LAGUNA – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) in cooperation of the Philippine Information Agency launches Heritage Caravan 2018 in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) province in Sulyap Hotel in San Pablo, Laguna.
The NCAA and PIA officials gather together with media practitioners, bloggers, vloggers, and writers for a four-day cultural heritage caravan from seven regions namely CAR, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and the host region Calabarzon for November 15 to 18 coverage.
In the opening program, Cristina Arzadon, PIA Director in the Calabarzon region, said that the heritage caravan is year-long promotions of NCCA and PIA that showcase cultural sites in Region IV-A ranging from historical towns, homegrown industries, museums of national artists, a renowned festival, including a tour of traditional Filipino culture.” Arzadon introduced also the participants from the different regions and the members of the PIA force.
A welcome dinner was served for the participants prepared by the NCCA and PIA in Sulyap Hotel here. The name ‘Sulyap’ means the glimpse of the past, wherein, you can still witness the old Spanish style house from roof to floorings. The food are plain Filipino cuisine like pancit molo soup, ensaladang pako (fern salad), bistek tagalog (beefsteak), kulawong puso ng saging (banana heart in coconut milk) and karekareng oxtail. Lanzones and rambutan from Quezon province served as panghimagas (dessert).
Meanwhile, Quezon Provincial Tourism Officer Jun Bay initiated the “tagayan” – an old traditional wine tasting in the “umpokan” (crowd) of a “piging” (celebration). Bay taught every participant on how to execute it during ‘umpokan’ using Lambanog (coconut wine). According to him, it must be celebrated with respect, love, and equality. Everybody must taste it. The participant must say “naay po” (cheers) before drinking and the crowd responses with “pakinabangan po” (with a value).
The program ended successfully. The evening continues and some of the participants spare their time taking pictures and some preparing for their good night sleep — ready for the activities the next day.
Last year, a similar caravan tour covering Luzon regions from Regions 1 to 3 and the Cordilleras highlighting their rich cultural heritage and preservations since the colonial era lasted in the Philippines.
Bernard Ver, Ilocos Times
