No Iloilo Dinagyang delegation in 2019 New York parade

“If you're not in the parade, you watch the parade. That's life.”
--Mike Ditka

By Alex P. Vidal

The 21st Philippine Independence Commemoration Parade (29th Annual Parade, New York City) on June 2, 2019 will miss the presence of the delegations from the Dinagyang Festival and the Iloilo Trade Mission.
The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), the parade organizer in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, has not confirmed the participation of the Ilonggo groups this year.
Both the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City and the Manggahan Festival of Guimaras Province and city officials from the first-ever private-initiated Iloilo City Trade Mission and Investment Forum Ilonggo Fashion and Jewelry Show in the East Coast held on June 4-10, 2018, took part in the biggest parade for the Philippine Independence Day in the East Coast on June 3, 2018.
Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa, who spearheaded the Iloilo Trade Mission, was joined last year by his wife, Gina Sarabia-Espinosa.
Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation boss Ramon Cua Locsin led the Dinagyang Festival delegation.

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The team, led by Dr. Emily Noserale Hagad, president and project coordinator of Philcoman Research Institute, Inc. in the private sector, was composed of Councilor Plaridel Nava, Commercial Diplomat for Trade Relations of the City Rex Aguado, City Local Economic Enterprise Officer Jose Ariel Castañeda, City Planning Coordinator Jose Roni Peñalosa, Western Visayas State University College of Communication Dean, Dr. Carmencita "Menchie" Robles, University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) Vice Chancellor Mary Ann Gumban, Iloilo Business Park-Megaworld Sales Director Carla Margarita Perez, Eon Group of Companies founder and CEO Felicito Tiu, StackTreck Enterprises CEO Billy Shung Hei Yuen, City Mayor’s Office staff Rosita Celiz, and journalists Florence Hibionada (Secretariat Chief), Tara Yap (Manila Bulletin) and Herbert Vego (Panay News), who also did Herculean efforts to promote Iloilo City as an ideal and perfect hub for business, tourism, education and investment.

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Alma May Tayo, chair of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo Chapter Exhibitors’ Committee, also actively joined the trade mission in New York, Virginia and Washington D.C. and the New York City Independence Day parade.
City Tourism Operations Officer Florence King Haro Erlano and Iloilo City Tourism and Development Office staff Sheena Julienne Galon did amazing reinforcement tasks during the parade and the trade mission and investment forum.
Executive Assistant Jojo Castro, “Iloilo City’s Bong Go”, was with City Engineer Bobby Divinagracia, and Iloilo City National High School principal and Tribu Panayanon tribe manager, Dr. Blesilda V. Floro.
It was not immediately known if Mayor Joe III’s defeat to Rep. Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas in the May 13, 2019 elections had affected the reported plans earlier to duplicate the Iloilo Trade Mission, which became the talk of the town among members of the Filipino community in the East Coast when it was held for the first time last year.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Ilonggos in trade delegation who worked ‘silently’

“Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.”
--Frank Ocean

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- When I had a chance to engage Iloilo City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia in a long tete-a-tete at the Madison Square Park after the 120th Philippine Independence Day parade here organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) on June 3, the first thing I asked was “Where is Department of Tourism (DoT) Regional Director Helen Camarista-Catalbas?”
Since two flashy regional festivals--Iloilo City’s Dinagyang and Guimaras’ Manggahan--and one trade mission were involved in the sizzling East Coast event, Atty. Catalbas should have been in the entourage, Divinagracia explained.
But because the new DoT secretary, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, has just assumed and has been constantly communicating with all regional directors in the country, Atty. Catalbas probably needed to stay behind, she surmised.
Divinagracia pointed out that Atty. Catalbas "has been very supportive" of all their programs, including both in their tourism and business-related activities, especially when Iloilo City hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministeral meeting in 2015.

