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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH
VOL. 2 | NO. 38 November 8-14, 2014
Larena opens tourism center by Rizalie A. Calibo LARENA, Siquijor, Nov 17 (PIA)--The local government of Larena, Siquijor opens its Tourism Center recently, the first in the province that will house the Tourist Police office and serves as the Pasalubong Center. According to Larena mayor Deans Villa, this is a “dream come true” not just for Larenians but for all Siquijodnons. Villa added the dream though went through a long, winding journey until it became a reality now. Renovated from an old dull deserted engineering building at the Pier area in Larena, Siquijor, it now stands fully restored, alive and “enticing” with vibrant colors and designs applied in the makeover. “I color it bright to signify our bright future,” noted Villa in his opening statement as he recalled how he dreamed and worked hard for the building. He said it was being conceptualized long before his first stint as a mayor and tried to request the previous provincial administrations to let the local government of Larena to use the old building that has been vacated so many times. This building had been occupied by a number of local and national government agencies in the province -- DPWH, provincial engineering office, DENR, DAR, just to name a few. T h e r e q u e s t s h o w e v e r, were turned down but that it never stopped him from dreaming more and praying all the more, he added. What he wanted after all is for not for himself but for the town of Larena, for the whole province, to provide security and preserve peace and prosperity, Larena town being the gateway of Siquijor island. “The whole structure was never changed at all,” Villa said of the building. “We just put in some innovations to make it enticing and colorful as how it went through and what we want for Larena and the whole island to be,” he quipped. Villa thanked the provincial governor for keeping the fire burning with the turnover of the old engineering
Larena Mayor Dean S. Villa (center) in a pose with some local officials and personnel fro national government agencies in the province after the blessing/opening of the Tourism center. (PIA-Siquijor)
building to the LGU-Larena, and the PNP, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the support and to the constituents for the “change of heart” and prayers, otherwise it will never happen. Villa then presented the Larena Tourism Center in a blessing and opening officiated by Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Ronaldo Ablong of the St. Vincent Parish. Gracing the event were the regional director of the Philippine National Police (PNP-7) PCSupt Prudencio Tom Bañas; Siquijor provincial governor
Zaldy Villa; local chief executives and heads of some national agencies. Bañas in his short message said, the center indeed is enticing and lauded Villa for his dynamic leadership. “Napakaganda po. As we look around the region, one of the assets of the Central Visayas is on tourism and we see that the future of Siquijor is also on tourism. The bright colors signify a very bright future for Siquijor,” he said. Sabi nga nila, “we do not dream to fail, sometimes we just fail to dream,” Bañas said. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)