LAUNCHING OF THE 4^TH AMBASSADORS’/CONSULS’ GENERAL

AND TOURISM DIRECTORS’ TOUR

18 February 2008 – The Philippine Consulate General and the Office of the Department of Tourism in Los Angeles reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that it launched last 13 February the 4^th Ambassadors’/Consuls’ General and Tourism Directors’ Tour (ACGTDT) which will be held on 12-15 July 2008.  Participants and friends from the media attended the jam-packed Rizal Hall of the Philippine Consulate. 

The tour, now on its fourth year, is a joint collaboration among the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry, through the collective efforts of the Philippine Ambassadors, Consuls General, Honorary Consuls and Tourism Directors based in the United States of America and Canada.

Consul General Mary Jo A. Bernardo Aragon delivered the welcome remarks while Tourism Director Annie Cuevas and Manny Ilagan gave a glimpse of the tour. 

Around 600 participants joined the tour in 2007—with 146 coming from Southern California.  Since the inaugural tour of 2005, a marked increase in the number of participants has been observed.  This year, the Consulate and Tourism Office in Los Angeles have been designated as coordinators for the 2008 tour.  The tour gives our kababayans the opportunity to witness first-hand the economic progress the country has achieved and for them to rediscover their homeland. 

For more information about the tour, interested participants may call the Philippine Consulate General (Cultural Section) or the Office of Tourism Director in Los Angeles at 213-637-3031 and 213-487-4525, respectively. END

/wingret