Proudly Philippines 2024 Features The Province of Batangas in Vancouver

(L to R) Ms. Dana Liwag, Fashion Designer at Santa Emmanuelle Haute Couture, Ms. Almira Silva, Owner of Mira's Turmeric Products, Ms. Katrin Erika A. Buted, Provincial Tourism Officer of PTCAO, Ms. Lorna Belen, Mr. Saturnino "Bong" Belen Jr., Chairman, First Asia Ventures, Mr. Edilberto "Bong" Evangelista Jr., Executive Director, Limapark Hotel & Batangas Lakelands, and Ms. Mary Stephanie Landicho-Ona, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer of PTCAO

03 June 2024 – The Province of Batangas joined Proudly Philippines 2024 as the featured Philippine Local Government Unit at the 6^th iteration of the food and travel fair organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver on 01 June 2024 at the Robson Square Plaza in Downtown Vancouver, in celebration of Philippine Independence Day and Filipino Heritage Month in Canada.

The Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), represented by Ms. Katrin Erika A. Buted, Provincial Tourism Officer and Ms. Mary Stephanie Landicho-Ona, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer, led the delegation, which included Batangas businesses, Mira's Food and Agriventure, Inc., Santa Emmanuelle Haute Couture and Limapark Hotel and Batangas Lakelands.

Ms. Buted, in her remarks, thanked the Consulate General for the opportunity to be the first Local Government Unit in the Philippines to be featured at the Proudly Philippines event and to promote Batangas’ popular products and tourism destinations to the Filipino-Canadian community.

The Batangas delegation showcased some of the products the province is well known for, such as Coffee Barako by Cafeno MNL, turmeric, ginger and moringa teas, banana chips, and ube powder by Mira’s, intricately handcrafted Habing Ibaan weaves and Filipiniana wear designed by Santa Emmanuelle Haute Couture.  They also promoted faith tourism sites and popular destinations, like Taal Lake and Volcano and the beaches of San Juan and Calatagan, as well as investment opportunities at Limapark Hotel and Batangas Lakelands.

PTCAO officials distribute tourism brochures to visitors at their table

Attendees check out the booth of Santa Emmanuelle Haute Couture selling Filipiniana wear, tote bags, scarves, and weaves

Ms. Almira Silva, Owner of Mira's Turmeric Products, and Mr. Edilberto "Bong" Evangelista Jr., Executive Director, Limapark Hotel & Batangas Lakelands, interact with a guest