FORT PIKIT:A LOST TREASURE

Look what I found in the 23^rd Philippine Travel Mart held in MOA SMX last August 10-12, 2012: FORT PIKIT. Not that I am belittling the capacity of my hometown as a tourist spot but I wasn’t just expecting that I could see a picture of it in a big event like this travel expo. Around 100 booths participated in the event from all islands and islets of the Philippines, each as unique as its own cultural heritage and tourist spots. From the usual crowd drawer of Boracay, Bohol and Palawan to the untouched Palaui Island of Cagayan Valley and Fort Pikit of North Cotabato; the expo was such a sight to behold. For a minimal fee of PHP50, one can go booth-shopping and explore the Philippines in just one day.  

I have been to Fort Pikit a countless time and I always equate the spot with my childhood memories. The earliest memory I have with the place was the one together with my siblings and cousins. The place has been through a lot of uplifts and down lifts. It was frequented by visitors and locals in the early 90s but then it was not maintained until it was just a piece of land and rocks smothered by grass and wastes. Then, it was transformed into a military camp at the height of the conflict in Mindanao around 2004. Since then, nothing has changed much for the tourist spot.  

The potential of Fort Pikit as a tourist spot is as bright as the future of Pikit town itself. With the leadership of the local government and the help of local citizens, the spot can be transformed into a park in the sky like the one in Tagaytay. Enjoying dinner in the fort and watching the sun as it settles down in the verdant mountainous range of North Cotabato reflected in the meandering river of Rio Grande de Mindanao is a sure tourist arrival booster. This picture perfect FORT PIKIT could take years of planning and sustainable development but it could be the one that will propel the town’s economy. The trickledown effect of tourism is incalculable as of this time. This is the wakeup call for all Pikitenos and we must unite in protecting and developing the Fort Pikit that we used to know and love.