Boracay is not Bora!

Bora Bora island is located northwest of Tahiti — and it’s not the same as our very own Boracay.

"What’s one more syllable to pronounce?" says island business group, Boracay Chamber of Commerce (BCCI), on the use of most Filipinos in referring to the renowned Boracay island as "Bora".

The Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay to pass an ordinance banning the use of the word "Bora" in all promotional and advertisement materials.

"It is, indeed, a common mistake that has to be quickly rectified, before it is too late," they emphatically pointed out.

The Chamber said the corruption of the name of Boracay for promotional and advertising is bad for businesses.

"Boracay is also part of the Aklanons’ cultural heritage and it has always been the name of the island. Changing it to ‘Bora’ is like replacing ‘Filipino’ with ‘flip’ which is a derogatory term for Filipinos in the US," the group said.

BCCI noted that tourism industry is facing tremendous challenges with the word "Bora" in programs, events, shows, and other activities in the island.

It stressed that the government spent millions of dollars promoting Boracay as an international tourist hub through years of steady promotion and advertising campaign.

"Boracay will never be Bora. Bora Bora is an island in the French Polynesia, and if travelers will use ‘Bora’ to search they will likely find websites promoting Bora-bora and not Boracay," the group said.

About 65 percent of the visitors who enjoyed the powdery white sand of Boracay last year were Koreans.

The chamber was a recipient of the "Most Outstanding Young Chamber Award" by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for its active involvement in ecological solid waste management and environmental protection.

Boracay VS. Bora

Bora Bora island is located northwest of Tahiti in the Leeward Society Islands. The warm shallow water of Bora Bora’s lagoon is world famous for its unspoilt beauty. And much like our very own Boracay, it also boasts of an unbroken expanse of warm, white sand surrounding the island.

Bora Bora has top luxury hotels and waterfront bungalows. For budget vacations, Bora Bora has pensions and camping on the island. The island’s other attractions include World War II cannons and bunkers, The Lagoonarium and Aquasafari.

Meanwhile, Boracay was recently listed by The Wall Street Journal, one of the world’s leading business publications, as one of the "hit" destinations in the world. In the article "The Search for the Next Hot Spot", it highlighted Boracay as a "regional vacation reinvented for luxury seekers."

The Wall Street Journal cited international travel scouts and people in the tourism industry, hailing Boracay for its exotic sights and famed white sand beaches.

The list was selected by a group of travel industry experts referred to in the WSJ article as "cool hunters" who spend their time "crisscrossing the globe in search of unspoiled beaches, great food and natural, historic, or cultural sites few tourists ever see."

Boracay is located in Aklan province 345 kms. South of Manila. The island is accessible by air from Manila or Cebu through two principal gateways: Caticlan airport or Kalibo airport.

Antique, Iloilo & Guimaras CCI Meets

To discuss the new policies and guidelines of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, local chamber chapters from Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras meet last March 14, 2009 at the Roca Encantada Hall, Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo City.

Mr. Guidon I. Dela Cruz, Regional Governor of PCCI Western Visayas discussed the following:

- Membership database
- New Policies Defining Membership Status
- Aligning of By-Laws
- Terms of reference for regional Governors
- VABC - Jul 24-26, 2009 (Host: Iloilo Chamber)

Attendees were the following:

- Mr. Joe Marie Agriam - President, Iloilo Chamber
- Mr. Jaime Sequio - President, Guimaras Chamber
- Mrs. Rebecca Pe - President, Antique Chamber
- Ms. Valerie Maravilla - VP Internal, Iloilo Chamber
- Mr. Wilson Jesena - VP External, Iloilo Chamber
- Ms. Ana Marie Gomez - secretary, Iloilo Chamber
- Mr. Vicente Lagunday, VP Antique Chamber
- Cherry Roberislo - Secretariat, Iloilo Chamber

All Attendees had a good grasp of this new guidelines and has given their full support to the regional office.

A sumptuous lunch ended the activity at the Roca Engkantada Hall, Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo City

PCCI Capiz, Aklan & Boracay meets

Last March 11, 2009, Officers and staff of the Local Chamber of Commerce & Industries of Aklan, Capiz and Boracay had a meeting at Bread & Butter Bakery Cafe to discuss the following:

1. Aligning of By-Laws
2. Guidelines for Membership Status
3. Terms of Reference for regional Governors
5. Duties and Functions of Chamber members and board of directors
6. VABC 2009

The attendees were the following:
Guidon I. dela Cruz - Regional Governor, PCCI Western Visayas
Jose Larry Barbasa - President, PCCI Aklan
Jose Nery Ong - Presidet, Capiz Halaran Chamber
Jose Mari Aldecoa - VP for Bus. Dev't., PCCI Aklan
Alberto Aborka Jr.- Board member, PCCI Aklan
Leonardo Agopitac - secretary, PCCI Aklan
Jonith Blancaver - Executive Director, Capiz Halaran Chamber
Niña Joy De Juan - Staff, PCCI Aklan
Gemma Ratay - Staff, Boracay

Earth Hour 2009

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will once again join the nations around the world in a symbolic event to create awareness of climate change and global warming. Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, 28 March 2009 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM throughout the Philippines.

In this regard, may we enjoin you to take part in this global hour of action by turning-off or reducing the lights and appliances in your offices and products billboards and requesting your employees to do the same in their homes.

By participating in this simple act, for just one hour, a strong message is delivered to the world about the urgent need to address climate change, and shows that it is possible for everyone to make a difference.

MR Edgardo Lacson
PCCI President

PCCI Regional Planning Workshop

PCCI conduct the annual regional planning workhop for the Regional Governor last February 16, 2009 at Makati, Metro Manila. Conducted by the PCCI Secretary General, various advocacy, issues and concern were discuss including PCCI election system, amended By-Laws and Terms of Reference of the Regional Governor, etc. The meeting was attended by PCCI President Ed Lacson, Ambassador Donald Dee and PCCI Regional Governor from all over the country.

Visayas Chamber Management Program

PCCI and AOTS of Japan conducted a Chamber Management Program for Local Chamber of Commerce in the Visayas last February 2-3, 2009 at Cebu City, Philippines. The representative from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce presented the various chamber management experience and best practices in Japan. Together with other chamber officials and staff from Visayas, Iloilo Chamber, Metro Bacolod Chamber and Aklan Ati-Atihan Chamber were present during this program.