After performing creditably at El Salvador though she failed to get crowned as Miss Universe, the Department of Tourism is considering the country's contestant to the beauty tilt, Michelle Marquez Dee, or MMD, as the Philippines' newest tourism ambassadress.
On Friday, Dee and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met at the DoT office in Makati City, and Frasco personally extended an invitation to Dee to join the DoT's promotional activities for tourism to further position the Philippines as a desirable country destination among travelers.
Dee, who finished in the Top 10 for the 72nd Miss Universe Competition in El Salvador, also won the Best in National Costume award where she used the country's tourism tagline "Love The Philippines."
Declaring love for country
"Thank you for the honor that you have bestowed upon all Filipinos by carrying the flag of the Philippines so excellently and by declaring to the world your love for the Philippines and reminding the world of the many reasons to love the Philippines," Frasco told the Filipina beauty queen during their meeting.
"On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I would like to extend my gratitude for your support for Philippine tourism as well as for carrying Love the Philippines, and I extend to you my invitation for you to continue to be an ambassador of tourism for our country," she added.
Frasco also invited Dee to join the Philippine Experience Program, the DoT's new promotional project that highlights the country's rich heritage, arts, and culture through a series of regional caravans.
It's not new because you have already acted as our tourism ambassador through your representation of the country in Miss Universe. So, we certainly hope that there are more opportunities for us to collaborate, to push forward the aspirations of our President for tourism in the country," the Secretary continued.
Marquez 'excited, humbled, honored'
In response, Dee stated: "I am so excited. I am so humbled and honored. I did not expect this kind of overwhelming flow of reception, love, and support."
In a separate interview with reporters, the beauty queen revealed that while she has traveled to several local tourist destinations, she wants to visit the Western Visayas and Mindanao regions.
"It's no secret that I've always been proud to call the Philippines my home and I wanted it to shine on the Miss Universe stage because it is an amazing platform to showcase what you are passionate about," she said.
"I was able to showcase my advocacy, my creativity, and of course, hindi dapat mawala ang love ko for the tourism of the country. When we were chatting earlier, we will be touring around the Philippines. We will spread that goal and that passion to make the universe know what tourism in the Philippines has to offer," Dee added.