DOT HELPS LOCAL GOVT’S RESTORE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN REGIONAL FESTS
Mike Baños
Director Romulo A. De Los Reyes of the Department of Tourism office pf Special Projects is on a mission to restore cultural heritage in regional festivals to arrest the increasing homogeneity of Filipino festivals.
“All festivals are becoming like Ati atihan or Sinulog”
de los Reyes (who’s fondly known as Dir. Ting in DOT) said.
“People in the regions are not doing tradition based activities. We want to encourage people to do research to showcase the best from the regions.”
“We are alarmed at the trend of festivals which are not influenced locally”
said Catalino E. Chan III Region 10 Tourism Director who noted Region 10 currently has 21 festivals in the national grid, adding, “We have to preserve our traditions.”
“The Philippines is the only country in the world with over 1,000 festivals a year,” said Nilo Agustin consultant for special projects, who delivered de los Reyes concept paper onm Operation:TKP (Tunay na Kulturang Pinoy). At present Agustin said the No. 1 factor for holding a festival is for tourism, religion/tradition and trade and agricultural promotion. However, he noted how many festivals in Mindanao, especially in Region 10 celebrate traditionally passed on through many generations.
“Ang ganda ganda ng Mindanao, ang dami daming kaugalian ditto na hindi namamatay,” he noted. (Mindanao is made beautiful by the many traditions you have which will not perish). “You hold a festival because you want to perpetuate a tradition, but do it with greater sensitivity to your local culture.” Xxx
Thus, Tunay na Kulturang Pilipino aims to develop correct and historically accurate cultural festivals and events in the regions whjich are based on researchj, make cultural programs part of tourist product packages to be promoted here and abroad; assist LGUs develop a strong tourism industry based on national tourism products; build a strong culture of Pinoy tourism or advocacy campaign (Pusong turismo, diwang Pilipino) and create an effective networking with cultural institutions for a continuing collaborative program on the preservation and promotion of our cultural attractions and heritage sites.
