Press Contact:

Lorna Lardizabal Dietz
Executive Coordinator, 6th Global Filipino Networking Convention
Lorna@6thGlobalCebu.com
(415) 235-9884 cell
(415) 508-5326 skype
Skype: lornadietz

August 11, 2009, San Francisco, CA – On October 9-11, 2009, the 6th Global Filipino Networking Convention convenes at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in the island of Cebu, Philippines. The theme of this year’s “convention of conventions” is “Surviving the Present, Shaping the Future,” a very timely call to action in these uncertain economic times worldwide.

Better known as the “6th Global,” the networking convention is convened by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations – Region 8 (NaFFAA-R8 in Northern California), headed by Rodel Rodis, organizing chair, and Marivic Bamba, organizing vice-chair, who, as co-founders, had successfully mounted the historic 1st Global Filipino Networking Convention in 2002 with 4,000 participants at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. The co-convenor is the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies-Cebu Chapter, a.k.a. NAITAS, with Jenny Franco, the Cebu chapter president who is the 6th Global’s Secretary General.

Labeled as “A Convention of Opportunity,” the 6th Global aims “to (a) build ties within our Global Filipino community; (b) identify our common interests; and (c) address our common concerns.”

For the first time in the Global Filipino Networking Convention’s history, three national organizations will provide community outreach support in bringing together the Filipinos in the Philippines and Filipino expatriates whose links to the old country and whose concern and affection for it have remained undiminished, despite the passage of time: NaFFAA (represented by Greg B. Macabenta, National Chair), NAITAS-Cebu Chapter, representing NAITAS (with Bobby Lim Joseph, Founding Chair and Angel Ramos Bognot, Chair), and the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce or FPACC (led by Yolanda O. Stern, President Emeritus and Jaime Lim, President and NaFFAA Region 7 Pacific Northwest-Oregon State Chair).

NaFFAA’s founding organizers of this biennial gathering had made a promise to bring the convention to the Philippines once every four to six years. The 3rd Global Filipino Networking Convention on January 20-22, 2005 had been held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, welcoming 1,100 delegates to three days of networking and festivities.

The 6th Global’s organizers, with their decision to make Cebu its destination of choice, are also encouraging overseas delegates and their guests to make pre- and post-convention trips to the Philippines’ many islands for their personal or business adventures.

The invitation is open to every overseas Filipino organization and individuals as well as Filipinos based in the Philippines who believe in the 6th Global’s goals and intentions of seeking “common ground.” The convention is all-inclusive, welcoming citizens of other countries as guests who advocate the Filipinos’ best interests.

The convention’s organizers continue to respond to organizations that have expressed an interest in participating as delegates and sponsors.

Some of the planned topics that will provide the foundation of the 6th Global’s break-out sessions: Advancement of Popular Art & Culture; Media; GREEN: Technology, Alternative Energy, and Environment, Business: Being “lean and green” offers economic empowerment; Health Care; Tourism, Women Empowerment; Education: “Growing Up Brown In…”; Dual Citizenship and the Overseas Filipino Absentee Voter; InterFaith Forum; and the Principled Leadership Forum with the serious contenders for 2010 Philippine national elections.

The Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, in partnership with other major Filipino community organizations and key government agencies, is also sponsoring an 11-day trade and cross-cultural exchange mission to the Philippines from October 6 through October 17, 2009. The mission’s schedule coincides with several major conferences and international events in Cebu and Manila. According to Chamber organizers, the October 2009 Philippine Mission is focusing on more than trade. Because of the opportunity to meet with representatives from several different sectors at the 6th Global in Cebu, this mission includes representatives and leaders from business, education, government and philanthropic foundations.

MangoTours.com will provide US delegates with special airfare rates for the convention by booking directly at their website, http://MangoTours.com or calling 1-866¬-2-MANILA or 866-262-6452, promotion code: 6th Global Cebu. Hotel accommodations, airport transfers, and tours will be handled by the 6th Global’s Cebu Organizing Committee.
For more information about participating in the 6th Global, contact Lorna Lardizabal Dietz at (415) 508-5326 or Lorna@6thGlobalCebu.com if you are based in the USA and contact Jenny Franco at (63-32) 234-1282 or (63-32) 234 1613 office, (63-32) 234-1463 fax or Jenny@6thGlobalCebu.com if you reside in the Philippines and other countries. Delegates can now register online at http://6thGlobalCebu.com.

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