BONTOC, Mountain Province – “Paracelis time is now, tourism is in,” is a declaration of the present administration that bespeaks of the current efforts to promote tourism in this place.
This easternmost municipality is gearing up for more tourism endeavor not seen in the past years as the local leadership now keeps harping on tourism development and promotion in this agricultural town.
A trail run to expose some of the tourism attractions of the place is scheduled on November 30, 2019 called the Kakarefin Trail Run in the local Baliwon dialect referring to hand-in-hand endeavor.
Conceptualized earlier this year after the Pagga Trail Run that traversed the eastern side from Maborotbot Mud Spring to the Pagga Falls in Barangay Bantay to Poblacion earlier this year, this edition intersects the western part of the town for the tourism attractions of Poblacion such as the cell site atop the road to Natonin and where one may view the sunrise above the sea of clouds and Dapdap falls.
Those who opt for the 14 kilometers will end up at Poblacion while the 20 kilometers will proceed to nearby Barangay Bantay.
The Mountain Province Caves and Eco-Tour Guides Association (MPCETGA), a non-government organization as partner of the local government plays a pivotal role in both trail runs as it hopes to encourage tourism promotion in the area.
This trail run also hopes to generate funds through the registration and sponsorships mainly for the needs of special education pupils while a part will go to the operational funds of MPCETGA.
“We hope to attract runners from other provinces as well as the locals to patronize this activity,” said Flora Madanom, the Municipal Tourism Action Officer.
JayR Guindalos, the president of MPCETGA, is confident this activity will be supported by locals and runners from the nearby provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga, and Isabela.
“We would like to show we support the development and promotion of tourism in the communities of Mountain Province, and for this purpose, Paracelis”, he said.
Mayor Marcos Ayangwa said the time has come for Paracelis to shine, and so with tourism as he invites investors and individuals with community spirit for a “Kakarefin” efforts for the development of the town.
Paracelis is the rice bowl of the province as well as a host to large corn and banana plantations.
By Roger Sacyaten
