LGU MANOLO FORTICH SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS 3-DAY BASIC MOUNTAINEERING COURSE TRAINING

Maging responsableng manlalakbay!

Good stewardship to nature is one valuable attribute that Manolo Fortich practices as it is one of the many municipalities that is neighbor to the Mt. Kitanglad Mountain Range. In pursuing this, a 3-day Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) Training was conducted by the Department of Tourism Region 10 (DOT 10) in partnership with the Municipal Tourism Office of LGU Manolo Fortich last November 8 to 10, 2023 at Mangima Spring Resort, Manolo Fortich.

The BMC Training’s main objective was to focus on providing adequate training on proper ethics and knowledge on mountain trekking. Within 3 days, DOT 10 paves way for its participants who are also tour guides, to both undergo a series of lectures and hands-on activities to further imply the right conduct of mountain climbing. Eric Naturyan and Ernesto Seryosa of DOT 10 served as the main trainers.

“Ang atong gina focus ani is ang pag preserve nato sa environment nga ang turista masabtan nila nganong ni saka sila sa bukid ug unsa ilang makita sa bukid. As guides, dako gyud kaayo mo og responsibility sa mga turista na makabalo sila pag amping sa kinaiyahan as well as sa ilang experience sa pagsaka sa bukid,” says Rheta Mae Eblamo, Supervisor Tourism Operations Officer of DOT 10 as she emphasizes the significance of a tour guide’s role.

Furthermore, this BMC Training is not the first time to happen at Manolo Fortich. Various mountaineering courses have already been conducted in the municipality. However, these training courses were only before the COVID-19 Pandemic, which makes this year’s BMC Training the first one to take place post-pandemic.

Jixon Cloyd Abanes, LGU Manolo Fortich Municipal Tourism Officer and participant explains how this year’s BMC Training is different from the previous ones, including its significance, “The BMC nga atong nasinati before the pandemic is way different compared sa BMC after the pandemic kay naa naman tay mga gipang embrace nga mga new normal. Naa nay mga bag-o nga guidelines because ga-evolve jud na ang BMC such as ang mga kaalam na gina share sa atong speakers.” Abanes stated.

In total, there were 47 participants of the 3-day BMC Training coming from Impasug-ong and some from Manolo Fortich. These participants have already worked as tour guides on mountain climbing for both Mt. Kitanglad Range and Mt. Palaopao. Most of them are members of the Kalasanen Mountaineering Club which is a community that is well known as good stewards of the said mountains in Bukidnon. All together the participants were able to receive certificates on the last day of the training.

Kalasanen Mountaineering Club member, tour guide, and participant of the training, Ethan Shawn, shares his experience and learnings, “Nakalearn ko nga every life matters. Dili lang na kita mga tao ang organismo nga naa diri. Gipahibalo sa ako nga basic lang na kita, dili ta mo survive kung wala’y kinaiyahan. Ang kinaiyahan mo survive bisag wala ta. So, mas better nga hatagan nato og attention ug pahibalo ang mga tao para apil sila mo protekta sa kinaiyahan.”

The BMC Training truly recognized the importance of not only knowing the proper ethics and knowledge on mountain climbing, but it imparted the significant realization of being able to be one with nature and understanding its life. It encourages the participants to be accountable and reminds them of the golden rule of tourism, “Maging responsableng manlalakbay.”