Philippine Motorcycle Tourism Revs Up for Safe Local Travel October 18, 2021 at 05:20PM

Out of Town Blog
Philippine Motorcycle Tourism Revs Up for Safe Local Travel

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) – Picking up the pace amid the pandemic to regain the confidence of the public to travel again, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines will kickstart the Philippine Motorcycle Tourism (PMT) Program this November with a series of activities.

Philippine Motorcycle Tourism Logo

PMT aims to promote Philippine tourism destinations while helping local tour operators and local businesses to bounce back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by encouraging more motorcycle sports enthusiasts to engage in motor-sports tourism activities as a potential niche market.

“We are pushing our boundaries to come up with even more safe and creative ways to set the tourism industry and all those who depend on its path to recovery. PMT showcases the interesting culture and heritage sites, shops, restaurants, and other tourism products all over the country that Filipinos can discover themselves on two wheels,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones.

Barasoain Church Bulacan – ANGEL ERAN

To officially launch the program, TPB will hold a hybrid webinar on 19 November to entice the motorcycle riders’ communities and influencers to promote the Philippines as a fun and safe destination while advocating for road safety travel. TPB will invite experts and motorcycle enthusiasts to share their knowledge and hands-on experiences on Defensive Driving, Group Riding Etiquette, and Safety Riding.

Also, part of the campaign is the staging of PMT Ride and Tours on 20 to 21 November to be participated by around 250 motorcycle enthusiasts which will kickstart at Rizal Park in Manila. TPB initiated this micro-ride in identified destinations in Luzon in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region IV-A (CALABARZON).

The riders will travel approximately 850-980 kilometers along a pre-identified route covering Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, and Cavite for two days as they explore several interesting pitstops and share with the public the beauty of the country on two wheels.

Pililla Laguna – ANGELO TOLENTINO

In line with this campaign, the PMT also supports riders’ events that are to be held in Central Luzon and Mindanao this year: the Motorbike Tour in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija on 21 to 22 October organized by DOT Region III in support of the PMT program; the Halal Foods Rediscovery Motorcycle Ride which will highlight the promotion of Halal food and establishments, and; the 10th Mindanao Freedom Ride on 05 to 12 November spearheaded by the Norminring Motorbikes.

Aparri – JEMILIE TORRES

“We are hopeful that through these activities, we will rebuild the confidence of the traveling public to travel domestically and, eventually, for the tourism industry to bounce back from the negative impact of the pandemic crisis,” Allones added.

To know more about the program, visit Philippine Motorcycle Tourism’s official Facebook (@PHMotorycleTourism) and Instagram (@PHMotorcycleTourism) accounts.

Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more tourism updates.

Also read:

• Guide To Motorcycle Registration In The Philippines
• Travel Tips: Preparing For A Multi Day Motorcycle Road Trip
• DOT, TPB Launch Motourismo Campaign To Rebuild Local Traveling Confidence

Philippine Motorcycle Tourism Revs Up for Safe Local Travel
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

PH cited Asia’s top beach and dive destination anew in 2021 World Travel Awards October 18, 2021 at 02:25PM

Out of Town Blog
PH cited Asia’s top beach and dive destination anew in 2021 World Travel Awards

The Philippines gets 5 nominations at the 2021 World Travel Awards

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) – The Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT) announced today that the Philippines is, once again, Asia’s leading beach destination and Asia’s leading dive destination at the 28th World Travel Awards (WTA).

El Nido Palawan by Luca Calderone via Unsplash

“We are elated that the country’s pristine beaches and mesmerizing dive spots have once again been cited as the best in Asia by the prestigious 2021 World Travel Awards. We share this recognition with our tourism stakeholders, local government units, partner agencies, and all Filipinos who have been helping us promote our country’s attractions, products, and culture,”

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat DOT Secretary

This is the Philippines’ fifth time to win Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and the third time in a row since 2019 to win the Asia’s Leading Dive Destination award.

The Philippines is still in the running for the following World categories of the 28th World Travel Awards:

• World’s Leading Beach Destination 2021: Philippines
• World’s Leading Dive Destination 2021: Philippines
• World’s Leading Island Destination 2021: Siargao, Philippines
• World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2021: Intramuros, Philippines
• World’s Leading Tourist Board 2021: the Philippines, Department of Tourism

Voting runs until midnight of October 25, 2021, via https://www.worldtravelawards.com/.

The WTA aims to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

“This will boost our efforts to keep the Philippines as a top-of-mind destination for foreign tourists as we await the resumption of international leisure travel to the country, consistent with our “More Fun Awaits” global campaign,” said Puyat..

