SAN JOSE, Antique – Rivers of Bugang, Pandan and Tibiao in this province will hold the Northern Antique River Festival 2019: 2nd National Extreme River Tubing Race this month.
“We conceptualized this event to promote Bugang River in the municipality of Pandan and Tibiao River in the municipality of Tibiao for sports and recreation purposes, and to further develop the province as an ecotourism hub,” said Flord Nicson Calawag, president of the Antique Eco-Tourism Association (AETA), Inc.
“We want to promote the rivers of Northern Antique as adventure-sports tourism sites, specifically for river tubing. This is also a good venue to expose our (authorities) to search and rescue techniques,” said Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer and race director Broderick Train.
The success of the 1st National River Tubing Race in Tibiao last February 2018 inspired various resorts to train locals and turn them into river guides.
The Northern Antique River Festival will also campaign for a plastic-free event on Oct. 26-27. No water bottles will be allowed, encouraging participants to bring refillable water containers.
Water stations with reusable cups will also be placed in designated areas during the event.
“We want to market the Province of Antique as an eco-friendly tourist destination,” said AETA member Kimberly Eng.
The AETA is an association of various resorts, hotels, restaurants, tourist establishments and community-based tourism organization.
Aside from the tubing race, the Antique Provincial Tourism Office will launch #Namit: A Karay-a Kulinarya Cooking Challenge, a competition of cooks and chefs of various resorts, restaurant and catering in the province.
The main ingredients for the main dish must be sourced from the river, while promoting the use of native chicken and pork.
“We want to position Antique as the capital of native pig lechon. Because of our highlands, it is easy for us to raise native pigs and advocate for a healthy meat to our locals and tourists,” said Gov. Rhodora Cadiao./PN
