Reason & Concern

by Ronquillo C. Tolentino

Birth of Boracay Global Press Corp.

Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon T. Tala-oc had succinctly presented his opposition to the casino proposal in Boracay in the same vein and manner that he declared his opposition to the RH and divorce bills pending in the Congress of the Philippines.

On September 13, 2011, the Supreme Court shall hear the oral arguments regarding the Caticlan reclamation issue. By now, the high tribunal already have a clearer view on all the sides of the issue. Both sides claim to have the support of scientific findings.　 Which scientific findings would merit the favorable opinion of the Supreme Court is for all to watch and consider.

On August 25, 2011, I received from Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI) president Johnny P. Dayang on the launching of the Boracay Global Press Corps (BGPC) on the evening of Sept. 24, 2011 coupled with the induction of its officers at the Boracay Eco Village Resort and Convention Center, Yapak, Boracay Island.　 "Connecting Boracay Islands Global Tourism Wonders of the World" is the BGPC’s theme.

Johnny Dayang said that among the members of BGPC are foreign journalists, writers, cor-respondents, media men from different parts of the country, members of the community press, opinion writers, broadcasters, publishers, editors, managers in publishing and broadcasting business, as well as those engaged in photography, advertising, public relations and corporate communications, website traffic developers, solution providers, on line publishing and other journalism practitioners inclusive of institutional supporters and advocates of press freedom.

Dayang stressed that to enable the Philippines to catch up with the globalizing tourism industry, Boracay Global Press Corps would endeavor to function like the press corps of Bali, Indonesia, Phukett, Thailand, Gold Coast, Australia, Cancun and Acapulco of Mexico, Rio de Janeiro 　of Brazil, Cannes of France and other tourist destinations worldwide.

PAPI, the principal convenor of the Boracay Global Press Corps earlier announced an international media convention dubbed as Global Media Forum and the 16th National Press Congress (NPC) to be held simultaneously in Boracay Island on December 8-10, 2011.

The joint media event aims to portray media’s linkage in a borderless world and shall be under the auspices of the Boracay Global Press Corps (BGPC) and PAPI.

PAPI president Johnny Dayang emphasized that with the increasing trend towards globalization, it behoves on media to find a way to be relevant to external influences of technology and events.

The 16th National Press Congress shall again highlight the month of December as the "National Press Congress Month"　and the Month of the Community Press as embodied in Proclamation No. 1167 issued by the President of the Philippines, Dayang declared.

Notes : It’s all quite in the Aklan political fronts even as a political figure has yet to emerge that shall challenge the Miraflores-Marquez tandem for the Aklan governor and congressman, respectively. It would seem that at least three political groups had remained silent after the Aklan Philippine Councilors League elections. /MP