RUNNING, biking and kite-flying enthusiasts will share the spotlight in the First Batangas Earth and Wind Festival slated on Sunday at the coastal town of Balete to kick off the province’s “Bisita Batangas” campaign.
“We are doing this to promote Batangas as an attractive destination for local and foreign tourists,” said Lima Park Hotel chef Paul Poblador, who is spearheading the three-in-one event, in the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate branch in Manila.
Joining Poblador in the session sponsored by Shakey’s and Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp were Team Ganit’s Andres Alisuag III and Kite Association of the Philippines president James Kekentusa.
Ganit said that the “earth” component will consist of a 10-kilometer trail run at 5 a.m. along the rolling terrain of Bgy. Malabanan in Balete, followed by a mountain bike cross country race at 8 a.m.
Kite-flying will be the the “wind” element, according to Kekentusa, who will be holding a kite-making workshop for children at the Lima Park Hotel in Malvar, Batangas before heading to Balete in the afternoon to try the kites out.
Poblador said they chose Balete as the main site festival “because it is one of the top tourist attractions in Batangas just a few kilometers from Lipa City and overlooks Taal Lake. This is an ideal site to launch the ‘Bisita Batangas’ campaign.”
All three thanked Lima Park Hotel, First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanites, Diwa Learning Systems and Honda Cars for supporting the event.