Calaguas: No. 1 ‘tourism gem’ in PH

A DUMAGAT child shows his homework. As an activity after a storytelling session, he and the other children were asked what kind of vegetables their parents grew in their backyard. THE STORYTELLING PROJECT/CONTRIBUTOR

With its pristine white beaches, Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte has emerged as the country’s top “tourism gem” in an online nationwide poll initiated by a multinational consultancy firm.

Calaguas led the 10 must-see sites after online voters who posted their choices from June to August cut to 25 a list of 175 destinations in the Philippines, according to final results published by Isla Lipana & Co., a Philippine member of the London-based PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The company provides professional assistance, such as audit and assurance, tax and advisory services in the Philippines and even other countries.

Dubbed by Isla Lipana as the “concealed white beach of Bicol,” Calaguas in Vinzons town is 45 nautical miles away from Paracale, also in Camarines Norte.

A statement released on Sunday by Alexander Cabrera, chair and senior partner of Isla Lipana, said the annual online poll, “Philippine Gems” was one way of introducing new upcoming destinations in the Philippines.

“In our modest way, we aim for these places to gain local and international attention, and in due course, greater economic activity,” Cabrera said.

The poll aimed to showcase the country’s many pristine natural tourist attractions to increase the awareness and appreciation for these sites in order to boost economic activity in the tourism industry, said Allan Cao, market/assurance director of the firm, in a press statement.

Caramoan Island in Caramoan town, Camarines Sur, was among the top four “tourism gems,” according to results released last week. It was developed by the provincial government led by then Gov. Luis Raymond “LRay” Villafuerte as part of its massive tourism campaign.

The island was tagged as a “favorite  ‘Survivor’ series destination” because it was one of the venues of the international reality show “Survivor.”

Other tourist spots that made it to the top 10 were Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan; Biri Island Rock Formation, San Bernardino Strait; Mt. Kanlaon Nature Park, Negros Island; Danjugan Island, Negros Occidental; Panglao Island, Bohol; Apo Island, Negros Oriental; Apo Reef Natural Park, Occidental Mindoro; and Batanes Island

Darius Mirasol, president of the Bicol Association of Tour and Travel Operators, said on Sunday that his group was elated by the poll outcome.

“We are very much excited of the possible response of tourists all over the world with the results of Philippine Gems. I believe it will catapult Calaguas into one of the most visited tourist spots of the Philippines,” said Mirasol, who operates a travel agency in Camarines Norte.

“We all know that tourism is equal to jobs and income for our locals. This also means more potential for our local businessmen. As members of the business sector, we aim to take advantage of the positive results that this could bring us so that we may also be able to pass on the wealth to other sectors,” he added.