KURARAPNIT FESTIVAL "A TRIBUTE TO MOTHER NATURE" From out of a cavern, a black cloud spins. A wraithlike inhabitant appears, and ready to infect the nearest human. Suddenly you realize that it is made up of thousands of Bats! These are only a few myths that people believe about bats as "Creatures of the Night." Yet, these remarkable animals are helpful to us! Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte is considered the ultimate nature tourism estate in northern Philippines. With wide stretch of fine white sand beaches, rock formations, pristine dive sites, virgin forest , exotic marine resources, unique wildlife, majestic waterfalls, fresh water from our river systems, vast hills, plains and mountains, hectares of farmlands and enchanting caves, are truly nature's best kept secrets. Our cave most notable of which is the NABCA, home of thousands of fruit bats located at Barangay Saguigui, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Bats are flying mammals and feed on fruits and insects like the dreaded mosquito's carrying dengue and malaria. With them, the health of 21 thousand citizens of Pagudpud and tourists are safeguarded. They help in the pollination of useful plants and their droppings called "GUANO" are used as fertilizers. They have a highly sophisticated sense of hearing called Echolocation. These make bats a very unique creature that aid the natural phenomenon in the cycle of life's symbiotic relationship of plant and animal kingdom. With tourism as one of our major industries in this town, "Kurarapnit Festival" has become one of our major tourism products along cultural aspects. Environmentalist Leader, Mayor Marlon Ferdinand T. Sales believe that this wonderful creature may perhaps magnetize more tourists to come, offering them spelunking activity. He considers that giving life to movements or plight of this nocturnal superb creation of God, the "Kurarapnit" dance shall definitely leave a vivid mark on the eyes and minds of every appreciative nature lover that man, plants, animals and the environment must blend in perfect harmony completing the web of existence of life. The dance was conceptualized to create awareness in how to appreciate the vital role of bats, and to strengthen public awareness on how to preserve our caves as their habitats, In the past, mankind has recognized the importance and mistreatment of bats only when the bats have been destroyed nearly to the point of no return. This must change! To save bats from future human cruelty, ignorance and carelessness, we must inform and educate the public of the economic importance of bats. In other words bats need a press relation campaign to change the terrible image of bats. Knowing- fully that caves are natures, great wonder being formed thousands of years needing complete preservations as mandated under R.A 9072 (Cave Act Law). With the "Kurarapnit Dance", we hope to showcase how nature works with culture compliment and depict a unique dance and as a tourist attraction. A grand festival hat would accomplish much, but the true change will take place in the minds in hearts of the people. This can only be done through further education about bats and only when people accept bats as truly amazing, essential and inoffensive creatures. Surely, this "Kurarapnit Festival" shall be remembered, not only as o major Tourism Product of Pagudpud but as an effective and strategic execution of laws for the preservation of caves and to declare that Pagudpud has much potential ti nurture in the advancement of tourism industry.

• published: 11 Dec 2013
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