‘BEST OF THE REGIONS’ SHOWS ARE BACK Intramuros comes alive again

After a brief hiatus, the sequel of the much-celebrated WOW Philippines’ Best of the Regions — that attracted large crowds and helped revived Intramuros as one of the top tourist destinations in the country last year — resumed its usual pomp and lively fiesta ambience with the opening of the Northern Mindanao show case recently. The Clamshell 1 and the Pueblo Pilipino grounds along Anda St. in Intramuros, site of the regional shows were closed to the public for a month to undergo extensive clean-up led by the Intramuros Administration (IA). Prior to that, regional shows continued but with less activities and less grandeur as participants mostly local government officials were busy in the election campaign.

From Aug. 6-24, the only one-stop-shop of various regions in Manila, goes full blast again with Region 10’s “Pasundayag Northern Mindanao” show as its opening salvo. Featured provinces are Camiguin, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Occidental and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Iligan, Malaybalay, Tangub, Ozamiz, Oroquieta and Valencia.

The exposition highlights the region’s diversity of attractions and variety of activities being offered to tourists. These are the historical, cultural and pilgrimage destinations of Ozamiz; Cagayan de Oro’s pineapple plantations and whitewater rafting; Lanao del Norte’s ecotourism attractions; the aquamarine park, country’s second biggest pipe organ and Fort Santiago in Misamis Occ.; city of majestic waterfalls in Iligan; Bukidnon’s pineapple plantations and its distinct tribal community; and mystical Camiguin, its sweet lanzones, underwater volcanoes and white beaches.

Last weekend’s launching ceremonies were well-attended with guests no less than Tourism Secretary Obet Pagdanganan and Senator Richard Gordon along with tourism officials, regional directors and provincial leaders.

The regional exhibit opened to a full house of visitors, mostly locals and students who were fascinated with the creative replicas of top tourism destinations in Region 10, as well as with the cultural activities, festivals and rare local delicacies available only for the duration of the event.

Among the crowd-drawers are giant versions of the 320-feet-high Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan; the Canopy Walk of Claveria, Misamis Oriental; a traditional Muslim house in Lanao del Norte; huge replica of Camiguin’s popular fruit, Lanzones; Tangub City’s Xmas Symbols; and a miniature Aquamarine Park of Misamis Occidental.

The cultural-trade show also features live, interesting demonstrations of nito and sinamay weaving and Kamuyot (native bag) making aside from daily music and dance presentations and rituals of the natives.

Meanwhile, foreign and local tourists as well as Manileños who have never gone to the provinces in North Mindanao will surely be enticed to visit any if not all of the destinations in Region 10 with the variety of affordable tour packages available at the exhibit. There are also budget tours for divers, nature lovers and beach enthusiasts.

[ Fort Santiago Wiki ]