MIMAROPA Festival 2016; Marinduque spends P2.3-million

The second MIMAROPA Festival is currently being held in Puerto Princesa City. Starting on November 7-13 this fun tourism event is highlighted by street-dancing competitions participated in by contingents from the regional provinces and cities, an agri-tourism and trade fair and the crowning of a festival 'king and queen'.

Boac's Bila-Bila Festival joins the street dancing showdown.
FB photo courtesy of Carlo M. Manay

Sponsored by the Department of Tourism together with the Tourism Promotions Board, Duty-Free Philippines, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines and Philippine Information Agency-MIMAROPA, DOT Secretary Wanda Teo describes it as "total tourism experience" showcasing Filipino religiosity, native cuisine, indigenous arts and performances.

A fitting celebration of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, proclaimed as one of the New7Wonders of Nature, coincided with the opening of the Agri Trade and Tourism fair. New7wonders is an initiative led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the New7Wonders Foundation, a Swiss-based foundation. The list of seven natural wonders was chosen by people through a global poll.

Other activities include a Business to Business Meeting with Philippine Tour Operators (PHILTOA), National Association of Independent Travel Agents (NAITAS), and Taiwanese Travel Agents with the DOT Accredited Properties and Tour Operators in the MIMAROPA region. A culimating activity will see Tourism Awards to be given to LGUs and tourism related establishments that have greatly contributed to regional tourism development and promotion.

Photo from the first MIMAROPA Festival in Oriental Mindoro last year (2015) showing Romblon's BINIRAY Festival. Photo: BusinessMirror

A street dancing showdown by performers from seven LGUs of MIMAROPA, including Puerto Princesa City and Calapan City is probably the most awaited event. This includes a colorful float and costume competitions. Other participating LGUs are Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

Marinduque spends P 2.3-million

For its part, the provincial government of Marinduque has reportedly granted a whopping P 2.3-million for its participation in the said festival, a significant part of the amount going to the street-dancing competition, float and costume competitions, food, accommodation and allowances of participants including those of official festival delegates.

Drummers from Marinduque. Mimaropa Festival 2016.
Photo: Carlo Manay

The MIMAROPA event will finally be capped with the First Asian Dragon Boat International Crew Member Championship on Thursday with over a thousand foreign participants expected.

Bila-Bila Festival street-dancing, Marinduque. Mimaropa Festival 2016.
Photo: Carlo Manay

Last year's Miss Marinduque for Mimaropa Festival 2015. Photo: WazzupPilipinas