On the 15th day of April 2004, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources launched the privately-operated Bangus Hatchery in Amandayehan, Basey, Samar, which will be serving the mari-culture investors. This launching was tripled with the blessing of 10-hectare Basey Mariculture Zone of and the harvesting of bangus (milkfish), tahong (mussel) and guzo (seaweed) in a Fishtival mode in Aninipot island, Tinaogan, Basey, Samar.

Truly, marine-cultured fish or caged-fish are much more palatable than those cultured in brackish fishpond. Natural environment of the mari-culture could have contributed the palatability of these caged-fish. Natural inflow of seawaters and natural outflow of fish wastes could have made this so.

Tahong, on the other hand, is best when baked with butter or crispy fried with garlic. Guzo, the BFAR way, is a champion salad diet if mixed with carrot strips, pineapple tidbits, raisens and tomatoes spiced with onions. These bangus, tahong, guzo and many others had made our day in Aninipot island.

These are only few of the many fishery activities done in Eastern Visayas, which made our region self-reliant in aqua-marine products and had increased the Agri-Fishery-Forestry contribution to GRDP. In fact, a big volume of the deep sea fish catch are being transported to Manila and some volume of Tiger Prawns and live Lapu-lapu are being exported to Japan.

But talking about the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival this June, 2004 is another affair to remember in Eastern Visayas. The happenings were not confined to June 30, the Feast Day of Sr. Sto. Niño in Tacloban City, but the whole hot summer month of June. It started on June 4 with a Pilgrimage of "El Teniente" in all Leyte towns and ended with a Street Disco-Videoke-Singalong on July 4.

Various activities vibrated the city ranging from live band of rock and roll music to rappers delight, street disco, and nights with the stars --Aegies, July of Globe, Mr. Piolo Pascual and many others.

But what was it for Eastern Visayas - domestic tourists and Balikbayans plunged and stayed in Tacloban City for a week or two for the festivals, reunions and many more. Another contribution of the tourism sector to the service component of the GRDP.