Artscape contest promotes Benguet in Adivay festival

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- To each its own way of promoting pride of place  in Benguet, an “artscape” competition is now on in commemoration of founding anniversary of the province and Adivay Festival this November.

“My Pride of Place Tourism Artscape Competition,” is combination of “totality” of each of the 13 towns of the province’s tourism identity featuring history, tourist attractions, culture, products of their pride of place, according to provincial tourism operations officer Clarita Prudencio.

Models would be installed in a two by two meter-space alongside the agri-tourism booth of respective town Nov. 17-27 at Benguet Sports Center here at Barangay Wangal. 

Entries should project image of the municipality in relation to culture and traditions.

In promoting tourism, culture and tradition should be infused and should never be neglected, Prudencio said. “We still want to maintain what is traditional to keep our values intact,” she said.

The competition hopes to foster “change in mindset.”

Instead of only tourists appreciating their place which usually happens, the community should be the first to appreciate what they have, she said.

The use of all available resources including artifacts and other materials in decorating their area is encouraged except prohibited materials such as freshly-cut pinewood and narra.

In tourism, there is a need for innovation to level up for ASEAN or Association of Southeast Asian Nations integration anchored on the province’s 114th year founding anniversary theme, she added.

Winners will be awarded Nov. 25 at Benguet Sports Center. – Susan C. Aro