About EDWIN V. GATIA, (M.Sc.) Expertise Adventure Travel - Philippines
Philippine Geographics/ NEGROS ISLAND
Experience Started as mountain guide/coordinator for Philippine Airlines (1976-79)/
More than 25 years experience as TOUR GUIDE/ PROF. MOUNTAIN GUIDE INSTRUCTOR/ travelwriter-researcher-photographer/ former (local) newspaper columnist/ Tour Guiding Lecturer/ as former Operations Officer (retired) of the DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM - Region 6 (1978-2003)/
Marketing Consultant: TravelKonsult & Tours Services (Bacolod City)
Former Instructor (part-time)/Hotel-Restaurant Management Area, LaConsolacion College (Bacolod City)/
Co-founder: NEGROS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB, INC.
Co-founder: MOUNTAINEERING FEDERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
(major Philippine peaks climbed: Mayon/Banahaw/Madjaas/Canlaon/Silay/Apo/Pulag/Guiting-Guiting (1st ascent)/Bulusan/Taal (volcano island)/
Tour Organizer-coordinator: Steam Tours-Negros
Organizations National Assoc of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA)
Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN)
American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)....membership to be renewed
International Ecotourism Society (TIES) ....membership to be renewed
SPECIALTY TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOC (STAA)....under process
Publications AsiaMagazine (Aug/1982)/"The Dragons of Sugar Island"
various other travel magaznes
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Arts (AB)
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Hotel-Tourism Mgmt
Destination Specialist graduate/DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM-PHIIPPINES
Visits-travels to: Borneo/Malaysia/Rep of China/Thailand/Singapore/Japan/Mexico/Canada/Costa Rica/USA/
Foreign mountaineering expeditions: Mt.Kinabalu (East Malaysia)/Mt. YuShan (Taiwan)/Mt. Yarigatake (Japan)/
Awards and Honors Presidential Commendation (given by former Pres. Fidel Ramos)
COMMENDATION - awarded by former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor
Past/Present Clients NEWS TRAVEL SERVICE-(TOKYO)/Steam tours/SEIYA SUGAWARA group
Tour to Everywhere For Steam (TEFS/UK)/BILL ALBOROUGH group
Birdwatch tours/DR. ROBERT KENNEDY group
NHK-TV (Tokyo)/ Documentary coverage of 1980 "gold rush" in Negros
Tours Promotions-Philippines/(Philippine Airlines)
ALEXANDER WALKER (British journalist/Vogue Magazine)
YOJI YOKOI - Japan Assoc of Professional Photographers
HANSUELI NIEDERER - Swiss Tour Operator
DR. CHRISTIAN ADLER - Anthropologist/German Tour Operator
RUDI WEISS - Tourist/German national
(late) ROBERT "BOB" PRATT - journalist/National Enquirer (USA)/
Question do you have an english speaking chat room for the philipines
Answer Dear Bill:
Thank you for getting in touch. The English language is definitely the next most widely spoken and understood language in the country.
Incidentally, as far as "chat rooms" are concerned, I must admit I don't think I'm too familiar with any of them at the moment.
Otherwise, if you have some more questions regarding/related to visiting the country, or queries about the Philippines which I may have some ideas of, please don't hesitate to keep in touch.
Meantime, best wishes for the New Year!
