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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Monday, February 20, 2017
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ILOILO City – It’s a matter of perspective.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) did not condemn outright the group that conducted a nude photo shoot in Bucari, Iloilo’s “summer capital” in the hinterlands of Leon town.
But Regional Director Helen Catalbas made it clear in no uncertain terms that such photo shoot should not happen again in the fledgling tourist spot.
“If that group believed there was nothing wrong with their nude photo sessions, they’re free to do so elsewhere but not in Bucari,” said Catalbas.
DOT Region 6 is packaging Bucari as a “wholesome” tourist destination, she stressed.
The area is actually composed of Bucari, a hinterland barangay in Leon, and neighboring barangays of which 14 are in the municipality and seven in the adjacent town of Alimodian.
“We get the kind of tourism that we want. Since this is our place, we set the tourism agenda, not the tourists or visitors,” said Catalbas.
DOT-6 under Catalbas is aggressively promoting Western Visayas as a hub for various types of tourists – those into culture, leisure, adventure, and ecotourism, among others. Sex tourism is not on the table.
“Sila ‘ya masunod lang na sila kon may regulation, that is what we want our tourist destinations to have,” said Catalbas.
A Bucari tourist guide claimed there were tourists at the time the photographers were taking pictures of the naked woman. Some of them were scandalized but others observed the photo shoot and even took pictures of the activity using their mobile phones.
In a letter, Catalbas urged Mayor Rolito Cajilig of Leon to formulate ways so that no nude photo shoots would ever happen again in Bucari.
“We know he doesn’t want such kind of publicity for Leon so his local government must take the necessary steps to prevent similar incidences in the future. Tourists, after all, can’t proceed to Bucari without passing through Leon,” said Catalbas.
Known as the “little Baguio of Iloilo”, Bucari is a special economic zone for tourism and ecological enterprise due to its cool climate, topography, highland attractions and scenery.
“I don’t think such activity (nude photo shoot) suits the place,” said Catalbas.
The national and local governments joined hands to construct the road going to Bucari to make it accessible to all.
“The objective is certainly wholesome,” said Catalbas.
She urged other local governments with tourist attractions to have ordinances, rules and regulations that govern the activities of visitors to preserve these points of interest.
Photos of a naked young Ilongga taken in Bucari have gone viral on social media. This angered the mayor of Leon.
The woman was seen alternately standing or lying down on a rock. She had nothing on but a pair of rubber shoes, a headset and a mobile phone.
Photographer Edward Mallada issued a public apology via DyFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo on Saturday.
Cajilig urged photographers wanting to take pictures of Bucari to seek permission from the local government of Leon.
“Gaumpisa pa lang kami. Dapat suportaran ang lugar nga ini,” he stressed.
Mallada clarified he did not have any intention to denigrate Bucari. He also invoked art in conceptualizing the photo shoot for the recent Valentine’s Day./PN
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