Vegetable farmer turned Internet sensation Jeyrick Sigmaton, known to many as "Carrot Man," joined Cordillera's best artists during the region's tourism showcase held Monday.
Sigmaton gave the audience a glimpse of the region's dances and music as he performed with the cultural act Hapiyoh Mi.
He also prepared a simple salad for the guests and posed for photos.
Sigmaton said the Department of Tourism–Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) invited him for the launch of the event, which will run until March 24 at the DOT Central Office in Makati.
According to Archie Nabus, the president of Igorot UK which recently invited Sigmaton to visit the United Kingdom, "Carrot Man" is now managed by a team of fans who call themselves the Jeyrick Philippine Team.
Nabus said they are aiming to make Sigmaton a tourism ambassador for Cordillera on top of his current stint as a promoter of his hometown of Mountain Province.
CORDILLERA TALENT
Aside from Sigmaton, other featured talents from Cordillera during the event include Ingrid Payaket, runner-up in the 2010 "Pilipinas Got Talent," and Glen Gaerlan, who is dubbed as the "Igorotti Pavarotti."
Also showcased were works by Baguio artists Joseph Domirez, Gerald Asbucan and Tor Sagud, and photographer Dave Leprozo.
Cordillera products like Narda's weavings and Benguet vegetables, wines, sculptures and bags are on sale during the event.
Meanwhile, Tourism Undersecretary Alma Rita Jimenez praised the region's Rev-Bloom campaign for initiating pro-environment sustainable tourism programs.
"We want tourism that gives what our tourists need without sacrificing the charm of the place," she said.
"My vision is to revive the reason why people liked tourist destinations in the first place. Sa ngayon, sinasabi ng mga tao na hindi na to kagaya ng dati. We want to bring back the old charm that made our tourist sites famous and Cordillera Region showed us that this can be done."