Aklan Vice Governor Hosts Welcome Dinner for 2023 Very Important Pinoy Tour Participants
BORACAY, AKLAN, 20 July 2023 – Aklan Vice Governor Reynaldo M. Quimpo warmly welcomed nearly 300 participants of the 2023 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour to the Philippines from various locations across the United States on 20 July 2023.
The dinner hosted by the provincial government, led by Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores, was held at Seawind Restaurant in Boracay. The program highlighted entertainment by local artists and remarks by Vice Governor Quimpo and Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer. The Philippine Consulate in San Francisco serves as the coordinator for the 2023 VIP Tour.
In his remarks, Vice Governor Quimpo underscored efforts to revitalize tourism in the province where the world-renowned Boracay Island is located. He also acknowledged the work of various government officials, including Tourism Officer Roselle Ruiz. A tourism video presentation featuring various tourism destinations in the province, such as Malay, Buruanga, Nabas, and Ibajay, Altavas, was shown to the participants.
Consul General Ferrer thanked the Vice Governor Quimpo for graciously hosting the dinner for the VIP Tour participants in Boracay. He noted that a total of 292 Filipinos, Americans, and Filipino Americans from various parts of the United States were participating in the 2023 VIP Tour. The participants come from all over the United States under the consular jurisdictions of Philippine Foreign Service Posts in Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.. “We in the Foreign Service Posts not only promote trade opportunities but destinations in the Philippines that we can all be proud of, such as the famous Boracay Island,” said Consul General Ferrer in his remarks.
Some local provincial officials were also present at the dinner. Joining them were Consul General Ferrer’s spouse, Mrs. Miriam Ferrer, Consul General Emil Fernandez from Honolulu, Consul General Senen Mangalile from New York, Senior Special Assistant Alex Lamadrid from the Office of the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations, Deputy Consul General Maria Alnee Arugay-Gamble from Los Angeles, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Tourism Attache Soleil Tropicales, Principal Assistant Reanne Apostol, and Rajah Tours founder Atty. Alejandra Clemente and Rajah Tours President Jojo Clemente.
The VIP participants were treated to a sumptuous buffet feast featuring a wide array of Aklanon and international dishes. The menu includes kadyos baboy at langka, various puto, lumpiang sariwa (fresh spring rolls), various grilled seafood, and kinilaw, among others. END
