TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 26 -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing to train at least 7,500 tourism sector workers and village officials in Eastern Visayas on Filipino Brand of Service Excellence this year to help the region improve its tourism agenda.

On Monday, the DOT had initially gathered 300 persons employed in the hospitality industry and some village officials from Leyte in a hotel in Palo town to undergo the hospitality training.

The training included teaching the participant to do the "Mabuhay" gesture, a way of greeting visitors and guests and the "7M" of Filipino values: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Maka-Kalikasan, Makabansa, Masayahin, May Bayanihan, and May Pag-asa.

In an interview, DOT Eastern Visayas regional director Karina Ro...