. I wish everyone a prosperous, safe, and peaceful year ahead. Happy New Year!

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A MESSAGE FROM

MARIA ANTHONETTE VELASCO-ALLONES Chief Operating Officer, Tourism Promotions Board

This is perhaps the toughest time for many of us through this pandemic as we are reeling from the devastation in our key tourism communities of Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan and Negros Oriental, while we are bracing for the Omicron-surge that is sweeping through Europe, the US and many other parts of the world.

And consistent with how I deal with difficulties, I pray. The only difference is that this time I am praying harder, asking God to lend His wisdom for me to convey a New Year’s message that will hopefully help us find reasons to remain grateful, hopeful and committed to keep our faith, to stick with one another in persevering through our challenges and to remain creatively innovative as we help rebuild our tourism industry.

Thank you to all of you who journeyed with us through this pandemic.

On behalf of the Tourism Promotions Board, I express our commitment to fulfil our mandate of marketing and promoting the Philippines as the preferred destination for sustainable, uniquely diverse and fun travel. I am confident that we will succeed in meeting our strategic goals as I count on the strength of the TPB Members’ community and the remarkable support from our private sector stakeholders and government partners.

As we welcome 2022, may we discover the newness of God’s grace in our lives. And may the notion that “the will of God will never take us to where His grace will not suffice” bless us with fortitude, peace and joy.

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Photo by Eyestetix Studio on Unsplash

Jumping At Midnight, Driving Away Evil Spirits: Filipino Traditions To Welcome The New Year

BY RITCHEL MENDIOLA

The new year has always been 1. Eating media noche a countrywide celebration that is nothing short of fun, Filipinos love eating — but dynamic, and loud. more than that, they love eating together with their famFilipinos love to welcome the ilies. New Year’s eve gives new year with as much fanfare them that opportunity to as they can, partaking in tra- celebrate, complete with an ditions they believe will help impressive spread to welcome in making the new year better, the incoming year. happier, and more bountiful for them.

Roughly translated as “midnight,” Media Noche is a FilHere are some of those ipino custom where family members, their relatives, and traditions: friends all gather together

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to eat and drink. The menu differs for every family but there will always be some food that remains a staple in every household such as pancit (long noodles), which represent good health and long life; and sticky rice, which represents tighter family bonds.

2. Having circles/round shapes everywhere Filipinos and Chinese alike believe the round shape

is a symbol of prosperity, so it’s common to see circles during New Year’s Eve. More often than not, you’ll see 12 round fruits displayed on the dining table (one fruit per month for a prosperous year) or people wearing polka-dotted clothes.

support this belief, but it’s year, but in the Philippines, fun and exhilarating to do. fireworks light up the sky because it is believed loud sounds 4. Opening doors and would scare off evil spirits that bring bad luck. Aside from this, keeping all the lights on Filipinos usually play loud muWhen the new year arrives, sic in the open, and use horns Filipinos would open all the or toy instruments to produce doors in their houses to al- ear-piercing noises. low good energy and good

3. Jumping when the clock fortune to come in, and turn strikes midnight on all the lights to welcome a The most popular tradition that Filipino adults and kids do as soon as the clock strikes January 1. Jumping as high as you can is believed to be a way to help you grow taller in the new year — there’s no scientific explanation to

brighter year.

5. Making loud noises to drive off evil spirits Firework displays are a common sight in every country when they welcome the new

Photo by Jacob Lund on Shutterstock

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ATOP National President Arwin Paul Lingat

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D.O.T, national execs led ATOP luminaries

BY DEE ANGELES MANDIGMA

L-R: ATOP National Executive Vice President Josefina Gutierrez, ATOP National President Arwin Paul Lingat, TESDA Regional Director and ATOP Past NEVP Dante Navarro, NCCA Commissioner and ATOP Past National President Alphonsus Tesoro, Tourism Undersecretary and ATOP Past National Auditor Woodrow Maquiling, Jr., Office of the President Assistant Secretary Lisette Marques, DOT Regional Director and ATOP Past PRO for Luzon Carol Uy and ATOP National Secretary General Jomelyn Abuan

Manila — Newly minted Tourism Undersecretary Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr., Office of the President Assistant Secretary Maria Felisa Marques, NCCA Commissioner Alphonsus Tesoro were among those who led this year’s luminaries of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and were recognized during the “22nd ATOP National Convention” held last December 12 at the Met. No less than the Grand Dame of Manila, the Manila Met-

ropolitan Theater or Met, ushered in the return of the ATOP by way of its annual gathering of its over a thousand members and stakeholders, when it officially reopened its doors to the public last December 10.

The whole day affair held hybrid style culminated with the handing out of the signature ATOP recognition, the Pearl Awards. Among the local government units (LGUs) that received the award include the Province of Capiz (5th); Municipality of Do-

lores, Quezon (4th); City of Davao (3rd); Municipality of Bolinao, Pangasinan (2nd); and the City of Iloilo clinching the top award.

To mark the much awaited return of ATOP National Convention on site after two years of being held online, this year’s organizers dedicated a special recognition to former ATOP members.

