Baguio exec looks at bright side despite ad congress pull-out

A Baguio City tourism official remained optimistic even after the Philippine Advertising Congress cancelled its 21st meeting in the country’s summer capital. Millions of pesos lost from canceled hotel accommodations and tourism revenues “will come back to us a thousand-fold," Baguio Tourism Council chief Anthony de Leon said. He made these remarks a day after advertising congress organizers chose to hold the meeting in Subic in Olongapo after typhoon Pepeng cut major roads and isolated Baguio for several days. The city “won the bid fair and square," De Leon said. “The roads are all open, the venues are not affected, this is not the fault of Baguio." Despite assurances of safety and seamless flow of events, the organizers’ decision was final, De Leon said. The advertising industry’s annual gathering was estimated to bring over 5,000 participants to the mountain resort. “This will affect us, because they have undermined the capabilities of the city," he added. The Advertising Congress board was set to review the bid of the city in hosting the event after typhoon Pepeng ravaged the region. Instead, it carried the letter of cancellation. “Our primordial concern is the safety and well-being of thousands of delegates, exhibitors and guests," Charmaine Canillas, Chairman of the Advertising Board said, in a letter. “If it were not for an act of God and nature, the city would have been an ideal venue for the Ad Congress. There is no place more suitable or more welcoming than Baguio," Canillas said. Hotel reservations account for over 2,500 rooms in both venues alone. The board will instead be giving donations to the city and Benguet province for disaster relief, De Leon said. Events like the Fil-American Golf Tournament in December, where 1,300 golfers are expected to converge for two weeks of play, the gathering of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, and the annual Philippine Mine Safety Week, will still push through. Roads damaged by typhoon Pepeng have extended travel time from Manila to Baguio to seven hours, instead of five to six. - GMANews.TV