My friend, Helen Cutillar, the tourism and information officer of Sagay City, has been working doubly hard this month.
It’s because September is observed as Tourism Month in the country. Thus, she has been on top of the planning, organizing, implementation and other supervisory activities to ensure – as it had been in past Septembers – the success of this month’s celebration in her city.
A big part of her efforts, along with her colleagues from other local government units, was focused on ensuring the success of the Provincial Tourism Month Summit and the exhibition and showcase, an assemblage of Negrense entrepreneurship of the finest and attractions of the province held at the Ayala Capitol Central in Bacolod City.
From her social media posts, I got wind of the various facets of her activities, which included “Conversations on Sustainable Tourism” done is small talk, group chats, trainings, online engagements and via broadcast media blitz.
The scope of the Sagay tourism promotion radar clientele under her guidance has been massive – from mothers and students to trisikad drivers, farmers, fisherfolk, special interest groups and children in communities.
Highlighting the celebration in Sagay City was the Sept. 28 special event “Turismo kag Taliambong”, which paid tribute and thanks to art icon Nune Alvarado, a native of the City, for his pioneering efforts and contribution to the growth of art, culture and sustainable community tourism the city.
The city council passed a resolution commending him for, among others, his passionate and generous imparting of his knowledge and craft to the community.
The day earlier – on Sept. 27 – Sagay was given the honor of being listed among the Green Destination Top 100 Stories in the world. The award was announced during the Green Destinations and Future of Tourism Summit held in Athens, Greece which was a highlight of the World Tourism Day observance.
Helen’s conversations and other activities have been concentrated on “Rethinking Tourism”, the theme of this year’s WTD event.
The focus of the celebration has been geared to stir discussions to redefine “tourism for development through, among others, education and jobs and opportunities to grow more sustainably.”
To rethink and redefine tourism mean trying to find out where tourism as an industry is headed and how it can get there.
While doing a mental outline for this column, I sent a message to Helen, asking her when the GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) Social Marketing Pride Campaign Program was launched in Suyac Island, the prime community-based eco-tourism program in the city.
My interest on being refreshed with the launch was for a
personal reason – that was when I first came to Suyac and officially met Helen.
“In 2012… how time flies,” she replied. That’s already a decade, I texted back, kiddingly saying this calls for a celebration in time for World Tourism Day. They were, at that time, holding the program paying tribute to Nune right at the artist’s haven and home at Margaha Beach.
That encounter with Helen 10 years ago paved. The way for my eventual community engagement in Suyac.
Time, indeed, has flown fast and memories of my community work in Suyac have become an important part of my cherished past – from our Service-Learning activities with my St. La Salle students to the post-Yolanda rehabilitation work with international students and faculty and to educational assistance extended by a Taiwan-based group for children in the island. In between was the development of strong bonds of friendship with the islanders.
Today, Suyac is a model of community-based eco-tourism venture and I am grateful that Helen and her staff, with the encouragement and support of city leaders, provided me an opportunity to contribute in my little way to the empowerment of residents of the island.
On World Tourism Month, I salute officials, stakeholders, the city tourism office and Helen, especially for being at the helm of efforts to further strengthen the multi-awarded tourism programs of Sagay City.
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A timely reminder for dog lovers is to have our pets vaccinated
against rabies regularly.
We celebrate this week – on Sept. 28 – World Rabies Day an occasion to heighten awareness of the dangers of the spread of rabies through interaction with animals and even humans.
Global health officials share these facts:
– Rabies is a preventable disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories.
– Dogs are the main source of rabies deaths, with 99 percent of transmissions to humans attributed to them.
– Rabies infection causes tens of thousands of deaths annually, mostly in Asia and Africa.
– 40 percent of those bitten by suspected rabid animals are children under 15 years old.
We trust that more dog owners will have their pets vaccinated and that health care systems will strengthen their rabies control program so that this year’s theme, “Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths” will be realized at the soonest possible time.
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For you my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32: 7-8) – NWI
