Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Philippines as an archipelago are rich in its resources from lands, minerals, waters and specifically its history, culture and foods. The history of foods can be traced back long ago as the country was invaded of different colonies that give way to the different cuisines. It focuses on the origin and recreation of specific recipes. The cooking style, methods and ingredients associated with Philippine cuisine have evolved from its Malayo-Polynesian origins. The Philippines is at a crossroads of shipping lanes. As a result, many cultures have influenced its cuisine. It can be considered as a melting pot of mixed cuisines with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate. During the pre-Hispanic era in the Philippines foods were prepared mainly by boiling, steaming, or roasting. The foods ranged from the usual livestock such as cow, water buffalo, pig and chicken to various kinds of fish and seafood. Filipinos have been cultivating rice since 3200 .Spanish colonization from 1521 to 1898 brought with it a new cuisine. Food historians claim that 80% of Filipino dishes are of Spanish origin. Along with the Spanish influence came Mexican flavors. Spanish (and Mexican) dishes were eventually incorporated into Philippine cuisine with the more complex dishes usually being prepared for special occasions. Since Spanish food emphasized meat and dairy products, which were considered luxury items. Adobo is Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development also a by-product of both Spanish and Chinese influence. In Spanish cuisine, adobo refers to a pickling sauce made from olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, paprika, thyme, bay leaf and salt. The Filipinos embraced their favorite flavors (vinegar, garlic and bay leaf), included peppercorns and nodding to the Chinese influence, added soy sauce. They adapted it to be a stewing sauce for chicken and pork, but maintained its Spanish moniker. Once again, the Filipino palate affirmed itself. Today the Philippine cuisine continues to evolve as new ingredients and cooking techniques, styles and methods find their way into the country. A fusion of different dishes from earlier traders, Asian immigrants and former colonizers and the Filipinos’ love for cooking resulted into a unique Philippine cuisine – a melting pot of eastern and western cuisine and a gastronomic delight that has been savored for centuries. Filipinos may know Cavite Province for its history, and with its history is a lot of cultural food to discover. This province is located south of Manila and considered the foundation of Philippine independence. It has taken to be that the province was once part of the galleon trade were goods are traded and the use of the dialect Spanish language Chabacano. Cavite Province is well known for its rich culture, tourist and food destinations. This cultural food is simple and has its distinctiveness among others. This quality allows us to use a name of a place that is incorporated for food or drink: Bicol is known for its bicol express; Batangas for lomi and barako; Cebu reminds us of lechon. Through this, it is easily recalled and defined. Some provinces and cities have their own versions but still they can’t enjoy the privileges of universally regarded for their food . Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development Statement of the Problem This study aimed to explore and determine Caviteños knowledge in the different cultural foods in the Province of Cavite as basis in the development of the tourism industry of the province. Specifically, it attempted to answer the following questions: 1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents, in terms of: 1.1 Age; 1.2 Sex; 1.3 Educational Background 1.4 years in the community; and 1.5 Income? 2. Which among the following ideas do the respondents associate the concept of Cultural Food Heritage with the most? 2.1 Preservation of Authentic Traditional Cultural Food 2.2 Representation of the Town’s/ City Image 2.3 Sustainability of Traditional Food 3. What should be consider as basis for food heritage, in terms of 3.1 Intergenerational transmission of the food; 3.2 Promotion of the visibility of intangible food heritage; Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development 3.3 Protection and promotion of Cavite Cultural food in the different towns of Cavite with research, recording, and raising awareness through education and cultural exchanges; and 3.4 Recognition of the traditional food in the three levels of the community, public, local government and academia? 4 .What are the technical, operational, managerial activities that can help in the promotion of cultural food heritage of Cavite 5 Is there a correlation between the profile variables of the respondents and their knowledge on food heritage? Research paradigm INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT Demographics a. b. c. d. Age Sex Educational Level Occupation INDEPENDENT VARIABLES METHODS OF INQUIRY Research Instrument Interview Statistical Treatment Social Representations on Tourism Infrastructure DEPENDENT VARIABLES OUTPUT (Quantitative Analysis) Descriptive Statistics Specific Tourism Infrastructure Projects to be prioritized based on Social Representations Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development FEEDBACK Significance of the Study Tourism industry. Deemed as the private sector, having a view of other sectors’ representations (public) on the local tourism within and around Mt. Tapulao, the study can bring partnership to both from planning to implementation of possible projects that are