Skal International Makati celebrated its 27th anniversary recently at the Mandarin Oriental ballroom with top tourism and travel executives, members of the Consular Corp, business leaders, ranking government officials, educators, young professionals and tourism students in attendance. The event coincided with the conferment of the SKAL “TOURISM PERSONALITY AWARDS’ – now on its 20th year – giving honor to distinguished individuals who have contributed significantly to the growth of the tourism industry. Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Tourism Committee, led the impressive list of awardees this year.
Robert Lim Joseph, Skal Int’l Makati president, welcomed members, guests and awardees with the traditional Skal toast.
Guest of honor Skal Asian Area and concurrent Taipei Chapter President Earl Wieman, who flew in for the affair, personally handed the awards to the recipients with Joseph assisted by his officers Club Paradise president Juergen Warnke, vice president, Travel Cooperative of the Philippines’ Patricio Alcaraz, treasurer; PAL President and COO Jaime Bautista, director; Kuwait Airways District Sales Manager Jaime Zambrano, director, Robert Hukom, Gulf Air Country Manager, director; Abacus Distribution Systems President Demetrio Silverio, director; and Deedee Ledonio-Mallar, secretary, who was the emcee of the program.
Besides Gordon, who was bestowed the “Government Personality of the Year” award, the other awardees were Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, “Local Government Personality of the Year” award; Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin, “International Diplomacy Personality of the Year” award; Dr. Lucio Tan, “Special Citation, Tourism Personality Awardee for Airline, Hotel and Banking” award; Gulf Air Country Manager Roberto Hukom, “Airline Personality of the Year” award; Sofitel Philippine Plaza General Manager Bernd Schneider, “Hotel Personality of the Year” award; Pan Pacific Travel Chairman Dr. James Dy, “Travel & Tour Personality of the Year” award; Maribago Bluewater Resort President Julie Alegrado-Vergara, “Resort Personality of the Year” award; ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director Gina Lopez, “Corporate Social Responsibility Personality of the Year” award; ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio, “Media Personality of the Year for Broadcast” award; Philippine Star Executive Vice-President Grace Glory Go, “Media Personality of the Year for Print” award; Etihad Airways Country Manager Juan Torres, “Skalleague of the Year” and Arturo Cobarrubias, Sr., “Senor Award of Distinction.”