1st students, tourism stakeholders’ nat’l gab opens today in Butuan
BUTUAN CITY (16 November) – The Department of Tourism (DOT), Caraga Regional Office in partnership with One Corporate Grand Tours, Inc. will open the first ever students and tourism stakeholders’ national convention today, November 16, 2009 at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, this city. The activity will run until Thursday, November 19.
The activity aims to provide an avenue for students, school heads and tourism stakeholders to enrich their understandings on the current trends of tourism and create a synergetic response to its challenges. The convention will also bring together students from different regions as well as tourism stakeholders from all over the country.
Invited speakers include DOT Sec. Joseph Ace Durano, former DND Sec. Gilbert Teodoro, Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, DOT Usec. Oscar Palayab, Ms. Prescilla Calimag of the DOT’s Office of Tourism Development Planning, and Dr. Erlinda Burton of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.
During the break-up sessions, the participants will be divided into four groups with different speakers invited to share their experiences in tourism-related activities.
Among the invited speakers are Mr. Celestino Ulep, Tourism Consultant; Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra; PSSupt. Nestor Fajura of Police Regional Office (PRO)-13; Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Ace Barbers; National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Caraga Regional Director Carmencita Cochingco; Mr. Greg Hontiveros, a local historian of Butuan City; and Dr. Irennetta Montinola, Surigaonon Heritage Foundation Executive Director.
A registration fee of Php 2,500 will be collected for live-out participants while Php 3,200 will be charged to live-in participants. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)
Mindanao Week of Peace celebration in Butuan calls Mindanaoans to think, feel & bring peace to Mindanao
BUTUAN CITY (16 November) – “Think Mindanao, Feel Mindanao, Bring Peace to Mindanao.” This is the call of stakeholders in Butuan City and Caraga Region to all Mindanaoans for the upcoming Mindanao Week of Peace Celebration in this city on November 26 to December 2, 2009.
During the coordinative meeting conducted recently at the Conference Room of the Office of the City Mayor here, stakeholders composed of the public and private organizations and peace advocates is in one voice calling all Mindanaoans to think, feel and bring peace to the island of Mindanao.
True to its objective, stakeholders have lined-up activities aimed to foster camaraderie, friendship and peace to people from all walks of life especially the Muslims and Christians through sports, literary, musical, and community extension services.
The activity will commence on Wednesday (November 25) with a press conference at the Bishop’s Home, Ampayon, this city to be facilitated by the Regional Office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Opening the week-long activity is a motorcade/caravan to be spearheaded by PNP Police Regional Office-13. Highlighting the activities on the first day is the launching of the Search for 10 Most Outstanding Peace-Builders for 2010 with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Caraga Conference for Peace and Development (CCPD), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) joined forces in spearheading the competition.
Other activities lined-up for the week-long celebration include blood-letting considered as peace offering, peace exhibit, poster-making contest, singing for peace contest, peace forum, university road show on ASEAN human rights mechanism, bike for peace, tree planting for peace, walk for peace, cleaning for peace, jobs fair, inter-agency sportspeace, peace rally, concert for peace, and the celebration of the 3rd year anniversary of CCPD.
According to organizers, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is invited to grace the 3rd year anniversary of CCPD where Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos is the lead convenor/chairman. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)
