BATO
The Benguet Association of
Tourism Officers (BATO) has turned over a new leaf with the election (or
appointment) of its new officials last week (yes, this is not the ‘bato’ that
gets you executed these days). The organization wishes the best in life for
Engr. Nicomides Caliguing the association’s outgoing president, who held the
position for seven bountiful years. We also wish the same for Ma’am Claire
Prudencio, the Benguet Tourism Officer head and pioneer who has also retired
recently this year. They say that the most awaited adventures of ‘apo-stolic’
duties are much more interesting than the world of travel and tourism.
Since the other twelve Municipal
Tourism Action Officers conspired to get me into such trouble (or maybe just to
compel me to attend the regular meetings, hehe), I don’t really much have
choice but to accept the responsibilities of heading the association after the
outgoing officials. As the youngest among the Benguet tourism and cultural
workers, I acknowledge that my abilities and knowledge are way too limited for
such obligations. But since my fellow tourism workers believed in me, it would
only be just and proper to believe in myself too. I thank them with a humble
appeal for them to work with me, guide me, and even admonish me should I stray
away from our goals.
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| Benguet agri-products ffind their way to the capital trading post |
Our first organizational meeting
as new officers explored our status as an organization, our direction, and our future
activities, which includes our participation on the upcoming Benguet Adivay
celebrations of 2018. As an additional activity, we proposed for a Benguet
Tourism Conference (which I suspect to be a first) that will gather tourism
workers and stakeholders in the whole province. As the first order of business in our care, we
intend to make the community know about our organization that mainly serves as
a tourism partner of the Benguet Provincial Government and its Municipalities.
This includes conferences, seminars, and tourism-orientation activities since
tourism can be a tool for environmental protection, culture and heritage
preservation, and community development.
***
I write this article from the
beautiful queen city of the south where tourism is flourishing to a very swift extent.
‘Suroy-suroy sa Sugbo’ (Going around Cebu), their gems or attractions
traditionally employs the best tourism elements in the country – great tourism
products and natural resources, the rich sea and its beautiful shores, culture
and heritage, innovations, and substantial tourism investments. It has that
unique beauty of its own that attracts foreign and local visitors alike – that
unique inviting town soul which makes travelers stop with awe and admiration.
***
Just how quickly the summer days
have passed, we will soon feel that familiar air of September – the memories
and longing through the years etched in the lines around our eyes from both
laughter and tears. And, like most of the young romances which are born only to
fade away, we try to shy away from the convenient numbness in attempt to start
feeling again. The future, albeit scary, is always fascinating.
