City expects to attract more tourists in the coming months

The city government announced the upcoming Olongapo City Tourism Events for October to December 2009 at the recently held Business Summit at the Olongapo City Convention Center.

Lorela S. Montoya of the City Tourism Office presented the details of the planned tourism projects to the attendees of the business summit: Olongapo City officials led by Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. and Olongapo City First Lady and Zambales Vice Gov. Anne Marie, SBMA officials led by Administrator & CEO Armand C. Arreza, representatives from national government agencies, members of the city council, barangay officials, bankers’ group, and managers and owners of small/medium/large scale business in the city.

For the last three months of 2009, the following tourism activities are charted:

• BINIBINING OLONGAPO 2009

 TALENT PRESENTATION

October 3 (Oriental Paradise Casino, SBFZ)

 A NIGHT OF FASHION

October 7 (Casino Filipino, Olongapo)

 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT TRAINING ON ORAL COMMUNICATION

October 10 (Olongapo City Convention Center)

 PRE-JUDGING

October 17 (Olongapo City Convention Center)

 Bb. OLONGAPO MOTORCADE

October 23

 GRAND PAGEANT NIGHT

October 24, 2009 (Olongapo City Convention Center)

• SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

 October 27-30, 2009

 REGISTRATION / BILLETING

WELCOME DINNER AND SOCIALS

October 27, 2009 (Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center)

 PLENARY SESSION

AWARDING CEREMONIES OF OUTSTANDING SK

October 28, 2009 (Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center)

 PLENARY SESSION (Guest of Honor: H.E. President Gloria Arroyo)

OPEN DEBATE with the Presidentiables

DINNER and REUNION of KB and SK

October 29, 2009 (Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center)

• OLONGAPO MARDIGRAS 2009

 October 29, 30 and 31

 Metro Olongapo Chamber of Commerce, Inc. in cooperation with the City Government of Olongapo and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)

• OLONGAPO CITY FIESTA 2009

 October 23 (FMA Hall)

 First Canvassing – CHINESE NIGHT

November 13 (Olongapo City Convention Center)

 Second Canvassing – KOREAN NIGHT

PRESENTATION of City Fiesta Candidates

November 27 (Rizal Triangle Covered Court)

 Third Canvassing – INTERNATIONAL NIGHT

December 11 (Rizal Triangle Covered Court)

 CORONATION NIGHT

December 23 (Rizal Triangle Covered Court)

 CITY FIESTA GRAND PARADE

December 30

 QUEEN’S BALL

December 31 (Olongapo City Convention Center)

• ANNUAL PACIFIC ISLANDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONFERENCE

 February 2010

 Host: Olongapo City

 Venue: Olongapo City & Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ)

 Attendees: 1,500 – 3,000 Pacific Islands Leaders

‘Continuous and dynamic tourism projects lead to business and economic growth,” said Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. at the said conference. “Tourism means jobs because when the business sector is growing so are the demand for more workers,” he also explained.

Meanwhile, the city implements the guiding policies of City Ordinance No. 29 (series of 2006) otherwise known as the “Olongapo City Tourism Code” that recommends the creations of the Tourism & Promotions Department and Barangay Tourism Councils in the city, rehabilitation of parks and plazas, organizing of culture of excellence seminars and the upgrading of accreditation and classification requirements for tourism establishments in the advocacy to promote Olongapo City together with the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as center of visiting attractions in the northern part of the Philippines.

Pao/sara