A CARAVAN which started from Tuguegarao, Cagayan and ended in Intramuros in Manila has shown the best of Luzon.
The Philippine Information Agency-Cordillera with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts led a caravan to promote the entire island cluster of Luzon with over 60 media practitioners in tow.
The six day caravan toured churches, heritage houses, sampled traditional food, viewed native songs and dances aiming to have a deeper understanding of what culture and arts means.
The cultural caravan started at the St. Peter's Metropolitan Cathedral in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, an 18th-century Baroque church followed by the 17th Century Church structure built by the Spaniards, the Ermita De San Jacinto Church.
The ruins of the San Jacinto de Polonia Church in Camalaniugan was also part of the tour with the massive Spanish Horno (brick oven) ending with the St. Dominic Church in Lallo.
The caravan moved to Ilocos touching base with the historic Burgos Windmills and Burgos Lighthouse, Paoay Church and the Paseo De Paoay.
Participants toured the Vigan City Museum and the iconic Calle Crisologo at the Vigan Heritage Village.
Passing through Baguio City, the caravan visited the Tam-awan Village, the Baguio Museum, Museo Kordillerya at UP Baguio, the mini forest at the Baguio Convention Center, Casa Vallejo and the Session Road Rotunda.
Travelling to the City of San Fernando in Pampanga, the caravan traveled to the historic San Fernando Train Station and heritage homes of the area before proceeding to Intramuros.
The NCCA and the PIA have come together to catapult culture, heritage and arts into the mainstream in the hope to making the public aware of its importance.
The partnership is the first in history of both agency.
PIA-Cordillera regional director Helen Tibaldo has vowed to help the NCCA become a mainstream concern in Luzon by using various promotional strategies as well as linkages with other government and non-government agencies.