TACLOBAN CITY - The provincial government of Leyte bagged the Best Tourism Practice Award under the Festival Category during the recently concluded Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) National Convention 2010 held at the Subic International Convention Center, Subic, Zambales. The Pintados Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals won the Grand Prize with Magayon Festival of Albay as 4th runner-up, Hudyaka Festival of Zamboanga del Norte made it as the 3rd runner-up, Anilag Festival of Laguna won as 2nd runner-up, and the Panaad Festival of Negros Occidental is the 1st runner-up. Criteria for judging were based on achievement of the project - 20 percent, contribution to the community - 25 percent, continuity and sustainability of the event/project - 20 percent, and involvement and participation of the stakeholders - 35 percent. Distinguished judges include: Sofronio Jon Lingatong Jr., Program Officer, Center for Social Involvement, Assumption College Manila; Casimiro Villarosa, Jr. VP-The Philippine Premier Theatrical Family Show; Amazing Show, Ms. Ellen Fullido VP-HR and Administrative Services; Manila Broadcasting Company and Star City, member and founding and organizing committee of the Aliwan Fiesta. Chairman of the Committee on Awards for ATOP were Kenneth Benignos, Tourism Officer of Negros Occidental, and Grace Marzan of the Department of Tourism who served as adviser. Leyte Board Member Nico Villasin was on hand to receive the award. The ATOP National convention is a yearly event that provides an avenue to discuss pressing issues on the country's tourism industry and the role of local government units (LGUs), the local tourism officers, and stakeholders in the promotion of domestic tourism. ATOP was organized in 2000 with the end-in-view of promoting sustainable community tourism programs in partnership with local chief executives who advocate tourism development in their respective LGUs.
It was formally established in October 2001 during its ever national convention held in Cagayan de Oro, with Department of Tourism (DoT) Region 10 Director Catalino Chan III as its founding president DoT Secretary Alberto A. Lim was the keynote speaker of the convention who expressed his unwavering support to the initiatives of the association of tourism officers, who are at the forefront in promoting the different Philippine tourism destination. Leyte Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival is the province's premiere twin festival celebrated during the fiesta celebration of Tacloban in June in honor of the city and the province's patron saint Sr. Sto. Niño. The festival brings together the diverse, vibrant and colorful festivals from the towns in the province of Leyte and other festivals from the other provinces in Eastern Visayas.
