Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.Ap Promotes Home Country In New ‘Take Me To The Philippines’ Music Video

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (November, 2009) – The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT), in partnership with MTV Asia, has just launched a new campaign featuring a state-of-the-art computer animated music video by Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas. Titled Take Me To The Philippines, the video offers a refreshing take on the country’s top destinations – and is a product of the long-time collaboration between Apl and Philippine Tourism Secretary, the Hon. Joseph “Ace” Durano (pictured here to the left of Apl). Click here to see the video.

“As a globally successful Filipino artist, Apl is the perfect icon to represent our country and its fascinating destinations. His music, infused with Pinoy pride, certainly makes this campaign fresh and exciting,” said Secretary Durano.

A Filipino-American, Apl has been a staunch supporter for the Philippines and an advocate for tourism to the exotic 7,107-island archipelago. When asked about his inspiration in making the video, Apl remarked: “I wanted to showcase all the beautiful spots in the Philippines. I wanted to help out tourism, to inspire others to visit the Philippines; to create jobs for people and help out the country and the community.”

Apl himself wrote the lyrics, along with suggestions from Durano, highlighting the local texture of tourist destinations such as Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Palawan, Davao, Tagaytay, Pampanga, Batangas and Baguio. The song and video conjure up images of warm blue waters, parties in Manila, unique Pinoy culture, eco-wilderness adventures and an infinite number of activities found only in the Philippines.

Photo caption: Apl (left) and Secretary Durano (right) pose for a picture upon exiting a Philippine Jeepney, a popular vehicle which can be spotted all throughout the 7,107-island country with a variety of vibrant colors and decorations.

Directed by Andrew Lo, creative director of MTV Asia, the video utilized mixed motion graphics stylized by The Source, a renowned studio in Hollywood.

“We have so much in common,” said Bill Roedy, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks International, in regards to the partnership between the Philippine Department of Tourism and MTV.

“Music is part of our cultural heritage, there is just a perfect fit between MTV and the Philippines,” agreed Secretary Durano.

This collaboration marks the first time that the media giant has joined forces with a country to promote its tourism industry and it exemplifies the innovative direction that PDOT has taken to reach out to younger generations of world travelers.

The video was launched in conjunction with a new promotional website, www.awesomephilippines.com, which features a wealth of information on the destination from cultural facts to blogs from Filipino hoteliers and restaurateurs. There is a section for “mini-videos” which provide a preview of what to expect from various destinations within the country.

The new website represents a perfect synergy of the youthfulness of MTV and the unique charms of the Philippines. “Our audience is young and vibrant and that’s exactly what the Philippines is,” said Roedy.

An archipelago of 7,107 islands, the Philippines offers more variety than any other vacation destination. From the historical intrigue of cities such as Cebu (the birthplace of Christianity in Asia) and cosmopolitan Manila, to the unspoiled beaches of Palawan and Boracay, the Philippines has it all in great abundance. The island’s culture is centered around hospitality and the exchange rate makes vacationing in the Philippines extremely affordable for North American visitors so travelers can enjoy luxury accommodations at unbelievable prices.

Philippine specialists such as Rajah Tours (800-884-8566; www.rajahtours.com.ph) on the West Coast, as well as New York-based Pacific Asia Leisure (212-661-3270; www.pacificasialeisure.com), Pacific Holidays (800-355-8025; www.pacificholidaysinc.com) and Orient Flexi-Pax Tours (800-545-5540; www.orientflexipax.com) offer complete land/air packages at an amazing value. In fact, one can experience up to seven days in the Philippines for the cost of airfare alone to some Asian cities.

Vacationers are encouraged to save some room in their luggage, however, as no visitor to the Philippines leaves without indulging in at least a small amount of shopping – and it’s easy to go overboard as designs are brilliantly unique and the U.S. dollar goes very, very far.

For more information about the Philippines, visit www.experiencephilippines.ph, or contact the Philippine Department of Tourism in Los Angeles (213-487-4525), San Francisco (415-956-4060), Chicago (312-782-2475) or New York (212-575-7915).

The Philippine Department Of Tourism

The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) is one of the Executive Departments of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines responsible for the promotion of travel to the Philippines, tourism investments, and enhancement and preservation of tourism products in the country. Field offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco provide the following services free of charge on a selective basis: dissemination of tourism information, maps, brochures and posters; lending out of videos, CDs and other tourism-related materials; recommendations on places to visit; endorsement of relevant entities; and assistance to those traveling to the Philippines. These offices also engage in a number of promotional activities: presentations to travel organizations, travel trade shows, media inserts and joint marketing arrangements.

The Philippine Department of Tourism is headquartered in Manila, Philippines, with offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.experiencephilippines.ph or www.wowphilippines.com.ph, or call the toll-free Philippine travel information hotline at 1-877-PHIL-TRAVEL

November 6, 2009   Posted in: Philippines