DOT promotes Filipino Christmas thru music

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has ushered in its domestic tourism campaign by promoting traditional Filipino Christmas practices through music even as it reminded the public of health and safety protocols.

The DOT launched “Pasko Na!,” an audio-visual presentation (AVP) promoting Filipino Christmas practices through an original composition of Ryan Cayabyab.

“Mr. Cayabyab’s festive music helps us push our domestic tourism campaign further by depicting our rich culture, and highlighting the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ that has kept us strong and united as Filipinos through this pandemic,’’ said Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo Puyat in a statement.

The “Pasko Na!” Christmas AVP was officially launched on Wednesday and it showed how local Christmas traditions in the country are celebrated in Bohol and Tangub.

Lift the mood

“DOT-Tourism Promotions Board takes on the vital responsibility to help lighten and lift the mood of Filipinos this Yuletide season. Although the pandemic has altered the means of celebrating festivities, the whole campaign reminds us that the Filipino Christmas spirit will always be celebrated, and will always be in our homes,” Puyat noted.

The DOT also features “Kain Na! Christmas Cravings” a food and travel festival from Dec. 17 to 20.

“Kain Na!” will feature a series of exciting virtual talks, tours, and demos through the Food Tourism Exchange and Food Tourism 101 sessions that will feature different resource speakers from all over the country to share Filipino holiday traditions and food pairings that are unique to their area.

A physical Food Tourism Christmas Market, on the other hand, will be mounted at Ayala Malls Solenad in Nuvali from Dec. 18 to 20, featuring selling booths of proudly local food products from different regions of the country and a food truck featuring food creations of some of Central Luzon’s most talented chefs.

To ensure the safety of participants and visitors of the “Kain Na!” on-site culinary exhibition, Puyat said steps had been undertaken to ensure that health and safety protocols are enforced throughout the festival duration.

These include limiting the number of selling booths and venue capacity, installation of social distancing floor markers, and designation of entry and exit points to direct one-way foot traffic.