Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental will receive the Western Visayas Best Tourism Oriented LGU Award, in the component city category, at the ongoing WV Tourism Excellence Award, at Nature's Village Resort, Talisay City at 7 p.m. tomorrow, a Kabankalan press release said.

Severino Pacete and Leo Canson, both from Silay City, were also chosen by the Regional Screening Committee to receive awards in the event on the theme “Entrepreneurial Tourism: Beyond Tourist Arrivals,” which runs until Nov. 18.

Tourism officer of Kabankalan Vir Gerongani said their city was awarded because it is safe for tourists, and has comfortable lodging houses, nice spots to visit and is a gateway to the cities of Dumaguete and Cebu, in Central Visayas , the press release said.

Meanwhile, Pacete will be awarded as Best Tourism Officer 2007 component city category. He was also a recipient of the award last year and was DOT Regional Director Awardee in 2007, the press release said.

Canson is the chairman of IKAW-AKO Japan-Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection. His entry for Silay City is Brgy. Balaring Mangrove Rehabilitation Program.

It is a 50-hectare project managed by Balaring Mangrove Planters' Association coordinated by Prof. Yorihisa Goto of Nihon Fukushi University in Japan . The project is focused on pagatpat planting, king mudcrab culture and ecotourism, the press release said.*

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Free medical mission set

The Dr. Patricio Y. Tan Surgical Society will conduct a free clinic/surgical mission 9 a.m. Friday at the Bacolod Our Lady Of Mercy Specialty Hospital in Bacolod , a press release from the group said.

It is being held to mark the third death anniversary of Dr. Patricio Tan, it also said.

Interested parties may call Vicky Angodung of the Bacolod Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital, through its Marketing Department, at Tel. Nos. 708-0181 or 0920-901-9922, the press release added.*

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Tax gab reset

The Withholding Tax Symposium on Yearend Adjustment of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Bacolod City set Thursday at Business Inn, has been rescheduled to tomorrow 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Grand Regal Hotel, in Bacolod City , a BIR press release said.

Marivic Galban, chief, Withholding Tax Division, BIR National Office, will be the resource speaker in the event jointly sponsored by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants Negros Occidental Chapter.

Local government units, national government agencies and other participating individuals and groups may call Jennifer Bayona at the PICPA office at Tel. No. 434-7191, or Norma Bayoneta, head, Taxpayer Assistant Unit in Bacolod (434-7848), for details, the press release added.*

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8 festival queens
to vie for WV crown

Eight festival “Queens” will vie for the title of Ms. Western Visayas Tourism, one of the highlights of the weeklong regional tourism assembly in Bacolod City .

Iloilo Paraw Regatta Queen Christy Joy Camohoy said the pageant will be a “battle among the bests” as each of the candidates are representing their province and people have high expectations of them.

Masskara Queen Rosario Sales said that while competition was tough in last month's Masskara pageant, she would consider the WV Tourism contest as a step higher since she is the host city's candidate.

Also competing in the “ Battle of the Queens” are Iloilo City 's Dinagyang Queen Cara Jeanne Sullano who represented Iloilo in the national pageant of the Aliwan Festival and Capiz' Sinadya sa Halaran titlist Helen Grace Gonzales who joined the recent Miss Teen Philippines national finals.

Representing Guimaras' Manggahan Festival is Jea Ferrer, Michelle Martha Braun represents Aklan's Ati-Atihan and Michelle Ann Acuña, Antique's Binirayan.

The candidates said they are proud to represent their provinces in the tourism assembly which is a showcase of the region's history and cultural heritage.

Sullano said the event is an opportunity to promote Western Visayas and encourage more tourists to visit its beautiful destinations while Sales said the assembly defines the cultural identity of the West Visayans .

The talent night is set at the SM Event Center at 6 tonight, while the pageant night will be at the Capitol steps in Bacolod City 7 p.m. Thursday.*NAB