BY LEILANIE G. A DRIANO AND DOMINIC B. DELA CRUZ
STAFF REPORTERS
THE NEW Indonesian am- bassador to the Philippines Kristiartos Legowo offered friendship to Ilocanos here as he visited this province on November 9.
During his first visit to Laoag City, he told reporters at the Pro- vincial Capitol on Tuesday, No- vember 9, 2010 that the proposed sisterhood relationship to be forged between Central Java in Indonesia and Ilocos Norte would open opportunities for both provinces.
“We believe that the great- est form of diplomacy is through personal friendships,” said Legowo following his courtesy call at the Ilocos Norte Capitol with his wife and other delegates to Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba who was then the acting governor as Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda R. Marcos was reportedly on travel to China.
Aside from Ilocos Norte’s rich history, culture, and natural resources, the Indonesian envoy to the Philippines said his coun- try is interested with the Ilocos Norte windmills, being the first Southeast Asian wind en- ergy project, producing about 30 megawatt of renewable energy.
Ilocos Norte and Indonesia have so many things in common, said Barba.
“It is not to compete but to complement each other. So we have to look for ways and means on how we could mutually ben- efit from this proposed sisterhood ties,” Barba stressed.
Sisterhood relationships are aimed at opening a bridge for a free exchange of tourism, social, cultural, economic, scientific, leg- islative, administrative and ad- vance communication technolo- gies for the benefit of both gov- ernments and residents between the subject provinces, apart from promoting and enhancing tour- ism industry, goodwill and foster lasting relationship between the people of both provinces.
Basing from the Philippine history, Indonesians had been one of our forefathers, said provin- cial director Ma. Milagros Gonzales of the Department of Tourism’s Laoag sub-office. To take advantage of our similari- ties, Gonzales said tourism po- tentials of both Central Java and Ilocos Norte could be promoted more by accredited international travel agencies to attract more tourists to visit these places.
As of press time, Gonzales said there are only few Indone- sian tourists who are visiting Laoag City and Ilocos Norte but with this new development, she said more Indonesians are ex- pected to visit here and make friends with Ilocanos.
The Indonesian delegates visited Laoag City’s historical landmarks, the windmills in Bangui and the white sand beaches of Pagudpud.
Meanwhile, Laoag City gov- ernment officials led by Associa- tion of Barangay Councils Pres. Chevylle V. Fariñas welcomed the Indonesian delegation at the City Hall also on November 9.
In his interaction with the City Hall Press Corps, Legowo said he appreciates so much the beautiful tourist spots and attrac- tions in the city and the province as a whole as he also lauded the good leadership of Ms Marcos and Laoag Mayor Michael V. Fariñas.
He also disclosed that as the new Indonesian ambassador to the Philippines, he is tasked to visit as many provinces and cit- ies as possible as he should not only know the country but its people as well. He also aims to establish personal relationships with public officials.
He added that he believes a closer relationship between him- self and the Filipino people would create better ties between the two Southeast Asian countries.
He further vowed that this would not be his first and last visit to the province considering the warm reception given to his delegation as he took the opportunity to thank both the provincial and city governments.
He stated that Ilocos Norte and Laoag are among the most prosperous places in the coun- try that he has visited and that Ilocanos should be proud of this.
“That is why I am very en- thusiastic in exploring all the pos- sibilities to enhance the coopera- tion between my country and the Philippines especially the prov- ince of Ilocos Norte, in particu- lar the city of Laoag”, Legowo said.
Relative to this, Department of Tourism (DOT) Laoag sub- office head Ms Milagros Gonzales also expressed grati- tude to the new Indonesian am- bassador to the Philippines who has chosen the province and Laoag to be among the places he wanted to visit.
Gonzales hopes that the delegate’s visit has had a posi- tive impact in terms of the tour- ism industry in the province. She said that Legowo appre- ciated so much the province’s tourist destinations, especially the Spanish-type bricks houses and buildings.
Ms Fariñas, whom is also the city’s tourism head, likewise thanked the Indonesian ambas- sador to the Philippines for nice words he had for Laoag.
Ms Farinas said this only means that the people of Laoag with the leadership of her hus- band, the mayor, has the coop- eration of all the people which now results in a better, peaceful and orderly Laoag City.
source: The Ilocos Times - November 8 - November 14 2010 issue
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