TRAILS UP NORTH

Glo Abaeo Tuazon
Cultural awareness, tourism promotions

KABAYAN, Benguet.-- Tourism is one of the fast developing industries in the mostly conservative Cordillera Region today. It seems to be two conflicting issues that concerned authorities have to merge and fix to complement each other.

The Cordilleras is a land full of unique cultures and traditions, where dieties are sacred and the ancient practice of appeasing them in the form of canaos and other rites are still done to this day. Most local government units have already devised ways to promote their areas, to boost income generation for people of different barangays covered by the programs. To merge the idea of tourism and culture is a feat.

In Kabayan, a workshop was recently held to tackle the idea. Going by the theme "Conserving culture amidst developmental changes", the KCS Hall was filled to the brim by participants that exceeded their expected number of 100.

Attendees included barangay chairmans, kagawads, nongovernment organization representatives, national museum heads and employees, tour guides, Sanggunian Kabataan members, teachers and students, private sectors and the Municipal Tourism Council.
This was an activity sponsored by NCCA and co-sponsored by the municipal and provincial governments in coordination with the Department of Education of the Kabayan District and Benguet Division.

This special seminar was conducted as part of the tourism program to prepare and make people aware of the diminishing Kabayan culture, and also as a way to preserve those cultures while at the same time promoting the tourism industry.

The seminar-workshop centered on three different topics. The topic on "Losing one's culture is losing one's identity" was discussed by Terso Guiad. Second topic was "Sustaining the Environment as part of our Cultural heritage." and third topic which was discussed by Maxencia Pili was about the main theme.

Gracing the activity was Leihdee Anne Magno, Culture and Arts Officer for NCCA and Claire Prudencio from the tourism division of the governor's office. Mayor Faustino Aquisan gave a message after which Ms. Prudencio spoke in behalf of Gov. Nestor Fongwan. In her talk she cited that Kabayan had the most number of attendees where even the PNP were actively involved. email: twilight_glo@yahoo.com