ANTONIO B. LAZARO

Evaluation of the Agawan Tour Package

Introduction

• “Agawan Festival” - name given since the 1990s to the traditional Sariaya harvest festival held in honor of San Isidro Labrador every May 15th of the year.

• It involves the putting up of decorations in the houses using the best farm products like fences from bunches of coconuts, bananas and sugar cane at times, fruits and “Suman” artfully placed on bamboo chandeliers or “Aranyas” gaily decorated with “Papel de Japon”, draperies of “Pastillas’ or milk-based candies and embellishments of those traditional “Pamahiyas” or hard type of gaily colored bread in various shapes as a boxer, horse, eagle, gun, fish, heart and guitar, as well as “Kiping” or colored rice wafers as eye-catching accents.

Introduction

The beautiful decorations are spruced up further by the raising of goodie-laden young bamboo trees called “Bagakays” that form a beautiful and bountiful, gently swaying canopy along the route of the saint’s procession.

Food preparation - a chance to sample the well-known “Puwersado sa Recado” culinary expertise of the Sariayahin.

Introduction

Prizes given to the best house decorations After the holy mass, sky blue garbed San

Isidro Labrador will be led out of the church and ushered into a fireworks

Passing of antique silver-plated carroza signals the “Halbutan” of the house decors which were thrown to the people on the street.

Introduction

The excitement of the mad scramble is intensified further by the felling down of the “Bagakays” – “Happy Pandemonium”

After the procession, the Santo will be led inside the church for the ritual incensing wherein all the goodies decorations in his carroza will be handed over to the overeager revelers

Introduction

After which it will be led to the home of its owner, the Rodriguez-Cabunyag Family. Accordingly, some of the residents even burn whatever they were able to obtain from the traditional religious activity to be strewn on their farmlands for a good harvest the following year”.

Objectives of the Study

• The conduct of the dry run for the “Agawan Festival” - a component of the capability building interventions Thus, this dry run was the second test of STC’s capability to implement projects.

• The study is aimed at achieving the following set of objectives: • To evaluate the level of satisfaction of the tourists vis a vis the various

elements (accommodations, transportation, etc) of the tour package.• To evaluate the performance of the Sariaya Tourism Council (STC) in co-

managing the implementation of the tour package.• To disseminate to the members of the STC the results of the evaluation, and

lastly,• To assist the STC on how they can further improve their performance and

on the designed tour package.

Scope and Limitations

• This paper will simply present the results of the completed evaluation forms which were accomplished after the dry run of a designed tour package for the “Agawan” Festival in May, 2009.

• Thus, the contents of the paper shall simply relay what transpired during the two day tour package. No personal comments/insights from the author shall be incorporated in the process except in the formulation of the conclusions and recommendations.

• Lastly, the paper will not present any review of literature from secondary sources related to Philippine Festivals or the role of Festivals in general in the tourism industry. And since there is no review of literature, very limited bibliographic entries will be presented.

Methodology

• The Evaluation Tool • A simple evaluation tool was designed to gather information and feedbacks from the

participants.

• The questionnaire included items on the segments of the tour package, pacing of the activities, tourist’s accommodations, transportation facility, gastronomy and costs. Questions on whether they will again avail of the package was also asked and their perceptions on what segment of society (in terms of class) should be availing of the package and the age bracket.

• • A simple rating system was designed in some parts of the questionnaire wherein

number 1 will be the highest score while number 5 will be the lowest. Thus, average scores nearest to number 1 are ranked highest. Another form of rating system was used for other segment of the tour package which ranges from “poor, fair, good and excellent”. Blank spaces were also made available for the solicitation of comments on the various items being evaluated.

• • Frequency tables were used to get average scores.

Respondents

• 13 respondents (12 staff members of UPAIT and the daughter of one of the female staff member)

• Of the 12, two participants were of the male gender and the rest were females.

• Age bracket, all AIT staff members belong to the 50 to 60 age bracket

• Working with the Institute for more than 20 years.

Preparatory Stage

• Joint itinerary planning with STC and AIT• AIT staff members as tourists for summer outing • Initially 1 day but became 2 days (traffic might restrain

tourists)• Having scarcity of accommodations in the Poblacion –

Home Stay• Plaza de Shalom Briefing - From 4 participating houses,

down to 3 • 5 participants initially adhered to stay in one house but

later relented due to small room – Substitute accommodation

Related Activities of the Tour

• Main attraction of the festival was the “halbutan” (grab fest)

• This relatively short attraction will make the tourists idle from the time they arrived in the municipality up to the start of the high mass at 3 o’clock p.m. (Other tourism assets of the Municipality of Sariaya were included in the package)

• “Parada ng Lahi” (Parade of Race) • Exhibit of local produce in front of the Municipal Hall• Inclusion of the tour of one ancestral house and the

“Interactive Preparations of the Bagakays”.

