NEWSFLASH

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PACIFIC-ASIA TRAVEL CONFAB IN MANILA

Manila, March 31, 1998 - The Philippines is hosting some 2,000 local and foreign delegates to the 47th Pacific-Asia Travel Association annual conference going on at the Philippine International Convention Center until April 2.

This is the fourth time the country is hosting the annual convention of PATA, the most prestigious group in travel and tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.

Department of Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor said hosting the PATA event has a symbolic significance because it signals the return of the Philippines to the mainstream in Asia Pacific tourism and marks the Centennial celebration of Philippine Independence.

Manila became the first Asian country to host a PATA conference in 1954, two years after it was organized. Modesto Farolan, a former Philippine diplomat who was one of the founders of the association, led the event and became the first Filipino PATA president.

In 1971, Manila hosted the PATA convention once more, with Roque Ablan, Jr. as PATA president. The third PATA meet in Manila was in 1980, with Tourism Minister Jose Aspiras as PATA chairman.

For their contributions, Farolan, Ablan and Aspiras here honored with lifetime memberships.

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