based on the results gathered from the public sector of the industry. Department of Tourism (DOT). As this government agency leads in all management functions in the development and promotion of the tourism industry, the study will basically assist in the planning stages of any projects for the locale of the study. The study’s outcome which is specific tourism infrastructure projects to be prioritized based on social representations made by the participants. Local government. Because the study will produce factual data based on the social representations of both hikers/ tourists and the locals, the local government will be able to incorporate the outcomes to their development plans in terms of project development that is specific to tourism infrastructures. Hikers/ Tourists. As one of the users of tourism infrastructures, this sector will be a contributor and beneficiary at the same time. Given that the study focuses on their social representations on tourism infrastructures in the locale of the study, through their responses, projects that could possibly bring change in terms of accessibility to tourist spots will be the initial benefit to them. Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development Locals of Barangay Dampay-Salaza. The study will be able to inform the constituents of the municipality of Palauig of the different infrastructures available and those that are planned. The structures present and planned should be a mechanism to alleviate their standard of living. This sector can also learn about the perception or representation of hikers/ tourist visiting their locality and this could lead to tailor-fitting of possible products or services that they offer, or they can improve exiting goods and services that they are currently offering to outsiders. Researchers. The results of the study can be beneficial to those who are planning to research about social representations in different segments of the tourism industry. Scope, Limitation and Delimitation The study utilized the social representations theory by Serge Moscovici to learn the representation of different stakeholders in the tourism of the locale in terms of infrastructure with the intention of producing a checklist of tourism infrastructures to be prioritized as projects of private and public sectors. This study limits its scope on hikers/ tourists who have visited the locality of the study which is Palauig and the locals of Barangay Dampay-Salaza. The reason for the study is to know the relationship of the responses (social representations) of both hikers/ tourists and locals when it comes to existing and possible infrastructures that could be part of their current tourism set-up. Demographic profile of the respondents such as their age, sex, educational level and occupation, are to be considered which may impact their social Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development representations towards tourism infrastructures. Both groups (hikers/ tourists and locals) will be given with the same set of questionnaires to be answered with minor difference that is tailor-fitted based on their group. An interview with a local tourism officer will also be done to give light to some of the objectives of the study. Definitions of Terms Tourism infrastructures. As defined by Cruz (2006), these consist of all underground and surface development construction such as water supply systems, sewage disposal systems, gas lines, electrical and communications systems, drainage systems and other constructed facilities such as highways, airports, railroads, roads, drives, parking lots, parks, night lighting, marinas, and dock facilities, bus and train station facilities and similar tourist service installations. Social Representations. According to the citation done by both Meliou & Maroudas (2009) from the original work of Moscovici, the term social representations are depictions on shared knowledge and understanding of common reality. Furthermore, as a theory, it is developed to study lay knowledge, address issues which are also of concern to theoretical framework and research traditions, such as culture, common sense and shared cognition. Tourism development plan. Provides overall guidelines for development, outlines broad development concepts, and identifies individual development opportunities worthy of in-depth analysis through feasibility studies and cost-benefit analysis. Ecotourism destinations. These are tourist destinations that are synonymous to green and nature tourism; as values-based, these are sustainable, alternative, appropriate and low-impact tourism destinations. Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development Accessible Tourism. It is tourism that can be enjoyed by everyone, including those with access needs. Many people have access needs including disabled people such as those with hearing and visual impairments, wheelchair users, older and less mobile people and people with pushchairs (England Business Development Unit; As cited by The Bimblers, 2015). CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Over the last two decades, due to globalization, tourism became accessible for most of the people, especially middle-class, and as a consequence the mass tourism appeared, and the tourism industry became one the biggest industries in the world. Even though tourism became more accessible for the majorities and it was easier to travel, some social groups, such as people with disabilities and seniors were generally undervalued and overlooked by the tourism market because they used to represent a minority with low economic power. However, because of the decrease in birth-rate