Friday, June 01, 2007 Sarangani Bay festival kicks off By Nelson C. Bagaforo
COLORFUL events, including water sports, highlight this year's Sarangani Bay Festival, which is on its second year.
The festival, which kicked off Thursday and runs for three days until June 2, celebrates Sarangani Bay's richness and splendor. Sarangani is one of the country's largest bay systems.
Organizers have lined up exciting and colorful activities for this year's SarBay Fest, including water sports and beach events in the six coastal towns of the province.
"This time is more exciting, is merrier because there are a lot of activities for our guests, tourists who will be coming over and we have prepared events that would really speak of Sarangani," said Nenita Barroso, chair of the festival committee.
Governor Miguel Dominguez is upbeat on tourist arrivals in the province in time for the SarBay Fest.
"Sarangani is now the province to look out for in terms of tourism. We have become the ultimate destination for the entire Region XII and Socsargen area in terms of tourism," said Dominguez who was given a fresh mandate in the recently concluded elections.
"We have everything, we have the beaches, rivers, we have the very beautiful and hospitable people of Sarangani Province which is the very important asset in this industry that we call tourism," he said.
Barroso, who also heads the Sarangani Province Tourism Investment Promotions Center and Department of Trade and Industry provincial office, added that the Sarangani Bay Festival has already been institutionalized in the province through a Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution.
"The objectives of the festival are una, para magkaroon ng awareness sa ating pag-protect ng ating Sarangani Bay and at the same time yong mga livelihood na nanggagaling out of the bay and of course we are promoting Sarangani as an eco-tourism destination," said Barroso.
Timed for the festival, Gumasa's famed powdery white-sand beaches will host major events during the three-day festival.
Organizers have received confirmation from teams in nearby regions who will participate in the beach football, beach volleyball and the action-packed Lumba Bugsay (paddling) events.
The SarBay Fest will also have snorkeling in Tuka Beach in Kiamba, white-water tubing in Maitum, and diving at South Point in Maasim.
Sand sculpture, skim boarding and a Concert-at-the-Bay will be held in Gumasa on June 1 and 2. A "Mr. and Ms. Summer Look" contest is also lined up to spice-up the festival.
A Party-at-the-Bay will cap the festival on the night of June 2 at White Haven Beach Resort in Gumasa.
