MAKATI CITY— The Department of Tourism (DOT), led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, in partnership with Amaia Land Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), awarded a brand-new PHP 1.8 million house and lot to Helen Grace Arceo, a Filipino-American nurse from Virginia, USA. The awarding ceremony took place on Wednesday, December 4, at the DOT Central Office as part of the Bisita, Be My Guest (BBMG) program’s ceremonial event.
“At the heart of the Bisita, Be My Guest program is a movement, an emotion, and the reason that drives us to continue to champion Philippine tourism—love. Love of country, love of family, and love of family values that are so distinctively Filipino,” Secretary Frasco shared, reflecting on the program’s essence.
Arceo, who registered as a sponsor for her husband and invitee, Juan Arceo III, emerged as the grand prize winner during the second BBMG raffle draw held in December last year.
In addition to the house and lot from Amaia Land, she also received a four-day, three-night stay at The Marison Hotel in Albay and international and domestic roundtrip tickets to Legazpi courtesy of Cebu Pacific.
During her testimonial, Arceo expressed her heartfelt gratitude: “I thank the Department of Tourism for having this BBMG incentive program. You know, there are a lot of Filipinos abroad, and we also have foreign friends who have heard about the beauty of our country. It’s really good to invite friends and other foreigners to come and visit. So, thank you for your phenomenal leadership, Secretary Frasco.”
She added, “Thank you very much, Amaia, for this house and lot. I will not have another home to go pag nagbibisita kami sa Philippines.”
Arceo shared how her family enjoyed their travel prize by exploring Albay, reaffirming her role as an ambassador for Philippine tourism: “It’s true that when we’re abroad, we usually say that our country is beautiful. We have well-known beaches, mountains, volcanoes, and so many activities. So, we just say, ‘Hey, let’s go to the Philippines.’ My co-worker really wants to visit the Philippines, so I said, ‘Let’s go!’”
The ceremonial turnover of the house keys was attended by Amaia representatives, including Senior Brand Marketing Associate Fatima Villanueva and South Luzon Project Marketing Associate Kathryn Dawn Abella. Also present were DOT Chief of Staff and BBMG Overall Committee Chair Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, BBMG Secretary General Undersecretary Maria Rica Bueno, Assistant Secretary Judilyn Quiachon, BBMG Head Secretariat Atty. Jerilee Grantoza, and members of Arceo’s family.
Secretary Frasco underscored the unique role of Overseas Filipinos in the success of the program, implemented in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines. She emphasized:
“In the many opportunities that we have had to go around the world and around the Philippines to launch the Bisita, Be My Guest program, one thing that I found in common in all of these activations is that I have felt from our fellow kababayans abroad, a very deep love of the Philippines and a longing to come home, as well as this unbridled excitement to share the beauty of our country to family and friends of other nationalities.”
She continued, “Despite all of the challenges that we face, despite the many seasons of life, despite even political issues that surround us, there is one thing that will always unite us, that is our love for the Philippines. Tourism is such a powerful force for good that it has this magnetic power to unite, and it also provides opportunities to bridge cultures from around the world. And the Bisita, Be My Guest is precisely that avenue.”
Other winners from the second raffle draw took home exciting prizes, including stays in iconic Philippine destinations, shopping vouchers, and international roundtrip tickets. The grand raffle draw, scheduled for December 16, will feature additional prizes, culminating in the awarding of a major prize—a condominium unit.
Frasco concluded with a heartfelt message: “We are so very proud of our Overseas Filipinos and our fellow kababayans from around the world, because truly, they are our champions for Philippine tourism, and they continue to be our very effective ambassadors of this campaign to Love the Philippines.”
The BBMG program is an incentivized travel campaign encouraging OFWs and Filipinos abroad to invite foreign friends and relatives to visit the Philippines. Participants earn raffle entries for a chance to win special prizes, including real estate, travel packages, and shopping vouchers. The program also offers discounts and perks through the BBMG Travel Passport and Privilege Card.