The operation of M4 Western Motorway was handed back last 16 February to the NSW Government and the toll was removed. The M4 is a 40 kilometre motorway that extends from Concord in Sydney’s inner west to Lapstone at the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Statewide Roads has operated a 12.5 kilometre section, including the section from Silverwater Road [...]
Travel traffic between Australia and the Philippines continued to buck the trend this year in the face of the current global recession. In an exclusive interview, the Philippines’ tourism attache in Sydney, Consuelo ‘Lito Jones, told Radio Sandigan that despite a worldwide decline of 8 per cent, traffic between Australia and the Philippines had increased by 5 per cent. “I am happy to say that we’re doing pretty well,” Ms Jones said. [...]
The Philippines was named “One of 25 Best New Trips in the World in 2010” by National Geographic, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs recently reported. The DFA report said that the Philippines’ ancient cultures, structures and biodiversity were cited by the National Geographic as key reasons to visit the country [...]
The Department of Foreign Affairs launched yesterday the Philippine ePassport that will make the country at par with developed countries. No other than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the recipient of the first ePassport presented to her by DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo in ceremonies [...]
From this Monday (12 January) Australians travelling to the United States of America will be required to follow new border entry procedures. All Australian passport-holders eligible to travel to the US under that country’s Visa Waiver Program must, before they travel, obtain approval through the US’ Electronic System for Travel Authorisation [...]
THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL in Sydney will begin the issuance of the new Philippine passport on August 1, 2008 and informs holders of Philippine passports about changes in the procedure for passport issuance. The Philippines has changed the format and features of its passport, to comply with the international standard set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the United Nations agency [...]
Atty Ed Yunon of Sydney yesterday emailed us with photos of the recently opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
In his covering letter, Atty Yunon wrote: “Every year I get the luck of going to the Philippines, and whenever I get there I always make it a point to find something beautiful and it has never been difficult to realize my objective. True I see and experience many things less admirable and less beautiful but those that I find impressive make up for those misgivings.”
“Today without being actually in the Philippines to experience my usual high, lo and behold before my very eyes the latest highway, the SUBIC CLARK TARLAC EXPRESSWAY. Feast your eyes, my friend, as I did myself.
“No, you are not looking at sections of M7 going to Liverpool or of M5 going to Canberra or of F3 going to Queensland. It is definitely Southwest Subic, Olongapo, Zambales, passing thru Clark Pampanga, terminating in Amucao,Tarlac City, Tarlac.”
“I am always proud of the Philippines but these pictures make me prouder today,” concluded Atty Yunon.
So are we, Atty Yunon. We have posted the photos at emanila’s Photogallery for everyone to view.
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is a 94-kilometer highway north of Manila. The expressway starts in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales passing through the interchange with the North Luzon Expressway near the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga and ends at the Central Techno Park in Tarlac City, Tarlac.
When the expressway is finished, it will provide shorter travel time leading to faster transportation of goods between the two economic zones.
Based on reports, SCTEX will have similar features with the recently rehabilitated North Luzon Expressway. Phase 1 of the SCTEx construction started on April 21, 2005, and completed on December 2007. Phase 2 was scheduled to be done by March 2008.
Last March, President Gloria Arroyo-Macapagal opened the expressway’s first 50 kilometers.
Philippine Government sources have reported that SCTEX was built at a cost of P27 billion, of which P23.06 billion was funded through a loan grant from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and the rest shouldered by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). #
EIGHTY Filipino-Australian golfers coming from different states and territories of Australia are now in the Manila to compete among themselves in the Fil-Aussie’s 14th Interstate Friendship Golf Cup [...]
SYDNEY – The Philippine Consul General to Sydney Maria Theresa Lazaro reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs on a series of meetings with several members of the Filipino clergy to discuss preparations for Filipino visiting pilgrims who are expected to arrive in Sydney to participate in the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD) 2008 Celebration to be held in various venues throughout the City of Sydney from 15-20 July 2008.
