tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post6522232442900135001..comments2023-06-10T20:22:01.348+08:00Comments on The Society of Honor by Joe America: A First Class Philippines: Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr.The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-31821817699808307902012-07-22T20:31:06.466+08:002012-07-22T20:31:06.466+08:00Thanks for the perspectives, Cha. Yes, I think dif...Thanks for the perspectives, Cha. Yes, I think different people are looking for different things, and many can find the Philippines to be a wonderful, hidden (for now) jewel, and a fine adventure. DENR depresses me, but I'll look into roads and also communication. It all gets a little fractionalized, I think, because there are national, provincial and local initiatives.The Society of Honorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-56977375301191775222012-07-22T19:09:36.682+08:002012-07-22T19:09:36.682+08:00Most Australians I know who have been to the Phili...Most Australians I know who have been to the Philippines have two main gripes: the traffic and pollution.<br /><br />Otherwise, they mostly seem to enjoy their stay and come out with a better appreciation of the culture and people.<br /><br />The younger ones love the vibrant night life of most of the capital cities. It helps that they are able to enjoy the night without someone getting overly drunk and spoiling the fun for everyone. (In Australia, drunken brawls are a common weekend occurrence. The ERs of hospitals in most city centers are at their busiest tending to the wounded, the heavily intoxicated and those who overdose on drugs during these nights).<br /><br />Waterbased sports such as wakeboarding, surfing and diving are also starting to draw visitors to destinations like La Union (where a number of retired Australians have taken up residence), Batangas, Camarines Sur.<br /><br />The older Australians, mostly male and married to Filipina wives are so taken by the "karaoke culture". They are amazed at how Filipinos can so easily let their hair down, without needing the help of a drink or two, and start belting out a tune like they were on some Idol audition. It also doesn't hurt that they are able to keep the missus and the kids happy with endless shopping and great restaurants for the fraction of what it would have cost them on a local Australian holiday. <br /><br />The hubby has a South American-Australian friend , who with his Filipino wife, come and visit the Philippines more often than we do and just about knows all the best places to go to. He talks about the Philippines like he was the Filipino and my husband was the one who was not.<br /><br />Do they also see the poverty? Of course they do, but because they do not have to live with it everyday, the tendency is to romanticize. Just today, an Australian priest who has been to the Philippines who spoke in a Filipino community gathering I was in, shared that he has found some of the happiest people he has ever seen in the slums of Manila. And these is not the first time I've heard an Australian say that.<br /><br />So yes, there's a segment of the tourist market who will not mind the roughshod and rugged conditions. After all, they're really just temporary inconveniences that should make for interesting stories to share with their friends and family back home.<br /><br />But there will also be those tourists with a view for a more escapist flavor to their holiday, like theDisney type theme parks for those who come with young kids and the one-stop Vegas like attractions for the older ones. I suspect most Asian tourists fall into this category. (judging from the places they choose when they're in Australia). I think they are also the ones who would have more to complain about the traffic and pollution.<br /><br />I just hope the other branches of government such as the Dept of Transport and Communication or the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are doing just as well with their portfolios. What's been the feedback on those two so far? <br /><br />I think you may just have to keep going with your assessments of the other departments, Joe. The ones you've done so far have really been informative. Thank you for that.<br /><br />ChaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-83355771365960714722012-07-22T11:25:36.465+08:002012-07-22T11:25:36.465+08:00From: Island jim-e (aka: the cricket)
1. Hats ...From: Island jim-e (aka: the cricket)<br /><br />1. Hats off to the PREZ for his appointment<br />(more later on appointments please) of a <br />first class, top shelf, expert and professional!<br />I hope to see more good appointments in the<br />future (no more bad appointments please and<br />keep a few "stand-ins" available for emergency<br />use!<br /><br />2. In the USA the tourism department is in the<br />Department of Commerce...Lord knows the islands<br />needs new out-of-country based clean/green<br />investors and businesses to help us achieve<br />success and a healthy society! <br /><br />3. I would be very, very thanksful for any<br />tourists/traveler dollars/income-that we can<br />gain-host/trap for any reason but criminal-- if worst comes to worst the island criminals can kidnap them and hold them hostage (for tv/film/video "reality"- syndication) to help build our reputation as a progressive modern tourist destination to see real-pirates, privateers, and then become the "scourge of the china seas!<br /><br />note: observations on where to spend our <br />"earned" tourist/traveler/commerce dollars and<br />the sad state of the "appointed" judicary<br />systeem in need of immediate overhaul-to come<br />sooner than later please!<br /><br />With hopes of better daze for all islanders-<br />and richer times! <br /><br />chirp!<br /><br /><br /><br />FOR HOPES OF AAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-39237781486357289002012-07-22T06:28:52.375+08:002012-07-22T06:28:52.375+08:00I like cynics in the main, for they see the rumple...I like cynics in the main, for they see the rumples in the stiltskins. As the world goes more modern, there is a certain measure of "boring" attached to travels that take you to this concrete palace or that. There is a certain measure of "real" attached to traveling in a junky bus and creaky boat to spend some time in a wretched shack to swim on a glorious beach and sip a rich beer as the sun casts its pinks and oranges across a big damp sky. <br /><br />Yeah, you may be right. The masses, especially those with kids, prefer the concrete, and if sold a purse and report back a pig's ear, tourism will fizzle like a balloon with a leak. But there are those who don't mind the roughness; indeed they appreciate it. They'll like the Philippines and report back good things. There are elegant hotels here and there on the Philippines; not enough, and that is the "investment" needed that Mr. Jimenez speaks of..<br /><br />The current push is selling the Philippines to Asian neighbors. It will be interesting to see how that works. Without a doubt tourism ought to be a primary economic plank for the Philippines, and Mr. Jimemez must play the hand he was dealt, shackwise. I think his program is about as good as it can get.The Society of Honorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-48697376535917867782012-07-21T20:55:44.923+08:002012-07-21T20:55:44.923+08:00Now if we can only get these pesky tourists to qui...Now if we can only get these pesky tourists to quit telling their friends what it was really like when they went, we'll be good to go.<br /><br />And every Philippine worker going home should definitely be included in the tourist count. That should get us some good numbers to brag about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com