APTA Group with NY DOT Director Emma Ruth Yulo

CASH AWARDS FOR TOURISM VOLUNTEERS...
by Philip Suba

"Magtulungan para sa Bayan...isang turista lang and kailangan!" (Let’s work together for the country...All we need is just one tourist), a shibboleth that echoes all over.

During President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit to New York last month, she upheld the Philippine Department of Tourism's (DOT) objective to heighten tourism and increase awareness in the Filipino communities in the tri-state area.

Together with the DOT, the Alliance of Philippine Travel Agencies, Inc. (APTA)-a non profit trade association composed of tri-state Filipino travel executives-has launched an innovative marketing program known as Volunteer 12. Its main thrust is to encourage overseas Filipinos and balikbayans to invite guests to visit the Philippines. The Volunteer 12 program is designed to perk up and give cash awards to all parties involved in this unique tourism plan.

Any overseas Filipino or balikbayan-excluding travel agents, tour operators, and travel personnel-can qualify to participate in the program and "be a tourism volunteer." As a tourism volunteer, when you send visitors to the Philippines, you are rewarded through extensive cash and cash-equivalent prizes. Cash prizes range form USD1000.00 (for fourth to twelve places) to USD10,000.00 (for first place) including a roundtrip air ticket, hotel accommodation and a Kalakbay Award from President Arroyo and DOT’s Secretary Gordon. The Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), who has been designated to qualify the privileges and benefits in accordance to the award scheme, will validate and monitor the V12 cards as received. The top producing Tourism Volunteer will be announced on December 2002. Winners will officially be notified by the DOT.

Initially, you have to convince a friend, a boss, a relative or any foreign guest to spend his/her vacation in the Philippines, then, contact your travel agent and book your guest. Once you have booked your guest, register for the Volunteer 12 program at your preferred travel agency or the regional office of DOT in New York; fill up the V12 guest card coupons part A and B for validation at the NAIA's arrival. Registering as a tourism volunteer will instantly qualify you for a reward of USD100.00 non cash shopping privilege (over and above the US$1,000.00 to US$2,000.00 duty-free privilege afforded to Balikbayans and Overseas Contract Workers) at the Philippine Duty Free Shop which you can claim upon arrival; or you can opt to nominate a family member or anyone to pick up a 30-day validity V12 Extension from the PCVC, Secretariat, Legaspi Tower 300 Roxas Blvd., Manila for them to enjoy the shopping privileges. A temporary 12 card will be issued until such time the DOT releases your permanent card.

To further develop a strategic alliance toward strengthening the Volunteer 12 program, Ruby Aquino, president of Pacific Asia Leisure and concurrent president of APTA, Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) president, Felix Christopher Alegre III and the DOT’ Secretary, Richard Gordon, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in the presence of President Arroyo at the Waldorf Astoria. The MOA affirms cooperation on all parties to work actively to promote tourism. Energized by DOT's campaign slogan "Wealth of Wonders" (WOW), Aquino presented President Arroyo and DOT’s Secretary Gordon a "WOW" poem to symbolize the cooperative union among all forces involved to make a solemn commitment to bolster tourism and contribute to the nation's thriving economy.

“…Let’s soar high, Spread our wings, To… and…from…Touch the sky with a cling, See this Wealth of Wonders…Philippines…” Become a tourism volunteer! You can make a difference! Cash awards await you! For more details, call APTA 212-661-3270 or check the website www.aptaonline.org or the Department of Tourism in New York at 212-575-7915.

New Tourism Chief Met New York Filipino Travel Execs

L-R: LEO BATERBONIA, ELLENVILLE TRAVEL; LINA SANTOS, SANTOS TRAVEL; RUBY AQUINO, PACIFIC ASIA LEISURE & APTA PRESIDENT; DOT SEC. RICHARD GORDON; DIRECTOR CATALINA DAKUDAO, DOT NYC; VID FIGUERAS, GARDEN STATE TRAVEL; BEN SANTOS, UNITED TRAVEL; BENNY ABLAN, SEQUEL

The Department of Tourism (DOT) hosted the Alliance of Philippine Travel Agencies (APTA) in an educational seminar and familiarization trip of Manila and Davao on March 12-19.

