Phl Ad Congress to promote CamSur as top destination

MANILA, Philippines - Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. has expressed optimism that the four-day 22nd Philippine Ad Congress (PAC) would help sell his province as the best destination for meetings and other conferences.

CamSur will host this year’s PAC, with the theme “Change the Game” to be held from Nov. 16 to 19.

“We are ready as we can ever be. We’ve pulled all the stops and worked hard to make sure that this year’s PAC would be very successful and give the delegates a great time,” Villafuerte said.

He said the province is ready to welcome 2,000 delegates at the Camsur Watersports Complex in the town of Pili.

Prominent personalities from the media, advertising and marketing industries as well as captains of Philippine business will be part of the PAC.

These acknowledged “game changers” in their respective fields will talk about their experiences, emerging trends and prospects for the intertwined worlds of media, advertising and marketing.

“Our goal, after being the undisputed sports tourism capital of the country, is to be the next destination for meetings, incentive travel conferences, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) in the country after hosting the Ad Congress,” Villafuerte said.

Among the media groups involved in organizing the 22nd PAC are the United Print Media Group (UPMG), the Cinema Advertising Association of the Philippines (CAAP), the Independent Blocktimers Association of the Philippines (IBA), the Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) and the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP).

“We have hosted major events before, but this is by far the most prestigious, and most challenging, that we have had to prepare for. There were times we felt daunted by the task but we just had to soldier on,” he added.

Among the Philippine media titans who would be speaking before the delegates are Eugenio Lopez III, chairman & CEO of ABS-CBN, Felipe Gozon, chairman & CEO of GMA Networks Inc., and Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of ABC-TV5.

Delivering the keynote address is Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez, a legend in the Philippine advertising industry.

But as in previous editions of the PAC, it will not be all work, as a host of activities that would give the delegates the opportunity to network and have lots of fun has been lined up, such as the parade of colors, cheer dancing competition, nuts in a box-crazy boxing fight, Maalis-Alis, wacky fun run, Palabang Dragon, Lago del Ray obstacle course, ultimate frisbee and wakeboarding.

The first activity for the four-day event that would allow the host province to welcome the delegates is the Smart-Cignal Governor’s night hosted by Villafuerte.