Practical Information on the General Assembly

A. General Assembly Service

The Opening Service for the General Assembly will be held at the National Cathedral in Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila on the 8th of May 2005.  The Obispo Maximo, the Most Reverend Tomas A. Millamena, will be presiding the Solemn Primatial Mass with the Most Reverends Abdias de la Cruz, Alberto Ramento and Tito Pasco concelebrating. The Most Reverend Joris A.O.L. Vercammen, Archbishop of Utrecht, is the guest preacher.

B.  Venue of the General Assembly
The meetings of the General Assembly will take place in the Conference Hall of Manila Bayview Park Hotel located along Roxas Boulevard corner United Nations Avenue. All delegates are booked for accommodation at the hotel rooms.

C.  Registration Desk

The delegates have to register their attendance to the General Assembly by confirming their names at the official roll of delegates. They have to sign against their names on the attendance list prepared by the Committee on Registration and which the Committee on Credentials will use in confirming their presence and participation to the General Assembly. An identification card will be given which has to be worn at all times during the meetings.

D. Documents and Materials

A kit of materials will be given to delegates upon registration containing information of the affairs of the General Assembly. The kit has to be brought at all times during the meetings.

E.  Seating at the General Assembly

A seating plan for the General Assembly Hall has been arranged according to the regional listing of the dioceses. This will ensure that all delegates will be seated with other members of the same diocese. There will be a clearly marked seating plan at the entrance to the General Assembly Hall to lead delegates to their respective places.

F.  Communications at the General Assembly

There will be a public phone at the entrance of the General Assembly Hall for delegates who needed to make outgoing communication and receive incoming communication. Mobile phones will be allowed at the meetings but will have to be muted and switched off the incoming alert for calls and messages.

G. Catering for the General Assembly

The delegates will gain entry to all meals by meal tickets provided in the kit. The hotel will provide a buffet service for every meal for all delegates. A cafeteria and restaurant is located at the hotel lobby for delegates who wish to purchase additional number of meals to be paid personally by them. There are other restaurants that are all within easy walking distance outside the hotel.