Traversing the Tourism Hi-way

The wealth of one
village one product
By: PED T. QUIAMJOT
ONE has to admire the entrepreneurship of the men and women of Manticao in Misamis Oriental. Along the national hi-way, women wear the warm smile that can flag down every passing motor vehicle to pull-over.
Out of curiosity or hunger seldom can one refuse the relish of aroma from the freshly baked Bibingka displayed in street side Carenderias. Glutonous rice cakes topped with margarine and grated young coconut meat are part of the Filipino fare for merienda or pasalubong.
In Southern Luzon, people from Manila travel to Nasugbo for Batangas Beef and gastronomic cravings for Bulalo or Tapa served in many roadside restaurants.
There are other sights and places all over the Philippines that create values for Filipino food and skills that are down loaded to the underground economy. Call it one village one product where one competitive as a staple is made into business to create sales and revenue.
Up North in Luzon along Calasiao in Pangasinan every public bus stations are hawkers paradise for Balot or Pinoy.
Down to Dagupan you can find the best Bangus Sardines and Salted Padas Fish in bottles sold as delicacies among local and foreign land based travelers.
One village one product has long been in trade and business since the Japanese occupied the Philippines during the Second World War.
The Filipino entrepreneurship that rise from the hardship of war made the Bicolanos in Iriga sell bottled raw water from the spring and rivers of Camarines Sur to the Japanese Kempetais boarding the train for Manila. While passing Lucena in Quezon Province, the Soldiers were treated to Southern Tagalog’s Pancit Hab-hab. Noodles made from Cassava flour eaten bare in banana leaves.
Today in Salay town, the handmade paper product is a success story of the Rafisura family. From Cogon grass, abaca fiber and pineapple leaves, quality paper goes to the international world market as materials for bags, cards and other paper novelties. The finished merchandise end up in many Marks & Spencer counter.
In a micro economic scale one village one product help the underground economy stay vibrant.
The absence or lack of value added taxation in this sector keep prices of certain product low.
The use of indigenous raw materials, local skills and talents is a way out from rural poverty.
Job are generated where even the school drop-outs or undergraduates can earn a living.