`Mayor Redulla defends Maribojoc tourism fest

BRILLIANT stroke or unwitting move to force a gambit?

The poser comes as the local officials' push for the 2nd Maribojoc Tourism Festival draws enough flak to be perceived as “fiesta fireworks” in a clear night. This happens when quarters in the town allege that the decision to put the festival in November 20-24 is an unnecessary waste of money, time and effort. All of these while cooking a way for the church to become unwitting partner in crime by celebrating a mass right back into the old town feast-day earlier moved to new date. LGU has also set a photo exhibit, agri-fair, product showcase, concerts and beauty contests as well as guided tours within the four day event. Festival critics said however that other that the centuries-old Punta Cruz watchtower and the Abatan River cruise that failed to sizzle, Maribojoc is not a site of tourism attractions.

BROW RAISING DATES

For time immemorial, Maribojoc celebrated the feast day of their patron saint, San Vicente Ferrer every November 24. Accordingly, the date has no significant basis on the life of the saint, that the church decided to adopt the May 5 feast day instead. May 5 is the Christian celebration of the triumph of the Holy Cross, Maribojoc's titular devotion. The Maribojoc feast day change of date did not come without stiff opposition from devotees. Several parishioners still insist on celebrating Saint Vincent 's big day every November 24. The date this year unwittingly coincides with culmination ceremonies of the tourism festival, which sets a thanksgiving mass at 9:00 November 24. This also raises the eyebrows of devotees who have adopted the May 5 feast day, some of them alleging that the local officials conspired to bankroll a celebration inside the church.

MAYOR JUSTIFIES

Over all these allegations, Maribojoc Mayor Gavino Redulla says it's all for promoting tourism in the town, which in the end would be for the good of its inhabitants. “Maribojoc is a potential tourist destination in the island province of Bohol ' Redulla stresses in his statement to the Post. Reacting on criticisms that Maribojoc can not be a destination with only the watchtower and a river cruise, he said, “a tourist spot can be a God-given gift or man-made, developed through skills, arts or culture...” The development of tourism spots is within the power of the LGU and private sector cooperation, he explained. While developing tourism does not happen overnight, Redulla said it will be a process for many years, thus the festival is not unnecessary, waste of money, time and effort but it is for the promotion of the industry in Maribojoc.

In the modern aspects of tourism, it is necessary to promote the potential tourist attractions of a certain locality for the visitors to see beautiful things in the area. He added that “tourism in a modern concept is not only seeing beautiful spots but is also perceived by the architects of tourism industry to help and sustain the livelihood of the people where tourist spots are.” More importantly, tourism helps people manage natural resources for a well-balanced ecology. “We have decided to celebrate the Maribojoc Tourism Festival because this activity includes the products in Maribojoc for the public to buy and appreciate things produced by our farmers, handicrafts workers, fishermen and other producers in order to sustain for livelihood,” he capped.

We have scheduled this tourism festival on November 20-24, 2006 , because many people come home in preparation for the Christmas season and [we] consider this period as thanksgiving time. Over allegations of bankrolling the fiesta, the mayor said LGU-Maribojoc has accepted the change of fiesta date, to prove the officials have cooperated with the activities of the church, both in its financial aspects and civic program activities during fiesta celebration. In a bid to settle the issue, Maribojoc officials have requested a change of date of the thanksgiving mass from the original schedule on November 24 to November 23, 2006 , 9:00 A.M. at the parish church. This, they said should erase doubts of the people with selfish ideas on the alleged intentions of the celebration of the tourism festival.

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