‘Come Visit My Philippines’ campaign begins

Drawing inspiration from Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez  Jr. and his statement “Believe in the beauty of your country….you deserve a visit from the world!,” fashion model cum film producer Bessie Badilla and photographer Alex Baguio started posting photographs they took in the Philippines on their respective Facebook accounts last September.

With the positive response that they received, another friend, Francois Medina, decided that they put up a Facebook page where people can see and also share the beauty of the country using the social networking site.

In their Facebook page, the group said they also aimed to start a new Philippine tourism campaign by posting photos of their beautiful country and using the tag phrase “Come Visit My Philippines!” (CVMP).

The page said the group “targeted to get the attention of the Filipinos on Facebook. If everyone of the 25 million Filipinos on Facebook would invite one friend to visit the Philippines, then Philippine tourism would get the boost it needs.”

Now, the administrators of the page include: Bessie, Alex, Francois, Francis Murphy, Fletcher Callanta, Giboy Sarayba, Melo Martin, Jay Santa Barbara, Raphael Meija Salonga, Marita Barral and Miguel Sarmiento. The group was first formed Sept. 25, 2011.

The group is open to all who want to see and share photos on the beauty of the Philippines.

In his keynote speech during the opening rites Thursday of the 22nd Ad Congress held November 16-19 at the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Pili, Camarines Sur, Jimenez cited the group of Badilla et al. for creating the Facebook site as a fine example of a social network resource that could be of great help in promoting Philippine tourism.

He said that since platforms have changed in the new landscape in the ad industry with the emergence of new media, the tourist sector must be able to tap these social networking sites to promote the country.

Jimenez said (CVMP) has already listed some 27,000 member-users all over the world since its inception in September. “Imagine some 25 million Filipinos on Facebook starting the same initiative,” he said.