PHILIPPINE EMBASSY NEWS RELEASE
06 NOVEMBER 2003

Reference:   Consul Patricia Ann V. Paez, Information and Press Officer
                    Tel. No. (202) 467- 9400    E-mail: pvpaez@aol.com
                    Staff  Mr. Gerald B. Gloria   Tel. No. (202) 467-9432

2ND GLOBAL FILIPINO NETWORKING CONFAB TO BE HELD IN MANILA FROM DECEMBER 15 TO 18

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The 2nd Global Filipino Networking Convention will be hosted by the Philippines on December 15 to 18, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The Convention is a sequel to the 1st Global Filipino Networking Convention which was organized and successfully implemented in August 2002 by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) based in San Francisco, California.

The first convention was attended by more than 4,000 participants.

This year's Convention is intended to promote the importance of networking as a powerful tool to unify and empower overseas Filipinos for them to become a positive tool for nation-building.

The Task Force is chaired by Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Richard J. Gordon and co-chaired by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas. Other members of the Task Force are: Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Blas F. Ople; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jose D. Lina, Jr. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Emilia T. Boncodin; Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Virgilio R. Angelo; and five private sector representatives appointed by the President.

The 2nd Global Convention will have two major components in its program. It will start with sectoral fora to be participated in by professional affiliations and sectoral representations such as business, healthcare, youth, women, veterans, etc.

Their workshop deliberations will have outputs that will be presented to President Arroyo in "The President's Hour" on the last day of the Convention.

The second component is the balik-probinsya, which will involve the local government units, the schools and hometown associations to create homecoming programs that will welcome back their townmates in grand and festive celebrations.

For more information on the event, interested parties may visit the 2nd Global Convention's official website at www.dotcpcvc.gov.ph/Events/Global/global-info.html. (END)

PUBLIC ADVISORY: WARNING ON THE "NIGERIAN ADVANCE FEE SCAM"

(The following is the full text of the letter of Senator Luisa "Loi" P. Ejercito Estrada to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco on the use of the Senator's name in connection with the "Nigerian Advance Fee Scam." It was transmitted to the Embassy by DFA Undersecretary Joe S. Brilliantes who requested that a warning be issued to all concerned on the dangers of the scam and to monitor the possible occurrence of these sting operations.)

"Dear DIIR. WYCOCO:

In the advent of the proliferation of some e-mail scams which are circulating around the world wherein the name of the undersigned is being used for their own personal gain, may I so request for your assistance in investigating this matter at the soonest.

The e-mail scam referred to is internationally known as "Nigerian Advance Fee Scam" and part of the modus operandi is to make it appear that a relative of a former head of state is in need of help to secure large sums of funds.

For quite sometime, the office of the undersigned received several letters unlawfully using my name. I already called the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs and am now bringing this matter to your attention so as to assist me in preventing the continuous unlawful use of the name of this representation. Attached for your perusal is a sample photocopy of an e-mail scam being attributed to the Senator.

Thank you in advance and best regards.

Yours truly,

LUISA "LOI" P. EJERCTIO ESTRADA