The old adage , Actions speak more than words, was again immortalized by the Events and Management Class of the College of Tourism/Hospitality Management of the University of Bohol when it successfully organized and hosted a provincial convention on Turning Skills to Cash: Harnessing Abilities as a Gateway to Better Opportunities, last March 21, 2011 at the Bohol Cultural Center, this city. The said activity is the application of what they learned from their tourism class.
The event was divided into 3 parts, First - Know the Facts (Learn and Earn) which dealt on the skills of the resource speakers and how they were able to earn out of it. This part includes three sub-titles namely, Love for Crafting: There’s Cash in Flower by Ms. Evangeline N. Dahonog, Distinction for Taste: There’s Cash in a Discriminating Palate by CHEF Erlito Victoriano – executive chef, Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu, and the Love for Crafting: There’s Cash in Brilliant Mind by Mr. Joey ‘Tweng’ Dolotina, freelance event organizer/poi juggler/artist/creator , Arte Malaya Movement; Second – Take it From Us (Been There, Done that), a forum about the Hospitality Industry wherein the speakers shared their thoughts on certain issues and experiences in the industry with CHEF Erlito Victoriano, Ms. Maria Antonette M. Bolo, president, Bohol Federation of Travel and Tour Operators (BOFETTO), Mr. Joseph Ruel Familiar, president, Bohol Island Tour Guides Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BITGAP), and Ms. Nicel Jean Alivio, University of Cebu, professional flairtender/student , University of Cebu HRM; and Third – Show What you’ve Got (Bring it on to the Spotlight), a skills competition in Flower Arrangement using indigenous materials, Cocktail Mixing with the native wine tuba as the base ingredient and Tour Guiding where attractions of certain towns were shown.
With the joint cooperation of the Bohol Tourism Office and the Department of Trade and Industry, the organizers were able to draw participation of tourism and hospitality students from Holy Name University , Crystal-E College and University of Bohol who actively participated during the convention. The tourism class that organized the said convention is under the advisories of Professors Jane Doren Bungabong and Charles Erwin Suico with Dr. Maria Asuncion Laxa-Bersabal, college dean.
The convention was graced with the presence of Ms. Maria Soledad Laxa Balistoy, division chief of business development, Department of Trade and Industry and CHEF Erlito Victoriano of Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu. It was made possible through the support of Atty. Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr, UB president, Human Nature-Bohol Branch, Printbit, Bohol Bee Farm, Arte Malaya and Baclayon Travel and Tours. (L.A.BONCALES)
