Business Executives Alliance in Tourism (B.E.A.T.) Induction (Manila)

Mr. Balsamo inducting BEAT's new set of officers

Past BEAT president Mr. Sandy 
M. Clamor

Mr. Rene Jose delivering the 
welcome address

My Visit Valenzuela tour just early this year brought me into contact with the upcoming tours and travel organization Business Executives Alliance in Tourism, Inc. (B.E.A.T.) via its members Ms. Violeta Imperial (Nature Awareness and Conservation Club, Inc.), Ms. Rosanna C. Kho (Kho Travel and Tours), Ms. Bingbing Rubio (of Pogi Travels) and Mr. Sandy Mella Clamor (Emmaus Travel and Tours), its president, who also joined the tour.  

New BEAT president Ms. Rosanna Kho

I got to know B.E.A.T. better when I attended its Induction and General Membership meeting, as a guest of honor, held at the 8th floor of the Manila Grand Opera Hotel.   Rossana was to be inducted as its third president, taking over the reins of the organization from Sandy.  However, Violeta and Bingbing were not around as they were on out-of-town tours.  The day of induction was, incidentally, a Friday and a salary day to boot and heavy traffic extended my travel time from home to the Gil Puyat LRT Station, where I parked my car, by over an hour.   

Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Balsamo

My traffic woes were eased by my swift travel, via LRT, from Gil Puyat all the way to Doroteo Jose.  The hotel. site of the old Manila Opera House, was just across the station.

The proceedings began, 30 mins. after my arrival, with a prayer, rendered in a different way via the Gary Valenciano staple song "Lead Me Lord," by incoming BEAT Auditor Mr. Gerry A. Del Rosario (proprietor  of Ger-Jaz Tours).  

After the singing of the National Anthem, Mr. Rene Jose (3 Lions International) delivered the welcome address.  With me at the table was Ms. Luchie Consolacion (Gen. Manager of Travelease, Inc.), B.E.A.T. fellow founder and its first president, and another guest of honor, historian and friend Mr. Jonathan Capullas Balsamo of Museo Valenzuela who delivered the prepared message of past Valenzuela City mayor, and now congressman, Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian who couldn't make it due to a previous engagement.

Visatrust CEO Thelam F. Luna makes her presentation

Mr. Balsamo, in lieu of Mayor Gatchalian, also inducted the new set of officers which included, aside from Ms. Kho and Mr. Del Rosario, Mr. Antonio Santos (of San Antonio Travel and Tours) as Vice-President; Ms. Liza Marie E. Delfino (Gen. Manager of Lizmar Tours and Travel) as Secretary; Ms. Erlie R. Dumayag (of Moments Travel and Tours) as Treasurer; and Nigerian national Mr. Sunday Olatoye (of Pogi Travels) as Public Relations Officer (PRO). 

After the acceptance speech of Ms. Kho and a filling buffet dinner, there were also presentations by Standard Insurance Co., Inc. (one of 3 companies that offer travel insurance), 2 Go Travel (who also raffled off travel gift certificates to guests) and incoming B.E.A.T. member Visatrust Consultancy and Travel Services who specialize on Visa processing for New Zealand.  Ms. Luchie delivered the closing remarks. 

B.E.A.T. had its beginnings in December 2008. According to Sandy and Luchie, the organization, now on its fifth year, started with just a few members, all small players in the travel and tours industry. Today, this closely-knit organization has 30 plus members, all united in their aim to support its mandate to continue its campaign to promote and enhance travel and tourism in our country. After congratulating the new officers, I left the hotel by 10 PM, in time to make the last LRT trip back to Gil Puyat Station. 

The beautiful ladies of BEAT

Manila Grand Opera Hotel: 925 Rizal Ave. cor. Doroteo Jose St., Sta. Cruz, Manila. Tel: (632)  314-0090 to 99.  Fax: (632) 711-1073.