ILOILO – The Bucari Pine Forest Campsite in Sitio Tabionan, Barangay Bucari, Leon town is ready to welcome pilgrims this Holy Week, particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Mount Mansiga is the go-to destination in Bucari but one has to climb more than 100 steps to get to the viewing deck.
Atop awaits the breathtaking view of Bucari and the breezy atmosphere with all the pine trees around.
The Bucari Pine Forest Campsite is also known as the province’s “Little Baguio” and “Summer Capital.”
In 2022, a total of 139,000 tourists visited Bucari during Holy Week, data from the Leon Municipal Tourism Office (MTO) showed.
For this year, Municipal Tourism Officer Ma. Analiza Camago told Panay News they expected the tourist arrivals to spike with Bucari now fully open. Restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic have been lifted.
The Bucari Pine Forest Campsite is open to visitors this Holy Week from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MTO preparations
To ensure visitors’ security and safety, Camago said checkpoints are being set up and a Tourism Assistance Center is stationed at the municipal plaza.
Those who do not have service vehicles going to Bucari could hire motorcycles or habal-habal, she said.
Responders and mechanical/technical teams of the MTO are also deployed in Sitio Bato to assist visitors whose vehicles may encounter difficulty going up to Bucari.
The MTO is ready to provide free service to visitors whose vehicles malfunction.
A ticket booth is located at the main entrance of the Bucari Pine Forest Campsite. Visitors have to pay P60 environmental fee and P30 entrance fee.
Leon residents, however, only have to pay the environmental fee.
Camago, meanwhile, reminded visitors to observe silence especially during Good Friday where many pilgrims are expected to go to Mount Mansiga for the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross).
“Mostly sang aton visitors naga-Via Crucis and the place has stations of the cross. Amo na sia ang going up to Mount Mansiga nga pag-abot sa pinakatuktok nga view deck makit-an naton ang breathtaking view sang Bucari,” Camago said.
The MTO has these reminders to visitors:
* Practice CLAY-GO (clean as you go). As an eco-friendly site, keep the area clean and green. There are designated bins for proper garbage disposal.
* Keep the facilities clean and in order. Maintain the cleanliness of the wash area, the kitchen, and the comfort rooms.
* Conserve water.
* Secure your personal belongings.
* Always report accidental damages or breakages. Guests are fully responsible to pay the fine/s for the damage/s done to the campsite properties.
* Plants and flowers are for your eyes only.
* Keep noise at a minimal level. Observe silence during visit at the Tabionan Chapel as it is a sacred place.
* Park vehicles in designated parking areas.
* Smoking is strictly prohibited.
* Sign at the logbook provided at the front office.
* Ask permission first before using drones.
* Feel free to approach any of the tourism staff for queries and/or concerns.
Aside from being a tourist destination, Bucari also boasts of vegetables such as sayote, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, carrots, pechay, tomatoes, eggplants, and many others.
“Daku gid ang iya (Bucari) bulig kay isa ‘ni ka source of revenue namon subong, especially nga ara kita sa state of economic recovery due to COVID-19 pandemic. So, tungod nga nag-open, naga-amat-amat na balik ang mga bisita, daku man gid ang nabulig sa income,” added Camago./PN
