Andoy Recipient of Free Tour Guide Training in Cebu
GerrieBie “Andoy” Dalimag known as the Batang Tour Guide of Callao, Province of Cagayan was given the opportunity to travel to Cebu for a free training on Tour Guiding conducted by the Cebu Association of Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS) last November 17- December 7, 2018.
The Department of Tourism (DOT), Region 2 endorsed Andoy to a free training that will further improve and enhance his skills and talents in guiding. The free training was offered to Andoyby the members of CATOS after the Philippine Airline (PAL)-DOT Familiarization Tour held last November 12-17, 2018 in the Province of Cagayan, Kalinga and the City of Cauayan in Isabela.
The PAL-DOTfamiliarization tour was conducted to open the region to the large domestic tourist markets of Visayas and Mindanao. It was also a great opportunity for connectivity as PAL opened its new route to the Province of Isabela via the Cauayan City airport. The airport provides easy access to the Cordillera Administrative Region through the Province of Kalinga. It was participated by the Tour Operators, Travel Agents and the media from the Visayas and Mindanao region with direct PAL flights to Cauayan City.
Andoy, then, was the tour guide for the group in which his talent and dedication to his craft captured the attention of the Tour operators from Cebu who happened to be members of CATOS.
The free training lasted for four weeks and all his expenses were shouldered by the said association.This ultimately gave him a new experience as he joined the group of tour guides from Cebu.
It will be remembered that Andoy was awarded as one of the recipients in the Tour Guide Category of the Tourism Star Philippines Awards 2015, together with TV host Drew Arellano and then Albay Governor Joey Salceda, among others. He was also featured in the popular drama anthology of ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya in 2011.