DOT Implements New National Accommodation Standards

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will be implementing its new National Accommodation Standards for Hotels, Resorts, and Apartment Hotels using the Star Rating System. The new standards employ a points-based rating system focused on inventory, availability, condition, and quality of a specific facility or service.

“The new standards seek to boost industry competitiveness, especially in preparation for important events such as the World Competitiveness Forum next year, APEC in 2015, and the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2016. On the initial implementation of the new standards and star rating system for classifying hotels, resorts, and apartment hotels, the DOT shall be engaging the services of a private quality assurance firm that will consequently tap external auditors to conduct the assessment. The use of a third party auditing firm is aimed at ensuring impartiality of the audit team and credibility of results. Most developed countries employ this scheme as independent audits are deemed more credible,” DOT Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. said.

Launched last year through the DOT Memorandum Circular 2012-02, the new standards is part of the DOT’s policy reforms pursuant to the provisions of the Tourism Act of 2009, which mandates the DOT to formulate and enforce standards for the operation and maintenance of tourism enterprises, prescribing minimum and progressive levels of operating quality and efficiency consistent with local and international standards. The Tourism Act also provides for the development and enforcement of a comprehensive system for mandatory accreditation for primary tourism enterprises, and voluntary accreditation for secondary tourism enterprises, in accordance with prescribed guidelines and standards.

Anime: Postive or Negative?

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Japanese Animation, or mostly known as Anime spreads rapidly across the globe carrying the culture of Japan with every series and seasons. The appeal of Anime has become a worldwide phenomenon.

It starts in 1960 and gained popularity in the following years. With so many people interested in it, had the thought of its effects crossed your mind? Yes? Well, good for you. No? Well, don’t worry about it, that’s why this article exists. Now, shall we start?

Clash of the Cultures: Japan Vs. Philippines

        

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The culture of Japan is very different from the Philippines. From their way of serving food, their clothing, the way they greet their elders and their religion.

            Japanese food is well presented and kind of sophisticated. They always assure that they are eating healthy foods. Their diet normally consists of  rice, meat, and vegetables. Their food isn’t just healthy but also oishi~ (it means, delicious). And they have many kinds of dessert like, mochi which is a rice cake made from glutinous rice usually has red bean paste in it. Mochi doesn’t taste very sweet in fact it’s just right and it is very soft and chewy. Their food is well known in different countries like, America, Europe, and even Philippines.  In Philippines our staple food is rice. Even without any other meals, we just make sure that there is rice on the table we are good. But of course, we also serve heart warming food that is made at home, the presentation is not so extravagant or sophisticated like Japan’s we usually just cook it in the pot and serve it on a large bowl or plate. We also have desserts like sorbetes, which is also called ice cream, and the people’s favourite which is the halo-halo, that has crushed ice on top of jellies, beans, nata, kaong, and you can add many more. Topped with leche flan, ube or sorbetes.