Evaluation of the Tour Package

• On the set of activities of the tour package, 2 respondents said that the best activity for them is the interactive preparations of the “Bagakays” while another 2 respondents added that this activity was their second best. Thus, it garnered the highest rating of 1.8% as one being the highest.

• The second highest attractions of the tour package were the visit to the Ancestral House and the Parada ng Lahi (Parade of Race).

• Ironically, the Agawan Festival Procession, which comes immediately before the “Halbutan” ranked poorest.

Substitute Accommodation Ratings

• They were not able to participate on the “interactive preparations of the bagakays”

• Ancestral house as the best. • Contrary to the experience of the other group

wherein they ranked the “interactive preparations of the bagakays” as the best activity.

• This is the difference as one of the main attractions of the home stay is the actual interaction of the tourists with the normal activities of a celebrating family.

Pacing of the Itinerary

• Was jointly formulated by the Tourism Team and

selected members of the Sariaya Tourism Council. • 8 respondents • Two (25%) scored that the itinerary was “too

hectic”, • 4 (50%) said that it was “too loose” • Last 2 (25%) said that it was” just right”.

Comments on the Itinerary & Pacing - Comments

• “They were not able to follow the schedule on time”• “Some parts were not done due to scheduling

problems as well as lack of guidance from supposed tour guide”

• And lastly, “itinerary was good but did not materialize”.

• One respondent even went to the extent of judging the pacing as very “poor”.

Other Comments not Related to Pacing

“Tagayan” at the start was good! Enjoyed the preparation of Bagakays. Homestay was poorly coordinated (meals,

amenities). “Mga taga-doon lang din ang nag-agawan.” (Only

locals participated in the grab fest) Tourists must be distinguished (tags, shirts, etc)

Transport Facility

The thirty year old tourist bus of the Asian Institute of Tourism was used

All of the tourists were satisfied with the comfort of the vehicle

4 respondents (30.7%) ranked the bus ride from the point of origin to Sariaya as “Good”

Remaining 9 (69.2%) gave a score of “excellent”.

Transport Facility

On the other hand, on the trip back to the UPAIT, 5 (38.4%) respondents said that the bus ride back was “good”

8 (61%.5) said that the trip was “excellent”. Related comments on the trip are as follows: Bus aircon going back was too cold. AIT bus is still in good condition.

Kulinarya Sariaya

• The tour included meals for 2 dinners, 1 breakfast, 1

lunch and snacks. • The inclusive meals must reflect the local cuisine of the

Sariayahins especially that the tourists should have availed of the home stay package.

• home stay tourists (8 respondents)• Other group will also reflect answers of their impressions

of the Sariayayhin gastronomy except that they consumed the food in restaurants within the Poblacion area.

Ratings

• Breakfast 0 2 4 2 Poor Fair Good Excellent

• Lunch 0 1 6 1

Poor Fair Good Excellent • Dinner

0 1 5 2 Poor Fair Good Excellent • Snacks 0 0 4 3 Poor Fair Good Excellent

Comments – Ancestral Houses

Had a taste of Sariaya bread – pinagong. Meals prepared at home stay were good. Nothing different from day to day food. Food was too expensive.

Substitute Accommodation

• Failed to experience the “lutong bahay” experience• Breakfast 0 2 1 1 Poor Fair Good Excellent • Lunch 0 2 0 0 Poor Fair Good Excellent • Dinner 0 2 1 1 Poor Fair Good Excellent

• Snacks 0 3 0 1 Poor Fair Good Excellent

Tourists’ Accommodation

Facilities and Amenities (Home Stay) 3 (37.5%) ranked the accommodations as “fair” 3 (37.5%) as “good”, 1 (12.5%) ranked it as “poor” 1 (12.5%) said that it was “excellent”.

Accommodations (Home Stay)

In terms of accessibility to where the activities were conducted

4 or 50% said that the location of the houses was “Good”

While the “Fair” or “Excellent” rating got a fair share of 25% each.

No one answered that the accessibility was “Poor”.

Home Stay

For guest service/treatment Only 7 responded to the query 4 (57.2%) said that the service was “Good” 3 (42.8%) other tourists answered “excellent”

Home Stay

For security Again only 7 respondents answered the query 3 (42.8%) said “Good” 2 (28.5%) said as “Fair” 2 (28.5%) averred it as “Excellent”.

Substitute Accommodation

Facilities and amenities “Fair” (2 respondents = 40%) “Good” (1 respondent = 20%) “Excellent” (2 respondents = 40%)

Substitute Accommodations

In terms of accessibility, the Apartelle is situated at the heart of the poblacion and should be deemed to garner excellent rating.

