Vigan City joins “NLEX Tara Na Sa Norte”, a travel fair which run from July 25-27, 2014, at the Glorietta Activity Center, Makati City. At least 100 exhibitors gathered for this travel and tourism fair mounted by the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) from the corporate sector, local government units, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Regional Offices, hotels and restaurants and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and traders, among others. NLEX Tara na sa Norte provided a platform for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to showcase their crafts, furniture, fashion accessories, food items and other regional products and made them accessible to Metro Manila residents.
Co-presenters are the Department of Tourism Regions, 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Glorietta and Ayala Malls, and supported by the North Philippines visitors Bureau (NPVB), this three-day event was also sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark Development Corporation, Maynilad and PhilHydro with Cebu Pacific as the official airline partner and Philippine Daily Inquirer, media partner.
Hon. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara has been invited by event organizers MNTC to lead the business community in opening the fair as guest of honor and keynote speaker.
Mr. Rodrigo Franco and Mr. Renato U. Ticson of MNTC, Mr Ramoncito Fernandez from Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), DOT Officials, and representatives of major sponsors joined Senator Angara in the ribbon cutting ceremonies.
Senator Angara delivered his keynote speech at 4pm after the Welcome remarks by Councilor Maria Concepcion ‘Ichi’ M. Yabut, Chairman Tourism and Culture Committee of Makati City Council. Special messages by MNTC President, Mr. Rodrigo E. Franco and Assistant Secretary Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. Tourism Regulations, Coordination and Resource Generation, DOT., Officer-in-charge DOT RXI.
Senator Angara speech on the status of the tourism industry, Department of Tourism’s plans and the prospects of North Philippines as an international and domestic destination.
Preceding the opening rites are entertainments at 3:00pm by the Minasa Festival Street Dancers that dances around the Glorietta Mall and Audio-visual Presentations at 10:30 am by the MNTC, DOT Regions CAR, 1, 2, 3.
The succeeding days featured special presentations by Azalea Hotels, Widus Hotel and Clark Casino, Hannah’s Beach Resort, Cebu Pacific and Subic Bay Hour. There were fun games like Vigan Empanada and Vigan Longganisa eating contest, Adventure in a Bottle – a Flairtending Exhibition and competition and raffle draws of airline tickets and other gift certificates from hotels and resorts, tourism quiz bee, marketing and product presentations.
The DOT regional offices in the CAR, Ilocos and Pangasinan (RO1) including City of Vigan, Cagayan Valley (Region 2) and Central Luzon (Region 3) have their own display booths and features popular, new and emerging tourism destination and attractions that are unique in their region.
The exhibitors include Azalea Hotels & Residences, Bakasyunan Resort & Conference Center, Bulacan Association of Resort Owners, Camaya Coast, Cebu Pacific Air, City of Vigan, Ciudad Fernandina Hotel, Clark Development Corporation, Department of Tourism, CAR, Region1, 2, 3, Hannah’s Beach Resort & convention Center, Hotel Masfino/El Masfino Country Club, Hotel Stotsenberg, Java Hotel, Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa, Laoag Parklane Hotel, Maynilad, Manila North Tollways Corp, Montemar Beach Resort, Municipality of Iba, Zambales, Nayon Pilipino sa Clark, Philippine daily Inquirer, Province of Bataan, Bulacanm La Union, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Puerto del sol, Punta Riviera del Mar, Rajah Travel, Rio Grande de Laoag Resort, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, The Lakeshore (Central Country Estate), The Manor @Camp John Hay, Thunderbird Philippines Hotels & Resorts, TIEZA, Tree Top Adventure Phils, widus Hotel and Casino clark. Traders: Agribusiness Development Center, Big J Food Ventures, Inc., Dapuyen’s Vigan Empanada, DVF Dairy Farm, EJ’s Meatshop, EJ’s Iloko Loomweaving, Franbel/Bulacan Products, Geuel Handicrafts, Izumi Designs, John N’ Mico Food Products, Kit silver Jewelry, Medie’s Food Product, RPO Fine Food Products, Suela Zapato Enterprise, Sweet Heaven’s Food Products, Tarlac City Visitors Bureau.
The fair was organized by the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), builder and concessionaire of the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), to help the northern regions promote their destination and attraction.
The NLEX: The North Luzon Expressway is known as the “Gateway to the North”. It spans 84 kilometers of world-class expressway which connects Metro Manila to the central and Northern Luzon regions. Built to ensure safety, convenience, efficiency of motorists and passengers. The Manila Tollways Corporation-operated (MNTC) expressway has 98 internationally recognized, informational, directional, and warning signs along its entire stretch, as well as real time en route travel advisories and 24/7 CCTV cameras to monitor road conditions and ensure that you reach Northern destination with ease.//tinachan