TOURISM-RELATED NEWS

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Gordon gets P1.1-B budget boost for tourism

The House Committee on Appropriations yesterday approved the P1.5 billion budget proposal of the Department of Tourism for 2004 in a bid to boost the embattled Philippine tourism industry. Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon presented before a committee chaired by Rep. Rolando Andaya a comprehensive master plan detailing the department’s programs and projects for the coming year. These included key infrastructure projects like airport improvement and development, tour packages, PR programs, marketing strategies, establishment of tourism economic zones and the promotion of Wealth of Wonders (WOW) Philippines.

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Roxas, Gordon want out, are asked to stay by GMA

Two Arroyo Cabinet officials reportedly want out of President’s Arroyo’s Cabinet and have even submitted their letters of resignation last week. The two, Trade Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Tourism Secretary Richard “Dick” Gordon, however, were reportedly prevailed upon by Mrs. Arroyo to stay a little longer, saying their departure at this time of the swirling Jose Pidal scandal would weaken her government, as this would be viewed by the public as a withdrawal of support from her administration.

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Imus Museum (photo)

Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, Cavite Gov. Ayong S. Maliksi, former Prime Minister Cesar E.A. Virata, Sr. Supt. Roberto Rosales and Imus MayorHomer Saquilayan appreciate a life-size monument of a Filipino soldier during the inauguration of the Imus Museum at Camp Pantaleon Garcia in Imus. At the background is a monument of General Emilio Aguinaldo. The museum was built recently as a fitting tribute to the heroes in the fight for independence.

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Cash incentives to boost DOT program (photo)

Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon stands before local government representatives, tourism council leaders and private sector representatives as he rallies them to support the Department of Tourism’s initiatives to revitalize the country’s tourism industry at the recently concludde 3^rd Tourism Related Industries Congress (TRICON 3) at Intramuros. During the TRICON, tourism stakeholders unanimously resolved to grant cash incentives to DOT’s Volunteer 12 Program and bring in more tourism for the rest of the year to break the 2.2 million-barrier in tourist arrivals recorded in 1997.

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DOT set to put up business look-in center at Paskuhan

A trade fair to feature the many business opportunities in Central Luzon will soon be part of the North Philippines Historical, Cultural and Tourism Village of the Department of Tourism. Located at the old Paskuhan Village in San Fernando, Pampanga, the initiative to set up a regional trade fair center for Central Luzon is expected to give the region a big boost in the aspects of business and tourism. This was announced recently by Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon during the Chair of Regional Development of CORD meeting attended by the different regional directors of the different agencies in the region.

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DOT & Pfizer launched ‘Biyahe Tayo’ campaign

The Department of Tourism (DOT) together with Bonamine, one of the products of Pfizer’s Consumer Healthcare Division and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), launched a local travel campaign dubbed as “WOW Philippines..Biyahe Tayo!” at the Clamshell in Intramuros, Manila, recently. ”Biyahe Tayo” is a domestic travel advocacy campaign which supports the DOT’s WOW Philippines program.

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Gen. Santos City: RP’s tuna capital

Tourism Secretary Richard J. Gordon rides in one of the floats during the 5^th Tuna Festival. He is shown with Richard Torrato, president of GenSan Tourism Association and Vanessa Mercado, Miss GenSan Philippines 2003.

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Strong teeth (photo)

Fisherman Ruben Jalandoni lifts a 66-kilo tuna using his teeth during the recently concluded Tuna Festival in General Santos City. The local fisherman’s stunt won him the contest, earning him P5,000 and the title of tuna lifting champion.

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(Frontpage)

An average of 500 tourists from South Korea arrive in the Philippines every day. Tourism statistics show that 157,230 Koreans visited the Philippines from January to July this year, down from last year’s 162,629. A total of 288,468 Korean visited in 2002.

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A world of flowers

Floral architect Rachy Cuna hosted a welcome dinner for the delegates of the World Flower Council (WFC) at Fr. Blanco’s Garden in Intramuros, Manila, recently. Dubbed “Fiesta…A Celebration,” the dinner was a showcase of the Philippines’ colorful culture and traditions, floral artistry, and, at the same time, the Filipino’s hospitable nature.

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Linggo ng Bulacan 2003: Pastillas, ensaymada, Joya, Malang atbp

Feature article.

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NAIA authorities screen passengers for SARS

Health authorities of the NAIA have started screening passengers from Singapore after an isolated case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was confirmed last week by the Singapore Health Ministry.

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Asia on Sept. 11 alert despite successes vs, terrorists

Hong Kong—Cautious embassies across Asia remained on high alert ahead of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 strikes on the United States despite a string of successes in the war against terrorism. Although there were no repeat of drastic measures last year that saw many diplomatic missions stark warnings were issued by the region’s most terror-hit nations as analysts spoke of growing threats.

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Pinay pianist, German violinist wow Philippine audiences

German violinist Angelo Bard and Filipina pianist Mariel Ilusorio recently completed a successful German-Filipino outreach and exchange concert tour in the country under the auspices of the Goethe Institute Inter Nationes, the Auswaertiges Amt and the Tugon Pansining Program of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Outreach and Exchange Division.

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Foreign police get protection at Manila nightspots

With more than 60 delegates in town for a summit of Southeast Asian national police chiefs, Manila policemen were ordered to step up security at the city’s tourist and nightspots to prevent the guests from falling prey to crime gangs.

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SAF secures Metro on 9/11 anniversary; key facilities guarded

Elite police units belonging the National Police Special Action Force (SAF) will secure key government installations and business establishments in Metro Manila today to prevent possible terrorist activities to mark the second anniversary of the September 11 attack in the U.S.

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Heritage photo contest winners announced

The winners are in for the Filipino Heritage Festival’s “Heritage in Focus” photo competition. “Heritage in Focus” is a two-month long search for the best photographs that uniquely captures the nation’s significant historical and cultural heritage sites. More than 200 amateur photographers from all over the country participated in the contest.

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Air talks wit US ‘a waste of time’

Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific believes holding a third round of air talks with the United States is just a waste of time. Peggy Perez-Vera, the airline’s vice president for corporate planning and external affairs, said the Philippine air panel should just channel its energies to negotiating for more frequency entitlements with other lucrative routes like South Korea and Japan.

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BI collars Japanese pedophile

Bureau of Immigration agents have arrested a suspected Japanese pedophile who was accused by his Filipino live-in partner of molesting their own daughter five years ago. The suspect, Hiroshi Ando, 65, was arrested on Friday by members of the bureau’s special operations team in his residence at Executive Village, BF Homes, Parañaque City.

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Korean shot dead

Cebu City—A security guard shot dead a Korean at dawn of Sept. 4 inside a restaurant in Barangay Maribago, Lapulapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. Kwang Gu Park, 27, of Seoul, South Korea, died of a gunshot wound in the left temple.

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PAL Palakbayan Supersaver

Tour packages ad.

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