Showcasing Region VIII Over the Long-Term

Eastern Visayas is not “waray” country, it is “may-ada” country and of course with Cebuano speaking residents as well.

This is the strong message of the “Best of the Regions – Eastern Visayas in Intramuros”. With lots of products on display and on sale, coupled with day and night repertoire of songs and dances, this event is like a “coming out party” for the region, complete with a two-week live radio coverage.

EVISNet is also there providing the event’s website with fresh pictures of daily activities. The event is on the internet (click the Best of Eastern Visayas picture at www.evis.net.ph). It will be for some time because EVISNet will place pictures of the entire two weeks on its website until September next year, when hopefully this event could have its second edition.

Now, that brings us to the point that if this event has to have a deep impact it has to be repeated many times to emphasize the good news that we have lots of tourist destinations and worthy products.

We need to publicize and add more marketing to reach more people. Most of those who visit the booth appear to be residents of Metro Manila who migrated from Eastern Visayas. We have to expand this market to reach out to other regions and to foreigners.

At the same time we need to continue improving the things we want to market – their designs, quality, and usability.

Even the volume of products that we can market has to be pre-determined to ensure we have enough supply during and after the event (to meet orders).

The event may just be for 14 days but the effort to make it successful should be year-round, non-stop.

The expenses incurred for these events are, in effect, investments that could reap benefits to Eastern Visayas if done over a period of time and not viewed as a one-shot deal.

A good example is the trade fair of Negros Island producers which is on its 16th year, slated at SM Megamall next week. It has carved a niche for Negros products worldwide.

This event should have a 5-year marketing plan and must include targets on sales and number of tourists. It is good to be admired by visitors, but it is better if we are able to gain economic benefits so that admiration can be translated into employment and income derived from sales.