PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte—On their own, owners of mini-stalls who are mostly housewives have started cashing in on the popular white beaches and other scenic spots in Pagudpud by creating souvenir items made of shells and corals, which are sold in areas where tourists abound either along white beaches or along the roads. At the end of a long and winding scenic Patapat bridge in Pagudpud town in Ilocos Norte’s northern section is a motorists’ stop for souvenir items and to cool down at three small waterfalls believed to have healing powers. Motorists cannot miss a stretch of stalls selling native products, fruits and trinkets made of shells and colored pebbles before cooling themselves at mini water falls flowing from a mountainside where the road turns into a canyon. Margie Calventas, who has been tending to her stall for five years, observes that the falls locally known as Paraiso ni Anton is a natural attraction for motorists cruising along the Ilocos Norte-Cagayan route. “Motorists would always bring along either empty bottles of mineral water, tin cans and even plastic pale and fill them up with cool waters from the falls on the belief that their illness would be healed,” Calventas said. Locals likewise believe that the “Paraiso” is enchanted that motorists would not miss sounding their horns when approaching and leaving the falls. Vehicles—from vans, pick-ups, trucks and passenger jeepneys—would be often seen lining the road where the falls conveniently cascade down the mountainside. Pagudpud officials have imposed an ordinance regulating the collection of water from the falls and prohibited the use of water to wash down their vehicles. “If we don’t make a brief stop, we make sure to blow our horns as we pass by, out of respect to those (unseen) standing guard on the falls,” a truck driver said. Stall owners have diversified their products from fruits and native delicacies to shell crafts that are locally made from raw materials gathered on Pagudpud shorelines. Calventas used to sell only fruits and fresh fish catch to truck and bus drivers and merchants passing along the Ilocos Norte-Cagayan Valley boarder. “We have made a living and sent our children to school by the income we derive from selling these products,” Calventas said noting that business has started picking up because of the sizable entry of local and international tourists to Ilocos Norte. The Department of Tourism records showed that more than 30,000 tourists visited Ilocos Norte in 2005. The steady stream of foreign tourists is dominated by Chinese nationals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. During peak season, most resort accommodations and DOT-registered home-stay villages around Pagudpud are fully booked that tourists have to travel back to Laoag to spend the night at the capital city. Along the shoreline at the popular Saud white beach is a strip of beach umbrellas that protect souvenir items on display from the sun. The keepsakes range from beads, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other fashion accessories that are neatly spread on the sand. “We created some of the items ourselves like bracelets made of beads. The rest were bought from traders,” Sally, a mother or two children, said. Sally and her husband Rizalino, who both tend to their makeshift stalls, said business could be better if they could raise a capital to buy bigger and select souvenir items than what are on display. Aside from tending to their own stall, the couple also watches over three other stalls owned by their relatives and friends in a bayanihan way during times when tourist activity is slow. “The owners had to leave their stalls to sell their fish catch in the market. They would watch over our own stall in return when we have to go somewhere else. This is the only way we can maximize our time and earn additional income for our families,” Sally said. She was quick to add that business rivalry does not get in the way because no items are alike in all the stalls. Whatever sales the other stalls generated are immediately turned over to the owners at the end of the day. Cristina Arzadon, (PIA-Ilocos News Service)
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