Bauko, Mountain Province – The municipal government is currently finalizing the line-up of activities for the conduct of its ‘Begnas di Bauko’to aggressively empower the people to preserve and protect the town’s rich culture and traditions and promote the scenic tourist destinations in the locality.
Mayor Abraham B. Akilit said that the 3-day festivities for the ‘Begnas di Bauko’ will be done on March 8-10, 2018 where residents and visitors like are expected to converge in the municipality to enjoy the festive mood.
He added that visitors wanting to enjoy the scenic tourist spots around the municipality should either arrive in the town one day before the lined up festival events or stay one day after the festivities to be able to tour and enjoy the unique beauty of the locality.
Begnas is a culture of thanksgiving among the kankanaeys of Bauko. It is celebrated once a year to thank Kabunyan and the spirits of ancestors at the same time to ask favours in relation to the socio-economic and political concerns of the community. A celebration that shall not only serve as merry making but a cord that shall bind the umili into collective action.
“We want to continue sustaining the promotion of the town as one of the must-see destinations in the province through our rich culture and traditions aside from the presence of our scenic tourist destinations so that foreign and domestic visitors will be enticed to make Bauko their preferred destination when spending their vacation in the Cordillera,” Akilit stressed.
Mayor Akilit said that on March 8, the municipality will be celebrating the International Day of workers and International Womens Day through the activities being lined up by the concerned departments of the local government.
Further, on May 9, it will be the cultural day wherein the town’s 22 barangays will be showcasing the rich culture and traditions with numerous national and local officials serving as the guest of honors and speakers during the celebration.
He added that March 10 will be devoted to the education sector wherein the different schools in the town will be showcasing their presentations which will be capped by a beauty pageant and other contests that will be prepared for the said day.
According to him, Bauko is strategically located that is why it is best for the municipal government in partnership with concerned stakeholders to adopt a comprehensive tourism master plan that will focus on the discovery of new destinations that will be patronized and eventually contribute in spurring the increase in the economic activities in the town aside from providing the people with jobs and sustainable sources of livelihood.
Akilit said that the municipal government embarked on tourism as one of the major economic drivers because of the numerous scenic destinations that have yet to be explored because it is the best way to invite investors without sacrificing the state of the environment within the Mount Data plateau.
He called on foreign and domestic tourists with fixed travel to certain tourist spots in Mountain Province to include Bauko as their additional choice of must-see destinations before or after their visits around the region.
By HENT