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I also missed Divinagracia’s predecessor, city tourism consultant Ben Jimena, who first accompanied the Tribu Panayanon during the 2013 Philippine Independence Day parade here in a delegation led by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
As I have asserted several times, City Hall should bring one representative from the Public Information Office (PIO) in the next trade mission and investment forum.
PIO Chief Lucy Montealto-Sinay or her representative would be able to greatly help sustain the publicity of the day to day week-long activities.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III talked lengthily and enormously about Iloilo City’s peace and order during the open fora.
It won’t hurt if in the next trade mission, they tag along the chief or a representive from the Iloilo City Police Office (IPPO) to speak about peace and order and assure potential investors of their security.
There were other Ilonggos in the delegation who worked silently and were sparingly mentioned in the media but who, in one way or the other, have made gigantic contributions in the success of the first-ever private-initiated Iloilo City Trade Mission and Investment Forum Ilonggo Fashion and Jewelry Show in the East Coast on June 4-10, 2018.

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I didn’t have the exact list of all Iloilo delegation members, but I spotted Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava, who came with his family. Nava talked about the Iloilo City Ordinance on Noise Pollution in the EduCare for Early Childhood Education talk in Fairfax, Virginia.
His wife helped model for hablon cloths in the Virginia leg fashion show.
Alma May Tayo, chair of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo Chapter Exhibitors’ Committee, also actively joined the trade mission in New York, Virginia and Washington D.C. and the New York City Independence Day parade.
City Tourism Operations Officer Florence King Haro Erlano and Iloilo City Tourism and Development Office staff Sheena Julienne Galon did amazing reinforcement tasks during the parade and the trade mission and investment forum.
Executive Assistant Jojo Castro, “Iloilo City’s Bong Go”, was with City Engineer Bobby Divinagracia, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation boss Ramon Cua Locsin, and Iloilo City National High School principal and Tribu Panayanon tribe manager, Dr. Blesilda V. Floro.

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City Mayor’s Office staff Rosita Celiz did a factotum for Iloilo City First Lady Gina Sarabia-Espinosa and Secretariat Chief Florence Hibionada.
The rest of the team, led by Dr. Emily Noserale Hagad, president and project coordinator of Philcoman Research Institute, Inc. in the private sector, were Commercial Diplomat for Trade Relations of the City Rex Aguado, City Local Economic Enterprise Officer Jose Ariel Castañeda, City Planning Coordinator Jose Roni Peñalosa, Western Visayas State University College of Communication Dean, Dr. Carmencita "Menchie" Robles, University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) Vice Chancellor Mary Ann Gumban, Iloilo Business Park-Megaworld Sales Director Carla Margarita Perez, Eon Group of Companies founder and CEO Felicito Tiu, StackTreck Enterprises CEO Billy Shung Hei Yuen, and journalists Tara Yap (Manila Bulletin) and Herbert Vego (Panay News), who also did Herculean efforts to promote Iloilo City as an ideal and perfect hub for business, tourism, education and investment.

Iloilo City sweeps New York, Virginia, Washington D.C. by storm

“Your mindset matters. It affects everything - from the business and investment decisions you make, to the way you raise your children, to your stress levels and overall well-being.”
--Peter Diamandis

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- The biggest winner in the just concluded private-initiated Iloilo City Trade Mission and Investment Forum Ilonggo Fashion Show and Jewelry Show in the East Coast on June 4-10, 2018 was Iloilo City itself.
Through its “missionaries” led by Mayor Jose Espinosa III in the government and Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman) Research Initiative, Inc. president and project coordinator, Dr. Emily Noserale Hagad, Iloilo City swept New York City, Virginia, Washington D.C. and their environs by the storm.
It has been proven once again that private and government partnership in trade missions worked wonders to some extent.
The active participation of US-based Ilonggos and their big communities in the East Coast was, in fact, one of the main reasons why the mission became a grand success.

