THE TOMASIAN TOURISM MUNICIPALITY OF STO. TOMAS, PANGASINAN MUNICIPAL TOURISM COUNCIL UPDATES CY

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THE TOMASIAN

TOURISM

MUNICIPALITY OF STO. TOMAS, PANGASINAN

MUNICIPAL TOURISM COUNCIL UPDATES CY 2013-14

The municipality of Santo Tomas, Pangasinan is bereft of natural and scenic landscapes such as mountains, seas, beaches and such other panoramas that attract the eye of local or foreign visitors. Without forestland, fresh mountain air, springs, or natural baths that would be very conducive for rest and recuperation for the physically weak, aged, or mentally exhausted are wanting.

As such, the municipality has no tourist spots, except – for a stretch of the imagination – the view of the Agno River flowing sedately down to the sea on the northern part of the municipality. Assuming that this could be developed, such a venture could only be possible through the availability of significant investments in terms of physical infrastructure and development as well as in promotions and marketing.

The absence of a forest reserve even negates the possibility of an eco-tourism facility. No historically significant cities or places with cultural appeal also exist. The absence of tourist spots or cultural heritage sites that can be developed in the municipality, however, should not preclude Santo Tomas from being a complimentary cog in the tourism infrastructure of the province especially for neighboring cities and municipalities with very promising tourism potentials.

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THE TOMASIAN

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Maintaining the municipality’s greenery and cleanliness with planted ornamental plants and shade trees along the national highway can attract motorist and visitors alike. That there are no forestlands within the municipality does not mean that the territory is utterly bereft of trees and deciduous cover. Orchards of mango and citrus are located in agro-industrial zones in San Agustin and San Antonio. Shade trees, including acacia, several mahogany and narra may be found in almost every nook and corner of the built-up area as well as other fruit trees like santol, avocado, jackfruit, star apple, chico, and others. A few shade and fruit trees may be found in the pasturelands beyond the protective dike.

The characteristic

traits of the residents of Santo Tomas –

especially their

hospitability – as well

as the exceptional

peace and order

situation can also be part of the town’s

contribution to the

provincial tourism

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THE TOMASIAN

TOURISM

To date, the municipality of Santo Tomas, Pangasinan has thrived in its sustained efforts enriching its well-preserved heritage and tradition through its celebrated events and festivities.

Every 3rd week of March, Santo Tomas celebrates its annual town fiesta. This annual event

is highlighted with ecumenical services, colorful parades, alumni homecoming, grand ball, community night, street party and concert featuring local bands, “pinaka-mais sarap” cookfest, agri-trade fair and bazaars, beauty pageant, singing contest, cultural shows, sport fest, carnival spectacle and a lot more.

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THE TOMASIAN

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Simultaneous with the town’s annual festivity is the celebration of fun filled and lively “Corn Festival” showcasing the town’s organically farm produced Klasika Hybrid Glutinous Corn in a world renowned longest corn barbeque event. Along with spectacular street dancing parade that promotes the arts and culture of the town, Tomasians contend in their full of life and well-choreographed epic dances while clad in vibrant costumes made of corn materials to show the town’s bountiful harvest and ingenuity.

Shaped through time Santo Tomas metamorphosed as a community of God loving people. The diversity of its culture and tradition evolved as haven of distinct religious

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backgrounds. From its endemic Patronal Feast – the St. Thomas Aquinas every last week of January follows through various faithful devotions and Christian acts of other religions. Santo Tomas ever more remains a sanctuary of religious people embracing prodigious blend of faith and beliefs from all walks of life.

Agriculture is the prime industry of the municipality, with rice and corn (yellow & white glutinous) as the major crops being cultivated. Apparently, Santo Tomas is considered as one of the main producers of quality corn products. And as leading legislative measures in agri-trade by the Local Sanggunian, Santo Tomas corn and its by-products feature their One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) industry.

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THE TOMASIAN

TOURISM

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TOURISM

Over the years Santo Tomas has earned an image where its prominent leaders are highly respected, where there is resolute peace and order, where cleanliness and proper waste management is observed by its citizen at heart, and where unity, harmony and prosperity reign. One would not miss the properly trimmed and lustrous ornamental plants along its evenly asphalted road lines, the neat surroundings in every household with the uplifting and friendly smiles of its people that warmly welcome its guests and visitors.

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THE TOMASIAN

TOURISM

To further enrich Tomasian Tourism as one of the leading programs of the present administration, the succeeding measures were taken into consideration by the Municipal Tourism Council:

FORMULATED GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS Goals

 To create opportunities for tourism to have foothold in the municipality during the planning period.

 To encourage the continuous “greening” Santo Tomas through the planning of more shade trees and the conservation and management of the existing tree cover in the municipality.

 To promote the municipality’s official fan page and website. Objectives

 To fully advocate municipality activities like fiestas and other religious or cultural occasions toward a tourism-event stability program.

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THE TOMASIAN

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 To develop and implement a landscape approach especially in the urban core, which involves shade tree planting on major road trunk lines as well as in parks, open spaces and areas unsuitable for any other functional land use.

 To sustain the present programs of “Clean and Green Environment” that earned

for the municipality accolades from the provincial government for besting all other municipalities in Pangasinan in the field of environmental management.

 To advertise the use of municipality’s official fan page and website around the world.

Targets

 To reinforce homecoming program for elementary and high school alumni.

 To encourage balikbayan programs to raise investments for the town’s tourism

goal.

 To make fiestas and other festive occasions attractions for local tourism.

 To promote the judicious use of trees;

 Strict implementation of penalties on persons that pollute environmental resources;

 Implementation of an incentive-motivation program for tree planting in the municipality.