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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
February 15, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — From healing by steam inhalation to a restive volcano, Fil-Canadians, as well as Canadians and Americans, were “very impressed” with their first visit to some of the Philippines’ tourist spots.
Around 94 Filipino-Canadians and Canadians of Filipino descent, as well as foreigners from Canada and the United States, joined the Winter Escapade organized by Rajah Tours from Feb. 1 to 10, wherein they visited well-known tourist spots in Manila, Malabon City and Tagaytay, the cities of Dumaguete and Valencia in Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Albay and Sorsogon.
Brian Budzan, 54, from Winnipeg, said his visit to Siquijor, known both locally and globally for the widespread practice of faith healing, was a highlight of the tour.
He tried the tuob or steam inhalation using herbs believed to be blessed by divine powers.
Budzan told The STAR undergoing tuob was “a different experience,” being an enthusiast for faith healing and shamanism.
He was told by the faith healer that negative energy brought out by jealousy has been troubling him, hence the need for cleansing through tuob.
Aside from the natural wonders of Siquijor, Budzan – whose girlfriend is a Filipina – said he was delighted by the sheer size of shopping malls in Metro Manila, which he claimed could be compared to those back home.
Meanwhile, 79-year-old Calgary resident Erlinda Howard, a retired school teacher, told The STAR she was “really impressed” with the arrangements made for them during the entire tour, which included welcome by officials of local government units hosting them and the immersion into the communities.
“Everything was great – the food, the souvenirs, the dances. When I was watching the folk dance when we were in Bicol, naiyak ako (I cried),” she gushed.
Budzan and Howard, who joined this year’s Winter Escapade tour for the first time, both said they would want to return to the country and visit other destinations.
Their only issue was that the schedule for the 10-day tour was “too packed” that they had little time for sleep.
Apparently, the participants were unfazed by the weather disturbances that hit the country during their tour, including Tropical Storm Basyang (Penha) that crossed Mindanao and the Visayas and the shear line that drenched parts of Bicol region, according to Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga.
Some of them also witnessed the restive Mayon Volcano, which is currently under Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest, where they saw lava flows from its crater, he added.
“There were lots of discussions whether or not to offer alternative destinations, but we managed with the help of weather monitoring and consultations with local government units and with Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology),” he said.
This year’s itinerary was received “very positively,” according to Chan-Gonzaga, with Mayon Volcano and Siquijor as the highlights of their tour.
“The Mayon Volcano, Dumaguete and Siquijor were the real come-on for them. These places were not the regular destinations for tourism programs, and they created a buzz among the delegates.”
Chan-Gonzaga emphasized the significance of organizing programs such as the Winter Escapade, which “not just creates economic value for our destinations but also benefits Philippine tourism.”
“Equally important is that the Winter Escapade is a platform for former Filipinos and dual citizens to reengage with our history, culture and traditions, and to expose them to the richness and diversity of our destinations,” he added.
The Winter Escapade tour is a joint program of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Tourism, the Tourism Promotions Board and private tour operator Rajah Tours.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco previously acknowledged the role of both government and private sector in coming up with programs such as the Winter Escapade tour that attract not only foreigners but Filipinos living overseas.