Intramuros reopens in the new normal photo via Depositphotosido

Some of the country’s top beach destinations, such as Boracay in Aklan, Siargao in Surigao del Norte, and El Nido and Amanpulo in Palawan, have already opened to domestic tourists and are ready to welcome foreign tourists once international borders reopen.

Moreover, the PDOT has developed many of the country’s beach destinations, as well as new and existing dive circuits, and is constantly identifying potential destinations that may be developed for dive tourism. Top diving spots in the country include the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas, Malapascua and Moalboal in Cebu, Balicasag, Panglao and Anda in Bohol, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.

Diving in Anilao by Pascal van de Vendel via Unsplash

The Department also ensures that the safety of visitors remains is prioritized with the strict implementation of health protocols in destinations that have opened their doors to guests. Meanwhile, more than half or about 65.53% of tourism workers in the country have already received their Covid-19 jabs as of October 16.

For more updates and information on the DOT’s campaigns and programs, please visit www.morefunawaits.com.

Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more culinary updates.

PH cited Asia’s top beach and dive destination anew in 2021 World Travel Awards
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

Smart levels up GigaDays with more rewards from Oct. 19 to 22 October 18, 2021 at 12:09AM

Out of Town Blog
Smart levels up GigaDays with more rewards from Oct. 19 to 22

Smart levels up GigaDays with more rewards from Oct. 19 to 22

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) –  It’s time to gear up for more exclusive freebies, rewards, and discounts on the GigaLife App this October as Smart continues to level up its GigaDays celebration, which happens every 19th to the 22nd of the month.

To kick off GigaDays this month, Smart is giving away free call minutes and bonus data to subscribers who will log into the GigaLife App from 9:19 a.m. to 1:19 p.m.

Smart GigaDays – October

All Smart Prepaid and TNT customers may claim their FREE 190 minutes of Calls to All Networks to stay in touch with loved ones and friends, while all Smart Bro and Prepaid Home WiFi subscribers may claim their FREE 919 MB Video to stream their favorite series or shows.

On the other hand, all Smart Postpaid subscribers may claim their FREE 1.9 GB data which they can use for all their favorite apps and sites.

Use GigaPoints to redeem Apple Airpods or Galaxy Buds+   

As a big treat, Smart is also introducing awesome lifestyle rewards in the form of big-ticket items that subscribers may redeem using their GigaPoints.

For this month’s GigaDays, Smart subscribers can redeem limited-supply Apple Airpods (2nd Gen) for 4,000 GigaPoints or Samsung Galaxy Buds+ for 3,000 points. To redeem, subscribers may simply log in to the GigaLife App and click the Apple Airpods or Galaxy Buds+ icon on a first-come, first-served basis.

GigaPoints Freebies and Discounts for subscribers  

Aside from these freebies, Smart is also giving away FREE 19 GigaPoints for the first 19,000 subscribers on the GigaLife App every day from Oct. 19 to 22.

All subscribers may also score a 50% discount on redeemable GigaPoints rewards so they can avail more of their favorite promos like GIGA Video, GIGA Stories, GIGA Games, and All Data, among others. For example, subscribers may redeem GIGA Video 50 – originally worth 50 GigaPoints – with  only 25 GigaPoints.

Join 10 million users of the GigaLife App  

Subscribers may earn and accumulate GigaPoints via the GigaLife App, which offers a simple, easy, and smart way for Smart customers to manage their digital lifestyle. Customers can get GigaPoints by adding load, buying GIGA offers, and paying their bills on time on the app.

More than a year after its launch, the GigaLife App has reached 10 million users among Smart Prepaid, Smart Postpaid, Smart Bro, and Prepaid WiFi subscribers who rely on the app to check their balance, monitor their data usage, and access the most comprehensive list of data promos and offers with just a few taps on their smartphone.

Downloadable on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, GigaLife App also gives customers the convenience of linking all their other Smart and TNT accounts in the app, as well as paying their bills anytime and anywhere.

Make the Smart move now  

GigaLife App is powered by Smart, the country’s fastest and most reliable 5G mobile network as reported by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, with median download and upload speeds that are twice as fast as its closest rival.

You can now make the Smart move and enjoy exclusive rewards and freebies without changing your number via Mobile Number Portability (MNP). To switch to Smart, visit x.smart/switch or head to the nearest Smart Store. You can also make the Smart move now via the GigaLife App.

Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more travel and tech updates.

Smart levels up GigaDays with more rewards from Oct. 19 to 22
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

Award winning Chef opens one of Ibiza’s most sustainable restaurants October 17, 2021 at 11:57PM

Out of Town Blog
Award winning Chef opens one of Ibiza’s most sustainable restaurants

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) – The small Balearic outcrop is fast changing its position as one of the world’s prominent electronic music stages, into an extended social strategy that combines food and drink as the new template.

