A watchtower in northern Negros has become a favorite destination for locals and visitors from neighboring towns and cities before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Set amidst the backdrop of the clear, blue waters of Toboso town’s fingerport in Barangay Poblacion, the 9.5-meter tall, postcard-pretty watchtower was inaugurated on Jan. 1, 2019 to honor the heroism of Toboseño Staff Sgt. Nicolas Mahusay, said Mayor Richard Jaojoco.
Mahusay, born on Nov. 14, 1917, in Toboso served the Philippine Army and was recognized by PEFTOK as a Korean War hero, Jaojoco said. The Mahusay watchtower, he explained, was originally conceived by the LGU’s Engineering Department, to have a semblance to Paris’ Eiffel Tower.
With an allocation of P1.3 million, the watchtower serves as one of the highlight features of the town’s fingerport that extends 100 meters toward the fabled Tanon Strait from the seawall. Solar-powered lights were installed to illuminate the structure. Visitors flock to the area at sundown or during weekends and holidays for photo opportunities
If it were not for the quarantine period, probably throngs of local tourists would have visited the area as the province marks the 20th Tourism Month celebration.
“Before COVID-19 came, it was a very overwhelming sight, because groups of people – adults, the young, students and others – from neighboring LGUs came to the site for photo opportunities or selfies with the structure on the background. It had also been a destination for picnic for people from all walks,” Jaojoco shared.
But for now, tourists and tourism-related activities are put on hold to avoid contamination or COVID infection. But rest assured we will re-open the watchtower when the pandemic ends, the mayor added. ETL
