Mt Ugo now one of country's tourism draws

BY LIZA DIASE

ITOGON, Benguet – The annual Mt. Ugo summer climb here in Barangay Tinongdan has drawn 149 mountaineering enthusiasts, the highest in years, highlighting the mountain’s tourist-drawing potential.

The scheduled kick-off date, Friday the 13th has defied the notion that this is an unfortunate day.

The Mt. Ugo Summer climb is a tourism promotional activity of Tinongdan supported by the municipal government, provincial government and the regional Department of Tourism.

This year’s climb has recorded the biggest number of participants compared to the previous years with a remarkable 48% increase from last year’s 101 participants.

During the 2nd climb in 2004, there were 118 participants, however, there was a great dip in 2005 when there were only 45 joining individuals because of the meningocccemia scare that plagued the region.

This year’s event was joined by 18 participating groups. Most came from came from Manila while the others came from Laguna, Batangas, Cavite , Tarlac, and the Cordillera.
There were also participants who came from Albay and Negros Occidental.

The evening socials at Camp 2 in Sitio Lusod, Tinongdan was memorable to the treckers. A cow was butchered while the people played indigenous musical instruments (gangsa, solibao, tiktik).
The Municipal Tourism Action Officer and Punong Barangay of Tinongdan Norberto I. Pacio facilitated the evening activity.

The YAPAK (Young Achievers promoting eco-Adventure and Kindness) group celebrated their first anniversary in this climb. Other groups that celebrated their founding anniversary during this climb were Sual power Station Mountaineering Club and the Pilipinas Sierra, Inc.

On the morning of Sunday, the third and final day, Holy mass was celebrated at the campsite officiated by Rev. Fr. Mario Tambic, Parish priest of Poblacion, was also a participant of the climb.

Mayor Mario W. Godio thanked participants for supporting the activity and assured them the local government will continue to support ecotourism programs and projects in the municipality that will enhance livelihood opportunities of the people of the locality.

Awards were given to deserving groups and individuals. Awardees were: Pilipinas Siera, Inc. –Most organized Group; YAPAK – Jolliest Group; Rosendo Competente – Earliest Ragistrant; Adventure Trekkers (ADTREK) – Early Bird Awardee; Philippine Nature and Outdoor Explorers (PHINOE) – Biggest Participating group; Bianca Marie Benin – Youngest participant (10 yrs old); Mario Arceno – Most Senior Participant (57 years old); Hermilyn Ann Basungit – Darling of the climb; Rev.Fr. Mario Tambic – Star of the climb; Jorge Stephen Delos Santos , Jovito Balinoyos , Ferdinand Bautista, & Edna Dela Carsada – Loyalty Awardees for having participated 3 consecutive climbs including this 5’th Climb.

The 4th Mt. Ugo Summer Climb in April 7-9,2006 bagged the Nature and Sports Tourism Award from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines .

This national award was an inspiration for the organizers to make the succeeding climb better and a proof that local stakeholders can truly manage their tourism resources and potentials.The award was given last October 6,2006 at Koronadal City, South during the 7’th ATOP National Convention.