(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Tourism(DOT) in the region is intensifying efforts to instill the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) in higher education institutions across the region, preparing students for careers in tourism and hospitality that highlight the country’s distinct cultural values.
The FBSE program, rooted in the Filipino values of maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-kalikasan, and maka-bansa, equips students with both practical skills and the right mindset to deliver world-class yet uniquely Filipino guest experiences.
More than 700 students from universities in Leyte, Samar, and Biliran have already undergone immersive training sessions facilitated by certified FBSE trainers.
At Leyte Normal University in Tacloban City, 63 senior Tourism Management students were trained by Emily Jill Nival, focusing on professional readiness for out-campus industry deployment.
In Calbayog City, 195 students from the Tourism and Hospitality programs of Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) also received FBSE training, with emphasis on guest engagement and value-driven service.
Baybay City, recognized nationally as the only LGU awardee for institutionalizing the Mabuhay gesture, continues to lead by example. A total of 201 Visayas State University (VSU) students—81 from Tourism Management and 120 from Hospitality Management—participated in training sessions led by Cyril Ignacio, reinforcing the city’s and the university’s reputation in service excellence.
Meanwhile, in Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) in Naval, 239 students (122 Tourism Management and 117 Hospitality Management) underwent FBSE training, also with Ignacio as facilitator. His sessions highlighted hands-on applications and the critical role of excellent service in encouraging repeat visits and positive guest experiences.
DOT-8 said the initiative not only strengthens industry-academe linkages but also ensures that Eastern Visayas’ next generation of tourism professionals enter the workforce carrying with them the hallmark of Filipino hospitality.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