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Let’s hear it from some executives who mattered most:
Fraulen Chrubner, Executive Director of LLG Pixar Mayers, Inc.: “They (Iloilo City trade mission panelists) came well-prepared and the discussions were trenchant and easy to decipher especially for serious business globetrotters.”
Vance Hum, President and CEO of I.M. Systems Group: “It was an excellent event. I was impressed by the very informative multi-panel discussion on business possibilities, economic progress and fashion, springing out of Iloilo, Philippines. And the ensuing outdoor fashion show and Philippine fare at the reception topped off the perfect evening weather.”
Hank Hendrickson, US-Philippines Society, executive director: “The presentations and the visual demonstrations of state-of-the-art design from Iloilo illustrate just how far the Philippines has advanced in developing vibrant regional centers beyond the national capital region. The city’s delegation made a persuasive case for Americans to consider the advantages of looking toward Iloilo as a site for investments in technology and business process operations, and for the region’s improved services and high quality of life.”
Segmund JB Hollerman, Senior Executive Progamme Director, Woodland Ricks and Associates: “Iloilo City’s 364-hectare mixed used development reclamation project contained in the brochure has the potential to become a world-class economic development and industrial zone. It’s amazing that they have that detailed conceptual land use plan similar to Singapore and other industrialized investment meccas in Asia.”

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The week-long event that kicked off in New York City and wound up in Washington D.C. event was an economic and cultural diplomacy initiative of the Philippine Embassy, in cooperation with the Local Government of Iloilo City, the US-Philippines Society, and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Washington D.C.
Aside from Mayor Espinosa and Mrs. Gina Sarabia Espinosa, other heroes of the hectic trade mission who also acted as panelists in the business sessions were Rex Aguado, Commercial Diplomat for Trade Relations of the City; Jose Ariel Castañeda, Head of the City Local Economic Enterprise Office; Jose Roni Peñalosa, City Planning Coordinator; Junel Anne Divinagracia, City Tourism Officer; Dr. Carmencita "Menchie" Robles, Dean at the Western Visayas State University; Carla Perez, Sales Director of the Iloilo Business Park-Megaworld; and Billy Shung Hei Yuen, CEO of StackTreck Enterprises, and Secretariat Chief Florence Hibionada.
A private sector contingent, including the fashion and jewelry designers, led by the first lady of the city, also added luster and prestige to the business and exhibit expeditions.

Trade mission promotes Ilonggos’ ‘quality’ education to Americans

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

--John Dewey

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Iloilo City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia assured the Filipino-American community as well as businessmen, students, and potential investors here that Iloilo City has some of the best colleges and universities in the Philippines even as she joined University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) Vice Chancellor Mary Ann Gumban and West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Communications dean, Dr. Carmencita Robles, in the panel to convince the audience that Iloilo City’s school system offers quality learning, exhorting them to “study” in Iloilo City.

Promoting Iloilo City’s schools is part of the main agenda in the trade mission spearheded by the Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman) Research Institute, Inc with a theme, “Invest, Work, Create, Study, Retire, Live, and Grow” in Iloilo City.

“Ilonggo students are always among the top examinees in national board examinations these past years,” Divinagracia said during the panel discussion on Iloilo City’ premier schools in the New York leg of the Iloilo Trade Mission and Investment Forum June 4-10, 2018.

QUALITY

This can be attributed, she said, in the quality of programs and education being offered by Iloilo City schools.

Iloilo City is considered as the educational hub in Western Visayas, with potential for growth and home to 28 public and private colleges and universities.

Robles, for her part, reiterated that WVSU, formerly known as Iloilo Normal School, is a center of excellence in teacher education and center of development in nursing.

The Diamond Jubilee in 1999, she said, was ushered in by the offering of more academic programs: the Bachelor in Cooperatives Management in 1997 and the Bachelor of Science in Information Management and Bachelor of Science in In formation Technology in 1998.

She explained that the Higher Education Modernization Act (1997) integrated into the University four CHED supervised schools in Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Pototan in 2000.

Some of the best Filipino nurses in the United States today are graduates of the WVSU College of Nursing, Robles said.

