Legarda Highlights Quezon's Cultural and Agri-Tourism Potentials

Reelectionist Senator Loren Legarda encouraged the people of Quezon Province to promote and preserve their culture and make use of their agricultural abundance to further boost the province's cultural tourism and agri-tourism potentials.

In her visit to the province, Legarda said that the cities and municipalities of Quezon have their own cultural traditions and agricultural products, which they can actively promote to invite both local and foreign tourists.

"Through cultural and agri-tourism, the province of Quezon can achieve further economic growth and development while, at the same time, they are also able to protect the environment through sustainable agricultural practices and preserve their heritage," she said.

Quezon Province has several centuries-old churches and infrastructure, such as the San Diego de Alcala Fortress in Gumaca, the Malagonlong and the Malaoa bridges in Tayabas, the Church of Lucban, the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church in Pagbilao and various heritage houses, among many others.

Meanwhile, cities and municipalities in the province have their own festivals, which celebrates not only their cultural tradition but also their agricultural abundance. The Agawan Festival of Sariaya and Pahiyas Festival of Lucban are both thanksgiving feasts for bountiful harvests; the Maubanog Festival of Mauban features the nipa wine; the Katang Festival of Calauag is celebrated for the abundance of mud crabs or katang, while feasts like the Candle Festival of Candelaria and Boling-Boling Festival of Catanauan give significance to religious beliefs and traditions.

"The Province of Quezon boasts of centuries-old infrastructure, meaningful and joyful festivals, and is also home to many natural tourist spots, which can surely attract both local and foreign tourists. We just need to carefully preserve these traditions as well as our natural and man-made wonders and come up with a well-planned promotional campaign to boost tourism in the province," Legarda said.

"We should never set aside our nation's history, rich heritage and abundant natural resources for the sake of development because progress can be achieved without having to disregard our culture or exacting a toll on our environment," she concluded.