P R E S S R E L E A S E

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL NEW YORK
PRESS RELEASE
PR-MDL-024-15
23 March 2015
AMBASSADOR, CONSULS GENERAL, TOURISM DIRECTORS TOUR LAUNCHED
IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA; COMMUNITY WELCOMES
RETURN OF PHILIPPINE AIRLINES TO US EAST COAST
Consul General De Leon (7th from left) pose with Ms. Ruth Luyun (5th from left), Mr. Brad Baldia (7th from right), Consul Bong Carino (1st from
right), Ms. Michelle Narvaez of PAL(second row, 7th from left), and Ms Azucena Pallugna (2nd row, 4th from right) and FECGP and PACC
21 March 2015 – The 10th Ambassador, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors
Tour (ACGTDT) was launched in Southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania organized
by the Philippine Consulate in cooperation with the Filipino Executive Council of
Greater Philadelphia (FECGP) and the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce
(PACC) of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey at the Philippine Center in
Cherry Hill.
Ms. Zeny Pallugna with Consul General De Leon encourages the public to
visit the country during Visit the Philippines year 2015.
556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Consul General De Leon with Ms. Michelle Narvaez announces the raffle
winner of a business class ticket Mla-NY-Mla courtesy of Philippine
Airlines.
Tel. No. (212) 764-1330
www.newyorkpcg.org
In his remarks, Consul General De Leon said that community members can help in
promoting ACGTDT to Filipino Americans and tourism to mainstream Americans,
including students. Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia are areas which host
many universities and colleges. American students as well as academic institutions
can be encouraged by the Filipino community to consider the Philippines as a
destination for short-term study abroad and immersion, particularly in the areas of
social entrepreneurship and social tourism.
(l-r) Ms. Ruth Lyun and Ms. Azucena Pallugna
Ms. Luyun of FECGP thanked the Consulate General and community members for
supporting this activity whose objective is to help the country through tourism
promotion. Meantime, Mr. Baldia of PACC invited participants to get involved in the
community through the White House Initiative on Asia-Americans and Pacific
Islanders Initiative where a small business boot camp open to small business
owners will be held in Philadelphia on April 21.
(l-r) Ms. Michelle Narvaez of Philippine Airlines and Mr. Brad Baldia of Philippine Chamber of Commerce-PA/ SNJ
Community members also welcomed the resumption of flights to the US East Coast
of Philippine Airlines, as represented by Ms. Michelle Narvaez. PAL is currently
providing four flights weekly Manila-New York via JFK with a layover in Vancouver.
A short Q&A and feedback session on PAL followed which sought to address certain
challenges by Filipino travelers like lack of direct flights from Philadelphia
necessitating a shuttle service from southern New Jersey to JFK airport in New York,
and competitive rates offered by other Asian airlines. .
556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Tel. No. (212) 764-1330
www.newyorkpcg.org
Ms. Azucena Pallugna, representing the Philippine Department of Tourism-New
York, gave a brief presentation on the ACGTDT travel packages and encouraged
participants to join this year’s expanded tour which includes Cebu. She added that
this year has also been designated as Visit Philippines year 2015 by the Department
of Tourism.
The ACGTDT activity was made possible through the assistance and sponsorship of
the Filipino community of the FECGP led by its current President, Ms. Ruth Luyun,
and supported by PACC-PA led by Executive Director Mr. Brad Baldia.
The Consulate General hopes to cap promotional activities on ACGTDT with a
similar activity in New York City by May. - END
556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Tel. No. (212) 764-1330
www.newyorkpcg.org