ABS-CBN’s Choose Philippines website recognized the tourist spots, attractions, and dishes that were deemed most memorable and delicious by the public in the first-ever Choose Philippines Awards held Thursday night (Dec 1), with Cebu bagging three honors.

Honoring the best of what the Philippines has to offer, Choose Philippines Awards aims to honor the country that inspired people to eat, explore, and share meaningful experiences in its three major categories: Best Destination, Best Dish, and Best Accommodation.

Cebu bagged the Best Festival award (Sinulog), Best Accommodation for Solo Travelers for Plantation Bay Resort and Spa located in Lapu-Lapu City, and Best Destination (Water Form) for the three-stage cascading waterfall Kawasan Falls.

It was followed by Quezon, which won Best Accommodation for Barkada for Balesin Island and Best Accommodation for Family for Villa Escudero, located in the municipality of Tiaong.

El Nido, Palawan, known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone cliffs, won the Best Destination (Islands and Beaches) award.

Representatives from the government, tourism officers, industry experts, celebrities, establishment owners, and travel bloggers and photographers graced the event to accept their respective awards.

Meanwhile, recognized as the Best Pinoy-at-Heart was Canadian Kyle “Kulas” Jennerman, whose viral campaign #BecomingFilipino aims to remind Filipinos of their country’s rich culture and heritage.

Banduria teacher Zosima Acuram, on the other hand, was named the Best Pinoy Advocate. Zosima, whose passion for music inspires her to teach children, created the now-acclaimed Dimlao’s Children Rondalla.

At the awards night held at the Dolphy Theater, singer Angeline Quinto performed “Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas,” the theme song of Choose Philippines. Kapamilya stars Matteo Guidecilli, JK Labajo, and Yohan Huang also entertained the audience in their production numbers.

All the winners at the Choose Philippines Awards were nominated and voted for by netizens from all over the country and the world.

The awarding ceremony, meanwhile, was hosted by Kuya Kim Atienza and Ai dela Cruz.

Choose Philippines Awards is only one of the ways ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment company, is promoting and supporting Philippine tourism. The network, now rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company, also regularly features the country’s must-see destinations on multiple media platforms – on its magazines, TV shows, films, and other digital platforms and services. ABS-CBN, through its Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation’s Ecotourism Projects, also offers packages that support the livelihood of locals and protect and maintain the natural ecosystems of the tourist sites.

To know more about the winners, visit ChoosePhilippinesAwards.com.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 2016 Choose Philippines Awards:

BEST ACCOMMODATION

For Solo Travelers: Plantation Bay Resort and Spa (Cebu)
For Barkada: Balesin Island (Quezon)
For Couples: Stilts Calatagan Resort (Batangas)
For Families: Villa Escudero (Quezon)

BEST DESTINATION

Recreational Spots: Picnic Grove (Tagaytay)
Water Forms: Kawasan Falls (Cebu)
Mountains and Volcanoes: Mayon Volcano (Albay)
Heritage Sites: The Ruins (Negros Occidental)
Islands and Beaches: El Nido (Palawan)

BEST DISH

Poultry Dish: Max’s Fried Chicken
Beef Dish: Rodick’s Beef Tapa
Pork Dish: Buffalo Bros’ Baby Back Ribs
Vegetable Dish: Kuya J’s Restaurant’s Lumpia Presko
Seafood Dish: Shrimp Bucket’s Salty Eggsperience
Panghimagas: 1st Colonial Grill’s Sili ice cream
Fusion Dish: Lars’ Buko Batchoy
Native Exotic Delicacy: Barrio Fiesta’s Kare-Kare

BEST FESTIVAL: Sinulog (Cebu City)
BEST PINOY ADVOCATE: Zosima Acuram (Banduria teacher, Bohol)
BEST PINOY AT HEART: Kyle “Kulas” Jennerman (Canada)

BEST PHOTO

Accommodation: Ulysses Almocera (East Cost White Sand Beach Resort)
Destination: Justine Ancheta (Basco Lighthouse)
Dish: Aris Mape (Aged Local Beef Tenderloin with Tuba Garlic Sauce-Negros Museum Café)