09 November 2003 Cagayan Valley’s ‘Kappianan Festival’ lures tourists in WOW Hilaga
The Cagayan Valley Region opened the “Kappianan Festival” to the public showcasing the More than the Usual products, destinations, and foods of the region and began to lure tourists and students to WOW Hilaga in San Fernando from Nov. 9 to December 3. “Kappianan”l is an Ibanag term which means “best.”
Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon was honored during the opening of Region 2 in a “Bugkalot” tribal ritual called “Padung Kablaw” headed by Pastor Romeo Tiangson. The war and peace pact ritual featured the festive dance entitled “Tagem” followed by the singing of “Opegan Edeteng” which is a bugkalot term to symbolize the “welcome of an honored visitor.”
Gordon also launched the Volunteer 12 program for Cagayan Valley Region during the Kappianan Festival attended by local government units (lgus), private sector, tourism officials, media and students.
Having seen the best products and tourist attractions of Cagayan Valley and the enthusiasm of the Dot Region 2 Director Blessida Diwa in the promotion of the region, Gordon is optimistic that each Cagayanos can lure one tourist to boost the tourist arrivals of the region and become the top performers for Volunteer 12.
Gordon said that the Cagayanos can better vouch for the beauty and safety of their province than a friend or colleague who comes from that place. It will make the world sit up and take notice and within a year, Filipinos can make their country one of the region’s biggest tourism destination.”
The tourism chief is optimistic that the 3.6 million target within a year is an achievable figure with the 78 million Filipinos at home and abroad working for the tourism industry.
DOT is featuring Cagayan Valley’s food like the Pinakufu, Pinapaitan, Tuwi, Dalag, Igado, Inafian nga Mangi, Babengka nga Nanna among others in a Pagayaya Food Festival at the Holiday Inn Resort in Clark Field, Pampanga from Nov. 8-16.
One of the main attractions in WOW Hilaga is the museum of history, culture and tourism of the Cagayan Valley Region where tourists can witness the various archeological finds in the many sites of the region, religious and educational influences of the early colonizers, photographs showing natural attractions, a diorama of the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo, the armaments during the Japanese regime and World War II, costumes and photos showing the ways of life of the people of the valley.
The WOW Philippines Hilaga was in a festive mood as the street parade featured Panagdadappun Festival, Gawagawa-yan Festival, Bambanti Festival of Isabela, Pavvurulun Festival of Tuguegarao.