August 17, 2010 – Our graduation was the culmination of our journey as aspiring tour guides. Yet another journey begins, that of us taking a bigger responsibility of promoting Negros Occidental as a tourist destination. Taking part in the 2nd NITI Tour Guiding Course has been a most rewarding one. Not only did I meet impassioned colleagues, I have also become more knowledgeable about the province. Through the expert guidance and tutelage of our mentors and lecturers, we now look at Negros with a different perspective.
There were 16 of us who enrolled and two left the course for various reasons. We’re quite a diverse mix. There’s a journalist, a retired educator, a retired doctor, a model, a triathlete, students and government employees. We started as strangers but as the course progressed, we got to know not only about Negros but also more about each other. I might not end up as a professional tour guide but gaining 13 new friends is definitely worth the 10 Saturdays I’ve devoted for the course.
I would surely miss the Saturdays we meet to discuss topics on tour guiding and the culture and history of Negros. Those were treasured memories. Now, I look forward to going out there, to rediscover and experience what we only talked aout in the classroom. These experiences I would gladly share with anyone willing to listen.
Tourism can be a big boost to the local economy if managed well. Likewise, by promoting local tourism, we can also promote pride of place. Imagine if every Negrense would be proud of his province. Each individual will do his part in taking care of its cultural and natural heritage and encourage other people to visit the province. You need not be a tour guide in order to promote Negros. You just have to love it and be proud of it.
Congratulations to my colleagues! See you in our next tour. I would definitely love to go places with you.
