IT HAS been a grueling, largely overnight trip, Philippine time to Italy. The trip took me from Bacolod to Manila, Taipei, Amsterdam, Milan, and finally a bus ride to Turin. Heavenly Father, may I have the physical stamina to tackle this job.
I’m here as an accredited international correspondent to cover the Terra Madre alone del Gusto 2016. For a community newspaper, the Sun.Star community will have a near exclusive coverage of the events.
Tomorrow, I go to Castello del Valentino at Viale Pier Andrea Mattioli to pick up my Press Pass from the Foreign Press Accreditation.
As an accredited correspondent, I will be given the free journalists’ wi-fi password. This will enable me to get online from the press room and to cover various event locations around the city.
The press pass will guarantee me access to the press room and use their facilities there. The staff there can assist me to find interesting ideas and stories, arrange interviews, and generally help me with my work needs.
Yes, it’s a privileged life for an international correspondent. But I have to hoof to get to get around the different events.
Speaking of hoofing it, getting to Europe is no longer fun for tourists. The series of terrorist attacks has cast a long shadow in the business end over hotel chains, airline companies, and luxury retailers that are already grappling with Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.
Declines in airline and hotel bookings have spread into European cities and countries that hadn’t suffered recent attacks. That raises the specter that the violence – combined with a sluggish economy – could have a broader economic impact, affecting companies like Air France-KLM.
No wonder the Terra Madre organizers provided us with KLM tickets. “Europe is not going to be doing them any favors,” said C. Patrick Scholes, a managing director at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. “It’s all about fear.”
Coming from the Philippines, though, Filipinos – including this corner –
have learned to live with fear. News on terrorism can be overrated.
*****
(bqsanc@yahoo.com)