Best of CL in Intramuros a hit – DoT-3

The recent opening day of “The Best of Central Luzon: A Wellspring of Diversity” showcase held at the Clamshell I, Intramuros, Manila was by and large an outstanding feat if gauged from the profile of personalities and number of spectators that showed up to witness the most colourful and loudest cultural extravaganza ever staged at the history town of Manila. This was the announcement made by Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico of the Department of Tourism in the region. Tiotuico said that the opening ceremony was witnessed by no less that the principal author of the National Tourism Act of 2009 otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9593, Senator Richard Gordon as the guest of honor and speaker. The line-up of personalities was followed by the members of the diplomatic community led by Ambassadors Valeroi Gheorghe of Romania, Pieter Vermevlen of South Africa and Consul Ahimsa Soekartono of the Republic of Indonesia. The inaugural rite was made more significant with the presence of personalities like DoT Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab representing Secretary Ace Durano, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, Executive Director Charito Planas of Nayong Pilipino, PTA Deputy General Manager Lydia Cosuco, DoT Regional Directors Louella Jurilla of Region IV, Bles Diwa of Region II and Martin Valera of Region I, including leaders of the travel and tourism sector such as the Association of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP), Pampanga Agents Travel Society (PATS) and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Pampanga (HARP). The affair was also attended by personalities from the local government units led by Mayors Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Candido Guiam III of Victoria, Tarlac, and Gregoria Manglicmot also of Tarlac. A host of more than 300 street dancing contingents from the provinces highlighted the rainy afternoon program that were led by the Mango Festival of Zambales, Ilang-Ilang of Tarlac, Pandawan Festival of Nueva Ecija, Pawikan Festival of Bataan and Drum and Lyre band of Olongapo City. The audience was serenaded the entire evening by the internationally acclaimed Koro Bulakenyo courtesy of the provincial government of Bulacan. The WoW Philippines Intramuros is a project of the tourism department which started in December of 2008 as a vehicle by which the regions in the country would be accorded the opportunity to showcase their tourism assets and potentials thru stage performances, street dancing showdowns, arts and crafts demonstrations, travel trade exhibits, among all other events and presentations -- all under one roof. The showcase will run from June 17 to July 5. The Central Luzon showcase is led by the indefatigable regional chairman Lydia Co from Tarlac City. She is ably assisted by the following tourism officers: Caeasar Quaison of Bataan, Asuncion Fronda of Tarlac, Dinia Quetwa of Bulacan, Librada Guevaraan of Zambales, Michael Palispis of Aurora, Carolina Uy of Nueva Ecija, Leny Manalo of Candaba, Noemi Garcia of Clark Freeport Zone, Nida Rojo of SBMA Tourism, Erlinda Lim of Olongapo City Tourism Council, and Wilfredo Toldanes of Tarlac City. Private sector participants include Greater Subic Tourism Development, Inc. and Clark Freeport Tourism Association, among others.
BY: Raymond C. Garcia http://www.centralluzondaily.com/index.php?action=article&n_id=2804
Photo: Jun J. Torres