STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan – The Department of Tourism commended the people of Sto. Tomas for their utmost display of unity and cooperation so that their beloved town would be placed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The commendation was extended by DOT Regional Director Martin Valera when he graced Sto. Tomas’ Corn Festival on Sunday, top feature of which was the holding of a close to five-kilometer Corn Barbecue intended to break the existing two-kilometer record won by Hermocillo, Mexico last year.

Valera said the Corn Festival was a very good occasion for the people of Sto. Tomas to show their stride and expertise in agriculture, particularly in growing corn, incidentally the top product of the town after rice.

Congratulating the people of Sto. Tomas led by Mayor Vivien Villar for their outstanding feat, Valera said DOT is encouraging such festival to show the people of the world what really the Philippines is, especially Sto. Tomas.

He hailed the organizers of the Corn Festival for highlighting corn as number one product of the town, which is also a big promotional activity for the whole town of Sto. Tomas.

“Although this was only the first one, I hope this can be continued in the succeeding years so it can be established as an event to watch,” Valera said.

He told newsmen there are lots of towns in Pangasinan and in the region are holding festivals just to promote their native products, examples of which are Dagupan which has its Bangus Festival; Villasis is Talong Festival; Alaminos City, its Festival of the Hundred Islands; Anda its Binongey Festival; and Calasiao, its Puto Festival.

He admitted that all these festivals are putting the towns, cities and province in the map. (PNA)