Sillag Festival big boost to tourism, economy: BCDA

PORO POINT, San Fernando City, La Union -- The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority said the annual staging of Sillag–the Poro Point Festival of Lights–is seen to give a boost to tourism and business sectors in Region I as all roads will lead here during the two-day festival every year.

BCDA president and CEO ArnelPaciano D. Casanova said the 2nd Sillag Festival that is slated on March 9 and 10 is La Union’s counterpart to Baguio City’s Panagbenga and Clark’s International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

He noted that Sillag is not merely the newest tourist attraction in Region I, but more importantly, it showcases one of BCDA’s freeport zones—Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) as a premier tourist destination and investment hub. PPFZ is being managed by the Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC, a member of the BCDA Group.

Strategically located in San Fernando, La Union, the PPFZ is the country's gateway in Northern Luzon. The Freeport has twin infrastructure jewels—the San Fernando International Seaport and the San Fernando Airport. The PPFZ has a six-hectare lighthouse property which serves as a vital component of an Integrated Tourism Complex. Plans are also underway to redevelop the San

Fernando Airport to include an airport mall.

“The Freeport has yet to reach its full potential as it has yet to maximize the presence of both seaport and airport in attracting investments and generating tourists,” Casanova said.

He said BCDA has set its sights on more innovative big-ticket projects to vigorously push the government’s national development thrusts and this includes PPFZ as part of the equation.

According to Casanova, the key is to create different economic hubs in all BCDA areas that work in synergy through carefully master-planned communities in Central and Northern Luzon such as Poro Point in La Union, John Hay in Baguio, Morong in Bataan, and Clark in Pampanga and Tarlac. These economic hubs will complement and strengthen each other and increase business, tourism, trade and investments.

“BCDA’s centerpiece infrastructures consisting of the San Fernando Seaport and Airport in Poro Point, Clark International Airport, and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will be further developed and harnessed to bring the greatest impact to
the national economy,” Casanova said.

Casanova pointed out that ultimately, PPFZ and BCDA’s other areas are to become beacons of globally competitive and sustainable centers of economic activities that shall ripple and spread throughout their respective regions. “Consequently, these economic hubs, taken together would serve as a tipping point for national economic development which is sustainable and inclusive,” he said.

Sillag will officially start on March 9, 2012 at 4:00 pm with a performance of marching bands starting at the PPMC main gate to the Thunderbird Amphitheater. Other activities set for the afternoon and onwards include a fun run, Un-Identified Flying Object (UFO) formation, and the ceremonial lighting of the Sillag village.

The following day, March 10, 2013, among the activities include an air show, street dancing competition, pyro musical show, and a concert/variety show.

The festival will be highlighted by the Lantern Fluvial Parade and the releasing of Hope Lanterns on the evening of March 10.

The Lantern Fluvial Parade is a parade of illuminated and decorated boats from various participating agencies/companies The parade of boats represents boats coming back to shore guided by the light emitted by the lighthouse.

Sillag is an Ilocano word which means moonbeam or illumination from the moon. The festival is jointly organized by the PPMC and BCDA with partners that include the Province of La Union, and Thunderbird Pilipinas Hotels and Resorts.