Agri-Tourism Village to Showcase La Union’s Top Products, Tourism Draws

By Erwin Beleo

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – An agri-tourism village, which will feature the unique products of La Union’s 19 towns and lone city, will highlight a fair that will be situated on top of the capitol hill here, February 26.

AGRI-TOURISM VILLAGE – A little girl looks on to a carabao made of weaved bamboo exhibited at La Union’s Agri-Tourism village in capitol hill, San Fernando City, La Union Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2020)(Erwin Beleo / MANILA BULLETIN)

“On our anniversary, we go back to our reason why we do the things we do – and that is love, because it is only when we focus on love that our celebrations become more meaningful and memorable,” said La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III.

The celebration is part of the province’s 170th Foundation Anniversary, focusing on its theme “Eyeing Transformation, Focusing on Love”.

Native handicrafts products, such as “buy-boy” or soft brooms are made in the towns of San Gabriel and Burgos, corn and clay pottery in San Juan, bamboo products in Caba town, and baskets weaved in the towns of Santol and Sudipen.

There, too, are Bauang’s “gantsilyo” or hand wowen fabrics and cloths, “inabel” or weaved loom of Bangar, carved wood, furniture and fixtures of Pugo, the hand-crafted shells and bamboo of Balaoan, and tobacco of Tubao.

‘Basi’ or sugarcane wine is the specialty product of Naguilian, “luya” or ginger in Bagulin, and “diro” or honey and “sukang Iloko” or native vinegar in Bacnotan;

San Fernando City’s local villagers generate income from products such as ‘”ube” wine, lemon grass and ginger tea; “daing” or dried fish in Sto. Tomas, and root crops, fruits, and vegetables in Aringay.

Luna town has the popular tourism draw “Kamay na Bato” and the “Baluarte” Spanish watchtower, while San Juan town offers famous surfing areas, and the water falls of Santol.

Adding flavor to the fair would be the local dishes like “pinakbet”, and “dinengdeng”.

The provincial government of La Union is encouraging everyone to visit, patronize and promote the local products of La Union.

The fair will last until March 2.