The prestigious Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) recently recognized Ormoc City and Burauen town in Leyte as winners of the Pearl Awards.
The local government units received the distinction last Thursday night in Boracay Island during the 24th national convention of ATOP, the country’s leading professional association for tourism officers.
Ormoc City was the grand winner for the best hosting award of a local event category for the city level for its exemplary hosting of the Adlaw sa Ormoc Diamond Jubilee Celebration, held in October last year.
The city was also first runner-up for best hosting of an LGU for the international event category, best practices in community-based tourism, best tourism-oriented local government, and best tourism event: religious festival.
Meanwhile, the brochure for Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) in Burauen, Leyte, was the first runner-up among 22 entries nationwide in the ATOP Pearl Awards.
The MVNP “Find your Ex” brochure promotes the destination’s “Excitement, Exhilaration, and Experience.”
Proclaimed as a national park in 1937, MVNP has various natural attractions, including a lake, falls, multi-colored mud, virgin forests, and a lagoon.
Mahagnao, located 860 meters above sea level, is 18 kilometers from the town center of Burauen.