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17TH
PHILIPPINE ADVERTISING CONGRESS OPENING DAY |
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Welcome,
Delegates CEBU is all set for the17th Philippine Advertising Congress, as government, tourism and business agencies have "left no stone unturned" to address the delegates' security, transportation and accommodations. Activities have been lined up all over the city in time for the congress, starting with Wild On Cebu, a collaborative party presented by Sun.Star Publications and Radio Mindanao Network. The multi-media event will be held at Cebu Plaza Hotel at Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City at 6 p.m. So delegates can fully enjoy their stay in Cebu, authorities have ordered full security coverage of the area for the three-day event. The movers and shakers of Cebu's tourism sector have organized the Cebu Convention Bureau (CBC), an ad hoc committee, to assist the organizing committee of the advertising congress. Bernadette Jingco, president of the Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association in Cebu (Hrrac) and Waterfront Cebu's assistant director for sales and marketing, said the CBC has also written all the city mayors in the province and mall managers asking them to enforce strict security in their areas of concern. "We all know Cebu is safe. Despite this, the committee has been beefing up security by requesting the PNP (Philippine National Police) to increase police visibility during the period. No stone has been left unturned (for Cebu's preparation)," she said. "We are here to make things easy for them," she added. Department of Tourism (DOT)-7 regional director Dawnie Roa is the group's adviser. Jingco said preparations for this year's convention have started since last year. "We are very happy that the Adcon committee has given Cebu another chance to become this year's host to the activity. We hope (and are working hard) that the next Adcon would still be in Cebu. Before the congress ends, the organizers would have received Cebu's bidding," she said. As to security, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Community Chief Police Senior Superintendent Ronald Roderos said the PRO has assigned the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) as the main unit tasked to secure the entire area. He said security forces have already been deployed at the congress area-Waterfront Cebu City Hotel-and at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIAA) to assist the delegates in their arrival. "We have already drawn a security plan for the activity. Police visibility would be increased to prevent security problems. Delegates and tourists are safe in Cebu," Roderos told Sun.Star Cebu. Jingco said Waterfront has refurbished its grand ballroom especially for the event. The five-star hotel has also increased its manpower to be able to attend to all the needs of the delegates. On November 20, Waterfront will light its giant Christmas tree and install its peace fountain in time for the arrival of the delegates. She said some 2,000 delegates have already registered as of November 16. The figure excludes student participants. The convention's participants will be staying at Montebello Hotel, Marriott, CPH, Waterfront and Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort. In case of a spillover, other delegates would stay with some Hrrac members. The participating hotels will provide delegates with shuttle services. Paul Villarete, Cebu City Administrator expressed the City's joy on the Adcon. But he said City Hall has not been actively participating in the preparations for the activity because the administration believes that the activity's success "is better left to the private sector." City Hall, however, has given organizers special favors and arrangements for the putting up of streamers of the organizers and participants. "But CH still confines itself to the law with regards to the streamers,' Villarete said. Meanwhile, Jingco added that the CBC hopes to be formally organized after the congress. Its main objective is to bid for major events such as the next Advertising Congress, Miss Earth pageant, and the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum to take place in Cebu. Members of the ad hoc committee include Cebu Plaza Hotel represented by general manager Randy Baron, Cebu City Marriott Hotel represented by Albert Lafuente, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel represented by chief operating officer Patrick Gregorio and Jingco, Hrrac represented by executive director Ana Conejero, and Maris Araneta from the transport sector.
Alvin's genie IT LOOKS like former Cebu City mayor Alvin Garcia indeed encountered his genie after addressing the 2,000 delegates of the 16th Philippine Advertising Congress at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in 1999. "I wish as I leave this place, that I am going to encounter a bottle with a genie, who can grant me three wishes. The first, for the success of this year's congress, second is for all of you delegates to enjoy your stay in Cebu, and the third is for the next ad congress to be held again in Cebu and for the organizers to consider Cebu as the permanent venue of the advertising congress," the former mayor had closed his speech with these words. With the holding of the 17th ad congress in the Queen City of the South, Garcia couldn't help but recall his wish for the genie. "I hope all the delegates will again enjoy their stay in Cebu. And I hope for the fulfillment of my last wish, which is to make Cebu the permanent venue for the ad congress," he said. Garcia said he did not really expect the organizers to award Cebu the venue for this year's congress, as the ad congress has not been held in the same venue consecutively. He recalled that he went to the bidding alone in October of last year. He said that he contended with two other places, Subic and Davao, representatives of which were so prepared with video presentations of their respective places. "I was alone bringing along statistics of Cebu. I capitalized on Cebu's peace and order situation, our facilities, and of course, the fact that they (organizers) can attest to what I was saying because they were already here," Garcia said. JBN
Why Sun.Star in Bullseye WHO would have thought that a regional daily like Sun.Star Cebu would be the first print media to produce the Philippine Advertising Congress' official newspaper? "This is the first time (in the event's 17 years of existence) that there is going to be an official newspaper. Sun.Star's participation is a milestone and a great help in documenting this year's congress," said program management and documentation head Mila Marquez. Sun.Star Publication Inc.'s Bull's.eye is the official newspaper of the 17th Philippine Advertising Congress, which kicks off Wednesday. The name Bull's.eye was chosen in keeping with Target:Market, the congress theme. Why Sun.Star? Why not, when it is the largest community paper in Cebu with the biggest readership. Sun.Star will circulate a total of 25,000 Bull's.eye copies in the next five days, vice president for business development Gina Garcia Atienza said. Rodenik Barbosa of the ad congress documentation committee said having a daily print coverage of the event is very important to the delegates of the congress, as the newspaper itself will contain pieces of information useful to the delegates. Aside from the daily news, Bull's.eye will carry data such as places to go in Cebu, vocabulary of Cebuano words, and Cebuano delicacies. The tie-up between Sun.Star and the documentation committee of the ad congress began with a proposal for Sun.Star to produce a four-page newsletter. After six months of planning and preparing for the big event, it was then eventually agreed that Bull's.eye would come out as a full newspaper. JBN
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