a.  Workshops;

    b.  Trainings;

    c. Seminars;

    d. Congresses;

    e. Conferences;

    f. Conventions;

    g. Board Meetings;

    h. Colloquia;

    i. Conclaves;

    j. Symposia; and 

    k. Consumer Trade Shows or Product Launch Events.

On the other hand, the following Non-Essential Events, at moment, are strictly prohibited. Non-essential events are gathering of social or political nature and purposes such as but not limited to sporting events, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, corporate anniversaries, political events, weddings, and family reunions.

The said memorandum encourages the use of Hybrid Events and indicated other safety protocols. It also emphasized that only 30% of the venue should be used. Lastly, only those inside the GCQ and MGCQ areas are allowed to attend the business events.

This is the most common question that keeps all event organizers awake at night. A question that is hard to fathom. Initially, there are positive signs that 2021 will re-establish the industry. But recent news points otherwise.

The news that there is a new Covid-19 strain and the World Health Organization declaring that are expecting another big wave of infection does not augur well going into the future.

Physical Events May Have To Wait for a Little Longer

Despite the problematic internet connection, last year the online events like corporate meetings, exhibitions, conferences, webinars, and other business events continued.

Professional organizers were able to pivot and learn faster to offer event management services to their clients in need of implementing their planned events despite the pandemic.

Alongside this learning is the re-education of Generation X and Baby Boomers, which comprised a huge number of workforce in the Philippines, on how to work and conduct business online.

Last year, according to We Are Social there are 73 Million Internet Users in a country of 110 Million population as of January 2020. While in a 2019 Social Weather Station (SWS) survey revealed that 45% of Filipino adults use the internet.

Indeed, based on my experience last year, clients that are not accustomed and even shunned using the internet and online tools for business transactions are forced and are now technologically savvy.

Expect that this year online events will become prevalent.