Pangasinan Promotes Heritage in Tourism Month

The provincial government kicks off Tourism Month with the opening of the 3rd “Balitok a Tawir” (Golden Heritage) today at the Sison Auditorium here.

The celebration will promote Pangasinan’s heritage by reviving traditional music and dances and cultural heritage.

Gov. Amado Espino, Jr. said, “Balitok a Tawir” aims to rediscover, recapture, promote and preserve Pangasinan’s culture.

“There are a lot of beautiful things in our province so let us try to recapture them, practice them again and promote them,” said Espino.

“Mahalin natin ang Pangasinan at balikan natin ang magagandang kultura at kaugalian na itinuro ng ating mga ninuno at ituro din natin ito sa ating mga anak (Let us love Pangasinan and restore the culture and tradition that our ancestors have taught us and let us teach these to our children),” he added.

Espino urged residents to participate in the various competitions ranging from Pangasinan folk dances, choral rendition of Pangasinan songs and zarzuela.

Meanwhile, Tourism Operations Division Chief Ma. Luisa Elduayan said the Tourism Month opening program will include the launching of the “I Love Pangasinan” tourism jingle and music video making competitions.

An orientation meeting for the tourism jingle and music video making competitions will follow after the program for the “Balitok a Tawir,” said Elduayan.

Submission of entries for the “Balitok a Tawir” contests will be on September 16 to 20. The cluster elimination follows on October 22 to 24 where the finalists will undergo workshop on November 7 to 8 to prepare for the grand finals on December 6.

Prizes at stake include P30, 000 cash and a trophy for the champions in the three categories (choral rendition, folk dance and zarzuela); 1st runner-up will receive P25, 000 and a trophy; 2nd runner-up will take home P20,000 and a trophy; and, a consolation prize of P10,000 for each of the categories will be given to non-winning participants.

Each participating group will receive P5,000 as incentive during the elimination day depending on the number of categories they are joining. If a group has entries in all three categories, it will receive P15, 000.

Participants who qualify for the grand finals will receive additional financial assistance of P5,000 for each category they win. (MCA/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan with reports from the Provincial Information Office)