By Belinda M. Otordoz
MAUBAN, Quezon Oct 9 (PNA) – The Maubanog Festival of Mauban, Quezon has been awarded as this year’s grand winner for DOT-ATOP Pearl Award under the category best tourism event (Festival) – municipal level in the 15th Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines held in Bacolod, Negros Occidental last October 2-4.
In partnership with the Department of Tourism, the Pearl Award ATOP-DOT Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines Awards was born in 2005 when it was launched during the 6th ATOP National Convention held in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental to institutionalize the annual system of recognition.
Pearl Award aims to give recognition to LGU that implements exceptional practices, projects and innovations in tourism industry. There are five major awards given: Best Tourism Event for Festivals and Sports/Adventure/Wellness Activity in provincial, city and municipal level, Best Tourism Oriented LGU, Best Tourism Month/Week Celebration, Most Outstanding Tourism Officer, and Most Outstanding Tourism Officers Club/Organization/Association.
In 2012, Ms. Anabelle Calleja –Mauban’s Tourism Officer – was awarded as Most Outstanding Tourism Officer.
Maubanog Festival is a week-long cultural extravaganza to celebrate the town’s colorful history, amiable people, and tasty cuisine and of course, it’s locally fermented wine, popularly known as “Lambanog” from which they coined the word “Maubanog.”
The festival is held during month of July with different activities such as street dancing, local trade fair, buri products making, lyre band competition and other arts and culture related competitions.
This year’s Maubanog theme was “Pasasalamat sa Poong Maykapal sa Masaganang Ani, Karangalan at Tagumpay ng Bawat Anak ng Mauban” as thanksgiving to their patron saint, St. Buenaventura. (PNA)