TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Probably for the first time, at least four foreign ambassadors have arrived in this capital city at the same flight via Philippine Airlines to tour Bohol yesterday noon.
The four—Ambassadors to the Philippines Nguyen Vu Tu of Vietnam, Massimo Roscigno of Italy; Legowo Yohanes Kristiato Soeryo of Indonesia and John Gomes of Bangladesh—were welcomed at the airport by Bohol officials led by Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II and head of offices and other sectors.
The visiting envoys, accompanied by Philippine special ambassador to China Carlos Chan, later made a courtesy call at Governor Edgar Chatto at the Governor’s Mansion where they discussed eco-cultural tourism with emphasis on the environment, among others.
Nguyen, in a meeting with Chatto, quoted the country’s tourism sales mantra “it’s more fun in the Philippines,†and told the governor that they were looking forward for “most fun in Bohol.â€
Bohol officials said they expected that the Bohol visit of the foreign officials would soon find friendship, not only in diplomatic swapping, but also in tourism, culture or investment that would spur economic activity in the province.
Nguyen was accompanied by his family Mrs. Tran Thi Lan Hinh and Ms. Nguyen Tu Anh, while Soeryo of Indonesia was with his wife Maria Caecilia Soeharli.
The four ambassadors stayed at the posh Bellevue Resort in Panglao island and were scheduled to tour Carmen town where the Chocolate Hills are located and Corella town where the natural sanctuary of the tarsier, the smallest primate in the world, is established.
Last month, Taiwan Ambassador to the Philippines Raymond Wang and People’s Republic of China’s Ambassador Ma Keqing paid separate visits in Bohol not only to see the province’s beautiful spots but also to explore possibilities of trade and cultural exchange. (FREEMAN)