Sunflower city in Albay promotes sports tourism

LIGAO CITY — Father and son Rolando and Karl Ivan Luna of Ticao Island in Masbate bond together through taking up sports together in Albay’s sunflower city, which promotes pro-environment extreme sports tourism.

Rolando, a businessman, is a motorcycle rider for 10 years before joining the third Sunflower Festival Mt. Masaraga National Enduro Challenge here for two consecutive years now.

His son Karl Ivan, a neophyte rider, joined the teen’s category on Sunday also to promote the value of protecting the environment as the country’s treasure.

They participated in the Enduro Challenge with 220 racers to commemorate Earth Hour and help promote pro-environment and extreme sports tourism in Mount Masaraga, an extinct stratovolcano some 1,328 meters above the sea level.

The event attracted bike enthusiasts around the country, as well as foreigners from Sabah, Malaysia and The Netherlands.

Third District Rep. Fernando Gonzalez said they are developing and promoting sports tourism in Mount Masaraga as eco-tourism destination.

“This race is perfect to highlight the nature what we have, ecotourism as well as human interaction. We can preserve our natural forest cover without the need to tamper it,” Gonzalez said.

Mayor Patricia “Patty” Gonzalez-Alsua said Mount Masaraga is one of the most strategic sites for sports tourism in the country, as well as hiking and camping activities.  (Rhaydz Barcia/PNA)

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