However, accessibility was ranked as follows: 2 respondents – Fair (40%) 1 respondent – Good (20%) 2 respondents – Excellent (40%)

Substitute …

For guest treatment, though they were not hosted by a family but instead the team leader of the tourism team

4 or 80% ranked guest treatment as “Good” Remaining 20% ranked it as “excellent” For security 2 respondents – Fair (40%) 1 respondent – Good (20%) 2 respondents – Excellent (40%)

Comments

Site visit should be done prior to trip to assure the good facilities and amenities.

Has not met the requirements of the Home Stay Program of DOT.

Due to home stay problems, the substitute accommodation was not suitable for the tour itinerary.

There should be a place to party, drink and sing!

Tour Guide Efficiency/Effectiveness

Only 11 respondents answered the query 5 (45%) respondents said that the tour guides were

“Good” While the rating of either being “Fair” or “Excellent”

got three (27%) scores each.

Comments

Tour guides should be young, presentable and knowledgeable about the history of the place

Tour guide should set the mood of the group Very informative and nicely guided tour Itinerary was not strictly followed

Pasalubong Items (Types/Pricing)

Sariaya takes pride in its wide array of delicacies which tourists can partake of.

It plays hosts to a number of well known bakeries such as “Villamater”, De Villa “Pastillas” House and the Sariaya Bread House (SBH).

As such, the tourists were given the opportunity to have time purchasing the “pasalubong” items.

Pasalubong

For the “Pasalubong” items 13 respondents answered this question 5 (38.4%) respondents said that the items were

simply “Excellent” 5 (38.4%) said that they were “Good” Remaining 3 (23%) said that they simply ranked

“Fair”

Comments

Items are cheap Shortage of products particularly espasol and

tamales Most of the items are from neighboring towns Excellent goods! Shortage of espasol and tamales No exciting items. Too ordinary

Rate of Package

Tourists were not required to pay for the tour package as this coincided with the subsidized summer outing of the Institute, the tourists were given an idea as to how much the Institute will shoulder per individual.

13 respondents, 3 (23%) said that the rate for the tour package was expensive, 7 (53.8%) said that it was just right while 3 (23%) said that it was cheap.

Comments from this query :

Very expensive. The rate was good. Flyers should be given out to airlines/travel agencies. More tour packages like this.

Target Market

During the itinerary planning stage, formulators of the package were not too sure on which segment of society will be interested in availing the tour package. As such, a query was incorporated as to what segment of society will most likely the tour package will fit into.

Target Market

Of the 13 respondents, only 9 answered 6 (66.6%) of them said that this tour package would

apply to the lower B – Upper C stratum of society Two (22.2%) said that this tour package would be

attractive to the lower C – D stratum While the last (11.1%) said this can be attractable to

the A and upper B stratum.

Target Market

Segment to be tapped for this package 0 3 5 3

Oldies Working Students Families

Re – Availment of Tour Package

Six tourists (66.6%) indicated positively that they will again avail of the tour package while 3 (33.3%) said no. Three other respondents did not answer the query.

Competitive Edge of Sariaya as a Destination

The tourists gave random answers on the

competitive advantage of the destination and the comments are as follows:

Culture and tradition Sights and food Heritage houses, cultural heritage Festivals

Learnings

Tourists gave a wide array of answers which ranged from: Enjoying the “art of preparing the Bagakays” That the household members of participating houses in

“full force for decorations” “Agawan Festival is enjoyable to watch but is not safe to

participate”. Astounded with the “History, beliefs, traditions, culinary”

of Sariaya. “Home stay is not yet feasible. Sariaya is meant for day-

tour only”.

Conclusions/Recommendations

Capacity of the Sariaya Tourism Council – Focus is Activity Based

However, with the advocacy of the interdisciplinary research team, the council should be involved in a more holistic manner as tourism in the municipality is not merely confined to specific activities.

As such, the members were involved in the planning of the itinerary, tour guiding and coordination with households that would want to participate in the proposed home stay program.

Conclusions /Recommendations

Pricing should be done tediously Policies should be formulated especially on the

Home Stay (Briefing, Amenities, etc)

Conclusions/Recommendations

Incipient Stages of the Home Stay Program Scarcity of Accommodations in the Poblacion Home Stay will surely flourish Benefits redound to the household level – Houses

became economic units LGU should encourage more houses, policies should

be established, incentive scheme formulated

Conclusions/Recommendations

Level of Satisfaction of the Tourists Except for the failed availment of 5 tourists of the

Home Stay Program, all segments and components of the tour package were rated favorably.

Aside from the bus ride, the gastronomic experience was also exemplary.

The “pasalubong” items and the depicted heritage and cultural assets were also graded as either fair or good.