Abstract:

  The study focused on the impact of socio- cultural, economic and environmental aspects to the perception of respondents in terms of festival components namely: Safety and Security, Festival Spirit, Contest and Activities, Promotion and Production Roles. This study also aimed to determine the significant relationship of the respondents’ profile. This study was conducted from March to May 2019 at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology-Gabaldon Campus. The identified festivals were from five (5) cities/municipalities who are known for their famous festivals namely, Gabaldon (Gulayan Festival), Cabanatuan City (Banatu Festival), Bongabon (Sibuyas Festival), Aliaga (Taong Putik), Muñoz (Lantern Festival). The study is limited only in describing the influences of Novo Ecijano’s festivals towards the following aspects; socio-cultural, economic and environmental as being perceived by the local people. Quantitative description design of research was used in this study. Respondents were chosen by the use of purposive sampling techniques while collection of data was conducted through survey questionnaire. The said tool was validated using face to face and pilot testing approach. The gathered responses were computed using the different statistical tools (percentage, frequency distribution, weighted mean and Pearson r’ respectively. Based on the findings and results of the study, the following conclusions were drawn. The respondents strongly recommend that the municipalities are free from terrorism and LGU officials are prepared during emergency results show that they have enough police security available during festivities and the organizer conducts and develops comprehensive security plan. The respondents strongly recommend that celebration of festival aids in the preservation of traditional beliefs, customs and traditions, time to reunite with relatives and friends and celebration of festival commemorates religious influence and honor Patron Saints. Furthermore, the study shows that dancing competition is one of the most awaited competition during festivals and is well participated by different agencies in the area. It was manifested that the respondents strongly agree that celebrations of festivals enhance community spirit and brings opportunity for dominant population to view other cultures. However, the respondents slightly agree that celebration of festivals causes traffic, increases crime and waste to the community. The respondents strongly agree that local community have the opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities and that festivals take seasonal source of income for the locals, increases the prices of goods and services, inadequate estimation of costs of event, money lost through leakage, shortage of supply due to increase numbers of tourists, negative reactions from existing enterprises due to the possibility of new competition for local manpower and government assistance, failure to attracts tourists. The respondents strongly agree that festivals preserve a rich heritage handed down from our ancestors and they agree that improvement of local infrastructure in the community, enhances waste management practices due to festivals, preserves the existing public/historical buildings, construction of new facilities. The respondents agree that celebrating festivals increases waste in a local community and they slightly agree that celebrating festival causes noise pollution, overcrowding, ecological damage, environmental community destroy the places where festivals took places. The study suggested that the LGU in cooperation with the City/ Municipal Tourism Office may develop a comprehensive long term tourism development plan anchored to the result of this study which is for the advancement of the tourism sector.

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