Where to next, Philippines?
Now that we’re all settled in with a new set of leaders and a new administration, the one question that’s all in our minds is this: “How do I help the country move forward? What’s a concrete thing I can do to help this country, without having to get into politics or government service?”
I have an idea: Get to know the Philippines more by being a tourist in your own country.
Now, some of you might say, “What?? How do I help the country by surfing in La Union? Or lying on the white beaches of Boracay? Or by deep-sea diving in Palawan?” Believe me, by making that choice instead of visiting another country, you are helping the country a ton. And it all starts with your vacation money. Instead of that budget supporting a first world country like Korea or Japan or the UK or the US, that money you set aside will support that small beach resort in Camiguin, or that restaurant in Bohol, or that diving school in Coron. And if more of us do this, it could have a huge positive domino effect for Philippine tourism – and, ultimately, the country’s economy as a whole.
And here’s the good news – the Philippines has a TON of very interesting places to visit. That’s not fake news, folks. That is a fact. Most foreign tourists will attest to this. The only problem is, we Filipinos here in the country take all of this for granted. We haven’t taken the time to really discover the beauty of the Philippines.
Recently, I had the chance to catch up with the newly appointed Deputy COO for Marketing and Communications of the Tourism Promotion Board (TPB), newly minted lawyer Atty. Charles Bautista. Charles and I have a lot in common. We are both lawyers, we are both writers, we are both involved in media – and we both have an undying love for the Philippines. Just like me, Charles had every opportunity to work abroad and live in a first world country. But he chose to be here and he chose to work for TPB. He said he wanted to make a contribution and an impact in promoting the Philippines which, he strongly feels, has a lot to offer.
“The Philippines has more than 7,600 islands. There is, quite literally, an island for everyone,” Charles points out. “If you want retail therapy, we have an island for it. If you like diving, there’s an island for that. We have one of the top diving spots in the world. If you’re into beauty or wellness, there’s an island waiting for you. If you’re into biking or motorcycling, we’ve got multiple islands to choose from. If your passion is surfing, guess what? We have several islands for that as well.”
Charles is absolutely right. It’s not only more fun in the Philippines. There’s a lot more to see and discover.
But the world doesn’t seem to know that. Singapore is only one tiny island that is only slightly bigger than Guimaras Island. In 2019, the last full year before the pandemic, Singapore had more than 19 million tourists. Vietnam, which was way behind us economically 20 years ago, welcomed 18 million tourists in 2019. Indonesia, which is comparable to the Philippines in terms of being an archipelago composed of many islands, had 16 million. Bali alone took in 6.3 million tourists. Malaysia attracted a whopping 26 million visitors.
The Philippines? We had a little over 8 million tourists. And that includes OFWs and balikbayans. Clearly, we have our work cut out for us in terms of promoting the country. And that responsibility doesn’t only belong to the DOT. It belongs to all of us.
There’s more to Philippine tourism than the “usual” tourist spots like Boracay, Palawan, Baguio. I went on a business trip recently to Mindanao. And I discovered towns like Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte and Claveria, Misamis Oriental. The views from these towns are mindblowing. Cabadbaran has a mountain view that will make you think you’re in New Zealand. And Claveria has a coffee place overlooking hills and mountains that compare to the Swiss Alps in the opening scene of The Sound of Music. I kid you not.
What’s even more exciting is that the TPB is gearing up for the “next chapter” in Philippine tourism. We already have the “product.” The Philippines, as a tourist destination, is fantastic. So the TPB is leveraging on technology and digital transformation to make it easier for people to discover the country.
“TPB has crafted a road to digital transformation and it comes in every phase of the sales cycle,” said Charles. “In terms of reach and discovery, TPB has shifted its campaigns to be digital first through social media, SEO and content distribution on online platforms. Good content is key. It’s not just ad spots anymore. We’re looking at creating more content with various online publishers and streaming services to cater to the new channels where our audience consume their content. The second phase of the sales cycle, engagement, is digitalized through our Travel Philippines mobile app and website, our hybrid events, and our virtual business missions. This allows us to continuously engage on a B2C and B2B level with tourism stakeholders.
“The next steps in our digital transformation journey will be on conversion and retention,” he continues. “The goal is to drive more tourists across all the regions, and make them advocates of our destinations. We want them to post about our destinations on their social media accounts. We are looking at expanding the mobile app to have gamified digital passports to explore the various circuits we have in the country. We will also create a marketplace inside the app and on the web for streamlined transactions with hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and other tourism enterprises. It’s really an exciting time for Philippine tourism.”
