SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Despite the short, three-week preparation for the 21st Philippine Advertising Congress here, this freeport and Olongapo City are ready to welcome delegates, as the biggest event in the local advertising industry opens Wednesday.
The event, which brings together the country’s top business, advertising and media firms, was originally scheduled in Baguio City, but the venue was transferred here after roads leading to the summer capital were damaged by landslides and floods triggered by strong typhoons in October.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Armand Arreza said due to time constraints, the preparation for the PAC had to be rushed so it could begin today, as originally planned by its organizers.
“There was no time to prepare [like in 2007, when Subic hosted the PAC] because of the late decision [to transfer the venue here],” Arreza said.
Although Subic’s third hosting of the event will be a scaled-down version compared to the 2007 and 1993 events, Arreza said Subic “will give it everything we’ve got.”
“We are ready. All systems go,” he said.
In 2007, the 12,000-square meter Subic Bay Exhibit and Convention Center (SBECC) was refurbished to host the 20th PAC. The convention center has a 2,456-sq m plenary hall and an exhibit area covering about 10,000 sq m. It can accommodate more than 5,000 delegates.
In an earlier briefing, Margot Torres, 21st PAC chair, said organizers were thankful to the SBMA for “welcoming us back to Subic at such short notice.”
“Subic has made it possible for the 21st PAC to carry on,” she said.
Torres said like in 2007, hotels in and around the Subic freeport could accommodate the more than 3,000 congress delegates.
She said the congress’ theme and topics were unchanged, although they would be recast so the impact of the tragedy wrought by strong typhoons would be discussed.
“We started this congress with a vision which is fun and relevant learning for the industry. But our theme, ‘Perspectives: Ano sa tingin mo?’ takes on a bigger challenge. What started out as an economic crisis has turned into a socioeconomic and environmental crisis,” Torres said.
