SAN JOSE, Antique – Tourists flocking to a mall in Iloilo City for the recent “Fiestas in the City”, which promoted culture and tourism in the new normal, were always drawn to the food section.
Antique Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Juan Carlos Perlas said that aside from the sights, guests came back for the gastronomic experience during the “Antique Day” of the event.
“We offered them our heritage dishes,” Perlas said.
Among Antique’s native delicacies were “puto tapol”, steamed rice cake traditionally made from rice-based fermented dough, and ibos, steamed sticky rice blended with coconut milk.
There was also the traditional lechon or roasted pork usually served during fiestas and celebrations in just about anywhere in the Philippines where pork dishes are allowed.
Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Guimaras, Bacolod City, Aklan, and Capiz were also part of the weeklong fair initiated by the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas. It ended on Sunday, May 29.
Perlas said Antique, being a laid-back province, is an ideal destination post-pandemic.
Secluded white-sand beaches in the island municipality of Caluya and the Sibalom Natural Park where endemic animals and plants thrive are among the most visited.
Cultural presentations also lured guests during the “Fiestas in the City”. Roy Molina from Maasin, Iloilo said he enjoyed listening to songs in the Visayan dialect Kinaray-a.
“I love listening to Kinaray-a songs for they make the local language so alive,” he said.
He said the younger generations, who speak English or other languages might not be able to understand some of the Kinaray-a words, but they would learn to appreciate the local language by listening to the music.
An American from Texas said he intended to go to Antique after watching the musical performance of Teatro Tubigon.
“I enjoyed the presentations and I have to visit the place,” he said.
Provincial Board member Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao said the province joined the event to showcase what Antique could offer both for domestic and foreign tourists.
“We wanted to show that we are a happy people,” she said in her opening remarks during the program, adding that they want to boost the local tourism sector and all other businesses affected by the pandemic. (PNA)
