Choose Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - With the recent travel bans that have affected the Philippines’ tourism industry, ABS-CBN Creative Communication Management (CCM) head Robert Labayen says that Filipinos themselves can uplift the country’s current tourism status. With his newest masterpiece Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas, he encourages every Filipino to invest on local travel, in lieu of the costly out-of-the-country getaway.

Sung by Angeline Quinto and Vincent Bueno, Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas was written by Labayen for the Choose Philippines travel website of the station’s Regional Network Group (RNG).

Choose Philippines aims to let Filipinos share their discoveries on the Philippines and help promote tourism to ignite the Pinoy pride.

“At ang bayan Niyang pinili, nasa dulo ng bahaghari” goes Labayen’s favorite metaphor in the song’s lyrics. He said the song is primarily for Filipino tourists. Through the song’s lyrics, he wants everyone to realize that “going around the Philippines is worth the trip.”

“The festivals in the regions are just so spectacular. Talagang makulay. Yes, I attempt to make my verses sound like poetry. To be very honest though, I do not know the rules of poetry,” he added.

Being the brains behind ABS-CBN’s remarkable inspirational songs, like the Bro Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko and the recent Bida Best Sa Tag-araw jingle, Labayen feels writing Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas is no different. “They’re all patriotic,” he said.

What makes him more passionate with the Choose Philippines theme song is the fact he will forever choose the country over other travel places in the world.

“Aside from my hometown (in Bicol), my favorite place in the Philippines is Bohol. It feels like an island undiscovered after the Spaniards left. But I haven’t been to Palawan, Batanes and Sagada. Judging by the pictures, I think Batanes is the best.”

Not only have the places hailed the Philippines as an exciting getaway place, the food definitely makes every Filipino stick to his hometown. Labayen revealed his favorite food that he won’t ever trade, even with sumptuous Western cuisines.

“Pritong tawilis, manggang pajo, ginataang santol, ginataang tilapia and ginisang sitaw are only of the few of my favorites. Paskong Pinoy is my favorite event and Flash Elorde, (the boxer), is my Pinoy hero,” he said.

Like him, Labayen invites Filipinos to chronicle what they love most about the Philippines. This can possibly be done through Choose Philippines. By logging on to www.choosephils.com, travel enthusiasts can post their travels, adventures and misadventures in their very own words — where did they go? What can we expect (scary insects, tidal waves, the best places to eat, etc.)? What do we need to bring (sandals instead of shoes, anti-mosquito lotion, etc)? How to get there and how much? Also a bit of trivia and local flavor about the place would be fantastic.