CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Manila Times, one of the country’s oldest existing newspapers, on Tuesday named the City of San Fernando as the Philippines’ top tourism hub during the Top Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities Forum and Awards at Conrad Hotel Manila in Pasay City.

Themed “Making Cities More Inclusive,” the forum and awards aimed to honor the greenest and environmentally sustainable cities and municipalities.

The broadsheet, in conferring to the City of San Fernando -- the Christmas Capital of the Philippines and Home of the Giant Lanterns -- the Tourism Hub Award, said that the local government unit has “leaders who have made efforts to make its local and foreign tourists, including its residents, feel welcome.”

“City of San Fernando’s arts and cultures, including the ‘giant lanterns,’ were excellently promoted through their consistent staging of events and activities. The ‘Giant Lantern Festival’ has become one of the vital factors why San Fernando becomes one of the Philippines’ tourism centrals,” The Manila Times stressed.

City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan shared that the city’s giant lanterns were highlighted since they contribute to the city’s efforts of preserving culture and heritage towards economic development.

Mayor Edwin Santiago said that aside from the giant lanterns, the Tourism Hub Award was given to the city since it also celebrates other events which highlight Fernandino culture and heritage like “Maleldo” (Holy Week observance) and Cultural Heritage Month.

Santiago added that these celebrations are being staged through the joint efforts of city officials, employees and staff, private sector, and with the participation of the whole Fernandino community.

During the previous year, The Manila Times also recognized San Fernando as one of the Philippines’ top model cities and the country’s Most Business-Friendly City for the accountability, transparency, and efficiency of its quality management systems. (JTD)