As Ibiza’s gastronomic scene continues to evolve as a global food destination international visitors seek out its surmountable sustenance locales in search of a memorable moment. Leading the change is a new face on the island, pepita Ibiza. Forging fresh ground with their latest concept, Co-Creators Paola De Gregorio and Dave Bone present ‘The Art Of Dining’ which merges Food, Art and Music collectively underpinned by sustainability.

Egg, ham, and chips with a pepita style twist

Dave Bone is widely known for his culinary creations as a multi-award-winning Chef. Accruing over 20 years of experience within the London restaurant scene, pepita’s Dave Bone has worked alongside industry leaders Tom Aikens, Mark Hix, Tim Hughs, Chris Corbin, and Jeremy King.

In 2020, Dave was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award and in 2018 was highlighted as the winner of Netflix’s Million Pound Menu, further igniting his career. Dave dishes have frequently achieved rave reviews from a cross-section of the most influential publications including The Guardian, Sunday Times, and The Caterer.

Scorched squid, one of the new dishes from the tasting menu

Firmly focussed on the local and organic island produce, Dave is now opening his third restaurant, and crown jewel ‘pepita’ is in the heart of Santa Eulalia. Unlike many other restaurants, they will pride themselves on being fully organic and making fine dining accessible to all (both in terms of price and inclusivity).

Pepita is in keeping within the island’s ethos and brings social dining to the forefront of the restaurant’s dining experience.

‘We want to celebrate what the island has to offer and push the boundaries of what we can do with traditional tapas. So expect a few pepita twists to your classic dishes. Our real passion lies in sustainability, we do what we say and we are excited to be one of the leaders in the gastronomic scene in Ibiza’ Dave Bone

Local and organic baby beetroot served with smoked aubergine, leeks, and herbs

‘Art and Music are very close to our hearts and we want to bring the entire community together to raise the profile of many fantastic artists this island has, we want to bring it back to the roots of what Ibiza was all about in the 70s, where the island was a muse for many artists and musicians’ Paola de Gregorio

Expect progressive seasonal menus, utilizing the best produce the island has to offer. Incorporating specialist techniques from open fire, dehydration, powders, pickles, cured, purees, preserves, and more, Pepita sets to make an impression on the island. Every month the team will feature different local artists and musicians, keeping it lively and relaxed. The venue sets forward a vision to both showcase and share the island’s own talent, whilst providing creators a platform to be actively seen and heard.

Pepita Ibiza – Delicious organic and locally sourced plumer steak, cooked to perfection.

Pepita Ibiza is open from 14th October and will run every Wednesday to Saturday from 8pm-midnight, with a special Sunday Munch menu also planned. From November expect opening times to begin from 7pm. Pepita invites locals and tourists alike to become part of their future success.

Time to work out your travel plans, and turn the remainder of the season into a unique dining experience complete with a beautiful Balearic backdrop.

Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more culinary updates.

Award winning Chef opens one of Ibiza’s most sustainable restaurants
Team Out of Town
Out of Town Blog

DOT bullish on Camiguin’s reopening, boosts Covid-19 vax drive October 17, 2021 at 09:01PM

Out of Town Blog
DOT bullish on Camiguin’s reopening, boosts Covid-19 vax drive

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) – The Department of Tourism (DOT), along with the local government unit (LGU) of Camiguin, vaccinated its tourism workers to further boost recovery prospects of the industry in time for its reopening this coming October 25. This will also be the province’s first time opening to visitors since the pandemic started.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat expressed her gratitude towards the officials of Camiguin LGU and other partners for their support in the Department’s efforts to protect tourism frontliners.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat is in Camiguin to oversee the vaccination roll-out for the tourism workers of the province in preparation for its safe reopening to tourists on October 25, 2021. Puyat is joined by Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo and Mambajao Mayor Yñigo Jesus D. Romualdo

“I would like to thank National Task Force against Covid-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. and Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon, the local government of Camiguin under the leadership of Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, as well as our tourism stakeholders and workers in the province for their full support of this vaccination drive,” Puyat said during the ceremonial vaccination for the province’s tourism workers on 18 October 2021.

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat DOT Secretary

Great things in business are never done by one person. They are done by a team of people.

According to her, tourism workers from A1 classification across Region 10 were already vaccinated in full. Including those from the A4 category, the province of Camiguin has administered vaccines to a total of 3,071 tourism workers or 67 percent of its identified 4,591 active workers from the said segment.