After arriving in Manila via Asiana Airlines on March 12, tourism Secretary Richard Gordon met New York City Filipino travel executives at the Department of Tourism (DOT) auditorium. Spearheaded by DOT/NYC Director Catalina S. Dakudao, the group discussed the new thrusts and policies for tourism under the new administration.

Among the highlights of the courtesy call to Secretary Gordon was APTA’s presentation of the proposed interactive kiosk featuring Philippine destinations, which is to be launched this summer in cooperation with DOT and the Consul General’s office in New York.

Ruby Aquino, APTA president, stressed that “this visit was an opportune time for APTA to present to the newly appointed tourism Secretary Richard Gordon the APTA’s programs and plans for action for the year 2001 and also to give him a retrospect of APTA’s past projects undertaken for the development and enhancement of Philippine tourism.”

The group also discussed with Mr. Gordon “The Youth Search Mission Manila” an off-shoot of DOT’s Rediscovery Philippines program and Tourism Awareness for the Youth which will proved foreign-born or second and third generation Filipinos a deeper understanding of the Philippines. Ruby Aquino also said during an hour-long dialogue with Secretary Gordon that “this project is another joint effort of APTA and the DOT in furthering our common goal to ensconces the Philippines as a premier destination in Asia.”

Among DOT officials present during the meeting who recognized the vital role of the government and private sectors in tourism development and promotion were Tourism Services and Regional Offices Officer-in-Charge Louella Jurilla and National Capital Region Director, Victoria Jasmin.

The energetic Director of DOT/NYC, Catalina “Kiling” Dakudao, who was instrumental in firming up arrangements for the delegation in Manila and Davao said, “the best sales tool is working knowledge of your destination, and personal experience is so important in recommending facilities to clients.”

Other activities of the group included inspection of hotels, some of Manila’s finest golf courses, and specific tourist destinations. In Manila, the delegation visited the hotel executives and made an ocular inspection of hotel properties.

Some of the finest hotels visited were: Westin Philippine Plaza; Shangri-La Edsa Plaza; the Manila Peninsula Hotel; Heritage Hotel; Manila Diamond Hotel; Hyatt Regency; Manila Galleria Suites; and Manila Hotel. The Club Intramuros Golf Course, Republic of the Philippines Golf Association, Wack Wack Golf and Country Club and Rockwell Land were also among the places of interest visited by the APTA group.

From Manila, the group headed for Davao via Philippine Airlines and visited several attractions. In Davao, APTA’s educational tour included: the Marco Polo Hotel; Pearl Farm Beach Resort; Philippine Eagle Nature Center; Malagos Garden Resort; Eden Nature Park; The Island Buenavista; Pacific Little Secret; The Island City of Samal; the Davao Tourism Association; The Venue Club and Restaurant and Casino Filipino-Davao.

Upon returning to Manila, the APTA delegation went on site inspections of the Centennial II Terminal International Airport as a follow-through on Gordon’s priority to increase efficiency at the terminal by cleaning up its surroundings and alleviating traffic congestion in the area.

MOA signing at the Waldorf Astoria

MOA signing at the Waldorf Astoria (L-R): APTA president Ruby Aquino, A Department of Trade Representative, DOT Secretary Richard Gordon, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

APTA Christmas Luncheon - December 13, 2001

(seated L-R): Lina Santos, Santos Travel; Judith Marquez, United Travel World; Director Kiling Dakudao, DOT NY; Ruby Aquino, Pacific Asia Leisure and APTA President; Consul General Linglinglay Lacanlale; Ex-Senator Nikki Coseteng; (standing L-R): Vid Figueras, Garden State Travel; Jeanette Lau, Northwest Airlines Sales Manager; Billy Vidal, Esq.; Mrs. Yoo, Yoo Travel; Deputy Consul General Tess Lazaro; Precy Mendoza, MI Travel; Chiqui Dioso, Pacific Asia Leisure; Michael King, Asiana Airlines Sales Manager; Joan Carraha, Singapore Airlines Account Manager; and Shirley Franco, China Airlines Account Manager.