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The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) successfully held the “Taste of Davao” Culinary Launch and Travel Exchange at the Marco Polo Hotels on 11-13 October 2018 in a coordinated campaign to promote direct the launch of air linkages between Hong Kong and the Philippines’ third largest city. 

The event was led by Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Roberto P. Alabado III, and was co-organized with Marco Polo Hotels and Cathay Pacific to celebrate the inauguration of direct flights between Davao City and Hong Kong on 28 October 2018 via Cathay Dragon.

The kick-off ceremony was held on 11 October at Marco Polo-Gateway with a launch party-cum-tasting buffet attended by members of the consular corps, business community and media contacts.

The tasting buffet was prepared by Chef Alex Destriza of Marco Polo-Davao and featured Davao specialties such as tuna kinilaw (tuna ceviche), kulma baka (slow-cooked beef ribs in coconut broth), and piyaren udang (prawn with sautéed coconut). Fruits from Davao such as pomelo and mangosteen, and a variety of cheeses from Malagos Farmhouse were also served.

“The ‘Taste of Davao’ event and Cathay Pacific’s direct flights to Davao aim to bring the already robust and longstanding Philippines-Hong Kong a notch higher”, said Acting Head of Post Roderico C. Atienza during his welcome remarks at the launch party.

The launch party was followed the next day by a tourism stakeholders’ event at Marco Polo-Hong Kong attended by more than one hundred representatives from the Hong Kong travel and tourism industry. Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Anthony Lau was the event’s guest of honor.

At the tourism stakeholders’ dinner, Acting Head of Post Atienza noted that tourism promotion, particularly rural tourism, is a priority mission of President Rodrigo. He stressed the need to increase tourism arrivals to the Philippines, with Davao the first stop, and to capitalize on the close to sixty million tourists that flock Hong Kong in order to promote multi-destination tourism.

Assistant Secretary Alabado gave a presentation on the best of Davao, noting safety and security, connectivity, biodiversity, MICE facilities, food, rich culture and its people as highlights of the city.

DOT Region XI Officer-in-Charge, Ms. Zuhairah A. Abas, gave recommendations on where to eat and stay, and what to do in Davao, while Cathay Pacific Assistant Manager for Business Development, Sales and Distribution, Ms. Carol Cheung, informed the attendees on Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong-Davao flight schedule. 

DOT gave away goodie bags filled with world-class chocolates from Malagos Farmhouse and brochures on Davao tourist attractions to the travel and tourism industry representatives. Tour packages, hotel accommodations and air tickets were given away as prizes during the event’s raffle draws.

The Kalumon Performing Ensemble, an award-winning cultural performing group from Davao City, entertained the guests during “Taste of Davao” with indigenous songs and dances to the audiences’ delight.

Representatives during from the Davao private sector included Ms. Pearl Maclang, Director for Sales of Marco Polo-Davao; Mr. Ruben Neri, Manager/Proprietor of Surelite Travel & Tours; Ms. Jenny-anne P. Soriano, General Manager of Livelife Travel Agency; and Ms. Chloney Ann Culpa, Representative of Lao Integrated Farms.

Cathay Dragon will fly once a day from Hong Kong to Davao and vice versa every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

To boost tourism promotion for the Philippines, especially Davao, Consul General Antonio A. Morales is scheduled to lead a delegation of Hong Kong-based consular corps and business executives on a Familiarization Tour to Davao on 28-31 October 2018, in time for the inaugural Hong Kong-Davao flight via Cathay Dragon.

 

Philippine Acting Head of Post Roderico C. Atienza delivers welcome remarks at the Launch Party of the “Taste of Davao” Culinary Launch and Travel Exchange held on 11 October 2018 at Marco Polo-Gateway.
Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Roberto P. Alabado III (5th from left) and Acting Head of Post Roderico C. Atienza (6th from left) lead the toast during the Launch Party of the “Taste of Davao” Culinary Launch and Travel Exchange held on 11 October 2018 at Marco Polo-Gateway. Also in the photo are (from left to right) Mr. Dalip Singh, General Manager of Marco Polo-Hong Kong Hotels; Mr. Ernesto S. Teston, In-charge of Hong Kong Market, DOT; Ms. Cindy Lee, Managing Director of Cathay Pacific Holidays; Ms. Zuhairah A. Abas, DOT Region XI Officer-in-Charge; Ms. Pearl Maclang, Director for Sales of Marco Polo-Davao, Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes of DOT-Shanghai and Chef Alex Destriza of Marco Polo-Davao.
Dishes prepared by Chef Alex Destriza of Marco Polo-Davao during the “Taste of Davao” Culinary Launch and Travel Exchange held on 11-13 October 2018 at Marco Polo-Hong Kong Hotels included (clockwise from bottom left) “Daral” (caramelized coconut crèpes), salad with Davao pomelos, tuna kinilaw (tuna ceviche), kulma baka (slow-cooked beef ribs in coconut broth), piyaren udang (prawn with sautéed coconut), and a variety of cheeses from Malagos Farmhouse.
Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Roberto P. Alabado III (2nd from right) and Acting Head of Post Roderico C. Atienza (leftmost) with Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Anthony Lau (2nd from left) and Ms. Pearl Maclang, Director for Sales of Marco Polo-Davao, during the tourism stakeholders’ event of the “Taste of Davao” Culinary Launch and Travel Exchange on 12 October 2018 at Marco Polo-Hong Kong. The event was attended by more than one hundred representatives from the Hong Kong travel and tourism industry, and Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Anthony Lau was the event’s guest of honor.
Scenes during the tourism stakeholders’ event of the “Taste of Davao” Culinary Launch and Travel Exchange on 12 October 2018 at Marco Polo-Hong Kon (clockwise from bottom left) – The Philippine Department of Tourism gives away goodie bags filled with world-class chocolates from Malagos Farmhouse and brochures on Davao tourist attractions to the travel and tourism industry representatives; the Kalumon Performing Ensemble, an award-winning cultural performing group from Davao City, entertained the guests during “Taste of Davao” with indigenous songs and dances; attendees taste the flavors of authentic Davao cuisine; and tour packages, hotel accommodations and air tickets were given away as prizes during the event’s raffle draws.