Month: June 2021

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan officially unveiled and inaugurated the marker that declares Casa Real as a National Historical Landmark today, June 21, 2021.

DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, DOT Region 1 Director Francisco Joseph “Jeff” R. Ortega, Pangasinan Provincial Governor Amado I. Espino III, Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil, NHCP Chairman Dr. Rene R. Escalante, Engr. Aniversario M. Partolan (TIEZA), and Engr. Edita L. Manuel (DPWH) were present for this historic event. Hon. Congressman Jumel Anthony I. Espino, Hon. Congressman Christopher “Toff” V.P. de Venecia, Provincial Administrator Atty. Nimrod S. Camba, Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Luisa A. Elduayan, and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus M. Velasco, and select LGU Lingayen officials also joined this momentous occasion.

The Casa Real is known to be the first Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan founded in the mid-19th century and was officially declared as a National Historical Landmark by the NHCP in 2002. However, due to its age and natural elements throughout the years, the Casa Real sustained numerous damages and was eventually set to undergo a three-phase restoration project that started in 2015. The project was made possible through the cooperation and contributions of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, then congressman and now Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission (PHCC), the Pangasinan Heritage Society, Inc., and the NHCP.

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The Province of Pangasinan warmly welcomed the Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat last June 20 to June 22, 2021. The DOT Secretary’s visit primarily focused on an ocular inspection of identified tourism-related establishments and tourism destinations around Pangasinan. This initiative is to advocate the safe reopening of tourism in the Philippines. Accompanying delegates were DOT Region 1 Director Joseph Francisco “Jeff” R. Ortega, Hon. Congressman Christopher “Toff” V.P. De Venecia, Chairperson Maria Rachel “Baby” Arenas of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, and leaders from the cities and towns that the group visited.

The first day was spent visiting Bayambang’s St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church and the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park; the Bella’s Puto Calasiao Factory in Calasiao; Calamansian ed Lekep Butao in San Fabian; Tondaligan Blue Beach Baywalk in Dagupan City; Ariana’s Best in Mangaldan and check-in at the Hiraya Wellness Resort and Ecopark in Aguilar. The following day, the delegates joined the unveiling and inauguration of the marker that declares Casa Real in

Lingayen as a National Historical Landmark. Afterward, the group traveled to Bolinao where they visited the Sungayan Grill and Floating Restaurant, Puerto del Sol and the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse. The third and last day of the ocular inspection culminated in a visit to Alaminos City where they toured the Lucap Wharf at the Hundred Islands National Park and finally at the Minor Basilica of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag.

/MCDG

The province of Pangasinan joined the third leg of the Mandëko Kito Artisans’ Fair and Exhibit. Organized by the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective, Incorporated (BACCI), Mandëko Kito, an Ibaloi term for “Let’s sell,” aims to not only lead the local arts and crafts sector toward economic recovery, but to also serve as an important venue for both cultural and artistic exchanges between and among artisans, craftsmen and the public.

The Mandëko Kito Artisans’ Fair and Exhibit ran from June 15 to June 20, 2021 at the Berkeley School in Baguio City.

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The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the leadership of Governor Amado I. Espino III, conducted preliminary inaugural activities at the Casa Real today, June 18, 2021. The first was the “rituwal na pamasimbalo” conducted by the staff of the Pangasinan Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, headed by Maria Luisa A. Elduayan. The ritual consisted of “kanonkob” which is the offering of traditional items like tobacco, gagalën, among others. It culminated with an animal sacrifice.

Later in the afternoon, the Casa Real grounds were subsequently blessed by Rev. Fr. Allan Abuan after presiding over a Thanksgiving Mass attended by Governor Espino and the department heads headed by Provincial Administrator Atty. Nimrod S. Camba.

The Casa Real served as the first Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan. It was founded in the mid-19th century and was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in 2002.

/MCDG

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 1 and the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) started the Food Tourism Resource Inventories and Mapping in Pangasinan. The initiative will also properly account and update the list of food tourism resources and their related activities in the region. The ongoing project is deemed as a crucial step toward the creation of food and gastronomy road map in the country.

Mr. Bernard Guerrero, DOT consultant for food and gastronomy, conducted the interview among select resource persons of various food and cuisines. Other DOT representatives who joined the activity were: Ms. Gay Nora Marie Gapas, Mr. Darwin Dela Cruz and Mr. Dennis Dacumos. PTCAO staff who assisted the said team were Ms. Marife P. Acerit, Ms. Hazel G. Sison, Ms. Arminda H. De Quintos, and Ms. Joanna Marie A. Episcope.

The four-day food mapping activity featured traditional food which are readily available in some restaurants, eateries and even home-based food businesses in the province.

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Accompanied by representatives from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 1, select staff from the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) conducted an ocular inspection at identified tourist destinations and at accommodation establishments that have applied for DOT accreditation. Inclusive dates of the inspection were from May 26 to May 28, June 1 to June 4 and June 8 to June 10, 2021.

This initiative is to ensure that health and safety practices and protocols are properly implemented in respective tourism-related establishments as well as to raise awareness of tourism stakeholders’ protection amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The group from DOT-R1 also distributed safety signages and markers to DOT-accredited establishments to promote the safe reopening of tourism. In addition, the ocular inspection is relative to the tourism product development program of the PTCAO wherein emerging tourist destinations that can be incorporated in tour circuits per district of Pangasinan are determined.

Cities and towns that were visited were Dagupan City, Calasiao, Lingayen, Dasol, Burgos, Bolinao, San Fabian, Aguilar, Bugallon, Tayug, Santa Maria, Natividad, San Quintin, Umingan, Balungao, Rosales, Mangatarem, Bayambang, Asingan, San Manuel, San Nicolas, and Mangaldan.

/MCDG