House ‘Cong-Tour’ features Antique Tourism

Deputy Speaker and Antique Lone District Representative Loren Legarda announced today that the province of Antique will be the next feature in ‘Cong-Tour’, an online program organized and hosted by the House Committee on Tourism, chaired by Rep. Sol Aragones of the 3rd District of Laguna.

‘Cong-Tour’ episode featuring Antique as one of the booming tourist destinations in the country will be streamed live on Facebook at FB/CongressionalTour on Monday, August 24 at 10:00AM. The streaming will be shared on Deputy Speaker Legarda’s FB pages: FB/conglorenlegarda and FB/indaylorenlegarda.

Legarda will guest in the online show to discuss Antique local tourist destinations through a selection of videos and photos to give viewers and followers a glimpse of what the province has to offer in terms of tourism, history, culture and adventure.

“On behalf of my kasimanwa, I am grateful for the House Committee on Tourism for this opportunity to showcase the natural wealth and the potential of my home province as a prime tourist destination,” Legarda said. “The province continues to record increases in tourist arrivals, both foreign and local, and we hope to encourage more visitors to explore and experience Antique where, as we say, the sky touches the mountains, and the mountains meet the sea.”

Legarda will present some of Antique’s tourist destinations such as the Mararison Island in the town of Culasi; Sibalom River and Mt. Poras in Sibalom; Tibiao River and Bugtong-Bato Falls in Tibiao; Malandog Marker in Hamtic; Nogas Island and Sira-an Hot Spring in Anini-y; Kawa Hot Bath in Tibiao; Igbaclag Cave in San Remigio; and Bugang River in Pandan, the Igpasungaw Falls in the town of Sebaste; Sibalom Natural Park in Sibalom; Aningalan in San Remigio; Seco Island in Tibiao; Mag-aba Marine Sanctuary in Pandan; Funda Dalipe Marine Sanctuary on San Jose; San Juan de Nepomuceno Church in Anini-y; Mt. Madia-as in Culasi; and the Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Laua-an.

“Antique is considerably a small province, but each of the 18 municipalities has its unique features including cultural and heritage landmarks, historical significance, natural wonders such as rich landscape and seascape. I myself truly enjoy the magnificent colors and hues of the sunrise and sunset in the province. Literally, no filter needed for these moments,” Legarda added.

Other historical and heritage sites to be featured include the Old Provincial Capitol Building, the Balay nga Bato in San Jose de Buenavista, and the of Municipality of Hamtic, which served as the permanent settlement by Datu Sumakwel, one of the ten Bornean datus who arrived in the region.

Legarda also pointed out that the revival of direct PAL flights to the capital town of San Jose, and the opening of new FastCat RORO routes will give potential visitors more travel options. PAL flights from Clark are schedule twice a week, while FastCat is operating trips from Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro to Caluya, Antique and from Caluya to Caticlan Airport in Malay, Aklan.

As part of the program, trivia questions about Antique will be asked and the local products of Antique will be given as prizes to viewers who will participate.

In its previous episodes, ‘Cong-Tour’ featured the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, Cagayan Valley, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Sur, Laguna, Aklan, Leyte, and Batangas.

Legarda hopes that through the ‘Cong-Tour’, online viewers will be encouraged to visit Antique, saying that, “Antique has a potential to be one of the premier tourist destinations not only in the country but also globally. We have beaches with fine white sands, and rich marine biodiversity. It is high time for people to discover and rediscover this beautiful province that will make you appreciate nature, history and culture,” Legarda concluded. ***