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 I wish to retire to the philipinnes. I am 58 years old. What type of visa can I get and how. I wish to remain in Philipionnes for as long as possible without having to leave the country
Answer Dear Philip
Please be informed that there are several categories of visa that are available to persons wishing to retire in the Philippines. Your eligibility will depend on your specific circumstances.
To enable us to advise you appropriately, please provide us the following information:
1. Are you a former Filipino national?
2. Are you married to a Filipino national or a former Filipino national?
3. Do you intend to invest in a specific industry in the Philippines?
4. Do you intend to retire in a specific area of the country?
5. Do you already own a business or real property in the Philippines?
Once apprised of your answers to the above, we can then advise you on your options for retiring in the Philippines.
