Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive for the Mimaropa Festival in Puerto Princesa City on November 3-13, which will be highlighted by street-dancing competition, agriculture-tourism-trade fair, and crowning of Festival King and Queen.
MIMAROPA stands for the provinces of Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, which comprise Mimaropa Region and possess a wealth of natural wonders and kaleidoscope of authentic Filipino culture and traditions.
“International and domestic visitors alike will be treated to a total tourism experience throughout the 10-day extravaganza, showcasing Filipino religiosity, native cuisine, and indigenous arts and performances,” said Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said.
Teo lauded the local government units (LGUs) of Oriental Mindoro, Calapan City, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, and Puerto Princesa City for strong regional unity and cooperation in staging the festival to boost tourism.
“Promotion of rural tourism is at the very the soul of fiestas. As each tourist ends his visit, he holds on to special memories of the place and people, as well as stimulate business for small to medium businesses in the in the Mimaropa region,” said Teo, who spent her childhood years in Puerto Princesa City.
Co-sponsoring the event with the Department of Tourism are the Tourism Promotions Board, Duty Free Philippines, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines and Philippine Information Agency-MIMAROPA.
DOT MIMAROPA Director Danilo B. Intong, the opening salvo on Thursday starts with the Agri Trade and Tourism Fair on November 7, 2016 and the remarkable celebration of the Puerto Princesa Underground River proclamation as one of the New7Wonders of Nature on November 11, 2011.
An array of activities includes a Business to Business Meeting with Philippine Tour Operators (PHILTOA), National Association of Independent Travel Agents (NAITAS) and Taiwanese Travel Agents with the DOT Accredited Properties and Tour Operators in the MIMAROPA Region to be held at the Hotel Centro on November 8, 2016.
The culminating activity will be the Tourism Awards to be given to the Local Government Units and DOT Accredited Tourism Related Establishments with great contributions to the development and promotion of tourism in the Region said Director Intong.
Performers from the seven LGUs of Puerto Princesa, Calapan City, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (MIMAROPA), will compete in street dancing showdown and colorful float and costume competitions.
MIMAROPA King & Queen will be crowned and awarded with cash prizes in a week-long pageant participated in by outstanding and talented residents in the region.
An added attraction will be the 1st Asian Dragon Boat International Crew Member Championship on November 11, 2016 with an expected 1,500 foreign delegates.
For more information, please contact Ms. Cecil Aranton of the DOT Mimaropa Regional Office through email: dot.mimaropa@gmail.com and telephone number: (02) 890-1014