CATBALOGAN CITY (October 23, 2025) — On a cool October night, the ATOP Pearl Awards 2025 stage lights shone on a province whose people turn tradition into triumph. When Samar’s Provincial Tourism Office was called on stage, it was to honor not just awards but the stories of its resilient, creative people shaping the province’s inspiring identity.
Held annually by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Pearl Awards recognize the country’s top local tourism initiatives. For Samar, this honor affirms its efforts to combine culture, community, and sustainability in tourism.
“Participating in the ATOP Pearl Awards is important because it validates the province’s tourism initiatives and highlights the collaborative efforts of our communities, LGUs, and partners,” said Mario R. Piczon, Department Head of the Provincial Tourism Office of Samar.
Weaving heritage into modernity
Among Samar’s top honors this year was “Woven by Women, Worn by Pride,” which won Best Tourism Souvenir (Non-Food), a collection reimagining the province’s banig weaving tradition.
The LARA Samar Banig Collection demonstrates how Samarnon women have transformed humble handwoven mats into fashion and lifestyle items that reflect heritage and empowerment.
“By turning traditional banig weaving into modern, wearable, and lifestyle products, the initiative preserves cultural traditions while providing sustainable livelihoods for local women,” Piczon said.
The heart and soul of adventure
Samar also won the Grand Winner award for Best Tourism Promotion Video with “Tandaya Trail: Heart of Samar, Soul of Adventure,” which highlights the province’s natural beauty, culture, and bravery, including winding rivers, caves, local cuisine, and hospitality.
It’s more than just a visual display; it’s an invitation to firsthand experience Samar’s story — to walk its trails, meet its people, and feel the rhythm of its life.
“It presents a unified tourism brand that combines adventure, culture, and community experiences, inviting visitors to explore the province’s natural beauty and authentic local stories,” said Piczon.
Resilience rooted in the soil
Equally touching is Samar’s first runner-up award for Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism, with “Sowing Hope, Serving Heritage: La Cocina de Marabut and the Story of Community Resilience.”
Once a fishing village devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda, Barangay Osmeña was revitalized by La Cocina de Marabut, led by ex-fisherman Paterno Padua. The community shifted from fishing to climate-adaptive farming, creating a farm-to-table spot that showcases cultural dishes and sustainability.
“It serves as a climate adaptation hub, learning center, and tourism destination, offering farm-to-table experiences while serving cultural cuisine,” Piczon shared.
Now accredited by the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), La Cocina has trained hundreds of students in organic agriculture, demonstrating that resilience can truly grow from the ground up. This site is also a TESDA-accredited training center offering the Organic Agriculture Production NC II program.
A province woven with purpose
“These awards are a testament to the hard work, creativity, and resilience of the people of Samar — from our artisans and farmers to community leaders and tourism partners,” he said. “Ultimately, they reaffirm that Samar’s natural beauty, culture, and people are our greatest assets,” Piczon reflected the collective spirit of Samar.
From handwoven banig to mountain trails, from humble kitchens to hopeful communities, Samar’s triumph at the ATOP Pearl Awards 2025 is more than a success story — it reflects a province where people craft progress through pride, purpose, and their land’s spirit. (By Aaron A. Cotejar, PIA Samar)
