MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino government will 'graciously welcome' its international powerhouse set of guests for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting from Wednesday to Thursday (November 18 and 19), but aside from that there are other events that will transpire prior to the leaders’ meeting itself.
APEC Summit 2015 Schedule
As of today, two of the planned events has already began last Friday (November 13) with the APEC Voices of the Future, with 20 young Filipinos representing the country within the pool of 120 selected youth delegates coming from other APEC member economies.
The first day of the two-day APEC Ministerial Meeting event already commenced Monday as well as the APEC SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) Summit in which some notable personalities like Maria Ressa, CEO of social news network Rappler, Asia Society’s President Josette Sheeran and Karen Reddington, FedEx Asia Pacific’s President joined the event.
Who’s in Manila already? Chile, Papua New Guinea, Colombia and Taiwan first to arrive
Chile’s first-ever woman president Michelle Bachelet was the ‘first’ to arrive in Manila last Sunday (November 15) for the APEC meeting and was welcomed by Vice President Jejomar Binay upon her arrival at NAIA Terminal 2.
Bachelet was followed by Prime Minister Peter Charles Paire O’Neil of Papua New Guinea who arrived Monday afternoon (November 16). Other leaders who arrived Monday were Taiwan’s former Vice President Vincent Siew (01:20 P.M.) at NAIA Terminal 1 and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (04:13 P.M.).
US President Barack Obama will arrive today (Tuesday) with his much-vaunted “pivot to Asia.”
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No classes from November 17-20 in NCR, roads closed and flights are cancelled too
Classes in all levels will be suspended too while the APEC leaders are in Manila for their meeting.
In an earlier Proclamation 1072, s. 2015, Malacañan declared the dates of November 18 and 19 as special non-working holidays in NCR. CHED and DepEd meanwhile added the November 17 and 20 as no-school days to give way for the international event and protect the welfare of the students from the hassles of commuting from an expected heavy traffic that the arrival of APEC leaders will bring.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has already announced the cancellation of its 211 flights (115 domestic, 96 international) while budget carrier Air Asia Philippines cancelled its 84 flights (74 domestic, 10 international). Cebu Pacific cancelled 146 of its flights already for this week too.
Paris attack threatens APEC 2015, PNP and AFP on red alert status
The country’s security force is all set to ensure the safety and security of the international delegates as well as the local community as it beefs up its security measures amidst the terror attack that happened in Paris, France last November 13-14 in which more than a hundred victims died.
PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez announced that all the units of the country’s police force are on their highest alert status, resonating with the country’s pledge to act as a ‘good host’ by ensuring the safety of everyone. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) already raised their status to red alert a day ahead the APEC events.
‘No work, no pay’ for workers during APEC Leaders’ Meeting, DOLE Sec. Baldoz
For workers, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that the ‘no work, no pay’ scheme will be in effect during the APEC 2015 in Manila unless their companies has a policy of providing payment for workers working on such occasions.
Read: DOLE announces pay rules for APEC holidays in NCR
Filipino designer Paul Cabral to dress APEC Leaders
As part of its tradition, leaders of the APEC usually wears the traditional dress of the host country in which the summit is being held.
For APEC in Manila, celebrated Filipino designer Paul Cabral acquired the task to dress the leaders.
Each leader will wear a barong that has a very special design on them, representing something from their respective cultures.
President Benigno Aquino III will wear a barong bearing ancestral houses of the country as embroidered designs on it.
—Michael Santiago, The Summit Express
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| The Philippines is now on its highest alert to ensure the safety and security of everyone for APEC 2015 |
As of today, two of the planned events has already began last Friday (November 13) with the APEC Voices of the Future, with 20 young Filipinos representing the country within the pool of 120 selected youth delegates coming from other APEC member economies.
The first day of the two-day APEC Ministerial Meeting event already commenced Monday as well as the APEC SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) Summit in which some notable personalities like Maria Ressa, CEO of social news network Rappler, Asia Society’s President Josette Sheeran and Karen Reddington, FedEx Asia Pacific’s President joined the event.
Who’s in Manila already? Chile, Papua New Guinea, Colombia and Taiwan first to arrive
Chile’s first-ever woman president Michelle Bachelet was the ‘first’ to arrive in Manila last Sunday (November 15) for the APEC meeting and was welcomed by Vice President Jejomar Binay upon her arrival at NAIA Terminal 2.
Bachelet was followed by Prime Minister Peter Charles Paire O’Neil of Papua New Guinea who arrived Monday afternoon (November 16). Other leaders who arrived Monday were Taiwan’s former Vice President Vincent Siew (01:20 P.M.) at NAIA Terminal 1 and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (04:13 P.M.).
US President Barack Obama will arrive today (Tuesday) with his much-vaunted “pivot to Asia.”
RELATED STORY
No classes from November 17-20 in NCR, roads closed and flights are cancelled too
Classes in all levels will be suspended too while the APEC leaders are in Manila for their meeting.
In an earlier Proclamation 1072, s. 2015, Malacañan declared the dates of November 18 and 19 as special non-working holidays in NCR. CHED and DepEd meanwhile added the November 17 and 20 as no-school days to give way for the international event and protect the welfare of the students from the hassles of commuting from an expected heavy traffic that the arrival of APEC leaders will bring.
 |
| Commuters should braced themselves for a rough week for road closures and flight cancellations |
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has already announced the cancellation of its 211 flights (115 domestic, 96 international) while budget carrier Air Asia Philippines cancelled its 84 flights (74 domestic, 10 international). Cebu Pacific cancelled 146 of its flights already for this week too.
Paris attack threatens APEC 2015, PNP and AFP on red alert status
 |
| Thousands gathered at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris to remember the victims of Paris attack last week. Photo credit: www.edition.cnn.com |
PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez announced that all the units of the country’s police force are on their highest alert status, resonating with the country’s pledge to act as a ‘good host’ by ensuring the safety of everyone. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) already raised their status to red alert a day ahead the APEC events.
‘No work, no pay’ for workers during APEC Leaders’ Meeting, DOLE Sec. Baldoz
For workers, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that the ‘no work, no pay’ scheme will be in effect during the APEC 2015 in Manila unless their companies has a policy of providing payment for workers working on such occasions.
Read: DOLE announces pay rules for APEC holidays in NCR
Filipino designer Paul Cabral to dress APEC Leaders
 |
| Designer Paul Cabral poses with his barong creations to be worn by APEC leaders in Manila. Photo credit: GMA News online |
As part of its tradition, leaders of the APEC usually wears the traditional dress of the host country in which the summit is being held.
For APEC in Manila, celebrated Filipino designer Paul Cabral acquired the task to dress the leaders.
Each leader will wear a barong that has a very special design on them, representing something from their respective cultures.
President Benigno Aquino III will wear a barong bearing ancestral houses of the country as embroidered designs on it.
—Michael Santiago, The Summit Express
