THE Department of Tourism (DOT), led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, in partnership with Amaia Land Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), awarded a brand-new PHP 1.8 million house and lot to Helen Grace Arceo, a Filipino-American nurse from Virginia, USA. The awarding ceremony took place on Wednesday, December 4, at the DOT Central Office as part of the Bisita, Be My Guest (BBMG) program’s ceremonial event.
“At the heart of the Bisita, Be My Guest program is a movement, an emotion, and the reason that drives us to continue to champion Philippine tourism—love. Love of country, love of family, and love of family values that are so distinctively Filipino,” Secretary Frasco shared, reflecting on the program’s essence.
The ceremonial turnover of the house keys was attended by Amaia representatives, including Senior Brand Marketing Associate Fatima Villanueva and South Luzon Project Marketing Associate Kathryn Dawn Abella. Also present were DOT Chief of Staff and BBMG Overall Committee Chair Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, BBMG Secretary General Undersecretary Maria Rica Bueno, Assistant Secretary Judilyn Quiachon, BBMG Head Secretariat Atty. Jerilee Grantoza, and members of Arceo’s family.
Secretary Frasco underscored the unique role of Overseas Filipinos in the success of the program, implemented in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines. She emphasized:
“In the many opportunities that we have had to go around the world and around the Philippines to launch the Bisita, Be My Guest program, one thing that I found in common in all of these activations is that I have felt from our fellow kababayans abroad, a very deep love of the Philippines and a longing to come home, as well as this unbridled excitement to share the beauty of our country to family and friends of other nationalities.”
Other winners from the second raffle draw took home exciting prizes, including stays in iconic Philippine destinations, shopping vouchers, and international and domestic roundtrip tickets. The grand raffle draw, scheduled for December 16, will feature additional prizes, culminating in the awarding of a major prize—a condominium unit.
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from the Philippines Department of Tourism Facebook Page.
