Iligan City to host ‘Pasundayag Northern Mindanao’

Iligan City to host ‘Pasundayag Northern Mindanao’

by Babes Jacob-Rebultan

Cagayan de Oro City (11 December) — THE city government of Iligan in Lanao del Norte will host this year’s “Pasundayag Northern Mindanao Wellness/Adventure Tourism and Cultural Expo” on December 11-14 at the Gaisano Citi Supermall in Iligan City.

Regional Director Catalino E. Chan III of the Department Of Tourism (DOT-10) said that this year’s Pasundayag will showcase the wellness and adventure destinations in Northern Mindanao, such as spas, clinics, therapeutic centers, extreme sports and adventure trips, services, and wellness food supplies, among others.

This is meant to enable tourists to experience wellness tourism while enjoying the tourist destinations in the region, he added.

Along with eight cities and five provinces participating in this big event, Chan said, Iligan City is now ready to bring back tourists to regain its prestige as a major destination in the region.

He told mediamen during a press conference hosted by the Iligan City Government at the Dynasty Court Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City recently that “Pasundayag” will not only give people the chance to see Iligan City’s Maria Cristina Falls, but also taste its tasty lechon and violet camote, among others.

Chan pointed out that domestic tourism is not only promoting the area or the city, but also exchanging cultural ties between the regions, especially that Region 10 has 10 ethnic tribes.

At the same time, DOT-10 Project Officer Ma. Elena O. Manalo explained that the objective of holding the event in Iligan this year is to increase the awareness of visitors that the city now has many amenities in terms of services and in wellness tourism.

She added that there are many suppliers of health foods, sports tourism, cultural, culinary, adventure tourism, which are related to wellness and cultural expo.

This year’s “Pasundayag” carries the theme “Tourism Wellness and Cultural Expo” since there are many destinations and cultural endowments that we could be very proud of to present to our local populace, as well as in the nearby regions like Caraga, Bohol, and Cebu, among others, Manalo further said.

For her part, Iligan City Tourism Officer Agnes Maingat said the city government saw the potential of “Pasundayag” as the venue for the city to recover its image and hopefully show to the people that Iligan City is now very secure and peaceful.

She added the city is hosting this big event in the region because they saw the potential of generating awareness and interest in the city’s tourism potential and in the hope that the long term effect of this event will bring in more business, more visitors and a more dynamic and vibrant tourism industry in the city.

Maingat also explained that wellness tourism means good life, healthy food or a recreation facility where people can relax physically, spiritually and emotionally.

There had been a growing interest among tourists, especially Westerners who are looking for destinations that can provide them with relaxation in the city.

In Iligan City, she revealed, there are spas, massage parlors that are providing these wellness services, as well many resorts like the Timoga Spring swimming pools that provide flowing and non-chlorinated water, among others.

She also revealed that Iligan City is known as the “City of Majestic Waterfalls,” where 39 waterfalls are spread all over 44 barangays in the city.

Maingat, however, said of the 39, only 23 waterfalls are being promoted by the City Tourism Office, classified as operational and can be visited by the local and foreign tourists-visitors.

When asked as to the peace and order condition of the city, the city tourism officer said with the upcoming “Pasundayag” and the Christmas season, the police and military personnel in Iligan are doubly working to ensure a peaceful and secured Iligan.

The city is expecting more than a thousand participants for this year’s “Pasundayag” and is looking forward to tour them around and see that Iligan is indeed a peaceful, safe and very beautiful city, Maingat said.

Meanwhile, DOT-10 Project Officer Manalo bared that foremost during the “Pasundayag” is that every day, every hour on Dec. 11-14, from 8:00AM to 8:00PM, there are hourly activities that will be presented to the public by participating provincial and city governments.

The local government units to be highlighted on Dec. 11 will be the cities of Tangub, Oroquieta and Ozamiz; Dec. 12 – the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia and the province of Bukidnon; Dec. 13 – the provinces of Bukidnon and Camiguin and Iligan City; Dec. 14 – the cities of Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro, and the province of Misamis Oriental.

During the “highlights” proper, there will be exhibits, search for DOT-10 singing ambassador, cultural presentations, musical presentations, dance clinics/ethnic instruments, lectures on wellness and health care, film showings, food tasting, belly dancing and street dancing. (PIA-MisOrOccCam)

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