MANILA, Philippines — Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco faced a heated inquiry at the Senate on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, as Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned the “rampant” use of her face in official Department of Tourism (DOT) promotional materials.
The confrontation at the Senate committee on tourism hearing centered on whether the DOT is prioritizing the promotion of Philippine destinations or the public image of its secretary.
The “Self-Promotion” Charge Senator Tulfo presented several exhibits of tourism brochures, airport advertisements (including Boracay), and international magazines where Frasco was featured prominently.
- “Vlogger” Style: Tulfo criticized the marketing approach, telling Frasco, “It seems like you’re turning into a vlogger. It will not sell if the marketing materials are filled with your face.”
- Missed Opportunities: Tulfo cited Philippine Topics, a free magazine in Japan, as a missed opportunity to showcase destinations, noting that Frasco appeared in multiple photos even during simple groundbreaking ceremonies.
- Question of Models: The senator questioned why the department did not hire professional models to represent the Philippines instead of using the secretary’s image.
Frasco’s Defense Secretary Frasco denied any intent of self-promotion, labeling the circulating images as “work photos” intended to document legitimate tourism activities.
- No Political Ambition: Frasco dismissed accusations of building a public profile for future elections, stating, “I have no national ambition. I am not running for any national position in 2028.”
- No Government Funding: Addressing the Japan magazine specifically, Frasco clarified that she did not give consent for the specific layout and that no government funds were used for its publication.
- Essence of the Job: In a follow-up statement, she argued that showing up at destinations to implement policies is the “essence of the job” and helps build attention for local stakeholders.
The Fallout The exchange became tense when Frasco suggested she could “take into serious consideration” no longer visiting destinations if it was the senator’s pleasure, to which Tulfo clarified that visits were welcome, but “self-promotion” was not.
Frasco eventually committed to providing Tulfo’s office with samples of DOT materials that do not feature her face, emphasizing that the agency is working with a “very limited budget” to achieve its goals.
Historical Context The inquiry carried a layer of political irony, as Tulfo’s own sister, former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo, resigned in 2018 following a Commission on Audit report regarding P60 million in DOT ads placed on a TV show hosted by her brothers, Ben and Erwin Tulfo. This previous controversy was noted during the session as a backdrop to current concerns over the ethical use of tourism funds and promotional space.