Eco Park

The association of resort, restaurants and hotels of Capiz made travel and tours as part of their regular activity in Capiz. They go to the different tourism sites in Capiz to make them familiar of the sites and at the same time as their regular meeting with the cooperation of the tourism of Capiz.
July 30, 2009, I joined them to Lolets Eco Park of Dao Capiz, as we arrive in the place; we were welcome by the hospitable owner. The native foods are waiting at the hall, the “balot” (18 days fertile egg of duck” which is famous in that place and other native foods from rice. After the heavy snacks, the meeting had come to order as the president presided.
The association is so young; they agreed to make a brochure for all the members of the association to be available on the upcoming travel fair in Manila, Philippines. The group also discussed related issues in tourism industry and that they could improve the services of their respective sites.
While the meeting is ongoing, the tourism officer of Capiz arrived to assist the group on whatever the group is planning to do. After all the agenda have been discussed, the good tourism officer discussed the upcoming national Indigenous People (IP) celebration to be held in Capiz on October 2 – 6, 2009, at Villarreal Stadium of Roxas City, Philippines. All the Indigenous People of the Philippines will be gathered here in Capiz. The purpose of the celebration is to deepen awareness, appreciation and understanding of the diversity of the Filipino culture and communities, to recognize the expertise and works of cultural community, and provide venue for advocacy to preserve and integrate traditional culture and its creative expressions as a dynamic part of national mainstream.
The celebration will in reach the unique culture and allowing cultural exchange that will foster cultural understanding of the role of Indigenous People in the community. The activity will include the building of houses of different IP’s, cultural show, craft making and way of life of the IP’s.
So come my friends to Capiz on October 2 – 6, 2009, and experience the different culture of the Philippines

Biggest Bell in Asia

Panay bell of Capiz in the Philippines is known to be the biggest bell in Asia and because of this, Capiz is one of the destinations of travel and tours in Panay Island of the Philippines. The church is also one the oldest church in the Philippines; it was built 1774 by Fr. Miguel Murguia. This 235 years old church as this blog being written is still standing with its original stone being used to build this church. Technically, the stone is not an ordinary stone, it is a corals cut into blocks by the locals of Banban as the name of the town before, established in 1572. Today, it is being named as town of Panay, province of Capiz, Philippines.
The church is being damage by the typhoon in 1875 and it was constructed again in 1884 by Fr. Jose Beloso, which is 9 years after the typhoon. After the construction of the church, Fr. Jose Beloso commissioned Don Juan Reina to cast a bell from the seventy sacks of coins donated by the town people. By virtue of National Historical Institute (NHI) board resolution No.3.s.1997, this was declared as national historical Landmark.
There are some theory being believe by the locals of Panay today that the original bell of the church of Panay in 1774 of Fr. Miguel Murguia was a pure silver from the coins of the town people, for it is not clear what was the bell being used by Fr. Miguel Murguia when he build the church during his time. When the typhoon came and damage the church, the bell was stolen and brought by the galleon to the sea for commercial purposes where during that time galleon trading by the Chinese merchant are present in the Philippines, in 1815, trading was open to the world, silver bullion and minted coins are being returned to Acapulco by the Chinese merchant with silk textiles and porcelain products. Another clue to consider is in 1868, the ilustrados in the Philippines had begun in conflict with the church when they ask an equal rights with the priest where they act as the government in a simple words. Some folks believe that the bell carried by the galleon boat was sunk in the sea and the bell was never recovered until now. Well it’s just a theory by the local folks of Panay, as they say, believe it or not.

Travel and tours of 1970's

Travel and tours of 1970’s in the Philippines is not that easy before, transportation from one place to another is hard during that time, considering the geographical situation of the Philippines. Boat and airplane are major transport during that time, but within the island is another question, some are horse or buffalo with cart or they call it “kalesa”.
Local tourist during that time enjoys the simple set up of nature in different places in the Philippines, the natural, God given beauty of nature are enjoyed most by the local tourist. Foods and accommodation during that time is so simple, travel and tours agencies are not well known, it’s a real adventure for the locals, even internet technology is not available were they could search for their travel, they are just dependent on the relatives and friends in the area of their destination, and from there the local suggest where to spend the vacation.
Amenities of the area are not that lucrative like banana boat, skydiving, even swimming pools are not available for them. Tourists are contented of nature trip, horse riding maybe, swimming in the clean and Cool River and beaches. Accommodation in a nipahouse is like a hotel to them.
I did this page in honor of my grandmother Salvacion B. Avaricio who just passed away last July 14, 2009. She also love travel and tours during her time, for 89 years of her life she just wanted to travel in the Philippines, many of her friends and relative wanted her to travel abroad, but she did not, for she said that she did not yet finish traveling the Philippines. She always brings something as remembrance from her travel like stone or wood where she found in the area. How I wish to travel with her today.
So friends, discover the Philippines first before travelling to other places, and that you will experience the God designed landscape and places to be with.

Dinner meeting with DOT

Travel and tours in Capiz is being strengthened by the local organization with the support of department of Tourism Capiz. Capiz Visitors Convention Bureau (CVCB) and Association of Resorts, Restaurants and hotels of Capiz were being formed to support the rapid increase of tourist in Capiz.
The Capiz Visitors of Convention Bureau (CVCB) and the Association of Resorts, Restaurants and Hotels of Capiz (ARRHC) in cooperation with the Department of Tourism Capiz headed by Alphonsus D. Tesoro had a dinner meeting with the regional director of the department of tourism region VI in the person of Edwin G. Trompeta last July 16, 2009. The meeting was being set in time of the celebration of the “dewal” festival. It is a celebration of a good harvest of “dewal” it’s a kind of shell that grows abundantly in Capiz for Capiz is known to be the sea food Capital of the Philippines.
The significance of tourism in development is being discus by the good director as the development of travel and tours in the Philippines. As he said that, if we treat tourism as a 3rd rate industry we will still be 3rd world country, forecasting 1.5 billion tourists visiting in the countries all over the world. So if the Philippines could share the market of tourism in the world, it will boost the tourism industry in the Philippines.
Further more, he also discussed some new trends of travel and tours in the world like, gay travels, the seniors travel and tours, extreme travel and even space travel is in the market now. Strategies on attracting tourist in the Philippines were added in the discussions, and the most important is that he announces the additional financial assistance to the tourism industry in Capiz.
Eco-tourism was given emphasis to the discussions, where, Philippines are more related because of our natural ambiance of nature. The Philippines tourism growth is about 8-10% over five years as the good director reveal. The projected arrival of tourist in 2010 will rise to 15.6% as being forecast by the DOT. The good director proudly present the numerology of the tourism industry in the Philippines, where, as of 2008 tourist receipt, we have US$4.885 billion, 100billion pesos tourism investment, 3.770 million pesos job generated, and its job well done by the Department of Tourism of the Philippines.
As the tourism industry in the Philippines grows, the greater economic impact to the country, where all sectors of the business industry is being affected positively, from transport industry to the farming industry, and the effect is more jobs in the Philippines.