Ormoc City and Burauen town in Leyte province received prestigious accolades at the recent Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) Pearl Awards, held at the Boracay Island as part of the 24th national convention of ATOP, the leading professional association for tourism officers in the Philippines.
Ormoc City took home the grand prize for the best hosting award in the local event category at the city level. This recognition was specifically for their outstanding hosting of the Adlaw sa Ormoc-Diamond Jubilee Celebration in October of the previous year.
The city also secured the first runner-up position in several categories: best hosting by an LGU for international events, best practices in community-based tourism, best tourism-oriented local government, and best tourism event for religious festivals.
Tourism advocate
Karina Rosa Tiopes, regional director of the Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas, praised Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez for her role as a tourism advocate in the country, stating that it reflects the increasing competitiveness of local government units and tourism offices in fulfilling their responsibilities. She hopes that this achievement will inspire other LGUs to aim for such awards.
Finding your 'Ex'
On the other hand, the brochure for the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) in Burauen, Leyte, was recognized as the first runner-up among 22 entries from all over the Philippines in the ATOP Pearl Awards.
The MVNP brochure carries the slogan "Find your Ex," promoting the destination as a place of "Excitement, Exhilaration, and Experience."
Carmela Corazon Crebillo, the tourism officer of Burauen town, expressed their delight at receiving this award, especially since it's the first time they participated in the ATOP Pearl Awards. Mayor Juanito Renomeron's efforts in intensively promoting tourism in their area were acknowledged through this award.
The Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, declared a national park in 1937, boasts of a variety of natural attractions, including a lake, waterfalls, multi-colored mud formations, virgin forests, and a lagoon. Situated at an elevation of 860 meters above sea level, Mahagnao is located 18 kilometers from the town center of Burauen.
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