DOT Caraga boosts festival dev’t for tourism officers, event organizers in Surigao City
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga Region, in partnership with the Provincial Tourism Office of Surigao del Norte, conducted a three-day Festival Enhancement Seminar-Workshop integrating the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) and Child-Safe Tourism.
The activity gathered 50 participants, composed of personnel from the municipal and city tourism offices of Surigao del Norte, along with local choreographers, to strengthen festival development and elevate service standards across the province.
Held in the 4th quarter of 2025, resource speakers Freddie Valderrama and Danny Baldos facilitated the training’s first two days, sharing valuable insights on festival enhancement, choreography development, and workshop facilitation.
Through hands-on demonstrations of dance steps and movements, participants gained practical knowledge that will enable them to develop core choreographies reflective of the distinct identity and cultural heritage of their respective local festivals.
The third day focused on the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence and Child-Safe Tourism with Richard Nick Amores and Alyckssa Maye Castanos as subject matter experts.
The session provided in-depth discussions on key concepts, including the significance of FBSE, the 7Ms of Filipino Hospitality, the G.U.E.S.T. steps to service excellence, the 5As of Local Tourism, and the H.E.A.R.T. approach to effective service recovery.
”We, the participants of the Festival Enhancement Seminar-Workshop, wish to express our profound gratitude to the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the provincial government of Surigao del Norte,” said Choreographer Andrew, a participant of the activity. “Over the past three days, we have been equipped with invaluable insights into sustainable tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and innovative event management. This collaborative initiative has not only sharpened our technical skills but has also strengthened the bond between our local municipalities. We return to our respective communities inspired and ready to elevate our local festivals to world-class standards, showcasing the true spirit and vibrant culture of Surigao del Norte.”
”The training-workshop provided us with practical tools to improve our local festivities. We truly appreciate the investment the provincial government and the DOT are making in our local tourism frontliners. This seminar has served as a vital platform for us to share best practices and align our visions for a more vibrant Surigao del Norte.
We look forward to implementing these new strategies in our upcoming festival season,” he added.
The FBSE and Child-Safe Tourism components underscored the values of warmth, hospitality, and genuine care—empowering participants to deliver world-class service anchored in cultural pride, while ensuring safety and inclusivity in tourism and festival events. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte, with a report from DOT Caraga)
