Tourism department calls for respect in culture

THE Department of Tourism (DOT)–Cordillera has urged local and international tourists to respect every community’s culture and traditions.

“We do not need to bend the rules of our culture just to accommodate the tourists,” said DOT Regional Director Purification Molintas.

She said tourists must abide by the rules of the region’s culture such, as if a sacred place is prohibited like the sacred practice of the Igorots, which is the conduct of “tengaw” wherein the whole community will have a three–day prayer to ask blessings from the gods to make their plants yield favorable product.

Molintas said the Cordilleran culture must remain intact despite the increase in tourism arrivals in the region.

Bontoc, Mt. Province Vice Mayor William Aspilan said the “tengaw” is still active in his town. He cited some barangays that prohibit a member of the place to go outside the area during the said practice.

This practice is one of the different Cordilleran cultures that need to be preserved by not invading it. Tourists then need to wait for these traditional practices of a certain town to be finished before entering the area. (Rubyloida Bitog)