Albay officials bullish on Poet Laureate’s role in tourism enhancement

LEGAZPI CITY – Albay officials here have expressed bullish optimism the Poet Laureate office they established recently will do wonders to the tourism development program of their province.

The honorific Poet Laureate position was created through an ordinance passed by the Albay Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently. It has been tasked to oversee, promote and enhance the implementation of the cultural and literary programs of the province and made a part of its Provincial Education Department (PED).

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has implemented various innovative governance and tourism-oriented programs here, along with festivals and literary events including poetry promotion which is seen by many to have added depth and substance to the Albayano culture.

Albay has already made impressive strides and gains in tourism development. Records show its tourist arrivals in 2011 had hit 178,000, an increase that was significantly higher than the national growth rate for the year.

Board Member Embestro who authored the ordinance creating the office said literature and poetry play a significant role in the rich cultural heritage of Albayanos as manifested by their many festivals held year round. Among such festivals are the Magayon, Daragang Magayon, Ibalong, Cagsawa, Pulang Angui, Arandurugan, Quipia, Lubid, and Coron.

Embestro said the program of the Poet Laureate office will lend a more romantic essence to their province’s tourism program since “literature shapes diverse lives and poetry stimulates people to better appreciate and comprehend culture and history.”

In promptly approving the position, Salceda pointed out that in the olden days, a Poet Laureate is a regular post in the King’s Court.

Albay recently hosted the two-day First Asean Tourism Workshop on Climate Change which was attended by tourism ministers and policy makers from the 10 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Sourced: manilastandardtoday