The Apuao Pequeña beach
THE fishing folkways of Mercedes town in
CamNorte took center stage as it recently celebrated the bounty of the ocean in
the 15th Kadagatan Festival in observance of its 64th Founding Day.
Situated at Bicol’s Pacific seaboard,
the town is among the country’s richest fishing grounds which yield fresh catch
of various fish species and aquatic resources caught only from the lush waters
of San Miguel Bay.
The festival’s highlight is the street
dance parade and competition which depicted the town’s coastal way of life in
colorful costumes and aquatic-inspired floats.
Mercedes mayor Alex Pajarillo said that
the festivity showcased the town’s fishery heritage, the lifeblood of the town,
as well as its emerging tourism industry because of its idyllic Siete Pecados
island chain.
Scattered off the mainland, the
archipelago is composed of Apuao Grande, Apuao Pequeña, Caringo, Canton,
Canimog, Malasugui, and Quinapaguian which are noted for their unspoiled white
sand beaches, crystalline waters and marine sanctuaries.
The islands are also ideal for camping,
team-building events and other close-to-nature activities with their raw
states. Only Apuao Grande has modest lodging facilities among the seven
islands.
He said that because of the natural
allure of Siete Pecados, the municipal government introduced the annual 15km-Pacific
Kayak Surfing Challenge to jumpstart ecotourism and community-based enterprises
based on kayaking tours.
Pajarillo added that there are regular
kayak surfing lessons at Baybay Beach because of its challenging waves. It
shares the same coastline as the famed Bagasbas Beach in neighboring town which
is part of the country’s surfing circuit.
Adding spice to the Festival were
watersports activities such as paraw regatta and skimboarding competition.
Another emerging attraction is Colasi
Falls, which is tucked inside rainforests, known for its 70-foot tall drop and
enchanting cascades.
Meanwhile, CamNorte governor Edgar
Tallado said that Mercedes’ natural wonders will strengthen the positioning of
the province as a sports adventure and ecotourism destination.
He said that one of the provincial
government’s major thrusts is to promote adventure, cultural and nature-based
tourism.
Mercedes used to form part of the
coastal villages of capital town of Daet and was carved out as an independent
municipality in 1948 and was named after Doña Mercedes, a prominent townsfolk.
- Malaya
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