More than sending “balikbayan” boxes and dollar remittances to their families back home, Ilocanos living or working abroad are encouraged to return home and help in the progress of the province.

This, was the message of Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos as over a hundred delegates of the “Very Important Pinoy” (VIP) tour from the United States visited Ilocos Norte as part of their travel itinerary to experience the best of the Philippines and reconnect with their roots.

“I hope that you will see Ilocos Norte as a green pasture as well,” Marcos said to the delegates.

Due to the migration of its residents to other countries, Ilocos Norte is suffering from “brain drain,” which the provincial government is addressing by maximizing potentials for growth and development through job generation.

In a dinner hosted by the provincial government on Tuesday night, Marcos told the delegates that there had been a lot of improvements in the province, making it an ideal place for retirement and business.

As the province draws its strength from its people, Marcos enjoined the delegates to see the great potential of Ilocos Norte, come home, and share their expertise to the community.

The VIP Tour, formerly called the Ambassador’s Tour, is the flagship tourism program of the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States led by the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC.

From July 6 to 15, the VIP delegates —among them Tourism Attache Gerald Panga of Los Angeles, Consul Generals Rosario Agana Lemque of Agana, Arman Talbo of Honolulu, Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil of San Francisco, and Adelio Cruz of Los Angeles— will be on curated tours to Manila, Laoag in Ilocos Norte, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

While in Ilocos until July 10, the group’s itinerary includes famous heritage landmarks such as the Malacañang of the North, St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Santa Monica Church in Sarrat, and Bantay Church and tower in Vigan.

The delegates will also experience pottery and loom weaving, and be treated with Ilokano cuisine such as empanada, tupig, bagnet, pinakbet, and longganisa, among others.

A novelty to this year’s iteration is the option to embark on the “VIP Next Gen Tour,” which caters to participants with a more active lifestyle.

In a statement, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, the lead foreign service post for the 2025 VIP tours, said the program aims to serve as “a bridge connecting Filipinos and friends of the Philippines across the world to the wonders” of the Philippines. (PNA)