around the world and the consequent growth in the number of elderly people, this situation got a new turn and now the seniors have Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development become a broad and important group with benefits that other groups cannot offer to the tourism industry (Anttonen, 2014). According to Yooshik Yoon (2002), many tourism destinations contain natural or man-made advantages to attract visitors. In the long-term sustainability and success of tourism destinations, such tourism attractions should be identified and evaluated. Especially, each destination and tourist region could have a different advantage in its destination attractions. The assessment of destination attractions is needed to create a more competitive and quality environment in tourism planning and development. Defining Tourism Infrastructure According to the Tourism Infrastructure Policy and Priorities document developed by Infrastructure Australia (2008), tourism infrastructure results from a mixture of both private and public-sector investment. Examples would be international airports and accommodation room stock, for example, represent private infrastructure, on the other hand, roads, rail networks and seaports are typically public infrastructure. Infrastructure such as convention centers and national parks are public assets provided due to market failure or for social and environmental policy objectives. Tourism infrastructure is a component of regional touristic product. Infrastructure is comprised of basic devices, buildings and service institutions, whose existence is crucial to the proper operating of economy and society (Gaworecki, 2003; As cited by Panasiuk, 2007). According to Cruz (2006), infrastructures consist of all underground and surface development construction such as water supply systems, sewage disposal systems, gas lines, electrical and communications systems, drainage systems and other constructed facilities Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development such as highways, airports, railroads, roads, drives, parking lots, parks, night lighting, marinas, and dock facilities, bus and train station facilities and similar tourist service installations. Development has been a part of tourism due to the fact that one of tourism’s characteristics is that its products are not brought to the consumer; rather, the consumer has to travel and go to the product to purchase it. The products of tourism are then, not used up, thus, they do not exhaust the country’s natural resources. These developments and changes happen due to the fact that the tourism industry is described as dynamic where it is characterized by the changing ideas and attitudes of its customers and therefore must be always prepared and willing to adjust to changes (Cruz, 2006). With the possibilities of these developments, there would be high accessibility to different tourism products regardless of the location. Individual tourism development projects are generated either through the tourism planning process or by the private sector. In destinations without tourism plans, the public sector may identify development opportunities for private sector investment. All individual tourism development opportunities must be carefully researched and analyzed before their construction. Potential tourism development projects have some basic differences. The first is their capability to generate financial profits. Some projects such as hotels and commercial attractions are profit generators, while others, such as travel information centers and infrastructure facilities are usually not. Although the latter facilities do not generate direct revenues, they are essential components of the tourism product of the destination area (Cruz, 2013). Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development In Australia, federal, state and territory governments have tourism ministers although the responsibility for tourism infrastructures like airports, casinos, museums, and national parks, fall outside them. Furthermore, the policy levers to plan, build, manage ore regulate both public and private tourism infrastructure often lie outside the tourism portfolio (see Table 1). The potential influence of multiple portfolios on tourism policy issues makes a whole-of-government approach essential so that the right projects can be prioritized. Table 1. Government Portfolios and Tourism Infrastructure Typical Federal/ State Portfolios Tourism Infrastructure Plan, build, manage or regulate infrastructure Fundamental infrastructure for tourism access and product Aviation Education Environment Gaming and Racing Heritage and Arts Indigenous Affairs Planning, Lands and Government Regional Development Sport and Recreation State Development Tourism Transport and Infrastructure Infrastructure in regional tourism destinations Stadia, sporting venues and recreation facilities Convention, exhibition and entertainment venues Minor infrastructure for product development Roads, passenger rail and cruise shipping ports Airports and aviation capacity Tertiary education facilities National Parks and visitor facilities Casinos, racetracks and gaming facilities Museums, art galleries and cultural facilities Indigenous tourism facilities Local Accommodation and precinct development Source: Tourism and Transport Forum. (2008). Tourism Infrastructure Policy and Priorities Accessible Tourism The development of different infrastructures leads to the primary goal of the United Nations to create tourism that fits to all types of tourist conditions. The Division for Social Policy and Development Disability of the United Nations (2017), is promoting