Roxas City (21 November) — Two college students of Filamer Christian College here won honors for Capiz at the olympics of the just-concluded Western Visayas Regional Tourism Assembly held November 12-18 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Provincial Tourism Officer Alphonsus Tesoro said L. Marius P. Alayon, a freshman B.S. Nursing student of said school, bested other contestants from the region to emerge as champion in the tourism poster-making contest.

His fellow FCC student, B.S. Nursing senior Donna Sarah V. Quintana won first runner-up honors in the Local Government Unit-Tour Guiding Contest.

The Olympics was one of the events of the regional tourism assembly organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to highlight, promote and showcase the diversity of the tourism attractions, services and facilities of the different areas of Region VI, which is part of the Central Philippines Super Region, the country’s tourism belt.

DOT Regional Director Edwin Trompeta said the tourism event also became a colorful display of destination attractions including arts, crafts, cultural and historical events, and shopping and investment opportunities.

He added that the celebration also offered a links to all stakeholders to explore, identify issues, resolve priorities and establish linkages for the development of tourism in the region. The local government units of Negros Occidental together with private tourism-oriented organizations supported the event.

Tesoro also said Capiz was given a special citation by DOT for having the best cultural showcase and tourism booth during the assembly. Former Provincial Tourism Officer and now Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Alfonso Bediones, Jr. was also conferred the DOT Regional Director’s Award for tourism excellence.

Reigning Mutya sang Sinadya sa Halaran Helen Grace Gonzales, Capiz’s bet to the Search for Miss WV Tourism pageant, won a special award as Miss Globe Photogenic. Gonzales is also a B.S. Nursing student of Filamer Christian College.

Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Sr. led the Capiz delegation to the assembly together with other provincial and city officials. (PIA)