Close encounter with HappySlip

GOD, I love the Internet!

If you still doubt how much the Web has changed the way we live, and how it brings together people from all over the world, consider this: back in 2006, I was a fan watching HappySlip’s videos on YouTube. And now, here she is in Manila — and we’re covering the press conference that formally introduced her as the Department of Tourism’s ambassadress for North America.

And yup, Filipino-American Christine Gambito a.k.a. HappySlip, is also amazed that the video blogs she started for fun have led to her actually being invited to visit the Philippines for a two-week tour of different travel destinations. She’ll be video blogging her Philippine tour, allowing thousands of users to share the experience with her and get to know the Philippines a little better. How cool is that?

Here’s a photo of me and HappySlip after the video interview we conducted for INQUIRER.net VDO.

It’s also interesting to note what Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said in his presentation on why the government agency is tapping the Internet in promoting Philippine tourist destinations to the North American market: “Traditional media doesn’t work as much as it used to.”

Durano noted that many people, particularly among the younger generation, are glued to their computers rather than TV. This is why for the North American market, he said the tourism department is devoting around 90 percent of its efforts on online tools, starting with the launch three years ago of the Experience Philippines site. The decision to tap HappySlip, who is one of the most viewed video bloggers on YouTube, is in line with this online strategy.

I’ll post the video interviews soon, but to whet your appetite, here are some pics from the press conference held today at the St. Francis Shangri-La showroom in Ortigas Center.

Here’s the Tourism Secretary (third from left) with HappySlip (second from right).

Here I am with our multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla while we were going to do the video interview with Secretary Durano. Erika said I looked pissed hehe dunno why I think this was when we did a take two.

OK, here we are laughing over a blooper.

Here’s another pic of me with HappySlip after the video interview.

And here’s our group pic. From left to right, that’s me, HappySlip, our reporter Lawrence Casiraya, Erika, and our multimedia editorial assistant, Abigail Kwok. Abi took most of the photos here, except this one, obviously

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