BY HELEN J. CATALBAS
(1st of 3 parts)
HOW SOON time flies!
All so suddenly the Lenten season is fast progressing against the backdrop of scalding summer heat.
Various religious groups have their respective Lenten practices and rituals which, for purposes of this write-up, we refer to as events.
We are writing about Lenten events from the tourism point of view and not from the religious perspective per se. Admittedly, though, there is such a thing as religious tourism. Admittedly, too, religious a.k.a. pilgrimage tourism is one the biggest tourist drawers in the world.
A Lenten ritual or practice that is inherently designed or has evolved into a tourism event meets the 5Ws and 1H criteria. Yes, it is just like in news writing. For students of tourism, it would be helpful for them to know or may be review.
The first W stands for Why. It asks for the reasons why the religious tourism event is organized, strengthened and sustained. This question is for religious groups or associations to answer.
Participants and attendees, whether religious or not in spirit and in truth, also can provide answers to the question why they flock to this or that event.
Attendance or participation to a religious event also requires budget. Those who travel for religious tourism purposes have to allocate part of their financial resources for transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, tours, souvenirs, personal effects like sunscreen, umbrella, sun visor, diapers, etc. etc. Despite the attendance expense, tourists must have compelling reasons why they believe the Lenten event is all worth it.
Lenten event organizers are not materially and technically autonomous. They need manpower fund sufficient to stage a yearly Lenten event. This is where event presentors, partners, sponsors, benefactors and others of similar reasons decide why they support the Lenten tourism event. (To be continued) (HJC/PN)
