Stars make pitch for Visit Daet Year

MANILA, Philippines - Stars from the entertainment and the arts made a common pitch in promoting Daet, the capital town of Camarines Norte, during the road show for recent launch of the Visit Daet Year 2012.

The variety show, hosted by Bing Pimentel and Bobby Yan, featured celebrities who trace their roots to the town such as scriptwriter Ricky Lee, former basketball hotshot Fortunato “Atoy” Co and actor-director Jun Urbano. 

Using his alter-ego Mr. Shooli of the Mongolian Barbecue TV fame, Urbano relived the wit of his political satire, while Marissa Sanchez, adopted daughter of the town, tickled the crowd with her impersonation and singing prowess.

Actor-singer John Arcilla rendered special numbers from well-loved Broadway musicals, while the duo of operatic tenor Dondi Calnea Ong and newcomer Fame Flores serenaded the crowd with well-loved aria and Broadway hits.

The show also included a sketching session of the tourist icons and landmarks of the area featuring visual artist Hermes Alegre.

The road show also featured an investment forum on potential business ventures in the municipality which includes a multi-million dollar submarine fiber optic project by PLDT. 

Gawad Kalinga founding president Tony Meloto also revealed that GK will build its second “Enchanted Village” in the town which will feature integrated social enterprises and micro-businesses for the communities.

Mayor Tito Sarion said that the Visit Daet Year is an opportunity to showcase the town as a tourism and investment haven because of its natural charm and business-friendly environment. 

He said that the year-round celebration will feature cultural, sports, business and socio-civic events to highlight the town’s stride to progress. Celebrities with roots to Daet and Camarines Norte will also grace entertainment and musical shows.

A major event in the homecoming year is the week-long Pinyasan Festival set in June to mark the founding day of Daet and the Feast of St. John the Baptist. The festivity, a brainchild of Sarion who was then a municipal councilor, is inspired by the Formosa or queen variety of the pineapple, the smallest yet sweetest of its kind.

Situated some 300 kilometers south of Manila, Daet is known for Bagasbas Beach, birthplace of the sport of surfing in the country, and now regarded as one of the best areas for kiteboarding having hosted the Kiteboard Tour Asia tournament.

Daet is also the gateway and hub to the various tourist gems of Camarines Norte such as the island beaches of Calaguas and Siete Pecados, waterfalls, spring resorts, Spanish colonial churches and the Bicol National Park.

The launch was a joint undertaking of the Municipal Government of Daet, the Department of Tourism-Region V, the Metro Daet Development Foundation Inc. and the Metro Manila Association of Camarines Norte residents.