LINGAYEN- – -The province’s Tourism Month celebration formally opens once again on September 9 together with the opening of the Balitok-a- Tawir as one of the highlights of the celebration at the Sison Auditorium here at 9:00 am.
Tourism Operations Division Chief Ma. Luisa A. Elduayan, said the Balitok-a-Tawir (Golden Heritage) is now on its third leg since its launching in 2011 as an effective tool to instill among Pangasinenses the love and loyalty for one’s locality.
In the recent conduct of the Baruy-I Love Pangasinan Movement in the city of Alaminos and the towns of Bani and Bugallon last September 3, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said the Balitok-a-Tawir aims to rediscover, recapture, promote and preserve the culture of Pangasinan.
“There are a lot of beautiful things in our province so let us try to recapture them, practice them again and promote them,” the governor said.
“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,” Gov. Espino further stressed.
As this developed, the governor urged the people to take part in the noble activity to heighten the awareness of Pangasinenses especially the youth on the authentic cultural and artistic heritage of Pangasinan.
Gov. Espino called on the cities, municipalities, universities, colleges and the Department of Education to participate in the various activities of the Balitok-a-Tawir which include competitions on Pangasinan folk dances, choral rendition of Pangasinan songs and Zarzuela.
Meanwhile, Elduayan said the opening program for the Tourism Month celebration will include the launching of the I Love Pangasinan Tourism Jingle and Music Video Making Competition. An orientation meeting will ensue right after the program for the Balitok-a-Tawir.
Submission of entries for the Balitok-a-Tawir competitions will be on September 16-20. The cluster elimination follows on October 22-24 where the finalists to be chosen will undergo workshop on November 7-8 to prepare for the grand finals on December 6.
Prizes at stake include a P30, 000 cash and trophy for the champions in the three categories (choral, folk dance and Zarzuela), 1st runner-up-P25,000 and trophy; 2nd runner-up P20,000 and trophy and consolation prize of P10,000 for each of the categories.
Each participating group or municipality will receive a participatory incentive or subsidy of P5,000 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. (PIO/Angeline D. Villanueva)