Behind this weekend’s successful hosting of Micecon 2023 are some very clever, resourceful, and strong-willed women
March being International Women’s Month, there was no way it could have escaped any observer that the presidential table at the farewell dinner hosted by Tourism Promotions Board (TBP) and its chief operating officer Marga Nograles at the Tent at Azuela Cove in Lanang, Davao City was occupied entirely by women.
It was the last day of the three-day Micecon 2023 (Philippine Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions or MICE Conference), held from March 1 to 3 in Davao City, and front and center of the country’s premier gathering of MICE professionals this year, aside from Nograles who, along with the Davao City government, spearheaded the event, were Vice President Sara Dutere, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, and DOT-Davao director Tanya Rabat-Tan, accompanied at the presidential table by their special guests Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) undersecretary for plans, public affairs, and communication Margarita Gutierrez, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles, and Clark Development Corporation president and CEO Agnes VST. Devanadera, who was also called onto the stage after the TPB COO announced that Clark, Pampanga won the bid to host the next Micecon, Micecon 2024.
Needless to say, there were men involved in such a huge success and, though he is seen in a photograph on this page in a sea of women, foremost of these men who were as responsible for Micecon 2023 was Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who hosted a big dinner—and the best meal hands down at the conference, replete with eat-all-you-can durian, marang, mangosteen, and other fresh fruits—at the SM Lanang fountain court the night before, the second day of the conference, not so much to welcome the guests and delegates as to showcase the best of Davao in terms of cultural performances, indigenous costumes, cuisine, and hospitality.
This year, as we have seen, Davao has raised the bar for Micecon, having held such an excellent exhibition of the potential the Philippines can have to be the leading MICE destination in Asia.
Christina garcia frasco, secretary, department of tourism
Now that the world is fast opening up after nearly three years of closure and isolation, meetings, incentive travel, conventions, and exhibitions are charting a new course toward economic opportunities for the Philippines, where business and leisure easily mix, thanks to its natural diversity, vibrant culture, and its friendly, helpful, welcoming people.
“The MICE industry is crucial in contributing to the economic growth of both global and local economies, creating employment opportunities, and building a country’s reputation,” said TPB’s Nograles.
The Micecon in Davao City was a showcase of how immersive, inclusive, and memorable any MICE activity could be when held not only in Davao or Mindanao, but also anywhere in the rest of the country. Activities included expert talks on sustainability, event designs, development, and technology solutions, the economics of business travel spending, the power of storytelling, and new findings on improving the customer experience.
“This year, as we have seen, Davao has raised the bar for Micecon, having held such an excellent exhibition of the potential the Philippines can have to be the leading MICE destination in Asia,” said Sec. Frasco.
Inspired by the showcase of such potential, Vice President Duterte said, “I look forward to the reemergence of a strong tourism sector. I commit to work together with the Department of Tourism to help increase the tourism budget in the coming years.”
Clark, Pampanga cannot wait for its turn.
