Gakit Festival on March 13, 2010

Posted by Steven Egay

For Gigaquit Civic Club
February 5, 2010

Good news to all!

Finally the First Gakit Festival will be held on March 13, 2010 (Saturday) at the Gigaquit Doot Beach.
A Gakit (raft) race and a contest for the best decorated Gakit will be held.

See for yourself folks! Visit Gigaquit to witness and enjoy!

Reference topic: Gakit Festival in Year 2010

Originally posted by Steve Egay at http://gigaquitnons.ning.com/

Gakit Festival in Year 2010

Posted by Steven Egay

For Gigaquit Civic Club
November 14, 2009

During last year's planning it was originally targetted to implement this year the First Gakit Festival as follows . . .

Event: Lumba Gakit (Raft Racing)

Target Date: Jan. 31, 2009 (Saturday)

Organizer: Gigaquit Tourism Council with GCC support

Remarks: Players create their own rafts (individual and team categories) and race from Baoy to Doot Bridge; Gakit means raft and from this word Gigaquit got its name (to review history click here).

Then it was finalized to be staged on January 25, 2009 as final date. Everything was already in place but nature intervened and the event was cancelled . . . kindly click these news links to read back stories . . .

"First Gakit Festival"
"Gakit Festival Cancelled"

But we are undaunted and the Gigaquit Civic Club continue to encourage the Gigaquit Tourism Office to try again next year 2010. Hopefully Divine Providence will intervene in favor of its success.

More on this topic as we proceed with the preparations . . . we are hoping for your support.

Originally posted by Steve Egay at http://gigaquitnons.ning.com/

Gigaquit Cultural Sports Tourism

Posted by Steven Egay

For Gigaquit Civic Club
December 11, 2008

As hinted from the title, Cultural Sports Tourism is actually a combination of cultural and sports tourism.

What is this all about?

Cultural Tourism like the Jinawa Festival is about reviving and preserving ones culture and in so doing attracts people to come to our town. While staying, their activities and spendings will redound to the benefit of our townspeople.

Sports Tourism also does the same effect as cultural tourism. Through sports, people from other places flock to our town to participate and/or witness a sports event. And again, while staying, their activities and spendings will redound to the benefit of our townsfolk.

As an old town, Gigaquit is rich in culture. Some can be associated with physical competition and as a result, we at GCC could conceptualize the creation of something new . . . . . the fusion of sports with our culture.

We hope the different sectors in Gigaquit especially the local government will give their support so that these events can be tested in terms of viability. To be specific, here are the concepts we are working on . . .


Event: Lumba Gakit (Raft Racing)

Target Date: Jan. 31, 2009 (Saturday)

Organizer: Gigaquit Tourism Council with GCC support

Remarks: Players create their own rafts (individual and team categories) and race from Baoy to Doot Bridge; Gakit means raft and from this word Gigaquit got its name (to review history click here).



Event: Hukot Sumbag (Boxing Gigaquit Style)

Target Date: Feb. 28, 2009 (Saturday)

Organizer: Gigaquit Tourism Council with GCC support

Remarks: Hukot Sumbag is a modification from Gigaquitnons' old tradition of settling feud by "Hukot Tinigbasay". This is a form of duel wherein the 2 opponents are tied to each end of the same rope allowing just a close distance, hack each other to death using a bolo (usually double-edged type or "linantip" in the vernacular). The survivor wins. Hukot Sumbag is a modification of this practice as this is similar to boxing but in addition, the contenders are tied in the waist at each end of the same rope. The distance between them is just 2 arms-length. If there is Thai- Kickboxing then Gigaquit has "Fastened Boxing".

Originally posted by Steve Egay at http://gigaquitnons.ning.com/

Gigaquit Tourism and Economic Development

CONCEPT PAPER (rough draft)
Prepared by Steven Egay

Background:

Owing to its remote location and being prone to typhoon, Gigaquit is not an ideal place to put up a manufacturing industry. The only chance of progress is in using modern methods and technology in agricultural production.

On the other hand, Gigaquit is endowed with beautiful natural attractions. It has beautiful beaches, islands and even potential diving spot. It has a cave that is endowed with unique formations. It has a river from Baoy to Doot with potential for sports tourism. Also, it has unique cultural heritage like the minoros and jinawa plays. Furthermore, it has a unique and famous product … the Gigaquit wine.


Tourism and economic development:

Owing to the advancement of telecommunications, roads and transportation systems, tourism is now a booming industry that is continuously growing worldwide. Many places now owe their development through the numerous visitors flocking to their areas.


Gigaquit Tourism:

Who will benefit?

1. Transportation sector – habal habal, van and jeepney operations. Pump boat operators.

2. Food sector – farmers, fish and other food vendors, cooks, fishpond operations and others.

3. Inns and hostels – Gigaquit townhouse, pastoral center, other enterprising Gigaquitnons offering bed and breakfast service

4. Tour Guides

5. Retail sector – mga tindahan and sari-sari stores.

6. Government – from fees and licenses

7. Others


Sample case:

A group comes to Gigaquit for sightseeing

1. they use local vehicles to go around (transport sector benefits)

2. they probably hire tour guides especially for island hopping and cave exploring

(tour guides benefit)

3. they buy food and drinks for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Buy Gigaquit

Wine too. (food sector benefits)

4. they buy e-loads to call/text friends and probably buy some clothes which they

forgot to bring (retail sector benefits)

they stay for the night or several days (inns and hostels benefits)

all the above establishments pay the government for licenses. And government

may collect fees from government-owned attractions like cave exploring. (Government benefits and have additional income to be used for public service, e.g. health services)


How to promote tourism in Gigaquit?

1. Coordinate with GCC to promote the municipality via Gigaquit Online.

2. Coordinate with companies, schools and other institutions in Surigao City, Butuan City and other cities willing to hold educational tours, company outings, conferences and other events in Gigaquit.

3. Advertise via local radio and newspapers.

4. Hold big events to entice people to visit Gigaquit. Aside from Fiestas, utilize the indigenous culture and products like Jinawa Festival, Wine Festival, etc.


Originally posted by Steve Egay at http://gigaquitnons.ning.com/