FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       December 2, 2005

Release M-107

MAYOR RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO PHILIPPINES

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann pronounced his five-day trip to the Philippines a resounding success.

            “Our delegation, which included City Council members Romy Cachola and Nestor Garcia, had a most productive series of meetings and visits,” said Hannemann. “We were especially touched by the gracious hospitality we received throughout our trip.”

            Among the highlights, Hannemann:

·       Reaffirmed Honolulu’s sister-city relationships with Manila, Vigan and Laoag.

·       Obtained commitments from the mayors of those three cities to participate in the Filipino Trade Centennial Exposition that Honolulu is co-sponsoring in December 2006 at the Hawaii Convention Center, as part of the Hawaii Filipino Centennial celebration.

·       Promoted Honolulu’s year-long centennial celebration in meetings with top Filipino business and government leaders, including the American Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Makati, the Ilocos Norte Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

·       Inspected Manila’s Metro Rail Transit System. Hannemann said “that further reinforced my desire for Honolulu to develop a transit system.”

·       Met with Philippines president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanang Palace and was introduced to Ariel Abadilla, who will assume the post of Philippines consul general in Hawaii on December 8.

            “I believe we laid the groundwork for Governor Lingle to have a successful trip to the Philippines when she leads a state delegation and Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste to those same cities in January and when Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa visits the Philippines in April,” said Hannemann.

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Contact:

              Bill Brennan, 527-6928

              Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767