PUERTO Princesa—Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive for the 11-day Mimaropa Festival in Puerto Princesa City starting today, highlighted by street-dancing competition, agriculture-tourism-trade fair, and crowning of Festival King and Queen.
Mimaropa stands for the provinces of Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, which comprise Region IV-B and possess a wealth of natural wonders and kaleidoscope of authentic Filipino culture and traditions.
“International and domestic visitors alike will be treated to a total tourism experience throughout the 11-day extravaganza, showcasing Filipino religiosity, native cuisine, and indigenous arts and performances,” said Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.
Teo lauded the local government units of Oriental Mindoro, Calapan City, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, and Puerto Princesa City for strong regional unity and cooperation in staging the festival to boost tourism.
“Promotion of rural tourism is at the very soul of fiestas. As each tourist ends his visit, he holds on to special memories of the place and people, as well as stimulate business for small to medium businesses in the Mimaropa region,” said Teo, who spent her childhood years in Puerto Princesa City.
Co-sponsoring the event with the Department of Tourism are the Tourism Promotions Board, Duty Free Philippines, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines and Philippine Information Agency-Mimaropa.
Tourism Mimaropa Director Danilo Intong said the opening salvo starts with the Agri Trade and Tourism Fair on Nov. 7 and the remarkable celebration of the Puerto Princesa Underground River proclamation on Nov 11, 2011 as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Activities include a Business to Business Meeting with Philippine Tour Operators, National Association of Independent Travel Agents and Taiwanese Travel Agents with the DoT Accredited Properties and Tour Operators in the Mimaropa Region at the Hotel Centro on Nov. 8.
The culminating activity will be the Tourism Awards to be given to the Local Government Units and DoT Accredited Tourism Related Establishments with great contributions to the development and promotion of tourism in the Region, Intong said.
Performers from the seven LGUs of Puerto Princesa, Calapan City, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan will compete in street dancing showdown and colorful float and costume competitions.
Mimaropa King & Queen will be crowned and awarded with cash prizes awaiting them.
An added attraction will be the 1st Asian Dragon Boat International Crew Member Championship on Nov. 11, with an expected 1,500 foreign delegates.