Gumban said UPV offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Certificate programs.

She identified the College of Management, and the CAS Division of Professional Education as the two degree-granting units that remain in Iloilo City Campus.

The U.P. High School in Iloilo (formerly U.P.V. High School) is also on campus.

STRATEGIES

The High School is an experimental laboratory for innovative teaching strategies designed to provide academic training for underprivileged students in order to better prepare them for access to tertiary education in the University of the Philippines.

The panel emphasized that it is in Iloilo City where the Philippines’ topnotchers are found like the Central Philippine University (CPU), which is a Center of Excellence in Agriculture and Business Administration; and a Center of Development in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

The University of San Agustin has been hailed as the Center of Development in Teacher Education.

The COE/COD programs are subsidized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with assistance given to research, faculty development, library and laboratory facilities.

Mayor Jose Espinosa III said the UPV Iloilo Campus is the only school in the country with a jail inside because the property, formerly owned by the City Government, was donated to the UP.

Ilonggo trade ‘missionaries’ work like octupus

“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”

--Colin Powell

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- We expect our private sector-inspired Ilonggo trade “missionaries” to sustain the momentum of what they have delivered, so far, in the New York leg of their week-long quest to “introduce” Iloilo City to the global market via the East Coast when they storm Fairfax, Virginia starting June 6 and conclude their mission in Washington D.C. on June 7 before flying home on June 10.

The blistering Iloilo Trade Mission and Investment Forum Ilonggo Fashion and Jewelry Show, oiled by Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman) Research Institute, Inc., is expected chalk up positive results for Iloilo City in terms of investment, tourism, education, and more profound economic opportunities.

While our world-class fashion designers from Designers Guild of Iloilo (DGI) led by Jaki Penalosa, Aisha Penalosa, D’Jhon Clement, Bo Parcon, Hector “Totong” Gellangarin, Regine Sarabia Espinosa, and exhibit director Gilbert “Bombette” Golez Marin mesmerize the American market with exhibit shows of Habol Ilonggo, a heritage of traditional weaving in one event, our very aggressive, technologically equipped, and technically competent “servants” and their staff from tourism, academe, city planning and business see to it that US-based potential investors, Infotech and property developers, students, tourists, medical and Information Technology (IT) professionals are sufficiently tipped off and shown the ropes of how great is Iloilo City and why they can “Invest, Work, Create, Study, Retire, Live and Grow” there, in another simultaneous event.

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They work like an octupos with all tentacles doing a yeoman’s task and leaving no stone unturned from Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III and his wife, Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, to Secretariat chief, Florence Hibionada, and the following mission bigwigs: City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia, Executive Assistant and Commercial Diplomat Rex Aguado, Local Economic Enterprise Officer Ariel Castaneda, City Planning and Development Office Coordinator Jose Roni Penalosa, City Tourism Assistant Florence King Erlano, senior staff members Rosita Camacho and Shin Julienne Galon.

Also in the team are: Dr. Emily Hagad Noserale, Ph.D, DTM, Philcoman project coordinator; Dr. Carmencita “Menchie” Robles, dean of College of Communications, West Visayas State University (WVSU); Mary Ann Gumban, vice chancellor, University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV); Carla Margarita Perez, sales director, Iloilo Business Park-Megaworld; Felicito Tiu, founder and CEO, Eon Group of Companies; and Billy Shung Hei Yuen, founder and CEO, StackTrek Enterprises, Inc.

They have one common goal and that is to elevate Iloilo City in the totem pole of good government, trade and investment, tourism and further academic execelence.

They all deserve the support of the Ilonggos living in the Philippines and in other parts of the world beginning in the United States’ East Coast.

