Celebrate nature at the Malasimbo festival

If you've run out of gift ideas and have cash to spare, a trip to Puerto Galera might just be the thing for you. Dubbed the Pearl of Mindoro, Puerto Galera is only 130 kilometers south of Manila. Puerto Galera Bay is home to 20 species of mangroves trees out of 40 in the Philippines, 152 coral species out of 400 in the country, and 121 species of fish. A member of the worldwide Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, Puerto Galera Bay attracts travelers with its exciting dive sites, lush mountains and pristine beaches. But apart from the natural wonders that the bay has to offer, there's one more reason to visit the beach resort town on the north shore of Mindoro Island.

This February, the first Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival will be held in celebration of Puerto Galera's Eco-Cultural Heritage. Scheduled to coincide with the full moon, the two-day festival will be held outdoors at the foot of Mount Malasimbo, overlooking the bay. "Tourism is much more than beaches and surf. Culture is an asset that we have. We don't know that, or we forget about that. Mindoro is the seventh biggest island in the Philippines with 100,000 Mangyans. We should learn from them," said adopted son of Puerto Galera Hubert d'Aboville at a press conference on December 2. Described as a French national but a Filipino at heart, he first visited the Philippines in 1977, when he was backpacking around the world. As president of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and founder of the d'Aboville Foundation and Demo Farms, he was at the forefront of obtaining accreditation at the general assembly of members of the World's Most Beautiful Bays held in Morocco in 2005. "We have made it our mission to create an eco-cultural tourism experience for our foreign and local visitors," said d'Aboville, who believes it is high time to celebrate not only the bay's rich biodiversity but also its indigenous cultural heritage. The festival blends traditional and contemporary arts and culture together, featuring an exhibit of indigenous art of the Mangyan Tribes alongside art installations by contemporary artists like Dondi Katigbak, Denis Lagdameo and Kawayan De Guia. A replica of a Mangyan village will showcase houses of seven different tribes and their hand-loom weaving, basketry, and ethnic jewelry. "Culture is the story. Tourism is the format by which the story is told, the result is the experience of all the elements - of the beauty of the space, the natural surrounding, the enjoyment of the full moon, the music of our people, the poetry that is intangible heritage," said culture and arts expert Jeannie Javelosa. On the second day, festival goers can lounge on handwoven mats in the open air while enjoying live performances of ethnic, jazz and latin music. "We need to focus on creating tourism destinations with sustainable activities aligned with the local cultural heritage and its people which make for a sustainable and eventful eco-cultural experience for both foreigners and local tourists," she said. There will also be a yoga workshop, a massage spa, as well as a market area where hand-crafted products can be purchased. The tickets costing 3,900 pesos each will be on sale online from January 10. Though pricey, the ticket includes funding for a reforestation project to be supervised by the Tourism Sector Coordinating Association. A major aim of the festival is to finance the reforestation along the Baclayan Trail while providing livelihood projects to the Mangyans. For every ticket sold, a tree will be planted carrying the ticket-buyer's name. The trees will be maintained for two years by the Iraya Mangyan community, who will receive a monthly income. "We hope that once people see the beauty of Puerto Galera's ecosystem as a whole, they will be encouraged to participate in preserving the environment. After all, we owe it to our ancestors who have taken care of our surroundings for us," said marine biologist Gerry Reyes. The ticket also includes jeepney transportation to and from Puerto Galera and the festival site. However, guests will have to provide for their own overnight accommodations, which are not included in the ticket price. The Department of Tourism has expressed support for the festival. "This event will be a worthy example of how the private and public sectors can work together to bring about sustainable development and alleviation of poverty in our country," said Secretary Alberto Lim. For more information, visit www.malasimbofestival.com. - GMANews.TV