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[av_heading heading=’RURAL UPDATE ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JOHNNY NOVERA
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ALONG the idea of our article in October last year that we can be tourists in our home country, we say that at this time Ilonggos can start implementing the idea of being tourists in our own city with the forthcoming festivals that we have.
January and February is fiesta time in Iloilo. It starts with our Dinagyang celebration during the last week of January, and closely followed by the Jaro Fiesta in honor of its patron saint, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, which falls on Feb. 2, 2018. The two events are national and international crowd drawers for Iloilo. The Paraw Regatta follows in March.
This early all tickets for spectators on the grandstand and other designated performance areas along the route of the Dinagyang have been reportedly sold out.
The event to follow Dinagyang is the annual Jaro fiesta. The religious procession participated by local beauties and the proclamation of the traditional Jaro Queen at the public plaza is attracting national attendance of Ilonggos. Visitors from all over the Philippines and abroad are coming home to attend the traditional fiesta, and especially to witness the colorful parade and coronation night for the Fiesta Queen.
The other national attraction in Jaro is the cockfight derby which is attended by game aficionados also from all over the country.
We have mentioned of this idea before in our column that Filipinos should be tourists first in our home country rather than we go on foreign tours.
We mentioned of the program in Japan that encouraged their own people to travel within the country rather than go abroad. Their business sector has adopted the practice of awarding travel bonuses for their employees aside from cash, to promote visits to destinations in Japan especially those of historical and heritage value.
In our article in October last year, we suggested the idea of being tourists first in our home country like what they do in Japan.
We have mentioned of business groups who could probably start a similar tour program for their members to local historical and heritage sites. We especially mentioned the Iloilo Business Club, the Bankers Club of Iloilo and other local business chambers or professional organizations.
Introducing this idea or a movement for Ilonggos to become tourists first in our city and then to other places in the country before we go abroad is a novel but very effective idea to contribute to our tourism program. With the traffic problem in the city during festivals, staying in a hotel downtown can give assurance of participating right where the action is rather than just sitting on our TV sets at home. It will be a different experience.
Ilonggos must lead the way to being tourists first in their own city by actively participating in our festival celebrations along the concept that we have described here.
To promote this idea, a good incentive discount from our hotels, resorts and restaurants for locals as conceived in our article will give the program a big push for the hotels to have a steady business even without foreign guests.
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Historical quote of the week: “According to our Maragtas legend, Iloilo is the site of the first Malayan landing in the Philippines.” (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
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