Thanks wolf, I believe the best project for a historical town like Guindulman is preservation of historical sites, artifacts and buildings including century old trees. The idea of commercial/industrial progress is out of place.
Before its too late, someone must pass a zoning law for the entire province of Bohol. This will prevent conflict between industrial development and eco-cultural industry.
The best thing for Guindulman is to build a museum to entice tourists and balikbayans. Make the place pleasant, perhaps by making another man-made forest and resurrecting Guindulman's ancient reputation of having lush foliage.
When I was 17, I had the opportunity to visit Vigan. I wish I can dig up my pictures of it right now but I can't think where they are off the top of my head. Everybody probably heard of "heritage Village" in Vigan ? It is a huge tourist attraction, a whole street that looked frozen in time. Old houses from the Spanish Era and its not deserted mind you, it is actually occupied by shops after shops.
http://www.philsite.net/vigan.htmFrom my recent trip to San Antonio, I learned of this place called Enchanted Springs Ranch where they are "keeping the old west alive"
http://www.enchantedspringsranch.com/. Of course, there's the preserved Alamo in the heart of San Antonio
http://www.thealamo.org/These places draw so many tourists, and even school field trips as they serve an educational value. You can buy souvenirs of all shapes and sizes, from pillows to blankets to mugs, shot glasses, caps, shirts and post cards. Of course, tourists eat....in Vigan, there was the ever famous Vigan Empanada you can buy from the street vendors and for the more discerning, a slew of restos. In both Enchanted Springs and Alamo, there's rows after rows of small restos and delis to chose from for food and well, souvenirs.
What does this mean for Guindulman ? Well ....
1. Tourists bring money into the town thus translating into more small businesses opening, cottage industry , and even more jobs. read : less unemployment
2. With money coming in, bigger budget for town wide improvement..hopefully for schools, police and public works
3. Shall I say pride for the people who are originally from there ?
4. The tourism could start small and can snowball if managed correctly....there must be some skill that Guindulmanuns are very good at. Maybe embroidered pillowcases ? or basketweaving ? Pottery ? Anything that could be equated like Jagna and Calamay or Muron and Tubigon, or even Ubay and Carabao Milk. Maybe someday, it will be Guindulaman and.....
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