[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’‘Hospitable, clean’ Iloilo impresses ASEAN visitors’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA and RESEL JOY TIANERO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Friday, March 10, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO City – This city made a good impression on the participants of the two meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from March 6 to 9, according to the City Tourism Office.
“All the feedbacks we got were positive. They found our city clean and beautiful,” said City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia.
The meetings were held at the Iloilo Convention Center in the bustling district of Mandurriao. Yesterday, the delegates were taken to various places of interest.
A delegate from Singapore described Iloilo City as a “twin” of the island city-state and global financial center, said Divinagracia.
They were impressed with the restoration of heritage buildings on Calle Real (old business district), the city tourism officer revealed.
Ilonggo food also caught the delegates’ fancy. Talaba (oyster), grilled pusit (squid) and lumpia nga ubod (spring roll with heart of palm filling), among others, tickled their taste buds, said Divinagracia.
On the first night of the ASEAN meetings, some of the guests sneaked out of their hotels to dine at a famous restaurant Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafood in Arevalo district, she revealed.
The ASEAN delegates were also introduced to the hablon (hand-woven textile) of Oton and Miag-ao towns and they were impressed, Divinagracia added.
But most of all, they were cognizant of the Ilonggos’ hospitality, she stressed.
“In the other meetings they attended, they said people were not as accommodating and hospitable as the Ilonggos,” said Divinagracia.
For the city tourism officer, this was the ultimate compliment. This was the “best practice” Iloilo City could offer and which other hosts of ASEAN meetings can emulate, she said.
The ASEAN delegates visited the Iloilo City Hall yesterday, too. They were welcomed by dancing Dinagyang Festival warriors.
The delegates were each given a Dingyang Dagoy doll as souvenir.
At the second floor of city hall, children wearing the national costumes of the 10 member states of ASEAN greeted the delegates.
Also included in the visitors’ tour yesterday was the Camiña Balay Nga Bato in Arevalo district, the Molo Mansion in Molo district and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center – Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD) in Tigbauan, Iloilo.
At the Center, the delegates were showed the integrated hatchery that is now home to the oldest milkfish in captivity in the Philippines.
SEAFDEC is a treaty organization established in December 1967 to promote fisheries development in the region. It is supported by ASEAN’s 10 member countries and Japan. Its aquaculture department was established in 1973.
Iloilo City hosted the 22nd Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN (SOCA) Council Meeting from March 6-7 and the 17th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting from March 8-9./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