accessible tourism for all, and focus are on disabled tourist who would want to try other avenues of tourism other than those that they normally have access and provisions so that they are able to experience all tourism products as normal tourists would do. Globally, it is estimated that Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development there are over 1 billion persons with disabilities, as well as more than 2 billion people, such as spouses, children and caregivers of persons with disabilities, representing almost a third of the world’s population, are directly affected by disability. While this signifies a huge potential market for travel and tourism, it still remains vastly under-served due to inaccessible travel and tourism facilities and services, as well as discriminatory policies and practices. It is also clear that accessible tourism doesn’t only support PWDs but also the ageing population of the world. Accessibility is also an important aspect of realizing the rights of the world’s ageing population. As we grow older, our chance of experiencing a permanent or temporary disability is increased. A focus on accessibility can therefore ensure that we are able to participate fully in our societies well into our older years. Accessibility also benefits pregnant women and persons who are temporarily rendered immobile (Division for Social Policy and Development Disability, 2017, ¶ 13). The older market has continued to grow and evolve in recent years mainly because of the rapid increase in the number of older adults who are living longer and healthier lives than previous generations. The United Nations estimated that over 2 billion people will be aged 60 years and over by the year 2050. This will account for 22% (or one out of five) of the world’s population, compared to only 10% in 2000, and this demographic shift will be seen all across all continents as cited by the United Nations in 2000 (Patterson & Pegg, 2011). Newer generation of retirees have emerged as ‘hungry to go off the beaten path’ resulting in growth in the adventure travel business. Locals’ Perception of Tourism Development Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development The support from community where the tourism activity is, is an essentiality to further introduce growth and sustainability in terms of the following areas: commercial, socio-cultural, physiological, political and economic. Their part in influencing the planned activities of the government related to tourism development is significant (Jamaludin, Othman & Awang, 2009; As cited by Hanafiah, Jamaluddin & Zulkifly). The perception of local residents was the most accurate factor in evaluating the current situation towards the destination due to the closeness of the area (Cottrell &Vaske, 2006; As cited by Hanafiah, Jamaluddin & Zulkifly). According to Javier and Elazigue (2011), tourism should be integrated with the local economy, participation of communities from the planning to implementation and management should be encouraged. Public-private partnership and external investments should be promoted. Several examples exhibiting strong partnership between the two sectors in tourism development are: Olango Bay in Cebu Panglao Craft Village at Panglao Island Tourism Estate in Bohol Mt. Pinatubo Tourism Project – helped establish a cooperative that serve guided tours to Mt. Pinatubo’s Crater Lake. Tourists pay user fees, which are used for conservation of the trekking route and maintenance of public facilities and created livelihood for the cultural community. Tourism Development in Mt. Tapulao Mount Tapulao, also known as High Peak, is the tallest mountain in Central Luzon at 6,683 feet (2,037 meters) above sea level and is located in the Municipality of Palauig in Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development Zambales. Its name is derived from the abundance of Sumatran Pine trees in the area, known in the local Zambal dialect as tapulao. Its temperate climate here allowed for the abundant growth of these pine trees. Mt. Tapulao's summit offers a breath-taking panoramic view of the Zambales mountains on the east, Lingayen Gulf to the North, and the South China Sea to the West. Hikers can take an old mining trail of undulating and rolling mountains from Barangay Dampay in Palauig to reach the summit, about 18 kilometers away. DENR Region III has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Local Government of Palauig for the protection and conservation of unique biodiversity found inside the 5,000 hectare Mt. Tapulao area. The Giant Cloud Rat, scientific Phloeomys pallidus, and the newly discovered Rhynchomys tapulao, another species of rodent, are just two of the 85 faunal species found in the area (Tourism Planning, Research and Information Management Department of Tourism, 2015). According to DENR Region III Central Luzon, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Palauig has passed an ordinance declaring Mt. Tapulao as an ecotourism destination and a protected area. As part of the pre-feasibility of the Tourism Planning, Research and Information Management, in 2013, the conducted SWOT Analysis revealed some of the strengths that are significantly linked to tourism growth. Despite of the strengths and potential of the area, weaknesses in different areas that could affect the growth are also evident in the SWOT Analysis. The following are the cited weaknesses of the area which are interconnected to each other though different in nature: No biodiversity assessment; limited data on natural resources No funds for site validation and product development Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development