Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD, Director of the UST Graduate School Center for the Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics, conducted the Cultural Tourism Development Workshop in Rizal (formerly Malaweg), Cagayan Valley. The workshop was held in the Rizal Activity Center from October 3-7, 2022 with 40 participants composed of public school teachers, youth, senior citizens and retirees.
The southwest Cagayan Valley Region is historically rich in Dominican imprint and impact but remains off-grid in tourism programming. Thus, the objectives of the workshop were to promote awareness on the cultural heritage resources of the municipality, document places and practices of significance for community stewardship and safeguarding, formulate a tourism destination package for two days and one night to visitors.
This initiative is part of the campaign to develop a tourism circuit composed of the municipalities of Piat (famous for the Our Lady of Piat pilgrimage), Rizal (site of the early seventeenth-century National Treasure Church of Saint Raymond de Peñafort), and Tuao (known for its religious objects and church ruins) for faith-based tourism. The project was implemented through the efforts of Department of Tourism Region 2 Director Fanibeth Domingo assisted by Ms. Joylyn Cauilan and the active support of Mayor-elect Joel A. Ruma and Acting Mayor Brenda B. Ruma.
