PAPATAG members attend Festival Management Workshop

Three members of the Palapag Culture and Arts Guild (PAPATAG) Inc. attended a 3-day Festival Management Workshop sponsored and organized by the Provincial Tourism Office and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) last April 1-3 at the Ibabao Hall, Provincial Capitol Building, Catarman, Northern Samar.

The PAPATAG members were Cecil Calvo (head, Vicual Arts Committee), Kenneth Deananeas (member, Visual Arts Committee), and Jeremy Evardone (head, Theater Arts Committee). Along with them was another delegate sent by the Local Government Unit of Palapag, Mrs. Flora Sabalza, the Municipal Tourism Officer. The official invitation for the workshop was originally sent to the LGU, but was also open for interested individuals or non-government organizations.

Here are some of the pictures taken by staff members of the Provincial Tourism Office:

Part of the workshop wherein the participants from Palapag interact

with other delegates from the Second District of the Province

PAPATAG delegates actively participate in the discussions

The delegates from the Second District of Northern Samar,

with Ms. Josette Doctor (Provincial Tourism Officer)

and Mr. Jaime Antonio (resource person from the NCCA)

The participants of the workshop, together with

Ms. Doctor, Mr. Antonio, and some Provincial Tourism Office staff

The workshop was aimed at educating and training the local tourism stakeholders in the appropriate and effective planning, organizing and management of local festivals in every municipality of the province, that would eventually lead to the conceptualization and actualization of a provincial festival reflective of the distinct Northern Samar culture and tradition.

The most important inputs from the main topic presented by the resource person from the NCCA, Mr. Jaime B. Antonio, were the framework for understanding local culture and traditions, and the basic concepts on planning and management that relates to festival organizing.

Mr. Antonio also stressed the importance of cultural development policies, programs, and activities of both the local government and the non-government institutions in relation to local festivals and tourism management. He pointed out, and the participants agreed in unison, that no tourism development could be fully achieved without cultural development; suffice to say that scenic spots and beautiful sights were not enough to boost local tourism.

PAPATAG was the only non-government cultural organization that was able to participate in this Festival Management Workshop.