Living
Catanduanes sheds typhoon image with tourism
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- Published on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00
By A Web design Company
THERE was a time when the island province of Catanduanes in the Bicol region harped on the slogan “Land of the Howling Wind” because of the frequent destructive storms that pass its way. For townsfolk who have been experiencing strong storms since time immemorial, there is no fun in highlighting this age-old scourge.
But beyond the howling wind, the province today is a tourism frontier which beckons travelers looking. Many true-blue adventurers consider it a diamond in the rough with its crude edges.
While typhoons still pass through their corridor, folks claim that the more destructive ones are now as rare as a blue moon.
Catanduanes governor Joseph Cua said that the province is slowly shedding its typhoon belt image by gearing up for tourism in line with the recent Catandungan Festival to mark its 67th provincial founding day.
Now on its 18th edition, the event gathered the municipal festivals of the nine towns which depict local folklore, history and culture.
Adding color to the festivity is the “Pantomina Catanduanes”, a dance widely popular in every town which imitates the courtship movements of the rooster and the hen, to the music played for the dance or the song which accompanies the dance performance.
Spicing up the festivities is the Majestic Puraran Surfing Cup which drew the top waveriders from the country’s surf sites. The “Majestic Waves” in Baras town is the province’s main draw, and is so-called because of its long magnificent barrel.
Cua said that with its current tourism thrust, the province hopes to get a decent share of Bicol region’s booming tourist arrivals with its adventure, nature and culture attractions.
He said that aside from surfing, Catanduanes gifted the province with fine beaches, breath-taking capes and idyllic islands
In the capital town of Virac, there are the beaches of Igang and Batag, a coral-strewn beach whose charm is enhanced by a rock archway.
Igang is home to Twin Rocks Beach Resort which takes pride with its adventure facilities—a zipline, outdoor wall, hanging bridge, and amenities which are the best locally. The resort is so-called because of its two awesome rock formations which are among the tourist icons of the province.
