The move to tap Hudgens is a branding campaign and marketing strategy aimed at attracting international tourists as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Arts (OPACC) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) set their sights on creating opportunities to aggressively push for the resurgence of the Philippines as a travel destination.
Hudgens rose to fame after playing the role of Gabriella Montez in the Disney movie series "High School Musical." She also starred in critically acclaimed musicals such as "Grease Live!", "Rent: Live," and "tick, tick... BOOM!"
Featured photo: Vanessa Hudgens in tick, tick... BOOM! (2021) / Netflix
Vanessa Hudgens given PH Global Tourism Ambassador Award
Mar 30, 2023 10:41 AM
At a glance
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has conferred the Global Tourism Ambassador Award to Filipino-American actress Vanessa Hudges as part of the administration's ongoing efforts to promote Philippine tourism and raise the country's global status.
Hudgens received the award during her courtesy call to Marcos in Malacañang on Thursday, March 30.
After the awarding, the President told Hudgens about how Malacañang has witnessed Philippine history, including his return to the Palace.
"It has a lot of history for me. I lived here 20 years, and now I've come back to live here again," he told the "tick, tick... BOOM!" actress.
Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco were present during the ceremony.
Other guests include Hudgen's mother, Gina, who hails from Ozamiz City, and sister Stella. Private sector personalities such as PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier and Vista Land and Lifescapes President and CEO Manuel Paolo Villar III were also at the event.
upang ipakilala ang Pilipinas bilang pangunahing pandaigdigang destinasyon para sa pamumuhunan at turismo.
— Presidential Communications Office (@pcogovph) March 30, 2023
Kasama sa pagtitipon sina Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (OPACC) Paul Soriano at Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco. pic.twitter.com/zdV5lgGLma
The move to tap Hudgens is seen as a branding campaign and marketing strategy aimed at attracting international tourists.
This, as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Arts (OPACC) and the DOT set their sights on creating opportunities to aggressively push for the resurgence of the Philippines as a travel destination.
The OPACC and DOT have selected Hudgens to become the Philippines' Global Tourism Ambassador, given her massive following on Instagram (49 million), Twitter (6.5 million), Facebook (17 million), and YouTube (239,000).
Hudgens rose to fame after portraying the role of brainiac and thespian Gabriella Montez in the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise "High School Musical." She also starred in the critically acclaimed television special "Grease Live!" as Betty Rizzo alongside musical actor Aaron Tveit.
She played the role of Maureen Johnson in "Rent: Live" in 2016 and the musical biopic "tick, tick... BOOM!" in 2021 alongside "Spider-Man" star Andrew Garfield.
As a digital influencer, Hudgens is seen to participate in a range of future initiatives to promote the nation's unique culture and assist the country in reaching a wider global audience, creating awareness, and conveying the Philippine brand as a tourist destination.
The OPACC and DOT are also looking at producing a documentary project highlighting Hudgens' homecoming to the Philippines to reconnect her with her roots while promoting the country's tourism industry.
The historical landmarks in Intramuros, the National Museum, and El Nido in Palawan are the proposed destinations for the documentary project.