The 2nd Leg of the Philippine Experience Program:
Benguet & Mt. Province
Atok Municipality and TIEZA hospitality.
By: Dave Leprozo, Jr.
At the highland vegetable farms at Paktil, Atok, Benguet.
The second Leg of the Philippine Experience Program was a drive through the scenic Halsema Highway with its majestic mountain ranges, hand carved terraced vegetable, flower gardens and vast forest lands.
Harvesting lettuce at Paktil, Atok, Benguet.
These views captivated Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco’s entourage, ASEAN, Japan, France members of the diplomatic corps, tourism establishment stakeholders, Philippine Travel Tours Association, and members of the media. Local Executives from Benguet and Mt. Province were on hand to welcome the delegation with warmth and to showcase local traditions and hospitality.
At Mount Data Hotel Bauko, Mt. Province.
A visit in Atok, the country’s premier highland vegetables and cut flower producer and a brief stopover in Northern Blossom Floral Park was a welcome respite with its splendid landscapes of various colorful flowers amidst the towering mountain ranges of Eastern Benguet awed the delegations.
Atok Mayor Franklin Smith with an ASEAN delegate.
A brief downpour during the arrival was a welcome sign according to Atok elders as rains are a life-giving natural occurrence. The next part of the trip was towards Mt. Data in Mt. Province where a traditional bountiful post-harvest dance ensemble performed during the delegation’s arrival in the historic Mt. Data grounds. This was the site of the 1986 Mount Data Sipat Agreement, the first peace pact successfully entered into by the national government during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino.
Sec. Cristina Frasno with Lani at the Northern Blossoms Floral Park.
On Sept. 13, 1986, the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army, led by Fr. Conrado Balweg, heeded Aquino’s call for peace through the forging of a “Sipat” or the peace agreement at this hotel. The agreement allowed both sides to begin negotiating peace, leading to the issuance of Executive Order No. 220 on July 15, 1987, which created the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Delegates at the cabbage rose patch in Northern Blossoms.
Welcome remarks were preceded by a cultural presentation and musical renditions led by Mt. Province’s members of the Local Government Executive branch. Meanwhile, the delegation of the attending Diplomatic Corps had a chance to express their gratitude for the unique experiences.
A sumptuous Cordillera inspired dinner was hosted by the local government of Mt. Province from the participants. Culminating the PEP in this province was a highland vegetable harvesting event along the vast highland vegetable farmlands in Barangay Paktil, Mt. Data, Mt.Province where another day of fun filled farm life activities were experienced. The final leg of the PEP was in Itogon, Benguet’s Stella Restaurant where the participants partook of Cordilleran fusion inspired delicacies. Finally, a send-off program was held at Baguio City Malcolm Square where a few hours of free time was spent shopping for local produce and goodies at the Baguio City Market.
