Jun Torres

Fortune Tellers to Invade SM City Clark! An esoteric tribe of tarot card-bearing fortune tellers or ‘manghuhulas’ will invade the event centre of SM City Clark on November 14-16, 2008 in time for the 3rd North Philippines Travel and Tourism Expo 2008. This was the announcement made by Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico of the Department of Tourism – Region III in a press statement issued recently. Tiotuico said that the organizers of the travel mart decided to invite at least four (4) of the most popular fortune tellers in Central Luzon, particularly in Nueva Ecija, to provide a unique brand of Filipino tradition in managing one’s future thru the practice of tarot card-reading and palmistry. These fortune tellers are said to have a large following on account of their track record in providing “possibilities foreseen”. They are said to have provided relief and hope to one’s dilemma. The fortune-telling event will highlight the annual tourism event which features myriad of tourist attractions and tourism products offered in the four regions of the north, namely Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon. Fortune telling has been a favourite pastime of Filipinos since the early 1900s when these so-called ‘travellers on foot’ started knocking on doors of neighbours in the hope having their future foretold. Most of these fortune tellers dwell on the aspects of love, career, and business. History indicates that fortune telling may have some bearing on recovered lost objects, success in bringing together estranged couples or control over some dark forces in the horizon. In Quiapo alone, a steady stream of clients, both sceptics and believers, come to find remedies for their physical or emotional illness. Some eighty (80) exhibit booths and craft demo corners are expected to give the more than 40,000 daily shoppers over the weekend a tapestry of cultural events like street dancing, cultural music and dances plus mega-sale of indigenous arts and crafts from the North Philippines. The travel expo is one of the biggest annual events sponsored by the four regional offices of the Department of Tourism thru the Central Luzon Tourism Council and the Philippine Exhibition and Themeparks Corp. (PETCO). ========================================================================================== DOT launches 3rd North Phils. Tourism and Travel Expo ‘08 The four (4) regions of the North Philippines are set to launch the 3rd North Philippines Tourism and Travel Expo ‘08 on November 14 – 16, 2008 at the SM City Clark, Pampanga with a bigger and better marketing drive that features the Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions as a wholesome one-destination-one product package. The North Philippines tourism corridor is headed by the following regional directors, namely Purificacion Molintas for the Cordilleras, Martin Valera for Ilocos, Blessida Diwas for Cagayan Valley and Ronaldo Tiotuico for Central Luzon. This was the announcement made by host regional director Ronaldo Tiotuico of the Department of Tourism – Region III in a press statement issued recently. Tiotuico said that the biggest marketing event of the year happens at a time when the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTex) is readily open to the travelling public from Manila which is the biggest source market for the four regions. The travel mart is expected to draw thousands of potential buyers, stakeholders and major players from both the domestic and international travel industry like big-ticket tour operators and travel wholesalers from around the country to do business calls on their travel-related counterparts in the north. Millions of pesos worth of tour packages is expected to change hands during the three-day event. This year’s event is organized by the Central Luzon Tourism Council, Inc. led by its regional chairman, Ms. Lydia Co, and Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. (PETCO) led by Ms. Edith Collado. Some twenty (20) provinces and major cities in the north are expected to showcase their tourism packages, destinations and attractions during the event with an even equal number featuring their cultural and indigenous lifestyles and heritage. Some 100 exhibit booths and pavilions will be occupied by both the private and government institutions to highlight their own unique tourism products. Also to be invited to the event are the regional destinations of the Visayas and Mindanao whose role in positioning the country as one country, one destination is quite crucial to the overall marketing effort of the tourism department. Expected to attend the all-important event are DOT Secretary Ace Durano, all the governors and local chief executives from the north, travel wholesalers and tour operators, including special-interest players like adventure travel specialists and health and wellness executives. This year’s theme is “Go North! A Wellspring of Diversity” speaks well of the north’s image as a diverse destination yet creating a unique blend of the new and the traditional, from a serene and soft environment to a rugged yet exotic places to go to. For further details, please contact the Department of Tourism – Region III, Hilaga Village, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Tel. Nos. (63 45) 961-2612/477-2499/479-6490 or Angeles Sub-office, Marlim Mansions Hotel, Balibago, Angeles City, Tel. Nos. (63 45) 625-8525/477-2498 Email: celtour@yahoo.com Website: wwwvisitmyphilippines.com or contact Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. (PETCO), Pasay City, Tel. Nos. (63 2) 832-9303 to 05 Email: northphilexpo@gmail.com
link: www.visitmyphilippines.com