By Kathrine A. Licerio, BA Comm-4 OJT

A three-day webinar organized by three different sections of 2nd Year BS Tourism Management.

Second year BS Tourism Management students from Dr. Lucio Tan College of Hospitality Management conducted different events online as one of their requirements under Seminar in Tourism with Field Trip subject with a topic (MICE) Introduction of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Event Management.

The webinars done in 3 days were conducted by students from three different sections and advisorship, presenting different topics.

The first webinar was held on March 12, 2022 by the tourism students under Dr. Ely Lazaro, with a topic, Current Trends in Transportation, Accommodation, and Tourism Attraction Facilities. Celeen Denise Sazon, Iloilo and Bacolod Branch Manager of Southwest Travel and Tours, was the speaker of the said webinar. Sazon during her discussion, gave emphasis about the current changes that is happening in the tourism industry since the pandemic came in the country.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2022, the second day of the webinar was conducted by the students under Dr. Ma. Amihan Panes. This event was entitled Bugal Sang Ilonggo: Pagpasundayag sa Dagyaw Kag Sonata, which focused more on the showcasing of Illonggo’s talents and culture.
Geelyn Hortillo, an Ilonggo, shared her inspiring story and talent in Painting entitled Pagbutang sang Duag. Aicila Sanz and Hannah Chel Igat, proudly performed a Karay-a song entitled Pangabuhi sa Uma or life in the farm by Sammy Rubido, and Turagsoy of Max Surban, a popular Visayan song. Pottery making is also one of the Ilonggos pride. Reylan Harder, the owner of Jullies Pottery at Hibao-an, Norte Manduriao, Iloilo City, shared his skills in shaping pots and jars through the use of clay soil and how he survived his business this pandemic.

A group of dancers also performed a folk dance, Magkatipan, a courtship dance. And to complete the showcasing of the Illonggo’s talents, a beauty queen, Jean Jaleco, the reigning Tinuom Festival Queen Universe and Miss Iloilo Tourism Heritage, highlighted the event as she performed modelling. She also presented the Dinagyang festival costume, the famous religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City.

The last webinar, held on March 16, 2022, was conducted by the tourism students under Prof. Jocelyn Gonzales. This webinar talked about the current trends in the MICE and event sector of the tourism industry.

Natalie Lim as the guest speaker from MICE Alliance Iloilo and currently the General Manager of Richmond Hotel Iloilo, enlightened the minds of the tourism students of how important it is to manage an event in the tourism Industry. She also shared how MICE is adapting to this new normal. According to Maria Angela Andrade, leader of the event team, it is really important to keep updated of the latest development and trends in the tourism industry.

Aside from the informative and helpful topics these webinars have provided, 2nd year BS tourism students from different sections, emphasized, as part of their subject topic (MICE), that their main objective is to be able to conduct and organize an event. “To be honest, we felt pressured about the actual presentation since it was out first time conducting a seminar through online.” One of the tourism students, Stefany Deanon, said, “For them, it was a great opportunity handling an event since it prepares them in the near future as an event planner. It also reminds them that the tourism industry provides many opportunities.”