CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The delegates in the 45th Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB) experienced fun in the province, said Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Luzon director Ronnie Tiotuico.
\n\u201cThe 45th Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the PICC (Philippine International Convention Center) which was attended by some 5,000 delegates from 67 member countries ended on May 5 with a \u2018More Fun\u2019 sightseeing and experiential tour of the sights and sites of Pampanga,\u201d Tiotuico said.
\nTiotuico said some 22 delegates and their companions were treated to a fun-filled day of creating awareness about what the province of Pampanga offers in the realm of travel and tourism, history, culinary arts, and trade and industry.
\nA few hours before the visitors arrived in Pampanga, some 50 policemen were already dispatched in strategic areas leading to the towns of Bacolor and Guagua.
\nMembers of the Sinukwan Performing Arts showed the ADB delegates some of the native dances.
\nDOT personnel greeted the guests with sampaguita leis courtesy of the provincial tourism office, Tiotuico said.
\nA visit to the San Guillermo Church in the historic town of Bacolor awed delegates as they discovered how some 67,000 Bacolore\u00f1os struggled to overcome the challenges of Mt. Pinatubo\u2019s eruption in 1991.
\n\u201cDelegates were amazed by the community effort, as explained by Vice Mayor Atty. Jun Canlas, in rebuilding their half-buried church to become the site of frequent visitation from local and foreign tourists including the people\u2019s unwavering campaign to start up its social development through the conduct of the Makatapak Festival (barefoot festival) now well organized more than 20 years after the volcanic eruption,\u201d Tiotuico said.
\nThe Betis Galleria in Guagua town also gave the delegates an on-the-spot practical lesson in the Kapampangan brand of wood carving to create a variety of religious icons, according Tiotuico.
\nThe instructional guide was well handled by no less than the recipient of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Merit on Ecclesiastical Art, Wilfredo T. Layug, himself a Kapampangan and an advocate of community-based training and education in local craftsmanship to perpetuate the local tradition beyond his lifetime, Tiotuico said.
\n\u201cMr. Layug likes to be called a sculptor, painter and maker\/designer of retablo. To help save the environment, this eclectic graduate from Seville, Spain has turned his incomparable competence to terracota or simply the art of handcrafting icons out of earth clay. It took him only 20 minutes to mold a delegate\u2019s face out of terracotta,\u201d the DOT official added.
\nThe final stop at the Betis Craft was even more \u201cfun-tastic\u201d as the talented couple, Myrna and Boy Bituin with their three entrepreneurial siblings led the family in welcoming the guests.
\nThe couple prepared a sumptuous native lechon, sisig topped with the so-called \u201cebon pugo\u201d and many more local dishes.
\nA tour of the furniture factory and well-appointed showroom reveals some interesting facts: the furnishings on the famous TV show \u201cSex in the City\u201d were done by Betis Craft including the bed of singer and songwriter Boy George.
\nTheir daughters have succeeded their parents in the business of crafting Betis-designed wood products now exported all over the world.
\nThe Sinukwan Performing Arts, directed by Peter De Vera, gave the visitors a colorful rendition of native songs and dances featuring traditional practices during fiestas and celebrated events in the province.
\nThe famous culinary artist the province has ever had, Lilian Borromeo gave the guests a quick but lasting impression on how to prepare and muster the art of making local pastries like Sanikulas (sweet biscuit named after St. Nicolas as the saint of all bakers) complemented by her skillful use of templates or mold patterned after the images of saints and the Virgin Mary.
\nMulti-awarded Roland Quiambao also gave the guests a lesson on how giant lanterns are being made, using a mini-lantern complemented by an electrically operated rotor that operates the multi-colored design as shown during the lantern festival in December of every year.
\nThe ADB delegates expressed gratitude to the Kapampangans for the festive reception during their five-hour stay in the province.
\nThey even vowed to spread their experiences and the good news about the province when they fly back home, Tiotuico said.
\nTiotuico expressed his congratulations to Governor Lilia Pineda, Bacolor parish priest Fr. Jess Manabat, Pampanga Police Director Edgardo Tinio, Bacolor Vice Mayor Canlas, De Vera and Arwin Lingat for accommodating the guests and assisting the DOT in the event.
\nhttp:\/\/www.sunstar.com.ph\/pampanga\/local-news\/2012\/05\/08\/adb-delegates-take-fun-pampanga-tour-220370<\/p>\n
Good picnic spots can be found in some of the best resorts in Pampanga. The good resorts and hotels in Clark Philippines offer safe and clean outdoor facilities for family bonding and picnics. For many reasons Manila families and residents of Angeles City Pampanga as well as Subic and Baguio consider Clearwater as one of the best resorts in Pampanga and certainly the best hotel in Clark Philippines. Guests of this child friendly resort in Clark Pampanga often relax and unwind by the beautiful lake and beach. Hotel accommodation is also available here in this resort in Clark. Function room for meetings and seminars is also available in this popular resort in Clark Philippines. This hotel in Clark is also a favorite holiday destination near Manila during Holy Week, Easter, Christmas and New Year holidays. <\/p>\n
Frequently visited resort hotel in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone shares news, articles, suggestions and ideas on matters that might enhance your visit to Subic and Clark Pampanga for vacation and travel, as well as to organize, plan or attend a corporate or social event near Manila.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Clark, Philippines?<\/p>\n
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For reservations, comments and inquiries, <\/p>\n
Clearwater Resort & Country Club
\nCreekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
\nCentral Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
\nPampanga, Philippines 2023<\/p>\n
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Manila Sales Office
\n3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
\nExchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
\n(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay<\/p>\n