Aurora takes spotlight in tourism fair

CLARKFIELD, Pampanga - They came, they saw and they were conquered.

The province of Aurora, one of the country's poorest provinces, surpirisingly took the spotlight with a spectacular presentation that captivated foreign and local tourists which gathered for the laucnh of the three-day 1st North philippines International Tourism Fair at the Events Center of SM-Clark here on Friday.

Some 40 students of the Baler National High School (BNHS), accompanied by a marching band enlivened the event with streetdancing depicting the famous Baler Coco-Sabutan Festival to chants of "Aurora lalawigang itinatag ng galing at sipag (Aurora a province founded on excellence and industry)" as the audience watched in awe.

The students, clad in multi-color costumes, were apparently inspired by the presence of Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and Vice Governor Annabelle Tangson who were both visibly elated on seeing the students perfrom.

Angara-Castillo said the province was once tapped by the organizers to render the streetdance of all the provinces comprising the three regions and CAR. "Considering that this is an international tourism fair and this is the first to be held in northern Philippines, this is s big honor for the province of Aurora. This is huge," she said. -Armand M. Galang