In 2007, Juan Miguel Luz asked: WHY IS it that despite our supposedly high literacy rate, many Filipinos can barely read and write? Why haven’t we been able to develop a reading habit among Filipinos?

That was in 2007 but the same still holds true today. Puwede ta man bagohon ang ugali na yan. Sabi ngani ni Mini-Dwayne Johnson sa “It’s Showtime”, reading leads us to a different world. “Even though you are not outside you are still exploring when you are reading… ”

Let’s start reading. Poonan ta sa mga libro kan mga uragon.

When I tried compiling the details of the different festivals in the Bicol Region, I was shocked to note that there are overlapping schedules. Albay’s Magayon Festival, CamSur’s Kaogma Festival, and Catanduanes’ Abaca Festival are all happening in May. Add the town and barangay fiestas on said month. This has positive and negative implications.

The overlap in festival schedules in the Bicol Region can have both positive and negative implications for tourists and the tourism industry in the region.

On the positive side, the overlapping schedules could provide a variety of options. Tourists who are visiting the region can take advantage of multiple festivals and enjoy a variety of cultural experiences. It can also increase tourism by attracting more visitors thereby generating more tourism revenue for the region. Lastly, tourists will also be treated with cultural immersion. With a range of cultural festivals happening at the same time, tourists can immerse into the local culture and traditions.

On the negative side, however, overlapping schedules of festivals may put a strain on the already limited resources of the region such as accommodations, transportation, and food. Second, the festivals will also distract audience. Tourists may have a hard time choosing which festival they want to attend which may lead to a distracted audience, and may prevent them from fully participating in all the festivals. Lastly, overlapping schedules may lessen the uniqueness of each festival as visitors may attend the same sets of activities in different locations.

Given these, and to maximize the positive implications as well as minimize the negative implications of overlapping schedules of festivals, the tourism industry players spearheaded by the regional Department of Tourism, should focus on proper tourism planning, marketing, and coordination between different festival organizers. By working together towards the same goal, they can make sure that the festivals meet the interest of the visitors and they can provide an unforgettable experience.