So if you’re asking yourself “Where to next, Philippines?” you don’t have to look any farther than our own backyard. You want to help the Philippines get to the next level? Be a tourist in your own country. Discover what the Philippines has to offer. And then tell the world about it.
That, to me, will make you more patriotic than any political statement that you make on your social media page.
I’d be happy to hear your comments and input. Email me at rodnepo@yahoo.com.
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The pandemic has certainly changed the course of our lives, especially our children’s. Kids who grew up carefree and unrestricted suddenly found themselves confused and lonely in isolation. Toddlers who had grown up only within the four walls of their homes, oblivious to people outside their family, were unprepared for a bigger, frenzied world of strangers.
Rockwell recognized all that, and has cautiously brought back normalcy to kids eager to get their young, active lives back.
Their return to Power Plant Mall was an emotional experience for all. Kids were running to Toys R Us, carrying plastic bags and toy packages bigger than them. Sitting in a barber’s chair and having their long overdue haircut at Cuts 4 Tots seemed like a ride in a theme park. Q Power Station and Cibo Bimbi restaurant were filled to the brim with happy, uproarious families. Easter was a blockbuster after two years of having no fun and games on-site. The curtains were up at Power Plant Cinema, ready to usher in excitable kiddie moviegoers.
Rockwell spoke with three mothers, all Power Plant habitués. These are their stories — how the mall-crazy kids coped with the pandemic, and how the mall has helped them behave like kids again.
Reese Fernandez-Ruiz (social entrepreneur and president of Rags2Riches, Inc.; her sons are Miguel, 5; and Rafa, 2)
The isolation of Miguel, who had already experienced the outside world, became quite concerning when we went out for a car ride during the lockdown. He exclaimed that he would add the kids he saw on the streets to his “new friends collection.”
Miguel has always been a social child. He loves talking to people and making friends with other kids. So you could imagine how we tried to explain what was going on and why he had to do all his activities at home.
So he did play a lot, and had all day to do it! Miguel is a curious kid and the home-teaching did him good insofar as seeing him develop his love for numbers. He can now do basic arithmetic mentally.
As a parent, I learned how to be even more patient with my sons. Our bond is stronger than ever now. And we communicate much better.
My kids’ energy is boundless, especially Miguel’s. When the lockdown was eased, the first things he did were go to the village playground and visit the mall. His other big wish then was to attend birthday parties.
Rissa Mananquil-Trillo (entrepreneur, author and UN Women advocate ; daughters Audra and Celestia)
Our home life, like many others, changed drastically. In a matter of weeks, we had to transform our home from simply being a place of rest and shared meals, to a space for school, work and play.
Naturally, we wanted to protect our daughters from pain and harm. But it was also our chance to shape them into kind and strong individuals, by just being truthful.
My husband Paolo and I had significant conof versations with them about what we were dealing with, so they’d feel secure amidst the uncertainty. We talked about the brave frontliners who were earnestly trying to keep everyone safe. Now, Audra is even more bent on becoming a doctor.
The conversations, though difficult, brought our family much closer. Trust grew through openness about meaningful questions. In isolation, the two girls became a source love and inspiration to each other.
When they first stepped out of isolation and walked into Power Plant Mall, it appeared like they were visiting a toy store for the first time. They had to have their favorite popcorn while watching a movie.
The pandemic did not rob them of their sense of wonder. Audra and Celestia continue to see the grandest moments in the smallest of things.
Jessica Tan-Gan – (Entrepreneur. Kids- Benjamin, Amina and Marcus Apollo)
My kids were very young during the start of the lockdown. My son was one year and eight months old, and my daughter was three months old. All they knew was life with us at home, with short trips here and there. But my kids, especially the boy, were close to their grandparents, and would frequently ask to see them. Grandparents and their apos have a special bond. But we could not risk the health of the seniors, the most vulnerable ones.
While we did our best to remain safe, we tried to go out when allowed, and do normal activities as much as we could. I’m lucky to have friends with the same mindset. We planned regular dates and trips within our circle. When on-and-off restrictions allowed kids to enter establishments, I’d bring my kids for mundane errands like going to the bank or supermarket. It was always a monumentally joyous event for them.
I was heavy with my third child when Alert Level 1 was declared. But we all immediately trooped to our favorite mall, lest things return to a restrictive alert level. They were visibly excited. Everything was new to them.
Toys R Us was their first stop. They spent three hours at the mall. They were wiped out when we got home.
The kids are doing great now. My son is excited about face-to-face schooling. They love being back in their grandparents’ arms.
* * * All their kids are back in their safe and happy place — Power Plant Mall — like everyone else’s. It’s alive with kids’ joyous shrieks and laughter again. Oh, to be a kid again.