The five-day R.A.N.I.A.G. (Rediscover Artistry, Nurture Identity, and Accelerate Growth) creative tour is giving new life to local arts, crafts, and traditions by connecting them directly to the tourism sector.
The immersive tour, organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ilocos regional offices, is described as a “fresh way to promote local creatives by tapping into the tourism strengths of La Union and Pangasinan.”
“We want to bring people closer to the source,” DOT Ilocos Region project officer Gay Nora Marie Gapas said in a statement.
“By doing so, we’re not only giving creatives more visibility and access to markets and collaborators, we’re also helping tell the region’s story in a way that’s engaging and meaningful.”
The tour, whose name translates to “light,” “brightness,” or “radiance” in Ilocano, brought together over 30 participants, including artists, chefs, influencers, and tourism stakeholders, to experience the region’s creative economy firsthand.
A journey of creative discovery
The tour began with a breakfast at Casa Amarillo in Rosales town, Pangasinan, where participants sampled local dishes and engaged in origami and glass painting. It continued to Manaoag, a top faith tourism destination, for a visit to the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. There, participants learned that the proceeds from the souvenir shop support the church’s scholarship program.
In Pozorrubio, the group discovered the bladesmiths of Deswordzman, a shop established in 1989 that produces high-quality knives and movie replica swords for local and international markets. Bladesmith Weslie Rivera, who has been in the craft for 25 years, shared that while the work requires strength and endurance, it has provided for his family.
In La Union, the tour visited Hashems Wood Artistry and Furniture in Pugo town. Daniel Gano, the 64-year-old owner and a woodcarver for over two decades, expressed gratitude for the tour. He shared that he has transformed his business from carving to furniture-making to survive after losing his export market following the pandemic.
Other stops in La Union included wine tasting at Uvas Café, a dinner at the award-winning Halo Halo de Iloko restaurant, a pottery-making workshop at the Taboc Mannamili Association in San Juan, loom weaving at De Castro’s Loom Weaving in Bangar and silk weaving at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU). The participants also explored the Bahay na Bato in Luna town, an open-air art gallery on a pebble beach.
Reynaldo Valenzuela, president of the Taboc Mannamili Association, said that their craft has helped many families.
“Marami ng umasenso dahil sa pottery (Many have progressed in their lives due to pottery),” he said. The tour also featured various local delicacies, from bangus (milkfish) and dried fish from Pangasinan to grape-infused products and the famous halo-halo from La Union. Participants also tried their hand at different crafts, taking home their creations as personal souvenirs.
Towards a creative future
The initiative aligns with the goals of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (Republic Act 11904) and seeks to position the Ilocos Region as a premier creative destination.
Pangasinan Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Marco Sales said they hope to showcase other industries to benefit from the increasing tourist arrivals in the province.
The tour, which will be an annual event every September, is expected to benefit at least 33 local creatives and MSMEs by increasing their visibility and connecting them with new customers. (PNA)
