Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that she has invited Marian Rivera to visit other tourist spots in the country, after the Kapuso star and her family recently went on a vacation to Bohol.
“Pumunta sila sa Bohol. Mukhang nag-enjoy sila. So ini-invite ko si Marian na dapat umikot din sila in the other tourist spots. I mentioned to them the Cebu Safari, na mag-e-enjoy si Zia. Sabi niya, aayusin namin. Dapat kasi ang tourism, pam-pamilya talaga. Hindi na kailagan mag-abroad para mag-enjoy ang pamilya, dapat around the Philippines lang,” she said.
Secretary Puyat also said that she wants to tap the mother and daughter to be tourism ambassadors, as their star power can help promote family-friendly attractions around the country.
“Si Scarlet Snow Belo ay aming ambassador na, and gusto nga namin, tinatanong namin kung si Zia pwede siyang kasama na rin sa pag-promote ng ating family tourism.
“Siguro, ang maganda, iikot siya at mapapakita niya, kung kasama si Zia, pero yung isa, baby pa yung kanilang youngest, si Sixto, pagnakikita sila nag-ta-travel all over the Philippines, ma-e-enganyo rin nila mga pamilya na di nila kailangan mag-abroad. Around the Philippines lang, mag-eenjoy ang pamilya.”
The tourism secretary also commended the actress’ advocacy to dress herself up and her children in local brands only.
“Sinabi ko nga sakanya na bilib na bilib ako sa kanya kasi lahat ng suot niya ay talagang proudly Filipino.”
Secretary Puyat was interviewed on the sidelines of the launch of the Panlasang Makabayan Day at SM North The Block on Friday.
She was the guest of honor at the event which also served as the re-launch and rebranding of the all-Filipino restaurant Ka Tunying’s Café — owned by broadcast journalist Anthony Taberna and his wife Rossel — into Ka Tunying’s, Panlasang Makabayan.