Surigao City, Surigao del Norte (5 November) - The City and Provincial Government of Surigao, and the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry will be hosting this year’s 14th CARAGA BUSINESS CONFERENCE on November 28, 2008 at Hotel Tavern Surigao, Surigao City. The gathering will bring together the business executives, political leaders and decision makers, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce officers in a day of unity for all Caraganons.

This year’s theme, “Uniting Caraga in These Testing Times”, fosters a challenge to both the public and private sector to enjoin efforts in advancing partnerships in the region during an impending economic crisis in 2009. Main topics are resolving tax-related issues with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and cementing relationships with local government units and their counterpart business community.

Johann Jake B. Miranda, President of the SCCI, said the region-wide business conference normally held before the national Philippine Business Conference in Manila was fittingly held this time in November since the nation is facing a wave of economic crisis in 2009. Appropriately, the highlights of the just concluded 34th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) held last October 20-22, 2008 in Manila, will be disseminated to the conference participants.

To ensure participation from the local government units, the conference organizers sought the assistance of DILG Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno to urge local government officials to join in this undertaking as public-private partnerships will be forged and sealed with a Memorandum of Understanding between each LGU and its corresponding business community.
After this one day conference, participants will visit Dinagat Island the next day for a tour of San Jose, its municipal capital, to showcase the tourism potentials and investment opportunities of the province.

Caraga is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur and the newly-created province of Dinagat Islands. The cities of Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Bayugan and the municipalities of Cantilan, Bayugan, Prosperidad, San Francisco and San Jose will be represented by their local officials and business chambers.

According to the National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB), Caraga belongs to the poorest of the poor regions and it’s economy still lags behind those of other regions. Caraga is largely dependent on logging and mining operations. (SCCI)

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After an absence last year, organizers have again set in motion collective resources and efforts to revive the Search for Mutya Nan Surigao and bring fame to Surigao by finding a true representative of beauty, intelligence and elegance! She and her entourage will become Surigao’s official delegates to the national Binibining Pilipinas, Mutya Nan Pilipinas and Miss Earth Philippines contests.

Mutya Nan Surigao. The Most Prestigious Pageant in Surigao.

The Mutya Nan Surigao seeks to crown deserving women who possess the elements of Beauty, Intelligence, and Elegance. A woman who can carry the weight of her crown.

The official logo depicts the three values of beauty, intelligence and elegance born on the crown of the Mutya as the three stars. The purple color is a sign of royalty and refinement. The graceful woman seen prancing symbolizes the modern woman who is fluid, adaptable and graceful. The crown also resembles the Trident symbol reflecting the sea nature of Surigao and the closeness of its people to the water that surrounds Surigao and its islands.

Mutya Nan Surigao Universe, Mutya Nan Surigao Pilipinas, and Mutya Nan Surigao Earth will be the awards awaiting the deserving ladies, who shall become the official candidates of Surigao to the national level competitions. These ladies will also be Surigao’s ambassadresses of beauty during social functions and parties of the City and Community.

The Search for Mutya Nan Surigao is held every year during the first week of September as part of the Charter anniversary and Fiesta celebrations of Surigao City. Eligible candidates must be high school or college students of Surigao City and Surigao del Norte schools, 16 to 22 years old, at least 5’4” in height, must be fluent in both written and spoken English and Tagalog languages. As an ambassadress of Surigao, she must be knowledgeable of Surigao’s history, culture, tourist attractions and modern facts.

Official Awards

FIRST - MUTYA NAN SURIGAO UNIVERSE
SECOND - MUTYA NAN SURIGAO PILIPINAS
THIRD - MUTYA NAN SURIGAO EARTH

MISS CONGENIALITY
MISS MEDIA
MISS PHOTOGENIC
BEST IN CASUAL
BEST IN BEACH WEAR
BEST IN GOWN

Official Schedule for Search for Mutya Nan Surigao 2008:

*Presentation to Media 2 pm, August 23, 2008, Kapihan Nan Surigao, Hotel Tavern Surigao
*Courtesy Call to Officials 8 am, August 28, 2008, Surigao City Hall and Provincial Capitol
*Tourism Tour 1 pm, August 28, 2008, Daydream Laguna Resort, Day-Asan
*Courtesy Call to Sponsors 1 pm, August 29, 2008, Surigao City Hall and various establishments
*Charter Day Parade 8 am, August 31, 2008, Surigao Boulevard
*Pageant Night 7 pm, September 2, 2008, Surigao Provincial Convention Center

Tickets will be sold at P100 and P50 on Pageant Night. This is an annual project of the Surigao Tourism Council Inc. with Mr. Jake Miranda, Chairman, as Producer and Organizer, Ms. Alice Espejon as Chairperson for the Search Committee, Ms. Roselyn Merlin City Tourism Officer as Coordinator, Mr. Gregorio “Goyong” Go as Pageant Director. Mr. Bermund Ugalde, as Project Officer can be reached at Telefax: (086) 826-7716/826-0264, and Mobile No.: (0922)849-6444.

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