‘Iloilo City made the boldest gesture to invade prime US cities’

“Without investment there will not be growth, and without growth there will not be employment.”
-- Muhtar Kent

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- The Philippine Council Management (Philcoman) has hailed the Iloilo City Government in the Philippines for making “the boldest gesture to invade the prime cities of America” saying “this is the great moment of bringing in the Iloilo Trade Mission here in New York.”
Speaking before US-based businessmen, investors, and Filipino-American entrepreneurs, fashion enthusiasts, and students during the Iloilo City Trade Mission and Investment Forum at the Kalayaan Hall in the Philippine Center June 4, Dr. Emily Noserale, president and project coordinator of Philcoman Research Institute, Inc., emphasized that under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, “all the bright and good things (are) happening.” 

She considered as “very timely today” their presence in big cities of the United States to showcase their latest development efforts to present to American people where Iloilo City now, in terms of political, economic, social aspects as well as the status of the “flourishing and expanding business activities that are now producing great results in the social and economic lives of the Ilonggos.” 

Noserale disclosed to the US audience the business opportunities being offered by Iloilo City especially in four areas, namely: agri-business and acquaculture; infrastructure; tourism and academe.

RICE GRANARY

She described Iloilo as “the food basket and grice granary of Western Visayas” where high value crops, livestocks and sea products are in Iloilo City.
“Hence there is a great potential by capitalizing on connectivity and networks to companies for food processing and agricultural trans-shipment,” she explained in underscoring agri-business and acquaculture.
Noserale said logistics and transportations are important pillars that will support the food and agriculture businesses in highlighting infrastructure.
“As Iloilo has restructured its economy by enhancing innovation and moving up the value chain, we could also explore opportunities in info-communication technologies,” she stressed. “Explore on how data and analytics could be used to create smart solutions that can improve the lives of its citizens.”
Noserale emphasized tourism “an area which holds significant opportunity.”
“Visitor arrivals continued to grow as the famous Dinagyang Festival is held yearly with so much fun and frolic. Visitors almost flocked to the city not to miss this vibrant and diverse festival culture,” she explained.
“Hotels, inns and transient houses are almost fully booked. To meet this growing demand from tourist, infrastructure in the hospitality industry will be important.”
She said Iloilo’s century-old churches that are well-maintained, which proudly stand ans signify the deep faith of the Ilonggos, are another attractions.

SCHOOLS

In academe, Noserale said Iloilo has lists of universities, colleges, state universities and vocational schools that “generate economic development to play an integral role in furthering economic growth and thereby pursuing socio-economic goals by transferring knowledge to society.”
She said: “They share a role in securing the future labor force by fostering knowledge, analytical thinking, broad capabilities and technical skills on our young people.”
“In addition,” she pointed out, “the ingenuity of the Ilonggos adds more color in creating beauty to the native products of Iloilo City like hablon and making jewelries with sculptured design.”
Some of Noserale’s discussions centered on recent developments in Iloilo.
These were:
-The River Esplanade, a 1.2-kilometer park, which forms as heritage zone; Gothic-Renaissance Molo church built in 1831; and American Governor Carpenter bridge, which connects Molo and Mandurriao districts;
-The Iloilo Business Park, a 72-hectare area managed by Megaworld, which hosts BPO office towers, a mall, Richmonde Hotel, The Courtyard by Marriott, and Iloilo Convention Center;
-Atria Park District, a 21-hectare area by Ayala Land with Ayala Technohub. Underdevelopment are Seda Hotel and Avida Towers;
-The Gaisano City Center, a 16-hectare are which will include a 40-storey Gaisano Tower;
-The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project, a mega project worth P11.2 billion funded by Korea and the biggest project outside of Luzon targeted for completion this year. It will provide irrigation to 31,849 hectares of farmland, delivers 86,000 cubic meters of bulk water a day to water-scarce Iloilo City, mitigates flooding as well as foster eco-tourism.
Iloilo has several major industrial plants: Two sugar mills, one flour mill, and at least four feedmills. Future developments in agriculture could spur agri-manufacturing industries.

