By Ab. Velasco
This past November, I embarked on an unforgettable three-week, cross country visit to the Philippines.
I was born in Manila in 1981 and my family immigrated to Canada in 1989. I returned briefly for a one-week visit in 2008 – as part of a larger Asian trip – and enjoyed it so much that I return for a more extensive tour.
My visit took me across Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Boracay, Bohol, Tagaytay and Manila. It was a wonderful mix of family and friends, adventure, delicious food, world-class beaches, and the rediscovery of childhood friendships and memories that still resonate with such warmth 21 years later.
I found a new appreciation for the Philippines and now believe it has so much to offer to travelers. The government is trying to encapsulate just what that offer is, through a slogan. I will leave the campaign to marketing experts, but I think some of the country’s key selling features are:
World-class beaches
Stepping on the soft white powdery beach on the world-famous Boracay Island and gazing out into the golden sunset on my first afternoon, I felt like in paradise. Whether tanning, enjoying water activities or indulging in the luxurious spas, my experience surpassed those I’ve had in the Caribbean. Boracay is just one of the many beach experiences in the land of 7,000 islands. I’d love to visit the world’s longest cave in Palawan or try surfing at Surigao next time.
Scenic beauty
Land or water, I enjoyed many beautiful sights. In Bohol, an unusual cluster of hills resemble the shape of Hershey kisses. In the summer, when the grass turns cocoa brown, it’s obvious why they are called Chocolate Hills. I also enjoyed a day-long boat excursion that took me from one island to another, and then observing the beautiful marine life through snorkeling and scuba. The corals are beautiful.
Adorable tarsiers
China has its pandas and Thailand has its elephants. If the merchandising – from fridge magnets to stuffed toys – is any indication, the poster animal for the Philippines must be the Tarsiers, one of the world’s smallest primates, found in Bohol. These adorable creatures look like a cross between Yoda and a Gremlin and are about the size of a human fist. Like the pandas, the Tarsiers are endangered and carefully showcasing them can be both beneficial to tourism, while ensuring their longevity.
Abundance of adventure
You cannot say you’ve done rafting until you’ve tried Pinoy rafting. In Cagayan De Oro, going down a 17km river with 21 rapids is made more thrilling by descending the river on an inner tube. Thrill seekers must definitely try Asia’s longest dual zip line (840m) in the Dahilayan Adventure Park – two hours drive outside Cagayan – where you go down Superman style from a launch point of 4,700 feet above sea level. Not for the faint of heart, but a guaranteed adrenaline rush!
Hospitality and cuisine
Eating giant prawns and curried crab on a veranda overlooking the sea. Gently tearing the warm skin of a lemongrass-stuffed lechon and biting into its fatty, crispy goodness. Enjoying a Chicken Joy meal at Jollibee, the only fast food chain in the world that outperforms McDonald’s at the local level. Rediscovering local food such as kare kare, dinuguan and sisig. Giving into gluttony for three weeks was heaven. Filipino cuisine remains one of my fave and made all the better by the locals’ warm hospitality.
Mind you, there are many areas to improve for the Philippines to ever be seriously considered a world-class destination. Among them are the nauseating traffic in the urban areas and the infrastructure itself, such as public washrooms not always being equipped with toilet paper.
The biggest hurdle, of course, is the country’s reputation as being unsafe. A travel advisory from top nations – including Canada – certainly doesn’t help, nor does the recent hostage tragedy in Manila. I personally never felt in danger during my visit, but I had the luxury of staying with family and at resorts and also did my due diligence to be safe. I think it’s important to live life sensibly, rather than fear.
Would I go back? Definitely! I also won’t wait another 20 years to do so again. It is my sincerest wish that the country makes major inroads in overcoming its tourism hurdles, so that more people around the world can discover for themselves that Philippines is truly “Wow!”