Capiz: Perfect hideaway place for tourists wanting laidback lifestyle
ROXAS CITY – Sometimes, the best thing to do is doing nothing.
Tourists, both local and international, may find some truth to this claim after savoring the tranquility, peace, quiet and serenity that only Capiz could offer. Amid the hustle and bustle of typical city life offered by big places like Manila, Cebu and Davao, Capiz has become a best alternative for tourists and travel buffs preferring laidback lifestyles.
Capiz provincial tourism officer Alphonsus Tesoro said Capiz’s edge is its countryside – setting: fresh air, fresh food, no traffic, less noise and unspoiled environment. Also, Tesoro notes, Capiz folk are evolving into tourist-friendly creatures. This came about after the province hosted tourism events one after another, the latest of which was the ONE VISAYAS, which was an exhibit of the culture, arts, products and festivals of the three Visayan regions – Regions 6, 7 abd 8 held on March 11-14 this year.
Earlier, the Province played gracious host to such grand tourism events as the Global Peace Festival, the Dungog: Indigenous Peoples Festival and the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly.
In the forefront of these activities is the Provincial Tourism Office headed by Tesoro, whose “soaring adrenaline” when it comes to culture and the arts activities never ceases to amaze his peers in the industry. Tesoro, however, could only thank his boss, Gov. Victor Tanco Sr., without whose support, he said, the tourism industry of Capiz would still have been relegated to the background.
Talking about what appear to be endless tourism activities mounted by the Province since the Tanco administration came into being. Tesoro said they (those behind the tourism program in Capiz) have been quite successful in making ingay (noise) enough for this tiny but undiscovered place known as Capiz to be finally noticed by outsiders.
According to him, he has bumped into a number of local and foreign tourists who told him of how much they have appreciated the “shift in their environment” after setting foot in Capiz.
The tourism czar also noted a “change” in the attitude of the locals, particularly the tricycle drivers who were often the butt of complaints from a number of guests, ranging from arrogance to overpricing.
Tesoro was also quick to acknowledge the enthusiastic support of the academe and the business sector in Capiz, particularly the Capiz Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Tesoro said, however, that the CVCB’s plan to mount the “longest seafood grill” in the world as one of the major activities of CAPIZtahan 2010 and which would place Capiz in the Guinness Book of World Records, has been deferred “for some future time” due to lack of time for preparations.
Capiz has been dubbed as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines owing the “unique taste” of its seafood products, particularly prawns, crabs and other shellfish products, notably the angel wings locally known as “diwal.”
The famous Kapis shell, which is known the world over as souvenir and decorative items, was derived from the name Capiz, an acknowledgement that it thrives best in the province’s waters. (CAPIZtahan 2010 Publicity and Promotions Committee)