Consul General Lazaro met with the Filipino Chaplain of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Fr. Menardo Mercene, to discuss the ongoing preparations in anticipation of the arrival of Filipino pilgrims and clergy.
The Consul General also met with the Reverend Bishop Joel Baylon, Chair of the Episcopal Commission on the Youth (ECY), during her recent working visit to the Philippines.
“The meetings that I had with Fr. Mercene in Sydney and Bishop Baylon in Manila were very productive undertakings since they presented opportunities by which we could best work out our coordination efforts that would best assist the visiting Filipino pilgrims from the Philippines before and during the event. With five months to go, the Consulate has been receiving queries from Filipinos regarding the event and that we have thought it best to assist them by directly linking with key Filipino members of the clergy both in the Philippines and Australia as well as the World Youth Day organizers so that the Filipino pilgrims would be up-to-date with the latest developments in the preparations.” Consul General Lazaro said.
The ECY is the arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that coordinates the World Youth Day preparations for Filipino pilgrims in the Philippines.
According to the latest figures provided by the WYD organizers, there are now an estimated 187 groups with 6,560 expected Filipino participants who have registered for the event. Of these, more than 900 pilgrims coming from the Philippines have been confirmed to date.
Philippine Consulate-General Advisory
The Consulate continues to advise pilgrims and participants from the Philippines to regularly monitor the WYD Website for updates and instructions. The WYD website is www.wyd2008.org. There is an accompanying registration fee to participate in the event which does not include that person’s airfare to and from Sydney.
The visiting Filipino pilgrim is also advised to take note of the limitations of their selected registration packages, particularly their health insurance coverage. Filipino pilgrims who may intend to stay for a period beyond the coverage of their health insurance are strongly advised to carefully consider getting additional travel and health insurance to cover unforeseen personal circumstances. The WYD website advises that the health cover “is for emergency medical treatment and repatriation to home country. It will cover the package period plus the three days immediately before and after the package period provided that the travel from/to the home country is direct to/from Sydney.”
The visiting Filipino pilgrim should also be aware that the WYD Sydney is being held in July, when it is considered to be the depth of the winter season in Australia. Although Sydney’s winters are usually mild, dry and generally snow-free, the pilgrim should be nonetheless prepared to anticipate temperatures ranging from 18 degrees Celsius in the morning and 8 degrees in the evening and the usual wind chills that may bring the temperature further down. Those intending to reside in the inland suburbs would find the temperatures even cooler.
The visiting Filipino pilgrim should also consider the fact that the cost of goods, services and transport around and outside of Sydney are high and must be taken into account when planning one’s budgetary requirements for attending the event and other tourism-related activities.
WYD 2008 Highlights
The highlight of the WYD 2008 celebrations will begin on 15 July 2008 with an Opening Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell.
Catechesis (teaching) sessions and Youth Festival events will be held for the next two days; to be followed by the Stations of the Cross re-enactment throughout the City; the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI and an evening Vigil, culminating in a Mass on 20 July 2008. The Closing Mass will be held at the Randwick Racecourse.
The WYD organizers expect an estimated 500,000 participants attending at least one event during the World Youth Day week. This includes 125,000 overseas pilgrims. A media contingent of 3,000-5,000 is also expected to cover the event. This is the 10th International World Youth Day celebration since it was held in 1986 by the late Pope John Paul II.
Detailed Information
Further information on the World Youth Day 2008 arrangements could be obtained from the following:
Registration and general inquiries: World Youth Day 2008 E-mail: gle@wyd2008.org; Home-stay arrangements and Filipino community WYD-related events in Sydney: Rev. Fr. Menardo “Nards” Mercene, Chaplain, Filipino Chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Tel. no.(612) 9604-5512; and WYD-related information in the Philippines: Most Rev. Bishop Joel Baylon, Chair, Episcopal Commission on the Youth, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, email – ecy@info.com.ph
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The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has today reissued its travel advisory with new information under Safety and Security: Terrorism.
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