BACOLOD CITY - Bacolod City is currently hosting the 2024 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour, showcasing its cultural and community highlights to approximately 230 delegates from the United States and 100 local tourism stakeholders. The three-day event, which will conclude on Thursday, is led by the Consul General of New York, Senen Mangalile.
According to Philippines News Agency, the tour aims to strengthen ties and highlight the best of Bacolod's culture and community to its distinguished guests. The event kicked off with the Mayor's Night at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby on Tuesday, where delegates were welcomed by city officials including Councilors Em Legaspi Ang and Jason Villarosa.
The tour features a diverse itinerary that includes showcasing Bacolod's best local products at a bazaar opened on Tuesday. Products on display include local delicacies, handcrafted items, and popular Bacolod-style Filipino dishes such as chicken inasal, KBL (kadios, baboy, langka), and bangus paksiw. The cultural experience was further enriched by a performance from the world-renowned MassKara Festival dancers, along with introductions to other local festivities like the Bacolaodiat Festival, Chicken Inasal Festival, and Rum Festival.
Mangalile emphasized the significance of the tour in connecting Filipino-Americans with their heritage and promoting the Philippines as a top travel destination during his message at the tour's Manila kick-off. "Here in the Philippines, we in the diaspora in the US have a lot to offer to the local communities. The capacity to bring the two together is what we aim for with the VIP Tour," he stated.
On Wednesday, the itinerary continued with visits to Lakawon Island in Cadiz City and the heritage houses of Silay City, located in the northern part of Negros Occidental, before the delegates are scheduled to depart on Thursday.