My former boss, Dr. Mina T. Gabor, once asked me to produce CITEM Trade Update—a monthly, later weekly, newsletter that caught the attention of local and foreign buyers, product specialists, academic institutions, and other stakeholders, including regional offices of the Department of Trade and Industry.
CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo and CITEM Founder Dr. Mina T. Gabor (seated, center) with “CITEM-ized” employees.
Through CITEM Trade Update, I received training from the United Nations as an ASEAN-EEC fellow and represented the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Dr. Gabor founded the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in 1984 and served as its first president and executive director. Her goal was to promote Philippine products and services in the global market.
(Seated) current CITEM executive director Leah Pulido Ocampo and first CITEM president/executive director Dr. Mina T. Gabor; (standing, from left) Evans Aligaen, Chyril Luz Rivera Carino, Oly delos Santos, Rogelio Constantino Medina, Joh Silan and Mike Guioguio.
CITEM Founder Dr. Mina T. Gabor with Asian Journal columnist Rogelio Constantino Medina.
Among her major achievements were the establishment of the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and securing the World Trade Center franchise for the Philippines.
She is also a trailblazer in Philippine tourism—recognized as the first female Secretary of the Department of Tourism and for pioneering sustainable tourism. She later founded and now heads the International School of Sustainable Tourism, a leading institution in the Asia-Pacific region dedicated to developing and promoting sustainability in the industry.
Dr. Gabor has served as a consultant for several international organizations, including the United Nations International Trade Center and the World Tourism Organization. In 1998, she received the Philippine Legion of Honor.
(From left) Andrew delos Santos, Oly delos Santos, Mike Guioguio, Rogelio Constantino Medina, Chyril Luz Rivera Carino, and Joh Silan.
We recently held a reunion of former CITEM employees, and our former boss, Dr. Gabor, joined us to give a much-needed morale boost.
Candidly, without Mina T. Gabor, I would not be where I am today—and for that, I will always be grateful.
Science Journalism Forum ’25
I recently received an email from SciComm X:
“Dear Rogelio,
We are pleased to inform you that the committee has agreed to accept your fellowship application as an exception, in recognition of your active participation and valuable contributions to the Science Journalism Forum.”
My heartfelt thanks to SJF through SciComm X. This marks my fifth active participation in the prestigious Science Journalism Forum since 2021, where I ranked 6th on the SJF Leaderboard. I placed 3rd in 2023, and in both 2022 and 2024, I won while representing the Philippines.
Science Journalism Forum 2025 in Dubai.
I am proud to join participants from The New York Times, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, CNN, Deutsche Welle, CERN, the National Institutes of Health, Cornell University, Nature, and Bloomberg in the 2025 Science Journalism Forum.
TESOL to Elect Next Leaders
TESOL International Association has chosen me as one of the voting members to help elect the next set of officers for 2026.
TESOL 2026 Election.
Good luck to:
— Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, Washington, USA (Ed.D. TESOL/Literacy; M.A. and B.A. French, University of Cincinnati, Ohio; Professor of Bilingual Education, TESOL, and Literacy at Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA; Teacher Preparation in TESOL/Bilingual Education, 2018–present)
— Dr. Gabriel Hugo Diaz Maggioli, Uruguay (Ed.D., University of Bath, UK, 2018; M.A. Education, University of Bath, 2004; B.A. English as a Foreign Language, National Teacher Education College, Uruguay, 1985; Professor of TESOL, Learning Theories, and Assessment, Institute of Education, Universidad ORT Uruguay, 2020–present)
TESOL members, your voice matters. Help shape the future of our association by voting in the 2026 election. Vote by November 5, 2025, and make your impact!
Members will receive an email with instructions on how to vote. Learn more about the candidates here: https://bit.ly/4n5bKi4
PFBA ’25 Winners Shine in Las Vegas
Some of the awardees of the 3rd Philippine Finest Business Awards & Outstanding Achievers 2025 were recently featured for three days on LED billboards in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Asian Journal columnist Rogelio Constantino Medina in Las Vegas billboard.
“Our global campaign, powered by Alegre De Pilipinas ‘Official’ and Janice Israel Delima, proudly brings Filipino excellence to the international spotlight through a stunning digital billboard display right in the heart of Las Vegas,” said La Visual Corporation.
This international milestone marks another proud achievement for La Visual Corporation, honoring outstanding Filipino achievers with world-class recognition and visibility.
I am grateful to have been featured on a solo billboard alongside fellow honorees that included Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, actor Aga Muhlach, my friend Jojo Bragais, William Jones, PTV’s Rise and Shine Pilipinas hosts Audrey Gorriceta and Fifi delos Santos, Holland’s Got Talent contestant Lae Manego, photographer Jamin Lim, Jeffrey Dy, Charrie Rose Apilado, Edwin Lisa, NET25’s Wej Cudiamat, Earlo Bringas, Nirro Marcelo, Judge Tarcelo Sabarre Jr., Ricky Palou, Willie Marcial, Salvie Collado Paparon, and Michaela Maris Lamzon, among others.
Ivatan Artists Exhibit at Casa Angela
Yaru nu Artes Ivatan extended its deepest gratitude to Oly Delos Santos, with the assistance of Andrew and Quev, for their wonderful collaboration and support during the exhibit at Casa Angela in Pampanga.
Casa Angela in San Fernando, Pampanga.
“It has been such a heartwarming and fulfilling experience for the Ivatan artists to share our work with you. We truly enjoyed every moment of this collaboration and look forward to more meaningful activities and projects together in the future. Thank you for welcoming us with such warmth and appreciation.”
The artists at Casa Angela.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
