By Anthony A. Araos
Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the Philippines, and it can be achieved not just in Luzon but, also in the Visayas and Mindanao.
It brings towns into contact with one another, and generates income and jobs across the economic spectrum.
For towns or provinces bereft of modern-day attractions such as a mall and fast-food chains (like Jollibee, McDonalds, Chowking, KFC, Greenwich, Wendy’s or Inasal), there are certainly ways to solve the problem of still attracting tourists. The solution lies in tapping and aggressively promoting the natural wonders of the place.
This is the case of the 11 towns of Ifugao. Hard to believe but, it’s true. Jollibee has 1,000 stores (as of July this year) in the Philippines and 3,555 stores (as of May of this year) worldwide across 12 brands in 17 countries but, none in Ifugao. So it is hard to get your favorite Jolly Spaghetti and hotdog snack meal. One has to travel to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya if he or she resides in Lagawe or Hingyon.
Henceforth, the vast wilderness of a forest is easily a major attraction to local and foreign tourists in search of a life-time adventure. You’ve got to see, understand and appreciate nature’s wonders at its best. After all, this is really what life is all about. It was not meant to be difficult and stressful during this time of fun and revelry.
Real adventure starts when one is well within the interior of a forest. Treasure these moments for this is already the real thing. Take photographs (using your camera or cellphone) of the mammoth forestland. There are also many other attractions in and around these places such as scenic waterfalls.
A very good point of interest for trekking or camping is a stretch of forest area in Banaue town leading to Bontoc town in neighboring Mountain Province. Everything about the town’s forest will be thoughtfully documented by an environmentalist or trekker, maybe even cherished.
Whether it is a forest, watershed or a mountain refuge, green landscape is sure to be a hit, anywhere you are across the globe. This time around, you don’t have to go too far. It’s in Banaue!
One would know right away it would be a great experience like no other- surely different from the usually planned in-the-box “tours” of the government. Try it for yourself. Experience the hip and cool element of an early morning fog in this town known throughout the world for its enchanting rice terraces.
-o0o-
Hardships and challenges are understandable in an impoverished town like Lagawe. Many are poor. Many are jobless.
This is precisely the reason why there is a pressing need to focus and prioritize its tourism potentials.
For quite some time, I entertained the idea of promoting the town’s so-called destinations. One of them is a waterfall. So I have been asking my friend (who is a Councilor) so many times about it. He said: Wait till next year and there is still a validation.
I have friends in the United States of America who want to see the place this Christmas. There are twenty two of them. How about telling them to wait until 2018 for such a silly reason? Goodness sake!
Such ridiculous explanation can no longer be overlooked, given the high stakes offered by the tourism industry.
Again, tourism creates jobs. Creating jobs, livelihoods and opportunities, which will enable Filipinos to provide for their families, is so essential in the countryside.
I hope that through this commentary, we can improve the tourism industry by discarding outdated ideas and practices. I strongly believe that adopting better approaches to every step- from planning the tourism blueprint to market and promotion linkages- will benefit all stakeholders in the long term. Beyond that, there is an opportunity to improve the people’s lives.
-o0o-
So here are we again. Validation? Stop this non-sense! All you have to do is to craft a genuine, comprehensive and timely tourism and infrastructure program that seeks to promote, develop, market and enhance tourist destinations. Tourism, after all, is the vehicle in which we can showcase the natural and man-made attractions of a place, thereby spurring domestic travel. It is as simple as that.
For tourism to flourish, one has to hurdle two obstacles. For one, infrastructure such as roads and bridges should be prioritized. Enticing investors to come and see business potentials of the place is the other one. It is also as simple as that.
No need for one to waste time validating! It is utterly as simple as that.
The next time someone quips “I’m validating this destination,” I’ll tell him or her: Go back to kindergarten! It is absolutely as simple as that.
-o0o-
There are countless requests for funding of communal irrigation systems (CIS) in Ifugao and elsewhere.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) received Php 11.1 billion in subsidies in the first quarter of 2017. Yet, 2.4 million hectares or 43 percent of farmlands remain without irrigation. That’s how bad the situation in so far as the irrigation needs of farmers is concerned.
The Philippines would be self-sufficient in rice and other agricultural produce if the irrigation program reaches these lands. In other words, there is no need for numerous requests for funding of CIS at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Irrigation is indeed the heart and soul of farming. Without water, there is nothing to harvest in the rice field. Stopped developing farms and the Philippines end up running short of rice and finally earns the notoriety of being the biggest rice importer of the world.
Clearly, something is wrong somewhere. Nonetheless, board members are still entertaining the horrendous idea of allotting vital funds for the CIS in Ifugao. Temporarily, halt apportioning funds for the same and instead initiate an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on this pressing matter.
Who among the ten Board Members would dare initiate such a move? Should any of them try to do otherwise? At stake is the well-being of farmers. From the simplest task of sponsoring an appropriate resolution at this august body to the heavier workload of deliberating all-related matters with resource speakers, everything rests on the shoulders of the board members and the presiding officer.
Taking all of the foregoing into account, one cannot just say everything is OK and let’s ignore this issue. There is appalling poverty among farmers, who are considered as the poorest of the poor. They are paying irrigation fees when water is free. So this is indeed a survival issue. It is not a lot to ask for those who walk in the corridors of power to help them in the best interest of promoting the common good.
-o0o-
The next 12 months will open possibilities for Lagawe businesswoman Junia Tayaban, who owns Collins Purified Water, she never even wondered. Holiday greetings to Mrs. Tayaban and family!
-o0o-
To this day, the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is certainly in very good hands. Credit it to Board Member Noli Maguiwe of Aguinaldo town. He is not relaxing on his laurels to attain agricultural abundance. Godspeed and Merry Christmas to Board Member and Mrs. Maguiwe and their family.
-o0o-
For our food delights corner: Bring out the best on this festive season of Christmas of pan fried fish fillet in creole sauce, boiled crabs (cooked in lemon sauce), baked vegetables and java rice.
For dessert: buco salad with cream, apples, chocolate cake and chilled strawberry juice.
Today is another excellent time to pray before eating and rewarding yourself (and your loved ones too) this great meal.
-o0o-
Finally, a thought for our readers: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” Mahatma Gandhi of India.**