FLIGHTS

There are flights to Singapore and to Hongkong via Cebu Pacific; there are five flights daily to Manila via Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (PAL).
There are also scheduled flights from Iloilo to different places in the Philippines as Iloilo is one of the busiest airports in the Visayas and Mindanao, after Cebu.
Iloilo ranked number eight as the Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City; it is ranked number 98 in the Global Top 100 Outsourcing cities and has made it to the list of 50 Aspiring Cities around the globe for its high potential to become ideal hub for BPO investments.
Iloilo also ranked number 12 in Asia’s Best Airport.

Dinagyang’s New York trip on despite visa problems

“Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission.”
-- Zig Ziglar

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- The participation of a tribe from Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival in the 120th Philippine Independence Day parade here on June 3 was nearly canceled after tribe members encountered visa problems in the US Embassy in Manila.
This was revealed by Joji Juele-Jalandoni, former president of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), who called up this writer morning May 26 to convey the message that “everything is set and ready after the problem has been resolved.”
Jalandoni, from Victorias Milling Company in Negros Occidental, said if the problem was not fixed on time, only the nine-day “Iloilo City Trade Mission and Investment Forum” from June 1 to June 9 would be held without the Dinagyang tribe in the parade to be represented by 2018 grand champion, Tribu Panayanon, of the Iloilo City National High School.

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Jalandoni said another tribe from Guimaras’ Mangghan Festival, Hubon Manguguma, will represent the Philippines together with Tribu Panayanon in the biggest Filipino-American Independence Day parade in the East Coast that is expected to attract some 100,000 audience on Madison Avenue.
“They (Dinagyang and Manggahan contingent) will arrive on May 31 (US time),” confirmed Jalandoni, a registered nurse in New Jersey, who is responsible for bringing the two festivals from Iloilo City and Guimaras here.
Problems hounded Tribu Panayanon after only 11 members were given travel visa by the US Embassy, Jalandoni said.
“They have to recruit warriors from Tribu Salognon who already have the visa in order to complete the team, thus the problem was resolved,” she explained. “It’s not nice to see only 11 warriors dancing during the parade.”
Tribu Salognon is the 2016 grand champion and represented the country in the New York parade’s 118th edition.
The first-ever trade mission, to be led by Iloilo City Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III and Mrs. Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, will fly to New York via Hong Kong on May 29 (Philippine time) and will arrive in the US on board Cathay Pacific on May 29 (US time).

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The Espinosa couple, accompanied by Iloilo City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia, Executive Assistant Enrique “Rex” Aguado and Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) chief Ariel “Aye” Castaneda, fashion designers Jackie Penalosa and Bo Parcon, journalists Florence Hibionada (The Daily Guardian), Tara Yap (Manila Bulletin), and Herbert Vego (Panay News), West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Mass Communications dean, Dr. Carmencita “Menchie” Robles, among others, will grace the opening of Ilonggo fashion and jewelry exhibit at the Philippine Center Gallery on 556 Fifth Avenue on June 1.
The Ilonggo trade missionaries are tasked to “introduce” Iloilo City to New York City, Washington DC and Fairfax, Virginia through roadshows showcasing the creations of Ilonggo jewellers, fashion designers and property developers.
Espinosa will host a UP Alumni event on June 2.
The annual parade, spearheaded by PIDCI, will blast off at 12 noon on June 3, followed by cultural presentations.
The city mayor and several representatives from the private sector will hold the Trade and Investment Forum at the Philippine Center.

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Famed NY-based Ilonggo entertainment producer Jhett Tolentino will spearhead the group in a Broadway tour at seven o’clock in the evening on June 5.
An investment forum at University of North America, Fairfax, Virginia will be held on June 6.
This will be followed by a Childhood Education Study in Washington D.C. in the morning and Investment Forum in the evening at the Philippine Embassy on June 7.
The Iloilo contingent will tour Washington D.C. on June 8.
The will cap their US visit with a Philippine Independence Day Ball in the evening at Hilton, East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 9.
Members of the Iloilo Trade Mission depart to the Philippines on June 10.