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| TRAVEL MART OPENING.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano (third from left) and
Cong. Edgar Chatto (fourth from left) visited the booth
of the Bohol Society of Travel Agencies, Inc. (BSTA) during
the opening of the three-day 18th Philippine Travel Mart
at SM Megamall-Manila last August 27. BSTA is headed by
its president Elvieh Sarmiento (third from right) of Tagbilaran
Land Sea Air Tours & Travel, member of the Philippine
Tour Operators Association (Philtoa). BSTA member-agencies
include Dream Island Travel and Tours; Sun Sights and
Sea Tours & Travel; Travels Treats Tour Services;
Mitngaw Travel and Tour; Daylinda Travel & Tours;
Serenity Travel & Tours; RSJ Travel & Tours; One
Fine Travel; Lugod Transport & Tours; Jet About Travel
& Tours; Bohol Sights Travel & Tours; Metroland
Travel & Tour and NF Transport & Tours Services. |
Agnes
Celeste P. Ytac, a freelance Department of Tourism-accredited
tour guide and a member of the Bohol Island Tour Guides Association
of the Philippines, Inc. (BITGAP) was one of the awardees
during the commencement exercises of the Korean Language Training
course conducted in Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea.
The
two-month training sponsored by the United Nations-World Tourism
Organization (UN-WTO) through the Sustainable Tourism in Eliminating
Poverty (STEP) Foundation ended last August 17, 2007. Present
during the commencement exercises were the Kyung Hee University
President, Ki Jong Lee, Dean of the College of Hotel and Restaurant
Management of Kyung Hee University, Korean language teachers
from the International Institute for Education (IIE), Korean
buddies, staff from STEP Foundation and residency training
program for ASEAN Tourism, government officials and delegates.
The
Philippine delegates in the training were David John Apigo
from Manila, Michael Villaga from Pampanga, Michael Alfon
of Cebu Association of Tour Guides (CATG) and Ms. Ytac of
Bohol Island Tour Guides Association of the Philippines, Inc.
(BITGAP).
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"The
training was very helpful in understanding another Asian
culture through language studies most especially that
we have experienced an increasing number of Korean tourists
in the Philippines," Ms. Ytac said. "We do
hope that the program will be continued to another level
and more delegates from the Philippines will be sent
for such studies," she further recommended.
The
graduation started at 10 o'clock in the morning with
the presence of Ki Jong Lee, Dean of the College of
Hotel and Restaurant Management at Kyung Hee University
as guest speaker.
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Two
delegates from Vietnam topped the Level 1 class while a Cambodian
delegate topped the Level 2 class. Ms. Ytac ranked third in
the Level 1 class. There were a total of 26 delegates from
7 Asian countries namely: Laos, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.
For
the finale, the delegates sang the Korean graduation song
entitled "Nahansang," a Korean love song taught
to them by one of the Korean teachers. The graduation program
ended with all the delegates and guests joining together for
their luncheon banquet prepared by the College of Hotel and
Restaurant Management students at the Walker Hill Hall.
In
the afternoon, the delegates witnessed the traditional and
cultural performances of Korea in one of the historical palaces
located in Seoul. Following the concert, the delegates had
their final dinner together with their Korean teachers and
the staff of the program. Most of the delegates departed for
their respective countries on the 18th of August while the
rest the following day.
For
the past more than two months of the training, the Korean
language class was held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Lectures
on tourism, Korean Culture and Tradition, Politics, Korean
history, people and the arts, Hallyu (Korean music, movies,
dramas and artists), among others were also conducted from
2 to 4 in the afternoon.
A
series of field trips were scheduled during the weekends.
The delegates visited the DMZ (demilitarized Zone area) dividing
North Korea and South Korea at the so called 38th Parallel,
JEJU Island and its famous vacation area, Everland, historical
palaces and temples, city tour, traditional and cultural performances,
folk villages to name some.
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