Dubbed ATOP Luminaries, recipients were former ATOP members, who have served as tourism officers of their respective LGUS them-

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DOT Undersecretary Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr., ATOP Luminary; former City Tourism Officer of Dumaguete and former ATOP National Auditor

selves and went on to accomplish national recognition or have rose the ranks.

Among the honorees included Department of Tourism (DOT) executives led by Usec. Maquiling, Jr., former City Tourism Officer of Dumaguete and former ATOP National Auditor; Regional Director Michael A. Palispis, former Provincial Tourism Officer of Aurora, former ATOP National Auditor; Regional Director Carolina D. Uy, former Provincial Tourism Officer of Nueva Ecija, former ATOP PRO for Luzon; Regional Director Christine C. Mansinares, former Provincial Tourism Officer of Negros Occidental, former ATOP National Convention Chairperson; Office of the President Assistant Secretary Maria Felisa Balikbayan Magazine | Page 15

Marques, former City Tourism Officer of Davao, former ATOP Regional Representative for Region 11; TESDA Regional Director Dante J. Navarro, former City Tourism Officer of San Jose, Del Monte, former ATOP National Executive Vice President; and NCCA Commissioner Alphonsus D. Tesoro, Provincial Tourism Officer of Capiz and former ATOP National President.

Speaking on behalf of his fellow ATOP Luminaries, Usec.

Maquiling, Jr., acknowledged how the association has opened doors for him, from the halls of Malacañan, to leading the DOT-NCR as its Regional Director, to Assistant Secretary and now Tourism Undersecretary. “I vow to continue with what we have started in ATOP, to live up to

our common goals and shared responsibilities,” he went on to say, referring to himself as one of ATOP’s own and his fellow tourism officers as the strength behind our country’s tourism.

In closing, ATOP National President Arwin Paul Lingat lauded everyone who made this event possible despite the pandemic. He called all ATOP luminaries as gleaming examples of those who have fully dedicated themselves to selfless service.

The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) is an organization of provincial, municipal, and local tourism officers all over the country.

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D.O.T. University Masterclass sets the tone in face-to-face training and theater use anew

BY DEE ANGELES MANDIGMA

Undersecretary Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr. formally opened the three-day training.

Pasay City — After having been shuttered for over a year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Newport Theater at Resorts World Manila opened its doors last December 1 to an excited audience composed of hoteliers, academicians and executives of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the maiden launch of face-to-face training, the D.O.T. University—Defining Our Tomorrow Masterclass.

39 senior executives from DOT accredited accommodation establishments from across Metro Manila went through a rigorous pre-screening process to qualify for this year’s elite D.O.T. University fellows who received

a highly specialized 10-hour intense training from the AIM-Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism as part of Tourism Industry Skills Program of the DOT-National Capital Region.

Speaking on behalf of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, newly promoted Undersecretary Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr. formally opened the three-day training recalling how the hospitality came together amidst unprecedented times. He lauded all fellows for daring to make that first huge step for the future, while referring to the battle with COVID-19 as a “litmus test,” one that “tested our mettle as individuals, agility as an indusBalikbayan Magazine | Page 18

39 fellows posed with DOT executives and peer of experts from Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center

try, resolve as a sustainable sector, empathy as members of society and resilience as a country.”

The three-day intense classes tackled how to respond, plan and thrive amidst the occurrence of crises, whether economic, financial, or health, as part of a VUCA-world (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous). The peer of experts from the AIM-Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center led by its Executive Director, Prof.

Fernando Roxas; Prof. Maria Cherry Lyn Rodolfo; and Prof. Milette Zamora took turns to present their specially crafted modules aimed to “Define Our Tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, the D.O.T. University turned hybrid when changemaker Dr. Sara Currie of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) joined the class from Singapore. She set the tone in discussing sustainability and opportunity to thrive responsibly from her Asia Pacific perspective at the ADB. Balikbayan Magazine | Page 19

The DOT-NCR’s latest landmark training course concluded with the opportunity to engage the experts, and fellows presenting their capstone projects before them and the DOT executives present. The graduation and awarding of certificates held at Resorts World Manila Theater was witnessed by no less than DOT OIC Undersecretary Christopher V. Morales and Undersecretary Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr., who officially concluded his tour of duty as DOT-NCR Regional Director after two remarkable years.

From the creators of the Leadership Excellence Series 2020 and 2021, the D.O.T. University is envisioned as another trailblazing hybrid training program designed to challenge one’s current business thinking and approaches. Positive Exposure Productions, Inc. professionally handled the project’s integrated marketing and execution.

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D.O.T’s Catch to Cash spotlights Valenzuela’s Tagalag Fishing Village untapped livelihood potentials

BY DEE ANGELES MANDIGMA

Former DOT-NCR Regional Director and now Undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr. opened the first day of Catch to Cash.

VALENZUELA — The Department of Tourism’s (DOT) community based tourism training hosted by the Valenzuela’s Tagalag Fishing Village in November saw a captured audience made up of mother entrepreneurs, small-medium fish vendors and fisher folks and fish pond owners.

Citing Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the driving force behind sustainable tourism movement, former DOT-NCR Regional Director and now Undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr. said this training for the Tagalag Fishing Village was very timely and responsive with its “holistic approach that seeks Dubbed “Catch to Cash (C2C): A Farm- to provide participants with alternate to-Table Culinary Training,” this two- sources of income that will help them day blended (combination of face-to- through and even after the pandemic.” face and online) skills training provided the basics of aquaculture and fish processing as well as strengthen the skills “By learning the benefits of tourism of the coastal communities to develop entrepreneurship, understanding concepts sustainable aqua-business enterprises. such as “farm-to-table”, the essentials of food safety, the basics of food preservation

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The Catch to Cash trainees show their DOT certificates and starter kits containing cooking utensils and basic ingredients to start their own sardine or food business in Tagalag Fishing Village. Witnessing this day were DOT OTSR Director Virgilio Maguigad, DOT-NCR DC Cathie Agustin, Valenzuela Tourism Officer Jonathan Balsamo, DOT-NCR Industry Manpower Development Unit Head Dee A. Mandigma and The Filipino Hospitality founder Martin Aguilar and Rita Sarmiento with Chef Albert Erfe.

and preparation as well as creating products (bottled sardines), the Tagalag Fishing Village mother entrepreneurs, small-medium fish vendors and fisher folks will be able to supplement their livelihood,” he was quoted as saying.

Held last 15 and 16 November 2021, days after Metro Manila eased up to Alert Level 2, C2C was brought to us by the DOT-NCR in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Mega Global Corporation and its facilitator for the program, The Filipino Hospitality.

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Considered as an ecotourism zone and dubbed as the city’s “best kept secret” and winner of the recent 2021 Galing Pook Awards under the tourism category, the Tagalag Fishing Village is home to 22 fishing sites that supply the fresh produce to the city and its nearby towns such as cream dory and milkfish, and the blackchinned tilapia, Arroyo, named after former PGMA, which over time has become a nuisance over higher quality fish fingerlings. Its surrounding community, heavily relies on the economic activities brought about by tourism and its produce.

One of the finished products of Catch to Cash—Spanish sardine black chinned tilapia or infamously known as Arroyo, which over time has become a nuisance over higher quality fish fingerlings in the Tagalag Fishing Village.

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FASHION FEATURE

Pinay Beauty Queens make a strong case for the reimag ined Philippine Ter no

BY CONCON SIÑEL

A new crop of beauty queens are helping to make designer ternos “wearable.”

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach wears an unexpected take on the terno—a skin-baring, animalprinted number— by Dubai-based designer Ezra Santos.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mega Magazine.

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W

e can't get enough of the Philippine national costume, the terno.

No, it's no longer a relic costume locked up in a closet for the most of the year and saved for Filipiniana galas or Independence Day celebrations.

Rather, the terno is now deemed as a contemporary, modern fashion statement sweeping the Philippine fashion scene today.

I know many Filipinas who now opt to wear the terno because they know it not only makes them look their best, but it sets them apart from the others with its distinct “Filipino look”.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray wears a Jaggy Glarino futuristic tie-dye print terno ensemble with a dramatic pointed collar and peplum trim. She completed the striking ensemble with cyberpunk-inspired gladiator sandals by Nere Ku. PHOTO CREDIT: Instagram/Catriona Gray

Miss Tourism International 2015 Leren Mae Bautista wears a sophisticated terno denim Filipiniana suit designed by Marlon. PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Neto

In 2022, I daresay: the Philippine terno will make a well-deserved re-emergence, in a powerful and stunning exhibition of Filipino pride and identity.

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo wears a trendy terno suit made by Marlon Tuazon on her first day in Florida during the 60th Miss Universe competition.

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Take a look at the current crop of beauty queens who are leading the way in this movement by wearing contemporary terno, each time rocking the distinctive butterfly sleeves!

Creating terno designs that are both modern and faithful to cultural heritage is indeed an oxymoron. But that's exactly the challenge for Filipino designers today.

So, I say “kudos” to a growing number of Filipino designers who have taken up this particular cause: to rethink Filipiniana as we know it, by churning out new terno designs that are historically informed yet modern in style.

Miss Universe 2016 top 6 placer Maxine Medina wears a terno blouse, paired with a black pencil skirt.

The look is kept simple, and may appear modest at first glance, yet it foreshadows the casual terno's fascinating future. PHOTO CREDIT: Instagram/ Maxine Medina

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miss Universe 2021 Top 5 placer Bea Gomez wears a trendy denim terno by fellow Cebuano, designer Oscar James. The top has detachable buttoned sleeves, and it fits like an armor.

PHOTO CREDIT: Origin Management.

Concon Siñel is a noted fashion show and pageant director based in Manila, but has been travelling the world to mount a fashion-show-on-tour that promotes Philippine textiles rendered into contemporary clothing curated to appeal to the world market. His two previous tours, “Philippine Tapestry” and “Best of the Islands” have been shown to Filipino communities in North America, Europe and the Middle East. His latest foray was “Ani”, a cultural fashion show mounted in October 2021 by the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles in celebration of the Filipino American History Month.

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