No DOT-accredited accommodation establishment Lack of accommodation facilities in San Salvador No homestay facilities No access road leading to tourism site Repair/ reconstruction of new bridge connecting main road to the community No commercial flights No established policies for eco-tourism Weak/ no cellular signal No promotional plan Limited knowledge of residents on Mt. Tapulao Need for information drive for the proposed trail Lack of trained tour guides Lack of investors Mayantoc to Tapulao trail is only limited to experienced mountaineers/climbers It takes 3 days to reach Mt. Tapulao Limited number of ecotour guides reef rangers Inadequate job opportunities for skilled workers and professionals Low cost of wages Capacity building trainings and seminars Absence of aid or support from communities near Brgy. Labney in case of emergency during mid-way climb Dispute on administrative boundaries Need for passing and implementation of legislative measures Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development The Tourism Act of 2009 According to Republic Act No. 9593 which provides for the development of a national tourism action plan for implementation by national and local governments; enlisting the participation of local communities, including indigenous peoples, non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and the private sector. It also emphasizes capability building of LGUs, in partnership with the private sector, in the management of local tourism projects and initiatives, and the establishment of tourism enterprise zones (TEZs). As per Section 37, LGUs, in consultation with stakeholders, are encouraged to utilize their powers under the Local Government Code to ensure the preparation and implementation of a tourism development plan, the enforcement of standards and the collection of statistical data for tourism purposes. The plan should integrate zoning, land use, infrastructure development, the national system of standards for tourism enterprises, heritage and environmental protection imperatives in a manner that encourages sustainable tourism development (Javier & Elazigue, 2011). The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall be the primary planning, programming, coordinating, implementing and regulatory government agency in the development and promotion of the tourism industry. It shall monitor the LGUs’ compliance to national standards in the licensing of tourism enterprises; and ensure the proper coordination, integration, prioritization and implementation of local tourism development plans. It shall provide technical assistance to LGUs in destination development, standard setting and regulatory enforcement; preparation, implementation and monitoring of local tourism Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development development plans, gathering of statistical data, and enforcement of tourism laws and regulations. There are a number of activities where LGUs have to coordinate with DOT. These include: - integration and coordination of local and national plans for tourism development - approval (by LGU resolution) of designating TEZ - designation of a permanent position and performance of functions of a tourism officer in every province, city or municipality where tourism is a significant industry - promulgation (also in consultation the private sector industries and other tourism stakeholders) of rules and regulations on the operation of all tourism enterprises, such as a national standard for licensing, accreditation and classification of tourism enterprises - establishment of tourist information and assistance centers at strategic locations (province, city or municipality where tourism is a significant industry) - provision to DOT of an inventory of all the resources available to the DOT for use in the implementation of the Act - periodic reporting to the DOT on the status of tourism plans and programs, tourist arrivals, and tourism enterprises, among others, within their jurisdictions - issuance of timely advisories on the safety or viability of travel to particular places - report to DOT of incentives provided by LGUs for tourism enterprises through, among others, reductions in applicable real estate taxes and waivers of fees and charges Social Representations Theory Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development According to the work of Moscovici (1961-1963; As cited by Meliou & Maroudas, 2009), social representations are built on shared knowledge and understanding of common reality. Social representation theory developed for the study of lay knowledge, addresses issues which are also of concern to theoretical framework and research traditions, such as culture, common sense and shared cognition. Social representations are particularly appropriate when the topic of study involves multiple social perspectives, provides challenges, difficulties and conflicts due to change, and features the communication of ideas in the public arena. The study of tourism and host community reactions to it is therefore well-suited to the social representations framework. A backlash against tourism may take several forms that can be manifested by reduced support of locals in their community or reduced support of politicians and advocates of tourism (Ambrož & Mavrič, 2004, ¶ 1). The social representations framework is an organizing theory that directs attention to the whole. Systems of values, attitudes and experiences are the explanation tools for the people when they reflect and talk about tourism. It emphasizes the commonalities in individual and group views in tourism. Shared views that reveal a conflict about