Showing posts with label tour. Show all posts

INTREPID ME

by Apolinario  Villalobos

At the crack of dawn

While the rest of humanity

Are still curled up in their bed

I’m already up, eager, excited;

I hit the road, buoyed with lightness –

Letting my feet just carry me on

As I unwind my pent up energy

That gives me a feeling of ecstasy.

With cell phone, notebook and pen

Camera, batteries, biscuits, candies

Towel, extra shirt, coins and bills –

All backpacked, I trek over hills;

A shot here and there, mesmerized –

A stop here and there, hypnotized –

Only aahs and oohs, I say nothing more

As the searing sun, I patiently endure.

The world is my home, it’s where I belong

I let no oceans and seas hinder me, there are ships

I let no great distance distress me, there are airplanes

I let no meager funds discourage me, I can scrimp

I let no insufficient language daunt me, I can make signs

I let no difference in culture deter me, I can learn

I let no difference in climate frighten me, I can adapt

This is me, intrepid me, my desire to explore is my map!

Mga Karanasan Kong Kagila-gilalas Noong Naglibot Ako sa Pilipinas

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Bilang editor noon ng TOPIC Magazine, obligado akong maglibot upang mangalap ng mga impormasyong pang-turista para mailathala sa magasin. At, dahil iba-iba ang mga napupuntahan ko, iba-iba rin ang mga karanasan ko. Ang iba ay sobrang censored kaya hindi pwedeng banggitin, except sa ginagawa kong “memoir” na ilalabas kapag ako ay patay na, at ang iba naman ay sobrang nakakatuwa kaya dapat i-share “to make the day” ng mga nagtitiyagang magbasa ng blogs ko.

Sa isang bayan sa norte, nag-check in ako sa isang maliit na hotel, okey naman dahil may toilet subalit hindi ko nabuksan para ma-check ang loob dahil nagmamadali akong makapunta agad sa mga tourist spots. Pagbalik ko galing sa paglilibot ay naligo ako at gumamit ng kubeta. Nadismaya ako dahil nang umupo na ako sa “trono” hindi ko madiretso ang dalawa kong paa…dapat nakaangat ang kanan kong paa upang magkasya ang wetpu ko sa” trono” dahil halos dikit sa dingding ito. Kaya ang nangyari ay para akong aso na nakataas ang isang paa, halos pa-side view, habang nagpapalabas ng sama ng loob….ang mahalaga noon ay nakaraos ako. In fairness sa maliit na hotel, malinis ang toilet, ngunit ang kubeta ay pang-unano yata.

Sa isa pa ring bayan sa norte, ang toilet ng hotel na tinirhan ko ay barado. Mabuti na lang at nasa tabing-dagat ang maliit na hotel, kaya kahit gabi na ay nagsabi ako sa staff na kunwari ay  magsi-swimming ako kahit ang katotohanan ay may binabalak akong gagawing kabantutan! Nagtampisaw ako sa mababaw na dagat dahil low tide hanggang makaraos ako. Kinabukasan ay nag-check ako kung may nakalutang na ebidensiya sa ginawa kong karumaldumal nang nakaraang gabi…mabuti naman at inanod yata sa malayo!...nakaligtas ako sa batikos!

Sa mga maliliit na lunsod ay uso ang mga hotel na ang toilet ay nasa pagitan ng dalawang kuwarto…share ang occupants ng dalawang kuwarto sa paggamit ng toilet. Malalaman ng occupant ng isang kuwarto kung ginagamit ng taga-kabilang kuwarto ang toilet dahil naka-lock ang pinto niya sa loob, na dapat buksan kapag tapos nang gumamit ang taga-kabila, upang makapasok naman siya, at ila-lock naman niya ang pinto ng katabi niyang kuwarto. Nag-check in ako sa isang hotel na may ganitong uri ng kubeta. Nang hapong maliligo na ako (siyempre nakahubad) ay binuksan ko ang pinto ng kubeta…at nabuksan nga…nakalimutan kong may ka-share ako sa kubeta….at may chicks palang nakaupo sa “trono”….nakalimutan niyang i-lock ang pinto ko sa loob! Nahantad naman sa kanya ang kaluluwa ko! Nagkatinginan kami….nagpaka-gentleman pa rin ako at dahan-dahan kong isinara ang pinto habang nagbaba-bye. Nagkita kami uli sa dining room, kasama niya ang kanyang asawang egoy (black American)!...tinginan uli kami at nginitian niya ako ng pagkatamis-tamis…parang may nabistong secret na siya lang ang nakakaalam!

Ilan lang ang mga nabanggit sa mga  madilim na bahagi ng aking kahapon sa paglilibot ko sa Pilipinas dahil sa call of duty. Tiniis ko ang lahat dahil ayaw kong maging jobless at lumuwa ang mga mata dahil sa gutom. Noon ko lalong naunawaan na iba pala talaga ang buhay ng isang tunay na turista na hahamakin ang lahat makarating lang sa mga tourist spots! 

Backyard Tourism Industry

By Apolinario Villalobos

I will never tire of espousing backyard tourism industry, the kind of small-scale industry that could assure steady but controlled flow of tourists, but still assure revenue for residents of touristic destinations. This is the only way by which nature and culture can be saved, with their pristine attributes maintained without sacrificing the income. This venture does not need high-rise structures, noisy establishments, prostitutes and drug pushers that follow the heels of lascivious leisure seekers.

The mistake of most governments, especially, the third world countries, lies in their misunderstanding of tourism. For them, tourism is translated into 5-star hotels and resorts even in rural areas where tourist spots are located. There is nothing wrong with these structures, even with the convention centers. But they should be situated in urban centers. Towns and villages, should be left to their laid back setting, supported only with nature-friendly facilities that are comfortable enough to satisfy the needs of visitors.

If the commercial accommodation facilities of small towns, villages and cities are not enough, what may be offered are residences of locals as “hospitality homes”. This is then, how the locals can have their direct share of revenue. The local government can come up with a list of local residents who are willing to rent out one or two rooms of their home to visitors for a minimal fee. The offering can include a package of meals and guided sightseeing tour.

What happened to Boracay should be a lesson to us. The island has been spoiled beyond recovery. When I visited the island years ago, with the late and former Antique governor, Evelio Javier, the island’s beaches were practically sparkling with powdery white sands lapped by crystal clear water. Only quaint fishermen’s cottages sparsely dotted the beaches. Coconut trees and fruit trees filled the inland. Coral reefs teemed with marine life.

Today, Boracay island suffers as marine sports facilities continue to destroy its coral reefs, seepage from septic tanks of resort facilities give life to a destructive kind of algae, and worst, prostitution and drugs that have practically overran the entire island!

With the inception of the move to encourage the movement of citizens of ASEAN member-countries within the region, by easing restrictive measures on travel, there is a need for all governments concerned to take extra precaution. Tourism is the last hope for the region to recover from losses that resulted from the WTO dream-like promises which proved exploitive at the expense of third world countries like the Philippines, and the rest of the southeast-Asian countries, as well. In this regard, the governments of the southeast-Asian countries should be extra careful in their moves. Destruction of natural attractions by unrestrained building of facilities because of the selfish desire to expedite revenue generation is like killing the duck that lays the golden eggs!