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The brighter side of Cotabato City as seen in Intramuros (with photos)

A ceremonial sounding of the “Agong” formally opened the “Kalilang” sa Cotabato City, a weeklong feature for Intramuros’ Best of the Regions for the month of May. After the usual ribbon-cutting of the venue, the public was treated to a colorful showcase of the city’s best arts and crafts that included brassware, woven clothing materials and sugary delights. The heirloom collection of “inaul” popularly known as malong is displayed alongside brassware made in Cotabato City. The weeklong celebration includes crafts demonstration and ‘malong weaving.’ A dance workshop on the various Maguindanao techniques are likewise conducted together with the traditional sport called “sipa sa manggis” for everybody to participate.

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MB, p. B-5

Archipelagic, island states meet in Manila

The World Tourism Organization and the Department of Tourism will jointly host the First Meeting of Archipelagic and Island States on June 20 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The event coincides with the WTO Asia-Pacific Ministerial Summit in Crisis Management in Manila on June 16-20. The global meeting will bring together tourism ministers from over 70 archipelagic islands and states as well as representatives of other international organizations, according to Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, who chairs this year’s WTO Committee on East Asia and the Pacific.

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PS, p. A-27

Asean anti-SARS pact  (with photo)

A joint resolution to standardize measures and procedures to be adopted in all Asean Airports in prevention and containment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was signed during the Asean+3 Aviation Forum on the Prevention and Containment of SARS held on May 15-16, 2003, at the Clark Special Economic Zone, Pampanga, Philippines. Delegation heads from the member countries of the Asean + 3 led by the chairman, MIAA General Manager Edgardo C. Manda presented the Joint Resolution to the Hon. Manuel Dayrit, Department of Health Secretary and head of the SARS Crisis Management Team. Also present at the said forum were DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, DOT Secretary Richard Gordon, BID Commissioner Andrea Domingo and Asean officials.

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MT, p. C6

Employees file new raps vs PTA chief

Another case has been filed by employees of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) against general manager Robert Dean Barbers. This time they accused Barbers of grave abuse of authority in imposing formal charges against 10 employees of the PTA without the benefit of a preliminary investigation and in violation of their constitutional right to due process. The 10 employees petitioned the Manila Regional Trial Court last May 19 for prohibition mandamus and the issuance of a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Barbers and three other PTA officials.

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PS, p. 19

Employees file new charges against PTA ‘general manager’

Related story above.

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DT, p. 12

Photo: RP-Spain Friendship Day

Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Ignacio Sagaz delivers an inspirational message during the press launch of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day at the Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila. The enactment of Republic Act (RA) 9187 paved the way for the annual celebration of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day on June 30. Seated are Ricky Quezon Avaceña, Tourism Undersecretary Evelyn Pantig, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Delia Albert, National Historical Institute (NHI) Deputy Director Emilita  Almosara, and University of the Philippine-Department of History Prof. Ma. Luisa Cagamay.

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MB, p. 14

Spanish envoy cites RP-Spain ties

Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Ignacio Sagaz yesterday said that the Philippines will always be among his country’s priorities in trade and investments, considering the two countries’ historical and cultural relations. Sagaz made the assurance during the launching of the Philippine-Spanish Day at the Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila. The Philippine-Spanish Day will celebrated on June 30. The center of ceremonies will be in Baler, Quezon where about 50 Spanish soldiers made their last stand against attacking Katipuneros. Sagaz stressed that he was overwhelmed by the Philippine initiative of setting a date for a Philippine-Spanish Day.

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MB, p. 14

Red hot ‘lolas’ and a carnival of rafts (with photos)

Feature article on the Balsa Festival in Matabungkay Beach, Lian, Batangas.

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DT, p. 16

Malaysia urges Asean: Lift travel restrictions to save tourism

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysica pressed the Associations of Southeast Asian Nations to lift travel restrictions in a bid to promote inter-Asean travel and put the struggling SARS hit tourism industry back on track. “SARS has made us suffer so much. Even if we can overcome the outbreak in the next one or two months, it will take a few more months for confidence to travel to return,” Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Malaysia’s culture, arts and tourism minister said. “This time ASEAN countries need to find a meaningful way to cooperate. We need to tap the region’s 500 million population. We should remove travel restrictions and cut red-tape,” Abdul Kadir told the opening of the ASEAN National Tourism Organization’s meeting. The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Asia has hit the key tourism industry badly, forcing huge reductions in flights as visitors have stayed away in droves.

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PS, p. 5

Lift travel bans, KL asks Asean

Related story above.

PDI, p. A17

DFA wants travel ban lifted

The Department of Foreign Affairs wants the travel ban on Filipinos lifted following a World Health Organization certification that the Philippines is SARS free. Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert instructed all embassies and consulates to inform their respective host governments of the WHO report, removing the country from the list of SARS-infected countries. “We directed them to make a very strong representations,” Albert said.

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MS, p. 15

SMPO and SMMC presents ‘Lambingan’ in Intramuros

Ryan Cayabyab, Jonathan Velasco and Arnel Feliciano will be featured conductors of the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO) and the San Miguel Master Chorale (SMMC) in “Lambingan”, this Saturday at the Baluarte Plano Luneta de Sta. Isabel in Intramuros, Manila. The SMPO and SMMC will serenade visitors to the Old Walls with light classics, love songs and popular tunes.

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PDI, p. B4

Lambingan at the Old Walls (with photo)

Related story above.

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MT, p. C7

‘Lambingan’ at the Old Walls (with photo)

Related story above

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M, p. 15

Intramuros’ Music on the Walls features ‘Lambingan’

Related story above.

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PS, p. B-7

Fil-Am filmfest unreels July 4 [column: Viewfinder by Nestor U. Torre)

Story same as ‘Lambingan’ on the Old Walls.

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PDI, p. I-2

Editorial: World Health Organization declares Philippines SARS-free: DOH urges the public to maintain vigilance

Acting on a formal request by our Department of Health (DoH), the World Health Organization (WHO) removed the Philippines from its list of SARS infected countries last May 20. The Philippines got into the list after six people who came into contact with Adel Catalon, a nursing attendant from Canada who died of SARS manifested the disease. The de-listing follows the end of a 20-day observation period during which time no new suspected SARS case traceable to the transmission chain that started with Adela had been reported. To date, the number of confirmed SARS cases in the country – both imported and locally acquired – is 12 with 2 deaths.

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Tempo, p. 6

Senators calls for lifting of ban on Pinoy workers

Sen. Manuel Villar yesterday called on foreign afftairs and labor officials to work for the lifting of the ban on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in European and Asian countries due to fears over SARS. Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said the government can cite the decision of the World Health Organization to remove the Philippine from the list of countries with recent local transmission of SARS. “Now that WHO has removed the Philippines from the SARS list, foreign countries have no reason to continue its ban on Filipino migrant workers,” he said.

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T, p. 2