LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 5 (PNA) — Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil is pushing for the establishment of the Limahong Tourist Center, another cultural-tourism project similar to the Lingayen Baywalk along the Lingayen beach.
“We want to put Lingayen in the map of the world by way of putting a marker where the famous invader, Limahong, temporarily stayed,” the congressman remarked.
Bataoil cited Limahong, a Chinese corsair who dug a water channel on a portion of the Agno River in Barangay Pangapisan Norte in Lingayen which he used as escape route when being pursued by the Spaniards under Captain Juan de Salcedo.
After an unsuccessful attack of Manila, Limahong and his men fled to Pangasinan which was “a rich place and far enough from the reach of the Spaniards and the Chinese emperor,” according to Wikipedia.
“Near the mouth of the Agno River about four miles from the sea, he built a fort consisting of an outer palisade of palm logs, and an inner enclosure of palm planks which sheltered his palace.”
Bataoil disclosed he has already submitted, through the Department of Tourism, the Limahong Tourist Center project proposal for inclusion in the succeeding budget deliberations.
The proposal includes the establishment of a river cruise, construction of a pavilion and of a multi-purpose pavement alongside the river, and development of the roads leading towards the Channel from the Lingayen town proper.
The pavilion will house Limahong artifacts while the pavement will be a haven for tourists, said Bataoil.
Meanwhile, the congressman said the plan is to replicate the Loboc River Cruise in Bohol, but the boats will be replica of Limahong’s boat.
There will be three stations or river ports- Bantayan, Domalandan, both in Lingayen; and Baniaga in Bugallon.
Bataoil added that even the Lingayen municipal administrator attested that many come to their office to ask for the location of the Limahong Channel.
The proposal has also been furnished to the provincial government and Lingayen local government unit to solicit more support for the project.
During the Banca Parada (fluvial float parade) last May 1, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has expressed his support to the project, further citing that Agno River is one of the cleanest in the country.
Further, on the same event, University of the Philippines (UP) Vice President for public affairs, Dr. Prospero De Vera, vowed the support of UP, particularly the Department of History, to the project.
We can help in the training of the cruise tourist guides, De Vera said. (PNA)