The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) appointed actress and comedian Melai Cantiveros-Franciscoย as Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism in the Philippines from May 21, 2024, to May 20,ย 2025. A special appointment ceremony for her was held last May 21, 2024,ย in Seoul, Korea.ย
She is the first Filipino celebrity appointed by KTO as an Honoraryย Ambassadorย forย promoting Korean Family Tourism in the Philippines.ย As the honorary ambassador for family tourism, Melai will be the celebrity representative forย theย KTOโsย family tourism promotional campaigns, programs, and events in theย Philippines. Part of her duties and activities is visiting Korea with her family and sharing herย experiences through her social media accounts.ย
She will promoteย Koreaโsย family touristย attractions at various events arranged by KTO and other Korean government agencies. The celebrity momย is alsoย setย to appear in selectย bigย campaigns and events of KTO, such as familiarization tours and travelย fairsย ,ย within one year of her appointment.ย
Prior toย her appointment as Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism in the Philippines, Melaiย engaged in various projectsย that promotedย Koreaโsย charm to Filipinos.ย She starred in a 2023 movie,ย “Maโamย Chief: Shakedown in Seoul,”ย mainly filmed inย Koreaโsย capital.
She also won the Bestย Actor award in the 2023 Asia Artist Awardsย heldย in the Philippine Arena. Further, Melai and her family are fondly calledย asย theย โKamsamii Familyโย among their fans. Mr. Hyung Joon Kim, Director of KTOย Manilaย explained that KTO chose Melai to be the Honorary Ambassador specifically for Familyย Tourism as evidenced by her various projects relative to Korea.ย KTO hopes thatย throughย Melai andย herย familyโsย promotional content, there will be moreย awareness and interest inย Koreaโsย family-friendlyย touristย attractions and destinations among Filipino families.
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Melaiย and her family visited Korea this week for a familiarization tour of Seoul and Gyeonggi provinces, which includes family tourist attractions such as theme parks, K-pop dance classes, and wellness experiences. Aside from her husband and two daughters, her motherย alsoย joined them on theย trip.ย
Melaiย rose to prominence in the entertainment industry after winning theย reality TV show, “Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up”ย in 2010.ย She then had various projects as an actress, comedian, and host. Currently, she is one of the hosts of the popular morning talk show, “Magandang Buhay.”