SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A coastal clean-up, a search for its first tourism ambassador, and a tourism job fair – these are just some of the diverse events highlighting the celebration of National Tourism Week in this premier tourist destination.
Subic Bay celebrates National Tourism Week on September 17-27, 2011, joining the nation and the entire globe in observing this year’s international theme, “World Wetlands Day – Forest for Water and Wetlands.”
Kicking off the celebration on September 17 is the International Coastal Clean-up, spearheaded by The Lighthouse Marina Resort.
Observed every third Saturday of September, the Subic Bay Freeport community joins the entire world in a beach clean-up drive to protect Subic Bay’s environment.
On September 21, a motorcade from the waterfront road in Subic Freeport to nearby Olongapo City marks the onset of even more fun-filled activities for this celebration, starting off with the tourism jobs fair at the Subic gym, simultaneous with the Tourism Statistics training for hotels at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).
Also on the 21st is the opening of the trade fair, food fest and photo exhibit in an area fronting the Gym, which will run up to September 27.
Part of the series of activities is “WAGI” (Wow Artistang Gapo Ito), a local talent search, which will kick off on the 23rd, bringing to the fore the artistic talents of the residents of Subic Bay and Olongapo City, followed by a gay boxing match at the main gate stage.
On September 24, the first ever Ms. Subic Bay Tourism Pageant will be held at the Lighthouse Marina Resort.
Open to all young women who are residents of Olongapo City, Zambales or Bataan, whoever wins the crown will be the tourism ambassador of Subic Bay for a year.
Other exciting activities during the weeklong celebration include an animal show courtesy of Zoobic Safari, live bands, entertainment presentations and music mixing at the main gate stage, as well as free familiarization tours to be conducted by the SBMA tourism department.
The National Tourism Week celebration is spearheaded by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in cooperation with Treetop Adventure, Segara Villas and Suites, the Lighthouse Marina Resort and Travelers Hotel & Event Center.
This year’s theme “World Wetlands Day – Forest for Water and Wetlands” was chosen by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in line with the declaration of 2011 as the United Nations International Year of Forests.
The Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative website (www.medwet.org) noted that every year, the Ramsar Convention, as it is called by most people nowadays, selects a theme and raises awareness on specific types of wetlands or aspects of wetland management.
Medwet.org said this year’s theme and slogan bring attention to the role that forests have in our lives.
Forested wetlands are biologically diverse areas, which not only help freshwater management but also provide carbon storage- a very important property in a world threatened by rising Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and climate change
