NEWSFLASH

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RP SHINES AT CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION

Toronto, Canada, Aug. 22, 1998 - The Philippines takes center stage at the Canadian National Exhibition, North America's largest annual public fair, which opens today in Toronto.

Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta and National Centennial Commission Chairman Salvador Laurel lead a delegation which flew in from the Philippines for the event. They will be joined at opening ceremonies by Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John Treleaven and Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Canada's first Filipino-Canadian Member of Parliament.

Ambassador Treleaven said he was pleased that the Philippines will be featured prominently at the CNE in the same year that it was celebrating the centennial of its independence.

As this year's featured country, the Philippines will showcase its products and services to nearly two million people from all over the world who are expected to visit the annual exhibition.

More than 100 Philippine companies are participating in the CNE. Many of them are manufacturers or handicrafts, furniture, jewelry, clothing and information technology products.

It was a grand opening at the Philippine booth as officials from the Filipino business community of Toronto and Canada, joined by the Philippine and Canadian delegation, on hand in formal attire, men in tuxedo and women in Filipina dress at the momentous event. The CNE has opened its doors for the 126th time here in Toronto. The National Exhibition is attended by people from all over the world every year in the last two weeks of August. The fun and frenzy of this annual tradition signal the end of the summer season and eventuates the back-to-school 'reality' for the kids which is on September 7 this year. Every year, the school kids dread the end of 2 months summertime, making them whimper the familiar, "It's not fair!" [that summer is over!].

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi