Philippine territory has so much in it. We have lots of natural resources and beautiful places that we can be proud of. Some are popular and some undiscovered.
With this, Isla Lipana & Co. came up with a corporate social responsibility project as part of the firm’s 91st Anniversary celebration… The Philippine Gems.
Philippine Gems aims to showcase the country’s “good side” to the world, especially the many pristine natural sceneries of our beautiful country.
Starting from 175 destinations coming from Isla Lipana & Co. employees and online travel bloggers, it was trimmed down to 50 then the screening committee shortlisted the list to 25 destinations which were opened to the public for online voting.
Meet the Philippine Gems Panel of Judges:
Carlos “Caloy” M. Libosada, Jr.
Caloy Libosada is an Assistant Professor at the Asian Institute of Tourism in the University of the Philippines-Diliman. He is also the director of UP-Diliman’s Division of Tourism Research and Extension Services. He is one of the founders of My Travel Asia, an online and mobile travel agency which has launched several iPhone applications on travel.
Nedalin L. Miranda
Nedalin Miranda is a Senior Convention Services Officer at the Department of Tourism, where she belongs to the Tourism Promotions Board. She is a part of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) Unit and the Business Development Unit.
Christel Arguelles
Christel Arguelles is a Digital Strategist at the Tourism Promotions Board of the Department of Tourism.
Cosette Romero
Cosette Romero is the Senior Vice President, Partner and General Manager at FleishmanHillard Manila. She is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines and the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.
James Betia
James Betia is the man behind journeyingjames.com. In 2012, he embarked on the ISANGDAAN journey, in which he explored the Philippines for a hundred days on a shoestring budget.
Junie del Mundo
Junie del Mundo is the Chairman of the ASEAN Integration Committee Management Association of the Philippines.
Jing Lejano
Jing Lejano is the Editor-at-Large of Turista Magazine, which is published by the Hinge Inquirer Publications. Turista Magazine gives its readers the hottest and most beautiful Philippine wonders. It is available free of charge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and at Duty Free Philippines.
Cherrylin M. Javier
Cherrylin Javier, an Assurance Partner at Isla Lipana & Co., actively travels around the country.
Love Añover
Love Añover is a television personality at GMA Network, Inc. She rose to fame as the witty and bubbly “Reyna ng Kalsada” in Unang Hirit. She is one of the network’s most recognizable faces.
Jose Javier Reyes
A writer and director, Joey Reyes has won awards at the Gawad Urian, Metro Manila Film Festival and Filipino Star Awards for Movies for his films. He has been travelling around the Philippines for some time.
“The search for the ten Phillippine Gems envisions the upholding of both domestic and foreign tourism that would hopefully encourage business investments. The Philippine Gems steers awareness and appreciation for the country’s pristine and natural sites, even the underdeveloped ones. In our modest way, we aim for these places to gain local and international attention, and in due course, greater economic activity.”- said Isla Lipana & Co. Chairman and Senior Partner, Atty. Alexander Cabrera.
And here are the Top Ten Philippine Gems: (not in chronological order)
Apo Island
Batanes
Biri Rock Formation
Calaguas Islands
Caramoan
Danjugan Island
Lake Sebu
Mt. Kanlaon
Panglao Island
Tubbataha Reefs
These destinations were chosen from an initial list of 25 by the public through online voting, which was open from June 26 to September 25.
The project was made possible with the help of the Philippine Tourism and Promotion Board of the Department of Tourism and the University of the Philippines – Asia Institute of Tourism, which were part of the screening committee together with representatives from the Management Association of the Philippines and FleishmanHillard Manila, travel blogger James Betia and media personalities Love Añover and Jing Lejano and ace director, Jose Javier Reyes.
Traveling is fun, and we should start discovering the natural beauty of Philippines first because we have a lot of beautiful destinations to enjoy. But of course we have to learn to take care of it and preserve it.
For more information about the Philippine Gems, visit www.philippinegems.com
