(VLOG EXPO. Speakers at the expo accorded their tokens of appreciation are CDC communications division manager Anthony Emmanuel Tulabut and tourism and promotions division officer Mitch Cortez. Joining them in the photo are OLFU–CHIM Dean Dr. Ignacio Cordova, Jr. and other OLFU staff. Contributed photo)
CLARK FREEPORT – The College of Hospitality and Institutional Management (CHIM) of Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) held its 5th CHIM–MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) through a video blogging (vlog) exposition at the Royce Hotel here.
Almost a thousand tourism and hospitality college students from OLFU’s six campuses in Luzon attended the gathering held over the weekend.
In recognition of its 5th year, OLFU directed its theme for the millennial generation with: “The immense lens of video blogging in the tourism and hospitality industry.”
Dr. Ignacio Cordova, OLFU Valenzuela CHIM dean, said the activity is an annual event, “but every year is different, wherein students learn specific topics and interests about hospitality and tourism.”
He stressed that for this year, “we are going to highlight video blogging because we know the millennials like to blog and we would like to encourage our students to produce contents that are more about hotels and accommodation, culture, food reviews and travel experiences.”
Dr. Cordova added that “we had cultural presentations about Kapampangans in our San Fernando campus. This time we combined culture and cuisine, and we would like to showcase the province of Pampanga as the culinary capital of the Philippines.”
“This is also to boost tourism,” he stressed.
The keynote speakers for the event are successful vloggers with growing followers through their corresponding social media platforms. Each shared interesting insights and views on how to come up with creative ideas and promote Philippine tourism apart from earning through video blogging.
“Kailangan mag-isip ng magagandang content at kakaiba, ‘yung magugustuhan ng viewers na may kwela,” said Nelmar Ongoco of Hanash Pilipinas, pointing on light and creative content as a way of entertainment.
Former journalist Steven Bansil talked about the challenges and vulnerabilities of the early stages of vlogging emphasizing on having innovative content and having the right attitude when earning validation (and invalidations) through likes while attracting more viewers and followers.
Akio Kashawagi of Money Growers Ph, shared tips and views on how vloggers earn through YouTube as he effectively produced seven-figure profits from two successful brands that made over 30 million views while vlogger Roger Raker, taught the importance of how simple gadgets and video editing tools could help as initial investments.
The vloggers also emphasized on enjoying the millennial way of promoting tourism through social media as an effective and efficient marketing tool as a way to influence others by enabling positive conversations and sustainable tourism.
Meanwhile, the students also held a walk for a cause as part of its morning activity at the Parade Grounds here for the awareness and benefit of the HIV victims.
The Our Lady of Fatima University has six campuses in the Philippines located in Antipolo, Cabanatuan, Quezon City, Sta. Rosa, City of San Fernando and Valenzuela as its main campus.
