Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco faced questions from lawmakers during a Senate Committee on Tourism hearing over the prominent use of her image in tourism promotion materials, amid public complaints that destinations were being overshadowed by her presence.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo raised the issue during the hearing, presenting complaints received by his office alleging that Frasco’s face appeared more frequently in tourism advertisements than the country’s tourist attractions.
According to Tulfo, the concerns were raised not only by Filipinos in the country but also by Filipinos abroad.
Tulfo showed several sample images during the hearing to support the complaints. He noted that, unlike in other countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan, tourism promotion materials abroad do not feature the faces of their tourism secretaries.
“Compared to other countries like Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, hindi nyo po nakikita yung mukha ng mga secretaries ng Department of Tourism nila doon eh. Wala,” Tulfo said. “Never.”
In response, Frasco clarified that there was at least one incident abroad where a local tourism office used her photo without her permission.
However, she acknowledged that she appeared in one tourism-related image taken at Lake Sebu in South Cotabato.
Frasco defended her actions, saying her presence in tourism activities was part of her duty as tourism secretary and not an attempt at self-promotion.
“I would just like to reiterate my position that I have tried to be as present as possible in our destinations and for our stakeholders. That is the extent of the duty that I have exercised and nothing more. I have no national ambition,” Frasco said.
She further stressed that she has no plans to run for any national position in the 2028 elections, adding that accusations of self-promotion were unfounded.
“I’m not running for any national position and therefore any accusation of self-promotion would fall flat because I am not running for any national position in 2028,” she said.
Tulfo, however, pushed back, clarifying that he was not accusing Frasco of planning to run for office.
“I’m not saying that you’re running. Don’t put words into my mouth,” Tulfo said. “What I’m saying is that people are noticing that it looks like you’re being promoted for whatever reason.”
