CULTURE is the beginning. It is the soul of the nation. People who cannot find their culture suffer from crisis identity. The Negrenses, the Guimarasnons, the Ilonggos, the Antiquenos, the Akeans and the Capiznons have found their own culture and develop what they think is desirable. The end of all these is tourism.

Thousands of taga - Kabisay-an Nakatundan tourism leaders gathered in Roxas City on December 4-6 to participate in the biggest tourism event of the region, the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly 2009. It is hosted by Governor Victor Tanco of Capiz in coordination with Mayor Vic Bermejo of Roxas City and Director Edwin Trompeta of DOT VI.

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Mayor Jose Montelibano and Vice Mayor Mark Golez officially sent me as official representative of Silay City and as president of the Association of Tourism Officers of Negros Occidental (Atono). Silay City is a recipient of four Tourism Excellence Awards (the highest number of trophies among the LGU recipients in Western Visayas).

The Awards Night at Capiz Gym on December was a show of force in tourism. LGU leaders in the region were there to see and to be seen.

On behalf of Mayor Oti, I received the following special awards: Special Award for Silay as Tourism - Oriented LGU; Special Award for "Silay, the Sweet Life", a travel publication (coffee table book edited by Solo Locsin and funded by Hugyaw Silay, Inc.); and a Special Award for Balaring Mangrove Rehabilitation Program as Ecotourism Product under the concerted effort of Silay City Government, IKAW-AKO Japan Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection and Balaring Mangrove Planters' Association.

I also received my Regional Director's Award 2009 for outstanding leadership in tourism. Other recipients on this category are Governor Victor Tanco of Capiz, Governor Carlito Marquez of Aklan, GDR taxi of Iloilo and Jose Parreno Jr. (the taxi driver).

Negrenses are also happy to know that Bago is the Best Tourism Oriented LGU in the component city category and Bacolod is in the highly urbanized city.(Mayor Bing Leonardia was there to personally get the award.) Nyala Tours is the best transport operator. L' Fisher (First Class) and Sylvia Manor (Standard Class) are the best hotels. Luci Yunque of Sun Star Bacolod is best travel writer and Sun Star Bacolod is a special awardee Travel Publication.

Jennylind Cordero (provincial level) and Cristine Mansinares of Sipalay (component city) are our best tourism officers. Of course, Ma. Elena "Butch" Gerasmo is another special awardee for her untiring effort to promote Masskara Festival here and abroad. The Bagonhon Magazine is also a special awardee.

Another good news for Negros Occidental... Our two candidates in the Search for Miss Western Visayas Tourism 2009 are also big Stars of the Night. Vickie Marie Milagrosa S. Rushton, Lin-ay sang Negros 2009 is Miss Western Visayas 2009 and Maria Aika R. Uy, Masskara Queen 2009 is Second Runner-Up. Well, Natalie Grace Roberts, Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 is First Runner-up.

Other candidates who were not able to make it are Ann Rency C. Custodio, Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta 2009; Renzel Jodi P. Dagumanpan, Lin-ay kang Antique 2009; Jacqueline C. Kimpo, Mutya sang Sinadya sa Halaran; Rubie Claire L. Lopez, Lin-ay sang Probinsya sang Iloilo 2009; and Ronelie A. Pador, Mutya it Akean 2009. They were all amazing on stage. The candidates were assertive and articulate. They eclipsed the nervous emcee.

The Tourism Congress at Gerry Roxas Foundation Convention was also a crowd drawer. Undersecretary Phineas Alburo enlightened the audience on the salient features of the National Tourism Act of 2009. Bobby Joseph, chairman emeritus of Naitas, dissected the critical issues concerning the formulation of rules, regulations and policies of the Tourism Act of 2009.

Not to be outdone was the sugary performance of our participants in the Festival Showdown... Sigabong Sang Mga Kanyon (Bago City), Pintaflores (San Carlos City), Pasalamat (La Carlota City), and Masskara (Bacolod City). There was pageantry in the air...sound, color, choreography, skills and the talent of the Negrenses.

And, I want to emphatically say that the Negros Occidental - Bacolod Cultural Show was the best. The songbird Hadasa Von Camporaso captivated the audience. Bacolod and Valladolid dancers were superb. The Hablon Fashion Show was marvelous. And, the two emcees Oliver Dondonay, tourism officer of Valladolid, and Joe Recalex Alingasa of San Carlos were beyond compare. They were able to rock the gym with their antics, fluency in speech and spectacular run-abouts! Board Member Gary Acuna (official representative of Gov. Isidro Zayco) was with us to carry the banner of Negros Occ. from the beginning up to the end. Good work Negrenses! Congratulations!