08 June 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General together with the Philippine Department of Tourism in New York (PDOT-NY) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) successfully held its official launching of the 10th Ambassador, Consuls General & Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) before Filipino-American community members at the Annex Hall of the Philippine Center in New York on June 03.
In his welcome remarks, Philippine Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. thanked the participating community members, explaining how the 10th ACGTDT was a golden opportunity for Filipino-Americans, particularly the younger generation, to join the annual tour to rediscover their cultural heritage and thereby promote the abundant historical and natural attractions in the Philippines to their family and friends who may have never traveled to the country before.
In two previous ACGTDT launches held last February and March in Massachusetts and Southern New Jersey, the Consulate General encouraged foreign students who are studying social entrepreneurship to consider the Philippines for their “term abroad.” The community can tap local resources and schools that have academic programs on social entrepreneurship, he added.
The presentation on the 10th ACGTDT was given by Philippine Tourism New York Representative Mitchelle Cristalle D. De Vera, who described how this special annual tour sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Tourism in Manila would enable all participants to join Philippine diplomats from the United States to explore Philippine tourism sites from July 06 to 10. She presented slides and video samples of ACGTDT tours in past years, and further revealed how for the first time this year, the basic tour itinerary of the ACGTDT would include an excursion of both Manila and Cebu, along with yearly routine activities such as a scheduled group luncheon at Malacanang Palace. Post-tour packages to other destinations such as Palawan, Bohol, and Vigan could be arranged at additional costs.
Also on hand to address queries on flight packages to the Philippines was PAL representative Marissa Dimaano, who provided the reasonably-priced rates on international and domestic flights into and within the Philippines, as well as discussed issues relating to the operations of PAL in JFK, which resumed flights on March 16 this year.
During the question-and-answer panel moderated by Consul Felipe Carino, the community members raised such issues as the annual scheduling for the tour event, seasonal flight rates, Philippine summer weather conditions, meal and rooming accommodations, and how the general program could be enhanced and even expanded on a yearly basis, including possible tour arrangements in the Philippines for specific visiting groups such as the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Registration for 2015 ACGTDT has been extended until mid-June. For more information on joining the ACGTDT, contact the Philippine Department of Tourism in New York at tel. no. 212-575-7915 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END