GUMASA, Sarangani (May 20, 2011) – With thousands of spectators and
guests, this year’s Sarangani Bay Festival finally opened Thursday
with provincial, municipal officials and a surprise arrival of
Sarangani Congressman and world boxing champ Emmanuel “Pacman”
Pacquiao.
Governor Migs Dominguez often calls Congressman Pacquiao, the first
title holder of eight weight divisions, as the provincial tourism
“secret weapon”.
Governor Dominguez, with provincial and municipal officials, formally
opened the 6th Sarangani Bay Festival cheering the crowd at the
750-meter coastline of Isla Jardin del Mar Thursday morning (May 19)
followed by the raising of the flag of the province’s seven
municipalities.
“It’s gotten bigger and bigger each year!” Vice Governor Steve
Chiongbian Solon said at the opening ceremony.
At 5:00 o’clock in the morning, fun runners joined a 3- and
5-kilometer sprint from Gumasa highway to Isla Jardin. The activity
dubbed as “Sarangani Run: A Run for Sarangani Bay” has raised a
P10,000 fund.
In 2009, the provincial tourism office recorded 17,500 guests of the
festival whereas in 2007, there was only less than one-third of that
number.
“Let us help each other in promoting our beloved province like I do,”
Congressman Pacquiao said.
“Wherever I go I always promote our province, Sarangani, and I’m doing
all my best to promote our province and help our fellow Sarangans,”
Pacquiao said.
Guest and movie actor Paolo Contis who visited the province with
Pacquiao said he will help his friend promote Sarangani back in
Manila.
The Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotion Center (STIPC) placed
expected guests and tourists who would like to experience the biggest
beach party in Mindanao at 30,000, doubling the number last year.
The opening program included the launching of the Provincial
Tuberculosis Program Board.
The program, through local ordinances, sees a renewed call for action
to control TB through multi-sectoral approach.
A best-dish culinary competition was participated in by different
municipal entries featuring their towns’ favorite delicacies.
Malapatan won with its grilled tanguigue with coconut milk and buko.
Isla Jardin del Mar is one of the fast-growing resorts in Glan along
with its neighboring resorts in Gumasa cove, a seven-kilometer stretch
of powdery white sand beaches.
The three-day “Summer is On!” festival is composed of beach and water
sports activities such as beach volleyball, beach football,
skimboarding, jetsking, Frisbee, sand sculpture, lumba bugsay, bay
fair, party by the bay, fireworks display and concert by the bay this
year with recording band Rocksteddy.
The second day of the festival features its 15-kilometer
swim-across-the-bay, a swim relay competition from Tinoto Point in
Maasim town to Tango beach in Glan and bay bodies competition at Coco
Beach in the evening.
The last day of the event will be the awarding ceremony and concert by
the bay in the evening with fireworks display. (Russtum G.
Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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