Monday, September 24, 2007 Manokan Country to be reinvented
THREE leading entrepreneurs will conduct a seminar on food service, handling, and market positioning for 22 stall owners of Manokan Country on Tuesday at Aboys Restaurant, Bacolod City.
The seminar, which is part of the City Government’s program to relaunch Manokan Country as an icon of Bacolod in connection with the 28th MassKara Festival, will have Association of Negros Producers former presidents Millie Kilayko and Ina Gaston and restaurateur Nestor Aboy Evaristo as resource speakers.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in a recent meeting initiated by the Silver MassKara Festival Organization with the stall owners, stressed his administrations plan to revive the Manokan Country, which made Bacolod famous in the country.
“I have a sentimental attachment to this place,” the mayor said, adding that he was the tourism officer who, along with former Mayor Jose Montalbo, pushed for the transfer of all chicken inasal vendors in one place.
There were strong opposition but eventually the stall owners realized the benefits of branding, Leonardia added.
However, stall owners became complacent and never attempted to reinvent to keep up with competition, he said.
It is also sad to note that while the idea of a Manokan Country has been replicated all over the country, the original lost its former glory, he added.
Worse, the stall owners put up walls dividing them, hence, losing the airy atmosphere, he noted.
The mayor said Manokan Country in its present state can no longer attract tourists and even locals for sanitation and security reasons.
This will have to change and it would require the cooperation of all stall owners, Leonardia stressed.
To start this transformation, the mayor ordered the immediate cleanup of the areas surrounding the Manokan Country. He also instructed the City Engineers Office to repair the drainage system and the street lights.
The Bacolod Police, through BAC-UP Precinct 1, was also asked to increase its visibility in the area.
For its part, the Manokan Country Association led by president Marites Lamier agreed to dismantle structures dividing their stalls. They also expressed gratitude for the attention given to them by the City Government.
The Manokan Country will be a major venue for this year’s festival. Concerts and special events will be held at the area.
