By Teng Lauban Datu
Cotabato City Bureau Chief .
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has emerged winner and bagged the two major awards in the recently concluded 30th Philippine Travel Mart on Sunday, September 1, at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
The BARMM was awarded as champions for both the Best Booth Competition (Provincial Category) and the Patimpalak ng Kasuotang Pilipino.
The activity, held from Aug. 3- Sept. 1, gathered more than 250 exhibitors from various regions, which included hotels, resorts, airlines, theme parks, and travel agencies.
“It’s so beautiful. I’m very amazed at the culture and heritage and how they preserve it. Maganda na pagpasok mo sa booth nae-experience mo as if you were there,” said Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat after she visited the BARMM pavilion.
The BARMM pavilion showcased the rich culture, history, traditions, and the solidarity of the Bangsamoro people. It featured the traditional musical instruments of the Maguindanaon and their traditional weaves such as the Inaul, Tudung, and Galang; the traditional costumes of the Yakans which are made of their famous clothes called the Tennun; different Maranao artifacts; and other unique products and foods that can only be found in the Bangsamoro Region.
The pavilion was also adorned with posters that showcased the beautiful tourist destinations in the BARMM’s five provinces – Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
“And dream ko na sana mabuksan natin yung BARMM sa lahat ng mga turista. Yung perception mabago. It is safe and that people should go there,” Secretary Puyat said.
The Philippine Travel Mart is an annual activity organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) in an aim to promote and develop domestic and inbound tourism.
“Ito lang po ang nagpapatunay na mali po yung ating paniniwala na sila doon ay nagbabarilan. Ito po ang magandang halimbawa na the Bangsamoro and the rest of the Mindanao region, they are all like us,” PHILTOA President Cesar Cruz said.
“It is the time for us to see for ourselves that Mindanao is a safe destination for everybody,” he added.
Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Toursim (MTIT-BARMM) tourism department head Shalimar Candao said, “Masayang-masaya tayo dahil first time palang natin sumali bilang BARMM and we are able to get the first place.”
Candao thanked the support of the Bangsamoro Government Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, and the exhibitors from the five provinces of the BARMM.
“Malaking malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa ating Interim Chief Minister sa todo-todong suporta na binigay sa atin para ho makadating tayo dito at makalahok sa Philippine Travel Mart,” she said.
The MTIT-BARMM, with the assistance of the Office of the Chief Minister, organized and designed the Bangsamoro pavilion.
“Sana nga ay magtuloy-tuloy na ito. Sa susunod na kompetisyon ay mas pagagandahin pa natin upang maipanalo na rin natin ang mga tour packages ng BARMM,” Candao added.
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