The City of Manila bagged six accolades, including the highest, in the 17th Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines Pearl Awards with the Department of Tourism.

The city government bagged the Best Tourism-Oriented LGU Award and the Best in Tourism Event category, with Mayor Honey Lacuna personally getting the awards in ceremonies held at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Lacuna credited the efforts of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila under its chief Charlie "Mama Cha" Dungo.

The Pearl Awards recognizes the best tourism practices of local government units in the country.

Manila wound up first runner-up in the Tourism Program for Culture and the Arts for its efforts to conserve its cultural assets, and also in the Tourism Week/Month Celebration.

The LGU emerged second runner-up in the Tourism Promotion Publication (city level) category, and retained the same place in the Tourism Promotion Videos.

To cap its exploits, the city was adjudged grand champion for Best Tourism Event/Festival in honoring patron saints.

Lacuna hugged Dungo tightly at the hotel ballroom after Manila was hailed "Best Tourism-Oriented LGU," the highest award given by the organization to a local government unit.

The City's Best Tourism Religious Practice, Traslacion of the Black Nazarene, won the Grand Champion title.

Lacuna congratulated Dungo and the entire DTCAM family for promoting Manila to the fullest and in ways that are in keeping with the times.

For his part, Dungo said the accolades will serve as an inspiration for them to strive even harder to bring Manila to greater heights in terms of tourism.