Any Filipino who has traveled outside of the Philippines will see the ridiculousness of the proposition that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”
Having been born and raised in the Philippines, one knows the attractions like the back of one’s hand. While it is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder – we are trying to attract visitors (tourists) who have certain modicums of “beauty”, standards of cleanliness and order.
Vested interests in the Philippine tourism industry have nudged the Dept of Tourism to front the money for a tourism campaign. Such a marketing blitz should be paid for by the tourist facility operators – and not taxpayers. However, this also means that permits, fees, and taxes on tourism businesses should be reduced so they will have more money in their company coffers to launch their own respective marketing campaigns.
Having said that – let me get to the meat of the matter. Not only is the Philippine government’s tourism campaign wasteful – it is also dishonest because it’s not really “more fun in the Philippines”. Repeating a lie over and over “that it’s more fun” – will not make it any closer to the truth.
The tourism blitz will of course hype the end-destination. The problem with that is that the destination is but half of the journey. The other half of the journey is getting to the destination and back.
For argument’s sake, let’s say we have some real nice end-destinations. But, before a tourist can get there, a tourist has to jump through hoops. In other countries, all the proverbial stops are removed. In the Philippines, we put lots of stops and throw monkey wrenches at what otherwise would have been an idyllic fun vacation in other parts of the world.
Here are some of the roadblocks and show stoppers that Filipinos know by heart.
1. The airports suck - we limit development of airports to Filipino majority companies only – and thus we miss out on the state of the art innovations elsehwere in the world..
2. The restaurants don’t have decent rest rooms - the toilets are crawling with flies and maggots and the smell of piss reaches the high heavens.
3. There are no rest areas for motorists. They have to scrounge around for a decent place – and they wind up in this stinking carinderias – see No.2
4. There are no expressways which can take domestic and foreign tourists to attractions faster. Faster and more convenient access increase tourism turnover – and revenue.
5. Pinoy drivers suck – When tourists get stuck in traffic they get to see real life in the Philippines. There is no road courtesy among Pinoy drivers.
If you think the American drivers have a monopoly on road rage, they don’t hold a candle to the demi-gods of the Philippines who will have their goons manhandle anyone who dares overtake their shining SUV’s paid for by taxpayers.
Then there’s the assortment of jeepney drivers, bus drivers, tricycle drivers who turn the streets of the Philippines into one big palengke – complete with cigarette vendors, pork rind (chicharon) vendors who drop and pick up passengers whenever and wherever they want – including in the middle of the road.
And it gets worse because the LTO which issues the drivers licenses does not really conduct honest-to-goodness drivers exams. After taking the “seminar” in LTO – the LTO gives the answers to the exam to the attendees. The applicants are given the written exam – and they just copy the answer key provided by the LTO. And we wonder why there is so much mayhem in Philippine roads.
My memories of an entire balikbayan family who was wiped off the face of the planet by a bus falling off a ravine is still intact. I can’t for the life of me – take the “it’s more fun in the Philippines” with a grain of salt.
5. Few choices of airlines - The recent brawl between Tulfo, Santiago, and Baretto reminds me that you are stuck between one lousy Filipino airline versus a lousier Filipino airline – no thanks to a xenophobic constitution.
Why should Filipinos put up with a lousy Cebu Pacific and an equally lousy Philippine airlines? Because the Philippine constitution says so. So forget about having the exceptional service of Singapore airlines or Cathay Pacific to our island destinations. Forget the huge traffic that these airlines can bring via their own sales channels – because oh well – it’s not operated by Filipino businesses.
We really need to get over this fixation on misguided economic nationalism. Protecting Filipino businesses like PAL and Cebu Pacific wind up with oligarch predators who prey on their countrymen. Oh and those PAL employees who feel entitled to job security? Screw you! The PAL employees are among the worst I have seen in my travels. PAL has an attitude that it is a privilege for customers to be on a PAL airplane. Fortunately for PAL (but not for Filipinos)- it is protected by the Philippine government in the sense that foreigners can’t buy out the company in toto – and get it back to shape.
6. Then there’s the hordes of kibitzers and groupies of alalays that accompany politicians when you go to the attractions or wherever – and the kilala mo ba kung sino ako syndrome.
It’s rather unnerving to see throngs of armed people surrounding a local version of Jabba the Hut who may have the title of Mayor, Congressman, Governor, Councilor, Senator, President and what not.
Picture yourself in line at a convenience store, or a food chain – and someone cuts in because well – he’s the errand boy of a local big shot. And if you remind them that they should fall in line – these blokes will brandish a gun or dish out the famous – “don’t you know who I am”. If it were a Hollywood movie it would be so tempting to just shoot these dudes and give a reply – “I don’t know who you are – and I don’t give a fuck. Meet my buddy Smith and Wesson”.
7. Beggars everywhere. Another thing which really bugs tourists is to see beggars all over the place.
How can one enjoy eating a good meal when on the other side of the glass window you are greeted to the sight of hungry street children looking at your meal with such longing. And it’s not just one child – it’s a whole lot of children. If it was only one – it would be easy to shell out some cash and get the kid a meal. But when you bump into street urchins in every street corner – the experience is just not so “touristy”.
Smell the Kape
Before the Philippines wastes money on a dishonest campaign that claims it’s more fun in the Philippines – make it fun for Filipinos – then the world will listen. Otherwise, who are we kidding… Hell no, it ain’t more fun in the Philippines.
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