Among the 3,071 workers vaccinated in Camiguin are 745 employed in hotels and resorts, 446 in restaurants and bakeshops, 39 in dive shops, 42 in souvenir shops and vendors, 36 pump boat operators and boatmen, 727 in transport groups, 47 in salons, 132 in government frontline service, 28 tour guides, 829 workers in supermarkets and financial establishments.

With the vaccination roll-out led by the DOT and the Camiguin Provincial Government, the agency targets to vaccinate the remaining 1,543 to achieve a 100 percent inoculation rate for tourism workers in the province by the end of October.

Still, the Tourism chief commended Camiguin’s efforts in keeping its COVID-19 cases the lowest among others in Region 10.

“I congratulate everyone in Camiguin for doing their best to keep the pandemic under control, and vaccination programs, such as this one, aim to further reduce the number, as well as the severity of cases,” Puyat stressed.

Among the recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine in Camiguin include tourism workers from CAMTRASCO, Bay Association, MAMSA Association, MOTORELA, accommodation establishments, and restaurants

Assistance initiatives

While at it, the Cabinet official hailed the province’s issuance to three accommodation entities of the Philippine Safety Seal–which provides guests and customers the assurance of the establishment’s compliance to minimum health standards.

“I am hopeful that many more of Camiguin’s resorts will earn and proudly display this standard of global excellence very soon,” Puyat said.

Through the DOT Region 10 Office, various initiatives were implemented to support tourism in Camiguin including the production of promotional and safety materials, the Tourism in the New Normal Series highlighting Camiguin’s accredited tourism establishments, the Travelogue Series promoting the beautiful spots of Camiguin, and the Mindanao Tourism Circuit development to promote intraregional and interregional travel in Mindanao.

Despite being a small province, Camiguin boasts a wide array of tourist attractions including the ASEAN Heritage Park Mt. Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok mountain range, unspoiled white island beaches such as the Mantigue Island, pristine diving spots, natural hot and cold springs, waterfalls, and the yearly celebration in thanksgiving for the harvest of the island’s most famous “Lanzones” fruit, are popular to both foreign and locals alike.

Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more tourism-related events and Philippines travel updates.

DOT bullish on Camiguin’s reopening, boosts Covid-19 vax drive
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

Get instant cashback when you cash in to PayMaya via Instapay! October 17, 2021 at 12:08PM

Out of Town Blog
Get instant cashback when you cash in to PayMaya via Instapay!

Say goodbye to unwanted fees when you cash in from your go-to bank! 

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) – Going cashless is now made more convenient as you can transfer funds from your go-to bank to your trusted e-wallet anytime, anywhere. The only thing that would make this experience even more hassle-free is taking out unwanted fees – especially for cash in. Lucky for you, PayMaya has got that covered.

Until December 31, 2021, you don’t have to worry about fees when you cash in to your PayMaya account from go-to banks like BDO, Metrobank, and more via Instapay, because PayMaya is giving you a P20 cashback to cover your transaction fee. You can enjoy this perk twice every month during the promo period.

Get instant cashback when you cash in to PayMaya via Instapay!

Cashing in to your PayMaya account via Instapay is easy. All you have to do is:

1. Head to the Bank Transfer page on your go-to bank’s online or mobile banking platform.
2. Choose Instapay.
3. Select PayMaya from the list of banks and e-wallets.
4. Key in the amount for transfer and your PayMaya details
5. Confirm the transaction.

And you’re good to go! Your PayMaya wallet now has funds that you can use to quickly pay for your bills, buy telco load, purchase groceries, or even send money to your loved ones, all with a few swipes on your phone.

Transferring via Instapay is among the convenient ways to add funds to your PayMaya account. The digital financial services leader is making digital payments accessible with over 100,000 cash in touchpoints nationwide.

What’s even better is that over 90,000 of these touchpoints offer FREE cash in, including BPI Online banking, Unionbank via linked account, Ministop, Smart Padala, TrueMoney, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, The Marketplace, Southstar Drug, and more. You can also top up your account for free at your go-to establishments like SM Supermarket, The SM Store, Landers, Waltermart, and more for a monthly aggregate amount of up to P10,000.

With cashing in to your PayMaya account this easy and convenient, it’s a good time to be safer and more efficient when it comes to your purchases and transactions! Download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register an account to start going cashless today.

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, enterprises, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is one of the leading payments processors for “everyday” merchants in key industries such as retail, food, transportation, utilities, and eCommerce.

Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more travel and tech updates.

Also read: PayMaya And Smart Padala Team Up For Latest Service

Get instant cashback when you cash in to PayMaya via Instapay!
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog