Hundred Islands draws 140,425

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines — The tourist arrivals at the popular Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) this year has reached 140,425. Reynaldo T. Livara, Jr., HINP technical consultant, revealed Monday that as of November 8, a total of 131,959 local visitors and 8,466 foreign tourists have visited the 1,800 hectare-park. By these figures, the HINP expects the tourist arrivals to top 160,000 by the end of the year, said Livara. He said this was a big jump in tourism not only for the Hundred Islands but for the country as well, noting that in 2005, there were only 63,656 tourists who visited the national park with only 3,733 of them foreigners. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Source: Hundred Islands draws 140,425
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Pangasinan Pista’y Dayat 2009: A Summer Spectacle with social relevance

LINGAYEN — Pangasinan Pistay Dayat 2009 offers a complete summer spectacle here that caters to children, teenagers and adults, as the provincial government prepares a series of fun-filled activities infused with social relevance from April 25 to May 2.

The Lingayen beach will host most of the events aimed at raising awareness on environmental concern and preserving the culture and tradition of Pangasinan.

The weeklong celebration is set to kick off with a fluvial parade along the Agno River at eight in the morning of April 25 and a boodle fight at lunchtime in Salasa, Bugallon.

Pangasinan Tourism and Trade Expo will also open on the same day at 4:00 a.m. featuring the best product of every municipality and city in the province which will also coincide with Drum & Lyre/Drum and Bugle dubbed as “Banda Parada” exhibition from Capitol Plaza to Lingayen beach.

Music will take center stage in the evening during the semi-final of the “Konsyerto sa Gulpo,” a concert featuring the original composition of local bands advocating environmental awareness. The six districts will each have two representatives to compete in the concert.

Children will have a full day of fun flying kites or sculpting sand castles on April 26 during the Children’s Day or “Gantilan na Ugugaw ed Dayat.”

At 4:00 p.m., the multi-awarded Calasiao Children’s Choir, which is set to join international choir fest, will render a concert at the Lingayen Beachfront. The Bingo Socials will also be simultaneously held to raise funds for the Choir.

They will also be treated to a world class performance of amazing acrobatic show and visually stunning dance number by the Wanders International Circus on April 29 at 7:00 p.m.

After its successful debut last year, the Grand Orchestra and Ballroom Dancing Showdown now dubbed as “Sangkabalegan ya Suwayan tan Sayawan” will return on April 27 with a bigger number of participants from four last year to 10 this year.

The loveliest ladies of Pangasinan will vie for the coveted title of Limgas na Pangasinan 2009 Talent competition on April 28 at 4:00 p.m.

The yearlong search for Cleanest River and Coastal Municipality/City will have its awarding ceremony on May 1 at the Lingayen Beachfront. The search is a brainchild of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. aimed at protecting the coastal and rivers in Pangasinan.

The other anticipated events are: “Pagalaw na Luyag” or Pangasinan Native Games, GATE Chess Competition Elimination Round and Beach Volleyball (Men & Women) on April 27; Cultural Show or “Labi na Ligliwa” on April 28; Youth Camp or Doypuay Kalangweran” on April 29; Open Family Beach Camp on April 30; Thanksgiving Mass on May 1, Lingayen Beach Woodstock featuring Konsyerto sa Gulpo Finalists and Banda ni Ate at 10:00 a.m. and Governor’s Cup Shootfest on May 3 at the PNP Firing Range in Lingayen. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

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Durano says kayaking fastest-growing world recreational sport

By Lily O Ramos

MANILA, April 15 — Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Joseph Ace Durano on Wednesday said that kayaking is one of the world's fastest-growing recreational sports, aside from being a strong magnet for the Philippines' ecotourism projects.

"Kayaking is one of the country's nature-based products, like scuba diving, trailing and birdwatching which we must cultivate to the fullest for local and foreign tourism," Durano told newsmen in a late afternoon press conference at the SMX Center along the stretch of Asia Mall in Pasay City.

"We have natural assets for this ecosport because we are surrounded with different bodies of water like oceans, seas, rivers, marshes, mangroves and wonderful 30,000 coastlines," said Durano.

He added that with two million paddlers in the U.S. wanting to test other waters around the world, the Philippines should be a natural destination of at least 25 percent of these sportsmen-tourists.

Durano said the fact is the tourism department spends around two to three million pesos annually for the promotion of adventure or recreational projects overseas through participation in international trade missions, fairs, exhibits, booths and other forms of information.

Another P100 million is spent for travel operators who carry out tourism diplomacy here and abroad which is actually cost-effective in the end.

"We will tap the services of specialized tour operators to track down movement of tourists and recreational groups for us. Our tracking will be via the production of specialized operators or the private sector who have the necessary equipment since the DoT is more on the marketing side," he said.

On the other hand, Val Camara, top gun in the Philippine Kayaking Series 2009 on April 24-26 in Bolo Beach, Alaminos, Pangasinan with DoT as the main sponsor, said that anyone can join the event but the minimum age would be 12 years, and provided that the candidate is big enough to handle a kayak paddle.

National athletes and those with vast experience in boating and whitewater rafting would be given a new category to distinguish them from the novices.

Camara said kayaking is a very safe sport since the boats have been designed with new bulges to stabilize them, complete with buoyancy chambers and provided with life jackets for a smooth glide.

Other sponsors are the Pangasinan Visitors bureau, the Alaminos City government and the Provincial tourism office of Pangasinan.

Just before the press conference ended, Durano said the DoT main office would take care of the transportation and accommodation of mediamen who will be covering the event. (PNA) scs/LOR

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Pangasinan's Pista'y Dayat grandest holiday ever

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 5 (PNA) -- The Pista'y Dayat celebration in the province to be held from April 25 to May 3, promises to be spectacular, fun-filled and the grandest holiday ever.

With heavy preparations now going on, the sea festival is expected to draw thousands of spectators who shall witness must-see events of the grandest festivity in Pangasinan.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. said this year's festivities will showcase his main advocacies -- environment and tourism -- in order to raise the level of awareness among Pangasinenses on the need to save, rehabilitate and promote the eco-tourism industry of the province.

With its theme, “Matuwan Pasimbalo: Gayaga na Luyag Tayo,” the sea festival is expected to serve as a showroom of the various accomplishments of the province notably on environment and tourism.

This also serves as a thanksgiving and unifying event among Pangasinenses in their march to prosperity and progress in order to realize the dawning of the Golden Era in Pangasinan.

The Pista'y Dayat 2009 will have its soft opening on April 17 featuring two exciting events to be sponsored by the San Miguel Brewery Inc. like the Dance Revolution and the Battole of the Band.

It will also feature a fluvial parade of colorful and aesthetically designed bancas which will sail along the Limahong Channel, and the conduct of On-the-Spot Essay and Painting competition.

The festival’s formal opening dubbed “Ilog Ko: Bilayen Ko, Aroen Ko,” will be held on April 25, with the launching of the ‘Pakar Awards’ or the search for the cleanest river and riverbanks.

Pangasinan tourism will take center stage with the holding of a Tourism and Trade Expo meant to exalt all native products thru a showcase, exhibit and sale of prime tourist destinations and other best prime and local produce of different towns and cities.

The 'Banda Parada' on April 26 is another activity worth watching as this will be participated in by multi-awarded Drum and Lyre and Drum and Bugle Corps for the delight and enjoyment of the viewing public.

Sports and native games will be offered on April 27 with “Pagalaw na Luyag” via native games like 'palosebo', 'culliot', coconut smashing, arm wrestling and arnis and beach volleyball, both for men and women.

Another highlight of the festival is the Grand Orchestra and Ballroom Dancing Showdown, a 12-hour non-stop music and dance entertainment that will feature the best orchestras of Pangasinan.

Made bigger this year, this electrifying showdown is expected to position the province as the Fiesta Orchestra Capital in the world and the Ballroom Dancing Capital of the country.

Younger generation will have a chance to enjoy the cozy ambiance of the Lingayen beach thru the ‘Doypuay Kalangweran’ (Youth Camp) slated from April 28 to 30 while beautiful maidens vying for the most-coveted title of 'Limgas na Pangasinan' will have a chance to show their skills and crafts via the Talent Competition on the night of the 28th.

The fairest of these beauties will be crowned on May 1.

Labi na Ligliwa Cultural Show is a night of talent and old traditions rolled into one that will display the singing prowess of talented amateur singers back-to-back with a lifestyle-drawn theatrical venue via zarzuela.

Skydiving, street dancing and employees night is a fun-filled respite to be featured on April 29.

The main day, May 1, will be highlighted with a thanksgiving mass and the awarding ceremony for the cleanest coastal municipality/city called Tambuyong Awards which is the banner program for this year’s sea festival.

The adrenaline of the viewing public will rise high with the conduct of the Lingayen Beach Woodstock featuring the finalists of the Battle of the Band and the Banda ni ATE as main performers.

The Coronation Night will cap the weeklong activities.

The celebration will be capped with the holding of different activities on May 2 at the Lingayen Beachfront by corporate sponsors.

Simultaneously, the Governor’s Cup shoot fest kicks off on May 3, while the Trade Fair will have its last day sale. (PNA)