MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has trained 244 frontline personnel across seven batches under a month-long program to prepare them for the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in November.
In a news release Monday, the DOT said the program prepares participants to deliver world-class service and Filipino hospitality during social events and hospitality activities surrounding the summit.
Anchored on the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE), the training equips participants to serve as liaison officers, information officers, and ushers at designated venues, accredited hotels, and airports.
“Hosting the ASEAN Summit is an opportunity to showcase the best of Filipino hospitality. We want our frontliners to be confident, capable, and prepared to deliver excellent service while making every delegate feel genuinely welcome,” Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said.
Participants include personnel from the DOT and its attached agencies, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) ushering group, students pursuing tourism, hospitality, and diplomacy programs at various universities, and organizations accredited by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA).
The program covers diplomatic standards, social graces, professional grooming, service excellence and recovery, teamwork, communications, and conference venue and logistics management.
Participants will also undergo stress tests, panel interviews, site inspections, and positioning exercises to assess their readiness, determine assignments, and familiarize themselves with their respective posts before deployment.
Selected ushers will wear specially designed uniforms featuring Binakol, a traditional Filipino handloomed textile from the Ilocos Region, to showcase Philippine craftsmanship and cultural heritage to international delegates.
The program was developed by DOT Assistant Secretary Ma. Christina Aquino, who designed the curriculum and invited resource speakers from diplomacy, aviation, higher education, and hospitality.
“Beyond the successful hosting of the Summit, we want delegates to leave with a lasting impression of the Philippines and its people. Every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen goodwill, build regional friendships, and encourage our guests to return and discover more of our country,” Angara-Mathay said. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
