On the DOT
By Atty. Helen J. Camarista

Kabugana-an sang Western Visayas sa Intramuros

The History Town that is Intramuros, Manila will explode with drumbeats, colors, drama, indigenous products and action on June 15-28, 2005 as the Best of Western Visayas Region unfolds to attract foreign, domestic and local visitors and buyers to Plaza San Ignacio and Clamshell I. There will be a total of 39 booths composed of destination highlights, craft demo, product selling and tour packages, among others. Cultural shows will be a daily attraction.

Kabugana-an sang Western Visayas , the 2-week event is designed to be a cornucopia of the best that the region has to offer from the soft opening at 5pm June 15 to the Grand Opening at 5pm June 18 with Boracay Nightlife later in the evening. It is also a showcase of cooperation between the Department of Tourism Region VI on the one hand and the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector on the other hand.

The Grand Opening on June 18 will feature Iloilo's Dinagyang, Bacolod's Masskara, Negros Occidental's Teatro Amorseco, Bago City's Babaylan and La Carlota City's Drumbeaters. Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senator Mar Roxas, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Senator Richard Gordon, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and the DOT undersecretaries and assistant secretaries have been invited to grace the affair as well as ambassadors and consuls to the Philippines.

Other features include the Negros/Bacolod City Day June 19 highlighted with the Legend of Sugarcane, El Cinco de Noviembre and Babaylan Festival of Bago City, MassKara: Welcome to the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and others.

Capiz Day will be June 24 with the Fly High Capiz , a collage of contemporary dance, music and theatrical movements integrated with oral traditions like binalaybay, lowa, and a fusion of indigenous art forms of Panay Bukidnon. It is a commemoration of local heroes who offered their lives in order to free their people from the bondage of colonial rule. Capiz is blessed with abundant natural resources particularly marine life and mineral deposits. Its illustrious sons and daughters have placed the province in esteemed prominence.

The power of two (2) will be once again displayed by Iloilo City and Guimaras as these local government units celebrate Iloilo-Guimaras Day on June 25 with the launching of “Experience Iloilo and Guimaras” project, turn-over by the Department of Tourism to the provincial officials of Guimaras of the Guimaras Area Specific Tourism Master Plan and performance of Sibunag, Guimaras Tribe.

June 26 is scheduled for Antique Day with its original Kinaray-a music (acoustic jamming), Malay Ati (Binirayan Tribe) and Aninipay (Stage Play) and a lot of indigenous songs, music and dances.