Bulacans Singkaban Festival wins first runner up in the 12th ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards
CITY OF MALOLOS – Bulacan’s month-long festivity of ‘Singkaban Festival’ has proven its ability in promoting the rich and colorful celebration of Bulakenyo talents, products, and arts and culture as it was awarded first runner up for Best Tourism Event (Provincial Category-Festival) in the 12th ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards held at the Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City, Iloilo recently.
The festival dubbed as the “mother of all festivals” in Bulacan surely captured the hearts of tourists and tourism officers as they marveled in the activities lined up during the month-long celebration.
“Lord, maraming salamat po sa inyong biyayang kaloob na kami ay mapabilang sa ginawang ATOP-DOT Pearl Award at ang mga namumuno sa pangunguna ng punong lalawigan na nagsusulong at nagpapaunlad ng turismo sa lalawigan” Dr. Eliseo Dela Cruz, head of the Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PHACTO), said after receiving the trophy together with Board Member Ma. Lourdes Posadas who chairs the Committee on Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado also expressed his gratitude and pride as another feather was added on the cap of Bulacan.
“Tayo po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat at nagagalak dahil sa panibagong pagkilala na iginawad sa ating minamahal na lalawigan. Makakaasa po kayo na patuloy nating itatanghal ang makulay, masaya at mayamang sining at kultura ng Bulacan gayundin ang mga ipinagmamalaking Bulakenyo at produkto ng lalawigan,” the governor said.
In 2016, the Province of Bulacan was given a special citation by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) for Best Tourism Month/Weeklong Celebration – provincial category in the 11th ATOP-DOT Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines Awards.
Meanwhile, the ‘Kneeling Carabao of Pulilan’ and the ‘Fiesta Republika of the City of Malolos’ both won as first runners up for Best Festival under the municipality and city levels. Both of them received trophies.
This year, the Department of Tourism Region VI in partnership with the Provincial Government of Iloilo and Iloilo City Government hosted the said Pearl Awards highlighting the 18th Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) National Convention held last October 4 to 7, 2017 wherein the delegates from participating provinces experienced immersion and tour activities.
The ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards is an annual awards conducted by ATOP and DOT that honors great efforts made by the people in the tourism industry, most especially the local government units in preserving their respective cultural history.