General Information
- Entry Regulations: Visitors with valid passports may enter the country and stay for a maximum of 21 days without visas provided they have tickets for their onward journey. Travelers to the Philippines may check with the nearest Philippine Embassy or consulate for more information.
- Departure Tax: Departure tax is P750.00 (payable in Philippine pesos only) for all departing passengers for international destinations.
- Climate: March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy and November to February is cool.
- What to Wear: Light casual clothes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for trips to the mountain regions. On formal occasions, a dinner jacket and tie may be worn, or perhaps the Philippine Barong Tagalog, the country’s national costume.
- Language: Pilipino is the national language. The Philippines is also an English-speaking country. Thus, English is widely spoken and is extensively used in business and government.
- Currency: The unit of currency is the Philippine peso. Most foreign currencies can be easily exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized foreign exchange dealers. Outside of Manila, the use of Philippine pesos for payments is preferred. Credit cards are accepted in major establishments in and outside of Manila.
Conference Venue and Accommodation:
The global consultation is to be held at the Dusit Thani Hotel, which is located in Makati City , Philippines.
Conference fee package includes the following:
August 18- night accommodation, morning (am) and afternoon (pm) snacks and lunch
August 19- accommodation with breakfast, am and pm snacks, lunch and dinner
August 20- hotel accommodation with breakfast, am and pm snacks and lunch
August 21- breakfast (check-out from the hotel at 12:00 noon)
Note: Any expenses incurred (i.e. extra/additional stay in the hotel) beyond the quoted package will be charged on personal account of the participant.
Programme:
Language:
All the sessions will be conducted in English. Participants are advised to bring along their translators/interpreters, if necessary.
Methodology:
Break-out sessions, plenary sessions, open fora, panel discussion and on-site learning (visits to different child caring agencies) will be the major activities during the conference. These will afford the participants to meet, draw lessons from shared experiences, and formulate appropriate strategies and enhance knowledge on emerging issues relevant to inter-country adoption.
Breakout Sessions Topics: Please indicate which break-out sessions topic you are interested to participate in:
Topic 1: Sharing of Adoptive Parents
Topic 2: Spring/Summer/ Winter Program
Topic 3: Special Needs Children and Special Home Finding
Topic 4: Relative Adoption
Part of the program is the visit to different child caring agencies. It is important that you immediately inform us (on or before July 15, 2009) of your interest in joining the visit to the CCAs so that we can provide the necessary arrangements. No response or feedback received from you will mean that you are not interested to join in the visit and a forfeiture of possible slot.
Please choose a group where you would like to join in:
Group A - RSCC Quezon City and White Cross Children’s Home
Group B - Home for the Angels and Hospicio de San Jose
Group C - St. Rita’s Orphanage and My Father’s House
The NOC is also organizing a City Tour for the participants. We will announce later if the plan will push through.
Fellowship & Cultural Night
August 19, 2009
A night of free wheeling activities……singing, dancing and sharing fun!
…. and enriching friendships with co-delegates!
Local and foreign delegates are encouraged to wear their national costumes. Please inform the Secretariat of your special presentation for inclusion in the program.
Let’s make it a night to remember!!!!
“Silent Auction”
Be a DONOR to the Global Fund! Donate unique items from your countries which can be sold at the Silent Auction. Proceeds from the auction will be used for beneficial projects of the Global Fund.
