Launched in 2005 during the 6th Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines (ATOP) National Convention in Bacolod City, ATOP-DOT Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines Awards was established to recognize exceptional tourism practices in the country. [Read: ANAHAW Philippine Sustainable Tourism Certification Awardees]
This year’s ATOP-DOT Pearl Awardees were announced during the last day of the 19th ATOP National Convention held in Misamis Oriental. Below is the list of winners.
Best Tourism Month/Week Celebration (Municipal Level)
2nd Place: Municipality of Dueñas, Iloilo
1st Place: Municipality of Bayambang, Pangasinan
Best Tourism Month/Week Celebration (City Level)
2nd Place: City of Antipolo Rizal
1st Place & Hall of Fame Award: Sagay City, Negros Occidental
Best Tourism Month/Week Celebration (Provincial Level)
2nd Place: Province of Compostela Valley
1st Place & Hall of Fame Award: Province of Capiz
Most Outstanding Tourism Officers
Iloilo Tourism Officers Association (ITOA)
Most Oustanding Tourism Officer
Junel Ann P. Divinagracia (Tourism Officer, Iloilo City)
Best Tourism-Oriented LGU (Municipal Level)
2nd Place: Municipality of Mauban, Quezon
1st Place: Municipality of Tanay, Rizal
Best Tourism-Oriented LGU (City Level)
3rd Place: City of Bacoor, Cavite
2nd Place: City of Ilagan, Isabela
1st Place & Hall of Fame Award: Tagum City, Davao del Norte
Best Tourism-Oriented LGU (City Level)
3rd Place: Province of Samar
2nd Place: Davao del Norte
1st Place: Province Ilocos Norte
Best Tourism Event Sports / Adventure (Municipal Level)
Special Award: Tanay Rodeo – Tanay, Rizal
3rd Place: Pulilan Bike Fest – Pulilan, Bulacan
2nd Place: Rurumba Adventure Race – San Jose, Northern Samar
1st Place: Abre-Grande Lawig 2017 – Palompon, Leyte
Best Tourism Event Sports / Adventure (City Level)
Tourism Kite Festival City of Sipalay
Best Tourism Event Sports / Adventure (Provincial Level)
Lakbike Turismo 2017 – Province of Bulacan
Best Tourism Event Festival Category (Municipal Level)
Special Award: 23rd Simballay Festival – Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province
Citation: Strawberry Festival 2017 – La Trinidad Benguet
3rd Place: Kneeling Carabao Festival – Pulilan, Bulacan
2nd Place: Liliw Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival – Liliw, Laguna
1st Place: Banaag Festival – Anilao Iloilo
Best Tourism Event Festival Category (City Level)
Special Award: Puto Latik Festival – Binan, Laguna
Citation: Liwanag ng Pasko sa San Jose – San Jose, Nueva Ecija
3rd Place: Kadayawan sa Davao Festival 2017 – Davao City
2nd Place: Fiesta Republica – A Festival of Filipino History – Malolos, Bulacan
1st Place: Bakood Festival 2017 – Bacoor City
Best Tourism Event Festival Category (Provincial Level)
3rd Place: Kadagayaan Festival (Province of Davao del Norte)
2nd Place: Pasungko S’g Misamis Occidental (Province of Misamis Occidental)
1st Place: Singkaban Festival (Province of Bulacan)
Best Practices on Community-based Responsible Tourism (Community-Based Responsible Tourism Campaign or Event / Joint Program or Project)
3rd Place: Sizzling Sisig Babi: An Intangible Heritage of Angeles City – Angeles City, Pampanga
2nd Place: The Suyac Island Journey: Coastal Communities Resource Advocacies to Boost Sustainability (CCRABS) – Sagay City, Negros Occidental
1st Place: Tagumpay Gulayan Program – Tagum City, Davao del Norte
Best Practices on Community-Based Responsible Tourism (Community-Based Tourism Enterprise or Services)
3rd Place: Villa Conzoilo Farm (Province of Leyte)
2nd Place: Cadimahan River Tour (City of Roxas)
1st Place: Ulot Torpedo Boat Extreme Ride (Province of Samar)
Best Practices on Community-Based Responsible Tourism (Community Based Heritage Conservation Project/Program)
3rd Place: Hanas Kina-Adman Dueñasanon sa Pag-HAbol 2017 (Municipality of Dueñas, Iloilo)
2nd Place: Empowering the Dumagats-Remintados of Rodriguez, Rizal (Municipality of Rodriguez, Rizal)
1st Place: Ing Banal A Batuin Queng Magalang: Lubenas Ning Pasku (Municipality of Magalang, Pampanga)
Glen Nomad is a travel blogger and the founder of Escape Manila, one of the top travel blogs in the Philippines. He has visited all 82 provinces in the Philippines and has explored 53 countries across Asia, North & South America, East Africa, Europe, and Australia. Follow him on IG at @escapemanila
Thant you for the publication