Hello dear YWAMers and friends,

This is it… What you have all been waiting for… The invitation for the YWAM Philippines National Staff Conference 2015.

We are very excited and looking forward to host you all here in the city of pines. Please read the details below carefully before clicking the link to the registration page.

• All registration will be online
• Every staff and guest needs to register (i.e., husband and wife will each have to register)
• In cases where YWAMers do not have internet access, there is an option for someone to register on your behalf.

PLEASE REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Morning interactive breakout sessions are limited to 50 participants each. Register early to get into the session you want!

STAY-IN GUESTS (not YWAM staff): The cost for stay-in guests is PHP8000 or US$180 per person for the entire conference. This may be paid on the registration website, directly to the national office, or upon arrival.

DAY GUESTS (not YWAM staff): Friends of YWAM who join our sessions but do not stay or eat at the hotel will pay a 100 pesos registration fee at the conference for ID and materials.

CONFERENCE / NOBS PAYMENTS:  (YWAM staff) If you have no outstanding NOBS or conference payments, you will not pay any additional cost. Please communicate directly with your base/team leader about NOBS or conference payments. Your leader will communicate with the National Office. Payments will be made directly to the National Office. You may register for the conference, then make the payment at a later time.

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN: A list of basic cost for children is attached. However, there are various options for meals and number of beds. Joy Pitas is willing to work out an arrangement and cost that is suitable for your family. Email Joy at <urbanministries@yahoo.com> and she will communicate with you and let you know what the final cost will be for your children attending the conference. Payment will be made to the National Office.

TRAVEL TO BAGUIO BY BUS: We recommend Victory Liner or Genesis (Joy) Bus from Manila to Baguio. Both lines have terminals in Pasay and Cubao; both offer aircon or deluxe buses, and both offer online reservations. Once you arrive in Baguio, take a taxi to Hotel Supreme.

Deluxe buses are more spacious, have a CR, and take 4 ½ hours from Cubao.

Aircon buses are cheaper, but take 6 to 7 hours from Cubao, 7 to 8 hours from Pasay, depending on traffic

We recommend purchasing your return ticket to Manila online before you come, or immediately after arrival in Baguio. Buses are often booked days in advance.

If your base/team is travelling together, consider booking the entire bus.

VICTORY LINER TICKET WEBSITE: https://www.pinoytravel.com.ph/

JOY BUS TICKET WEBSITE: http://iwantseats.com.ph/

TRAVEL TO BAGUIO BY CAR: You can take the NLEX, to SCTEX, to TPLEX (about PHP 550 for tolls) all the way to Urdaneta, Pangasinan, then MacArthur highway to Rosario junction. At Rosario junction, you may choose Kennon Road or Marcos Highway (slightly longer) going up the mountain. Once in Baguio, find your way to La Trinidad, and Hotel Supreme is near the boundary between Baguio City and La Trinindad. Due to frequent changes in road repair and one-way patterns, we cannot give more specific directions than this. We recommend checking “Hotel Supreme Baguio City” on Google Maps or using Waze on your GPS. The Hotel offers guest parking (limited spaces).

SALES/SOUVENIR TABLES: We are still discussing with the Hotel about the possibility of YWAMers setting up tables for sale of trinkets and souvenirs. We will update you on this later.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES: We have plans for men’s basketball and women’s volleyball games at a venue not far from the Hotel. Also, if there is interest, we may arrange jeeps for sightseeing trips to Mine’s View, Mansion House, and other Baguio attractions.

**PLEASE DO NOT PLAN TO ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL BEFORE 2pm ON APRIL 7

**PLEASE PLAN TO LEAVE THE HOTEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER LUNCH ON APRIL 11

ARRIVING EARLY / STAYING LATER: If you would like to come a few days early or stay a few days longer in Baguio City, there are a number of affordable guest houses in the area that we could recommend. Please email Marlon & Joy Pitas at urbanministries@yahoo.com with your details and approximate budget and they can let you know what is available and help you make arrangements. Please do this as soon as possible, since summer can be very busy in Baguio!

CONFERENCE T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST: This year, we are having a contest for our conference T-shirt design. The theme is “Changed Lives… Transforming Nations”. Designs should be submitted by email to <philippinesywam@gmail.com>   by February 16.

If you have further questions, please email us at <baguio_trainingcenter@yahoo.com.ph>

2015 YWAM PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CONFERENCE COSTS

FOR ADULT GUESTS (NOT YWAM STAFF) STAYING IN AND DINING AT THE CONFERENCE VENUE

** PHP 8000.00 (US$180) per person for the entire conference (4 nights)

FOR ADULT GUESTS (NOT YWAM STAFF) STAYING OUT 

** PHP 870 per day for lunch and am/pm snacks

** PHP 100 – Registration only (No meals or snacks)

(Note: There are restaurants within the hotel and nearby that offer meals and snacks for a much lower rate than the PHP 870 per day)

FOR CHILDREN STAYING IN (all children, of guests or of YWAM staff)

**Age 0-3 years:      Free (no separate bed, eat from parents’ plate)

**Age 4-11 years:    Free (no separate bed, eat from parents’ plate or eat outside the venue)

PHP 2200 (full meals and snacks, no separate bed)

PHP 3600 (full meals and snacks, extra bed in room)

**Age 12-17 years: PHP 3600 (full meals and snacks, extra bed in room)

PHP 5160 (full meals and snacks, considered adult – i.e. triple or quad room instead of extra bed only)

**Age 18 years and up: PHP 5160

FOR YWAM STAFF

See your base or team leader to find out if or how much you will need to pay.

BASE /TEAM LEADERS:

**   IF your staff member has been a full-time staff since May 2013

AND if all National Operations and Benefits for Staff (NOBS) fees have been paid from May 2013 to April 2015 (24 months): Free

**   IF your staff member has been on staff since May 2013

AND all NOBS fees were NOT paid for 24 months, then please pay the full NOBS for the months that were not yet paid.

**   IF your staff member is a new staff who joined YWAM Philippines after May 2013, then

A)     add the number of months they have been on staff up to April 2015, then

B)      subtract that number of months from 24.

C)      Multiply that answer times PHP 247.50 and that is the amount they should pay.

(For example, if they joined YWAM RP in February 2014, then they will have been in YWAM for 15 months as of April 2015. Subtract 15 from 24, and the answer is 9. Multiply 9 times PHP 247.50.  They will pay 2227.50 for the conference.)

Base/Team leaders: If there are questions about how much your staff or your base owes, please contact the National Office yourself directly. DO NOT ask your staff to contact the office themselves. The office is not able to handle a large number of individual inquiries about conference fees and NOBS.  Thank you.

TO REGISTER FOR THE 2015 NATIONAL STAFF CONFERENCE, PLEASE GO TO:

www.regonline.sg/ywamphilippinesnationalstaffconference2015

Make sure to print your registration upon completion.

On behalf of YWAM Northern Luzon,

John Parsons