Sundries

Gulf Express Corporation (GEC) announces its latest partnership with EVA AIR as Marketing Representative for Southern Philippines

Starting October, 2006, GEC office opens its doors to serve EVA AIR's passengers. This partnership offers both companies wider opportunities to reach out to the growing market in the South. The outlet will give passengers the convenience of booking their flights out of Cebu and onwords to EVA AIR's destinations with its partner airlines.

EVA AIR flies to more than 40 destinations covering four major continents including Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America. EVA AIR flies from Manila to Taipei daily.

GEC Cebu Sales office is located at Unit 104 Raintree Mall, Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City. During a recent launching of EVA AIR held at their new location, the guest witnessed the signing of EVA AIR/GULF EXPRESS CORP. PARTNERSHIP. Representing EVA AIR is Mr. Jack Yu, its Gen. Mgr. and Ms. Mae CuUnjieng, Pres. & Gen. Mgr. of Gulf Express Corporation. Members of the Cebu Travel Agencies Association (CTTA) present during the occasion were Marget Villarica of Destinations Specialist shown in photo with Mr. Jack Yu, Ms. Cun Unjieng and GEC Sales Manager Julie Eugenio. Also shown in photo with Ms. Eugenio and Mr. Yu are Marilou Ordoñez of Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc. Marisol Barria of Marist Royal Holidays, Roy Jingco of Baron Travel, Liza Young of Worldwide Travel, Corazon O with hubby. For more on EVA Air's Promo fare, you can call your favorite travel agent.

* * * Latest Update From British Airways

British Airways is implementing revised cabin baggage measures, introduced by the UK government's Department of Transport which took effect last Sept. 22, 2006. The new measures allow all air travellers departing from a UK airport or transferring through a UK airport to carry onboard one bag, no bigger than 56 cm x 45 cm x 25cm (22 ins. x 17.75 ins. x 9.85 ins.) In addition, customers who need to carry with them musical instruments may now carry them through security search provided they can be x-rayed. The following items must NOT BE CARRIED IN THE CABIN BAG:

* Liquid Cosmetics
* All Toiletries
* All Liquids
* All Drinks

Cabin bags may contain the following:

* Electronic equipment, including laptops, mobile phone, MP3 Players, portable music and DVD players, digital and film cameras, video cameras.

Essential medicines in liquid form, in quantities of less than 50 ml.

* Baby's milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle MUST be tasted by the accompanying guardian.

Pushchairs and walking aids, including wheelchairs are permitted but must be security screened. If you are transferring through a UK airport onto another flight, please do not purchase any duty free liquids or perfume, as these may be confiscated in transit at London when you go through the security check.

* * * Colon Street: A Promenade For Locals And Tourist!

On the City Council's Resolution to make Colon Street and other landmarks a "promenade for all", locals & tourist alike, I see this as a breakthrough from the conservative idea that it will deprive the vendors of a place to do business. As in any problem, we can always find a solution. Here is my two cents' worth of solution: If the city can provide the vendors with mini-stalls evenly distributed in the different tourist spots which they can rent at affordable prices and where they can sell souvenir items produced by local weavers, Cebu manufacturers of costume jewelries and handicrafts, as well as any and all Cebu souvenir items that one can think of. This will provide them with a better income than what they might be selling at the present time. We can even have a massage corner where blind masseurs can pamper many a tired feet, and a rondalla that will provide entertainment to passersby. I remember seeing a small stage in the center of the promenade at The Venetian in Las Vegas, where a father and daughter tandem played the violin and a flute and entertained us while we rested our aching feet. Of course, people stopped to drop a dollar or more! This is what we can do for our handicapped with talents, to help them earn respectably and with dignity. I would like to see the vendors in our local attires representing the different Visayan regions who will provide more color to Colon St., being the oldest street in the Philippines. Similar mini-shops can be made available in all the tourist spots, such as the Plaza Independencia, the Fort San Pedro and the Magellan's Cross. Of course, the stall rentals should be minimal, controlled and properly managed, where the souvenir items sold are representative of the area where they are located, i.e. a replica of the Magellan's Cross or the Sto. Niño Basilica, at the area of the Magellan's Cross and the Basilica; a replica of the Fort San Pedro in the area where the fort is, and so on. I started a collection of refrigerator magnets from all the places I have visited, and they cost 5euros a piece in Europe or $5.00 in the United States. With the ingenuity and creativity of our Cebuano manufacturers, I have no doubt that they can surely produce (if they have not done so yet) this small souvenir item and make it available to the vendors on consignment basis. I am sure that given the proper incentive, our vendors will welcome the idea of Colon Street, Magellan's Cross, Plaza Independencia, Fort San Pedro being closed to traffic, since people will walk around the area where they can find relaxation, food and entertainment all in one place. It will be a place everyone will want to visit; rich or poor, young or old, local or foreign, where they can sit down and have a taste of local delicious pastries with a cup of capuccino or ice cream, walk around and go souvenir hunting, bring the family to a favorite restaurant, or treat foreign guests to a local show of Filipino songs and dances. If the area is well-lighted and security is good, it will be a win-win for all concerned. I have seen it happening in many places abroad that my tours have taken me, and I strongly believe that with enough determination, we can restore Colon Street to its former glory!

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For your comments, you can reach me at Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc. Cebu City, Tel. Nos. (6332)2536561 & 2536571 or Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc., Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Tel. Nos. (632)8334334, 8448124 & 8448543 or by email at: [email protected] or [email protected].