On May 26, 2023 a Camaraderie Night hosted by El Kabayo and Hotels and Restaurants Association in Pampanga (HARP) was held. The event was attended Pampanga Agents Travel Society (PATS), Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB) and Association of Travel and Tours of Pampanga (ATTAP). As Allied Member of PATS, we were fortunate to be invited as we are pushing for the ecotourism in Porac. The event was also attended by Department of Tourism Region 3 headed by Ms. Avon Timbol, Chief Tourism Operations Officer.
There was no agenda for this gathering Krizia from GCVB mentioned but just to get acquainted and reconnect with fellows from tourism industry.
Ms. Avon of DOT office shared the upcoming MICE in Clark for 2024. Everyone is excited for the biggest event by Tourism Promotions Board. This year it was held in Davao and it brought in a lot of projects and partnerships for the South and the entire Philippines.
We met Ms. Rina from El Kabayo. We talked about possible collaboration of bringing their horses to Tutulari Avatar Gorge as they have done before. They are as happy as we are that we finally met. We also talked to Ms. Krizia of GCVB and we discussed Inararo Ecotour and Mt. Pinatubo. We all wish to bring more visitors from Clark in Inararo and Mt Pinatubo.
Krizia shared her experience in hiking Mt. Pinatubo before pandemic and how she accompanied her 65-year old then auntie, Linda Pamintuan. It was both stressful and exciting, but in the end the senior citizen conquered one of the most difficult trail to Mt. Pinatubo. You can read about it in her column in Inquirer newspaper https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/336221/conquering-mt-pinatubo-at-65/
We immediately had dinner as there were no actual programs but just a gathering. To celebrate the return of tourism after suffering from pandemic, perhaps? All in all, it was great. We had a lot of exciting discussions, laughs and strengthened bonds and new partners.
Thank you sir Dan Cerdena and PATS family!