Agro trade fair winners known: 19th Ullalim Festival draws more tourists to Kalinga

By Larry Lopez

TABUK CITY,Kalinga -- The Provincial Tourism Office recorded  more than 2,000  foreign and local tourists to the province during the five-day 19th Ullalim Festival last  Feb. 12-16 even as the  Trade and Industry Provincial Office named  winners in the agro-industrial trade fair here as part of the event.

Loraine Ngao-i  said  the figure was remarkable for a province like Kalinga  where tourism is  still a developing industry.

She said based on their agency tourist book, the number represents the province’s total number of guests and visitors in a year.

Ngao-i  said  the big number of tourists  this time can be attributed  to media hype on the spectacular “Awong Di Gangsa”(Call of a Thousand Gong),  the  simultaneous playing of a thousand gongs  that  highlighted  the event.

The annual Ullalim, a celebration that showcases Kalinga’s rich culture, products and pageantry is becoming a major attraction of the province, Ngao-i said.

President Benigno C. Aquino approved last year Republic Act No. 10561 declaring Kalinga as Tourism Development Area as support to the province’s bid to develop its tourism industry. 

With  province’s promising  tourism industry, local investors have established already  established  here at least three hotels accredited with the Department of Tourism.

Meanwhile, Benita Mangadap of DTI-Kalinga, one of the lead organizers of the agro-industrial faire named three winners under individual categories as Florence Ao-wat, owner of Kinwa Etnika – Best Exhibitor; Joanne Dangelan, owner of Tropical Oasis Farm – Best in on-the-spot Flower Arrangement and Michelle Pinated, owner of BalikTribu Fashion Accessories – Best in on-the- spot Beadery.

For Best Booth, three winners were awarded  namely  Manda Alunday, owner of Kuhgamay’s Ethnic & Antique Souvenirs for non-food category; Franklin Garcia, of the  Garcia’s Sugarcane Products for processed food  and  beverage category, and Carolina Manadao, owner of Jennica’s Garden for ornamental plants.     

Organizers also cited six Best Exhibitors who displayed new products in the fair -  Marissa Casuga, owner of MJL Beads Shop (gifts, housewares & decors); Jeniffer Pinated  of Taitana’s Kalinga Woven Products ( wearables & fashion); Iluminada Calbuyao of Kalinga Food Treat (processed food); Glory Alvendo of  BITICK Glory’s Food Products (fruit wines); Beatriz Peralta of of Peralta’s Souvenir Shop (recycled handicrafts & decors) and the Baligatan Woodworks & Designs (furniture & home furnishings).

All twelve winners in the major awards received individual cash incentive of P2,000. Seven P500 consolation prizes went to Annette Sacki, Imelda Vecaldo, Jeremias Paragas and Carolina Manadao for on-the-spot flower arrangement and JajieBula-ay, Maritess Casuga and Florence Ao-wat for on-the-spot beadery.

Exhibitors to this year’s fair raked-in total sales of P3,016,399.

The annual event organized by DTI-Kalinga,  is  part of the annual  celebration of Kalinga founding anniversary and Ullalim Festival on February 14.