GOVPH

Cebu Pacific-Shanghai Execs call on Consulate General, express hopes for eventual travel rebound

Shanghai, 07 July 2021 – Officials of Cebu Pacific’s Shanghai Office paid a courtesy introductory call today on new Consul General Josel F. Ignacio.

Cebu Air, Inc. Sales Supervisor Kelly Tao and Account Executive Sam Ni apprised the Consulate General of Cebu Pacific’s China operations, the airline’s steady expansion of its Philippines-China route networks until COVID-19’s outbreak, and existing constraints due to necessary travel restrictions on both ends.

While acknowledging present challenges, the Consulate General nevertheless congratulated Cebu Pacific for its steady gains and inroads into the China market, pre-pandemic. The Consulate General took the opportunity to update Cebu Pacific about the existing regime of travel and entry guidelines into the Philippines.

Both sides see an eventual rebound as both countries make progress in pandemic control and vaccinations. The need to resume official and business travel, as well as pent-up touristic travel demand are seen as driving optimism. The meeting also touched on broadening options to enable Filipinos in China to fly to the Philippines amidst prevailing limitations.

Until the pandemic broke, Chinese tourism into the Philippines was seeing exponential growth, trailing only behind the Republic of Korea. From under half a million in 2015, it rose to over 1.2 million in 2018 before climbing to over 1.7 million in 2019. END

DIPLOMATS, FILIPINOS TROOP TO CONSULATE GENERAL TO SIGN BOOK OF CONDOLENCE FOR LATE PRESIDENT AQUINO III

Shanghai, 03 July 2021 – In honor of the late former President Benigno S. Simeon Aquino III and his service to the nation and the Filipino people, the Consulate General opened and made available for signing a condolence book from 28 June until 02 July for the members of the consular corps and the Filipino community in Shanghai.

The former President passed away of ill health on 24 June 2021. Presidential Proclamation No. 1169 of 25 June 2021 declared a 10-day period of national mourning from 24 June until 3 July, over his demise.

The Consulate General lowered its flag to half mast on 24 June, with Consulate personnel gathering to pay their respects with a moment of silence.

Beginning Monday, 28 June, Filipino nationals in the city and Consuls General and other diplomats based in Shanghai began visiting the Consulate General along West Yan’an Road in Changning District to pay their respects and leave messages of sympathy to the Filipino nation and the family of the late President.

Parallel to the opening of condolence books in all Philippine diplomatic and consular missions around the world, an online Condolence Book was opened by the Department of Foreign Affairs for the public, which be accessed at:

https://tinyurl.com/eCondolencePNoy

The late President, the only son of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., and former President Corazon C. Aquino, held the office from 30 June 2010 until 30 June 2016.

He was a member of the House of Representatives (Tarlac, 2^nd District) from 1998 until 2007, and of the Senate from 2007 until 2010.

The Consulate General joins Filipinos around the world in mourning the passing of the former President and honoring his legacy. END

Notice of Hearing 19 July 2021