Sen. Raffy Tulfo criticized Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Tourism, questioning her frequent appearance in the Department of Tourism’s marketing materials.
Tulfo directly told Frasco that she was starting to appear more like a “vlogger” than a tourism official, as her image was reportedly being featured prominently in promotional content.
He said that instead of showcasing tourist destinations in the Philippines, many Department of Tourism materials appeared to highlight Frasco herself. Tulfo cited as an example a magazine released in Japan, where he noted that the secretary’s face was placed on the cover rather than photos of Philippine турист attractions.
Frasco defended herself by saying she did not give consent for the magazine to use her photograph. She explained that the publication did not request permission before including her image.
She also addressed photos circulating on social media, describing them as “working photos” taken during official duties. Frasco said these were not intended for self-promotion.
The tourism secretary further denied any political motive, stressing that she has no plans to run in the 2028 elections and is not using tourism campaigns to promote herself.
Tulfo, meanwhile, suggested that future Department of Tourism promotions should focus more on Philippine destinations, local food, and activities that travelers can experience in the country.
He said tourism marketing materials would be more effective if they highlighted places and culture rather than government officials.
The exchange drew attention during the Senate hearing as lawmakers continued reviewing how tourism campaigns are being presented both locally and abroad.
