CALVARY HILL AS RIO DE JANEIRO OF THE ASIA PACIFIC (TACLOBAN CITY)

OVERLOOKING THE CITY FROM THE CALVARY HILL ( TACLOBAN CITY)

CALVARY HILL AS RIO DE JANEIRO OF THE ASIA PACIFIC OVERLOOKING THE CITY AND SAN JUANICO STRAIT, CALVARY HILL, IS WHERE LARGER THAN LIFE STATUES OF JESUS CHRIST THE REDEEMER.

Honorable Alfred S. Romualdez
HUC MAYOR
Honorable Cristina G. Romualdez
Member, Sangguniang Panglungsod
Tacloban City




Sir and Madam:

      Mabuhay. Salamat for the kind letter dated 18 April 2012 of City Administrator Tecson John S. Lim. Actually, most Taclobanons have much more citizen concern and better ideas than my humble proposal that, to qoute Atty. Lim, " The City will accordingly study".

     An empirical study indicates your efforts to further improve Tacloban. For example, among plenty others, the " First in the World". ( DOT-8) Tacloban Boy Scout Monument ( TBSM). Subject to the City Architects's expertise, is a sketch of a suggested new TBSM. This letter is to emphasize the ultimate step: to bid TBSM to the UN WORLD HERITAGE SITE ( WHS).

    

     This is also to cite these practical facts not in the enclosed March 30 letter:

1. Showtime. Shown here in 2011, the movie Rio ( The enclosure, please). It shows Rio's famed Copacabana Beach, which Tacloban lacks. But after enjoying Calvary Hill, tourists can easily go to Region 8's " Bongga...." beaches, dive sites and caves. Indeed, Tacloban is the Gateway to Eastern Visayas, historic  /more fun.

2. Tourists want more fun variety. The droves touring Rio de Janeiro will come, curious about Rio Asia Pacific. To savor Tacloban Fiesta and lively Sangyaw, our equivalent to Rio's famous Samba Mardi Gras ( shown in the movie). Varied, if just Sangyaw June 29 and Pintados in Palo only each August 5. Encompassing all Region 8 fiestas. Then all will share international spotlight with a Rio Tacloban. A Rio plus Palo also October 20 and Good Friday. Practically OK!

     The above are too juicy to let pass. Now is the unparalled chance to capitalize for the ultimate juicy TBSM Calvary Hill. Respectfully, alayon consider these realities:

1. Never let pass that most tourists go only to Cebu, Bohol, Boracay and Palawan. Rio's Christ the Redeemer is the Brazil top tourist attraction-daily. In contrast, Calvary Hill is limited to Lent. Christ will bless us if all, even non RC's can pick up religion in Calvary Hill the whole year. It is a Catholic Shrine and a tourist attraction. The Capul ( N. Samar) Church became WHS in 2011. WHS Vigan attracts more tourists than Tacloban, yet it's about colonial houses.

2. Vice President Jejomar Binay might indorse our bid to be the world's first Scout WHS. This Sr. Citizen (77) stands to be corrected on all these, but it's only scholarly bid. To bid is already an honor. Nothing to lose. The bid done by a Kanhuray Ph. D. free. No Ph. D. to deduce that Calvary Hill private business cable cars and a summit restaurant will be waray city expense. Tourists will love it.

3. Taclobanons must know that to capitalize on such a WHS TBSM -Rio Tacloban is for the poor's income and, above all, Scouting values to help the Filipino youth. Like your defining HUC Advocacy, the basis are solid facts and profound realities. A public WHS-Rio scrutiny will focus on Tacloban's more fun surprises.

Therefore, the foregoing will be the golden key to the exotic wonders of Region 8. This is from a poem by the classic Tacloban bard Iluminado Lucente: " Imo kadagatan / Imo Kabukiran / Say gintitipigan / Han mutya bulawan ( gold ) ". The golden treasure of Region 8 that all Taclobanons must make sure all tourists will " I shall return ".

More power to you, Sir and Madam..and to all of us! I love Tacloban...MABUHAY AN PILIPINAS!




                                                                                                                      Very truly yours,




                                                                                                     SEVILLANO T. BALDESCO JR,
ENCLS..AS STATED.
Cc: All concerned in Region 8, media & internet

BOYS SCOUT OF THE PHILIPPINES STATUE IN TACLOBAN CITY

Honorable Alfred S. Romualdez
HUC MAYOR
Honorable Cristina G. Romualdez
Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Tacloban City


Sir and Madam:

     Mabuhay. After this Holy Week, Calvary Hill to all, even Sr. Citizens like me and PWDs. That's the majority for good business. The long steep hill stairs will be climbed by those after spirituality or the exercises. But not daily cable cars will enable access to most - enough for the poor's jobs/business. OK to the Church and DOT.

     Most especially if DOT promotes it as Tacloban, the Rio de Janeiro of the Asia Pacific! Rio has the world famous Christ the Redeemer. We are the only Christian Asia Pacific Nation. Here only Tacloban has a Calvary Hill. No competition. That's good for business. Please consider these based on realities that stand to be corrected:

1. Brazil's No. 1 tourist attraction is the said Christ statue overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro and the Atlantic Ocean. Respectfully enclosed are photos of Rio's Christ and Calvary Hill's " more fun" panorama of the Tacloban harbor-downtown, Panalaron Bay and San Juanico Bridge.

2. These spectacular views are enhanced on occasion by the renowned Rio Samba Carnival and our lively, only legitimate Sangyaw. Rio uses cable cars also.

3. But earthquakes? No damage to Calvary Hill's Christ statue, which has survived disasters for decades. It's extremely earthquake-safe for cable cars/ summit restaurant because DENR even permitted that tall IT tower near Christ's statue.

4. With no fear of such dangers, kids will enjoy to ride a cable car like they do Robinson's escalators. All need what's not in Manila, Hilltop fresh air.

5. Fresh spriritual vitality is now only during Holy week. Thus, not the least, it'll also be okey to the Church if tourists ( even non-RC) pick up religion/ spirituality while having " more fun" in Calvary Hill anytime. This ordinary guy isn't a devout RC, but such a novel pick up " GOD HAS NEED" ( Luke 19:31).

6. That "Need" to capitalize daily Calvary Hill's unique Christ's statue (1950s) and our historic BSP Boys Scout of the Philippines statue (1941) will surely prove that HUC Tacloban has " More fun" surprises. These will put Tacloban in the tantalizing global tourism map. Truly reflecting your efforts, Sir and Madam, To those people who concern, to improve TACLOBAN.

TACLOBAN the " Gateway to Historic Eastern Visayas". I SHALL RETURN"  to the HUC Rio de Janeiro of the ASIA PACIFIC. Tourists just love to visit such exotic places.

More power to us and Everyone!, I LOVE TACLOBAN TOO!... MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!

                                                                                                                    Very truly yours,




                                                                                                   SEVILLANO T. BALDESCO, JR.


ENCLS: AS STATED:
Cc: All concerned in Region 8, Media and Internet