tourism development can be understood with a social representations framework. It is very important that this framework enables us to see the attitudes of tourism as an integrated and complex whole in the conceptual space of the resident (Pearce & Moscardo, 2002; As cited by Ambrož & Mavrič, 2004). CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development This chapter discusses the research design, characteristics of the population and participants, sampling procedure, sample size, data gathering procedures, research instrument, data analysis and statistical treatment to be used in the analysis and interpretation of data. Research Design Due to the nature of the study, the researcher will utilize descriptive-survey research design and will analyze the data quantitatively to determine the significant difference in the social representations of hikers/ tourists and locals in terms of tourism infrastructure towards accessible tourism. This type of research design is valuable in providing the facts, and focusing concentration on the most essential things to be reported (Camilar-Serrano, 2016). The design will also be employed to this research because the objective of the study is to know what are the tourism infrastructures that the participants think are to be prioritized to have accessible tourism to all users of tourism products. Participants of the Study The participants of the study will be composed of hikers/ tourist who has visited Mt. Tapulao and the locals of Barangay Dampay-Salaza of Palauig, Zambales. The researcher will use purposive sampling and will be applied for both hikers/ tourists and locals as participants of the study. For the local tourism office, the available officer will be interviewed to answer the other objectives not covered by the questionnaires for both hikers/ tourists and locals. Research Instrument Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development The researcher modified the questionnaire found in the study of Szell (2012) to fit to the purpose of the study. Aside from the first material, the researcher also referenced on the Tourism Infrastructure Policy and Priorities released by Tourism and Transport Forum of Australia and the National Tourism Infrastructure and Investment Assessment – Appendices document (Tourism Industry Aotearoa) (2017) which enumerated tourism infrastructure categories. The questionnaire is composed of two parts; first part will focus on the demographic profile of the participants and the second part will be asking about their representation on the level of priority given to tourism infrastructure in the locale of the study. Two questionnaires were utilized to collect information regarding the social representations of hikers/ tourists and locals of the study area’s tourism infrastructure. Likewise, the questionnaire had similarities when it comes to the measurement of their priority in terms of tourism infrastructure. A separate questionnaire will be used for an interview with the local tourism officer of the locale that will also be based on the first two questionnaires specifically on the part where it asks for the level of priority for tourism infrastructure, to know the current and planned infrastructures for the area. This will also bring answer to the objective of the study to know on how the local government and locals interact in terms of tourism development in making the area accessible to hikers/ tourists. Data Gathering Procedure The researcher will be requesting for an approval with the inclusion of the purpose to conduct the study on the specific locality from the Palauig Municipal Tourism Office. This will include the collection and recording of data coming from the participants through the questionnaire. Collection of data will be done through survey questionnaire for both locals Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development and hikers/ tourists, and will have a face-to-face interview to a local tourism officer. Aside from using a questionnaire, the researcher also gathered information through different secondary sources which includes, books, published journal and researches and materials from the internet. Statistical Treatment To interpret the data that will be gathered, the following will be used with the aid of SPSS: 1. Frequency count and percentage. Both will be used to tally the responses regarding the participants’ demographic profile. And to have comparison in terms of the values of each demographic in reference to the data provided by the participants. 2. Mean. This will be used to know how the participants score the level of priority for each tourism infrastructure category. For the interpretation of the responses on the second part of the questionnaire, the researcher used the Likert Scale with the following components: Rating Scale, Mean Interval Scale and Verbal Interpretation). Rating Scale 1 2 3 4 5 Mean Interval Scale 1.00 - 1.99 2.00 - 2.99 3.00 - 3.99 4.00 - 4.99 5.00 Verbal Interpretation Not a priority Low priority Medium priority High priority Essential 3. T-Test. This will be utilized to check on the differences on the responses made by the participants in the level of priority for tourism infrastructure. The t-test’s statistical Cavite Heritage Cuisine: Exploring Caviteños Knowledge on its Cultural Food as Basis for Tourism Development significance indicates whether the difference between two groups’ averages most likely reflects a “real” difference in the population from which the groups were sampled. 4. Multiple Regression. This will be used to predict which tourism infrastructures are valued more by the respondents as for the level of priority given.