DELEGATES FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND SEATTLE JOIN VIP TOUR 2025 IN ILOCOS NORTE
Consul Rowena R. Pangilinan-Daquipil (third from left) joins VIP Tour participants at the iconic Bangui Windmills in Bangui, Ilocos Norte (San Francisco PCG photo)
Laoag City, Philippines – Filipino Americans and other U.S. participants from San Francisco, California, and Seattle, Washington joined 148-member main delegation of the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour 2025 in Ilocos Norte from 8 to 10 July 2025, as part of the Philippine government’s annual tourism and cultural immersion program.
Consul Rowena R. Pangilinan-Daquipil of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco accompanied 41 participants from the Consulate’s jurisdiction in exploring the province. She also represented the Consulate during a courtesy call on Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos on 8 July, where officials of the Philippine Consulates Generals from across the United States discussed potential areas for collaboration with the provincial government. Topics included cultural and educational exchanges, as well as trade and investment opportunities.
Governor Marcos hosted a welcome dinner for the delegates, where she highlighted the province’s recent developments that make Ilocos Norte an attractive destination for both retirement and business. She encouraged participants to discover the province’s vast potential and to share their knowledge and expertise with the local community.
The main delegation of the VIP Tour visited key heritage and cultural sites in Ilocos Norte, including the Sta. Monica Church, Marcos Museum, the UNESCO-inscribed San Agustin Church in Paoay, and Luna Shrine in Badoc.
On 10 July, participants embarked on specialized tours based on their interests. Some explored Ilocano culinary traditions such as empanada making and the production of basi, longganiza, patupat, and dudol. Others joined a pilgrimage tour, visiting historical churches including St. William’s Cathedral, St. Andrew the Apostle Church, San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, and the Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc.
Adventure-seeking participants explored natural attractions like the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Bangui Windmills, and Pagudpud Beach, while others enjoyed the thrill of the Paoay Sand Dunes.
The main VIP Tour 2025 ran from 6 to 15 July 2025, showcasing Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Participating Consuls General included Arman Talbo (Honolulu), Adelio Cruz (Los Angeles), Rosario Lemque (Agana), and Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (San Francisco). Tourism Attaché Gerald Panga of Los Angeles also joined the main tour.
Meanwhile, Consuls General Neil Frank Ferrer (San Francisco), Senen Mangalile (New York), and Melanie Diano (Chicago) led the VIP Next Gen Tour—a more active itinerary geared toward younger or adventure-seeking participants—which covered Manila, Siargao, and Puerto Princesa.
The VIP Tour, formerly known as the Ambassador’s Tour, is a flagship initiative of the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States, led by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. It aims to promote tourism, cultural exchange, and closer ties between the Philippines and the Filipino-American community. END
L-R: Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Filipino Community of Seattle, Inc. Executive Director Dr. Agnes Navarro, and Philippine Airlines San Francisco Area Manager Dell Merano pose outside Paoay Church, officially known as the San Agustin Church, one of the most iconic landmarks of Ilocos Norte and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Consuls General Arman Talbo (Honolulu), Adelio Cruz (Los Angeles), Rosario Lemque (Agana), and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (San Francisco) during the courtesy call on Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos at the Provincial Capitol in Laoag City. They are joined by officials of the provincial government. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu)
Standing from left: Consul General Rosario Lemque (Agana), Consul General Arman Talbo (Honolulu), Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos, Consul General Adelio Cruz (Los Angeles), and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (San Francisco) following the exchange of tokens. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu)