𝗜𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗘, 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥’𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗩𝗜𝗣𝘀

What was meant to be a simple 30th wedding anniversary trip turned into an immersive journey into La Trinidad’s heritage and artistry for Nancy Garvida and Orlino Garvida Jr., the municipality’s first September VIPs, who were sponsored to an all-inclusive tour on September 29-30 as part of the Tourism Week Celebration.

Visiting from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Mr. and Mrs. Garvida were spotted at a souvenir shop at the Strawberry Farm, where they were interviewed and officially named as VIP guests.

A welcome lunch at the Municipal Hall and a courtesy call with Mayor Roderick Awingan, Vice Mayor Guiller Galwan, and the rest of the Sangguniang Bayan council signified the beginning of the trip.

Their first stop– Living Gifts Nursery in Barangay Alno was where they wandered through the fields of ornamental plants and cacti.

In Barangay Shilan, Ms. Eden Cawang, artist and owner of the Ayonna Mini Gallery, welcomed the guests with art and history lessons of the paintings, wood carvings, and artifacts.

Our September VIPs then spent a quick coffee break at Garden nèn Ines, just a 15-minute walk from the previous stop, before proceeding to Kasakm’owl Restaurant in Barangay Beckel for dinner.

“This is our first time trying Cordilleran dishes, and admittedly, I was hesitant, but I enjoyed the smoked delicacies paired with the pinikpikan. It was also lovely meeting Mark of ETAG TV”.

The next day, they were ferried off to the Municipality of Atok for a quick visit to Mayor Franklin Smith and to some tourist sites like Northern Blossom, Mt. Olis and Atok Adventures.

The trip officially ended with a dinner among the pine trees at Nonno Guido’s Ristorante in Barangay Puguis.

“I learned so many things during this trip, and I would like to say that this is the best moment in our marriage. From the humbleness of your officials, who personally sat down with us, to the values that you uphold, my appreciation of La Trinidad, Benguet, and the Cordilleras as a whole, is profound and immense. Truly, your community is worth emulating.

It was also during this visit that I discovered that Benguet is made up of different towns. As lowlanders, we only recognize Baguio City, not aware of La Trinidad and the 12 other municipalities that bear importance in the Cordillera community. What a blessing it was to experience this first-hand.

I wasn’t aware of the stereotypes that include having tails or being mistaken for Aetas in Zambales, which you continue to face. Thus, I am excited to share this with others in my hometown. Indeed, the best kind of learning is through experience,” shared Mrs. Garvida, as she reflected on the trip.

The September VIPs program empowers visitors with an in-depth understanding of the town's products, culture, and artistry, debunking myths about Igorots and expanding local tourism.

Author : 𝘙𝘙. 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘢-𝘢𝘺

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