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ILOCOS NORTE'S TOURISM POTENTIALS DEVELOPED

Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Oct. 7, 1998 - For many decades, Ilocos Norte has played second fiddle to Ilocos Sur in the field of tourism. With the centuries-old Hispanic town of Vigan serving as the main magnet for local and foreign tourists, Ilocos Sur province enjoyed all the benefits of a booming tourist trade.

This year, with a new governor at the helm of the capitol, Ilocos Norte residents are witnessing a revitalized effort to fully develop and exploit the tourism potentials of the province.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, elected last May by an unprecedented 90% of the voters, is concentrating on the economic recovery of Ilocos Norte as well as the whole region, and has revealed his master plan for the area's development as one of the country's major tourist destinations.

According to Lito Gorospe, spokesman of the governor, the province is rushing things to make this a reality, starting with the full utilization of the Laoag airport as an international airport. Governor Marcos has organized an "action-oriented" tourism office and convinced his sister, Irene Marcos-Araneta, to be the Ilocos Norte tourism chief.

Ilocos Norte offers the traveller a trip to the country's colorful past, via centuries- old churches, belfries, watch towers, ancient houses, artifacts and vestiges of old Hispanic grandeur. In the northern tip of the province await the leaning tower and hidden garden in Bacarra, while nature lovers can bask in the unmatched pristine beauty of the beaches of Pagudpod and Paoay.

Ilocos Norte has breathtaking coastal and mountain scenes; unspoiled beach resorts - all accessible by car by way of tree-lined cemented highways and roads. No other province in the country can match the view along the highway from Burgos, past Bangui and Pagudpud up to Patapat at Ilocos Norte's boundary with Cagayan.

Another scenic wonder, the yet-to-be developed Karingking Mountain Resort in Solsona, is already drawing lots of excursionists and picnic-goers. The clear gurgling river snaking through the resort, according to Bong Albano, resort developer, is ideal for white water kayaking or for plain swimming.

Laoag City and nearby Ilocos towns are now the favorite destinations of Taiwanese tourists who fly directly by regular chartered flights to the Laoag airport.

A local entrepreneur, Manuel "Nonong" Ablan sees the tourist potential of the province, lying not solely in the hands of foreign tourists.

"We also like to see more local tourism - the average Filipino sightseers, employees, students - to come in and appreciate their past as well as the sight, feel and smell of the place," Ablan says.

He noted that this is the real tourism, not the common misconception that tourism should only be for Filipinos going outside the country to such places as Disneyland and the Swiss Alps or for foreigners coming in.

Showing that he believed in what he says, Ablan invested on a three-star hotel, Palazzo de Laoag at the outskirts of the city. It is a pretty structure, reminiscent of old colonial times with Vigan tiles and red adobe brick walls.

The modest but clean and affordable hotel has a coffee shop and restaurant, 1,000-capacity convention and reception hall, a swimming pool, a disco pub and a sing-along bar.

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi