WITH proper documentation and a strong scholastic reports background, the renowned sugar centrals or Centrales Azucareras de Negros can be included in the prestigious list of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) world heritage sites, a main criterion in boosting the general economy of a locality through tourism breakthroughs.
This was disclosed by Ivan Henares, cultural and heritage ambassador, during a small group forum with tourism advocates, heritage sites and museum operators in a bid to establish a Negros Sugar Heritage Trail that will showcase the rich culture and heritage of our province that is dubbed as the “Sugar Capital” of the archipelago.
With a strong conviction to include local government units and tourism envoys, the group envisions of enlisting numerous sites worthy of the seal of distinction. The National Museum, according to the group, is willing to assist our local officials in this bid and also brand our spots and signs with their own brass plate as “tourist worthy.” Simply put, we will entice more tourists to check our places and yes, spend their bucks in turn for our local people to earn.
Discussions like this are fitting as we rekindle our roots in the upcoming Panaad sa Negros Festival that will kick off this Friday with the Festival Dance Competition.
It can be recalled, Murcia’s Tinabu-ay Festival dance drama dethroned usual top placers like the Pintaflores of San Carlos City and La Castellana’s Bailes de Luces. This time, we get to check on the products, landmarks and even the famous characters in various towns and cities from north to south.
The organizers have encapsulated a suited theme for its 23rd year of staging and highlighting Negros Occidental as the “Land of Sweet Surprises.” This, in turn, will surely highlight the hidden and unexpected treasures and icons we have bragging rights for as a people.
Staying true to its monicker as the “Festival of All Festivals in Negros Occidental,” it will showcase Negros in all aspect - food, grassroots living, people, merry making. Needless to say, it will banner our beautiful ladies as well during the sought after Lin-ay Sang Negros Pageant on 8 p.m. Monday, April 18, at the Panaad Park and Stadium.
Executive Producer and Lin-ay main man Ian De Ramos has vouched a grander celebration of Negrense class and beauty this year with the inclusion of ace choreographer and events organizer Rodney Ascalon sitting in as director of the two-hour show.
For his part, the youthful director enticed beauty pageant fans to witness a more upbeat Coronation Night with former beauty queens and title holders sitting in as guest and judges.
Last weekend, I hosted the Press Presentation, Skills Competition and the Iconic Festival Competition Parade at Robinsons’ Mall Bacolod.
Early front runners are Lin-ay sang Murcia, declared as the Muse of the Media because of her elegance and truthful answers during the question and aswer rounds. Lin-ay sang La Carlota was named Lin-ay nga Maabilidad while Bago City’s designer was named Best in Festival Costume after displaying a good engineering of fake canons in a fashionable ensamble worn by his muse.
Indeed, summer season is more exciting with Panaad sa Negros around. We have reasons to sweat around without complaining because of the good finds and exciting activities we can enjoy.
Apart from the merry making, may we look as this as an inspiration to push for our old houses, century old azucareras and other significant places to be declared as among the country’s Heritage Sites worthy of every attention.
At the end, we can look forward for the technical assistance, potential government funding, real estate tax incentives and of course, the highly elusive heritage site marker that many of our places in Negros Occidental rightfully deserve if we can enlist them officially.