A section of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, one of the highways which boost domestic travel [photo: emanila gallery]

Travel traffic between Australia and the Philippines continued to buck the trend this year in the face of the current global recession.

In an exclusive interview, the Philippines’ tourism attache in Sydney, Consuelo ‘Lito Jones, told Radio Sandigan that despite a worldwide decline of 8 per cent, traffic between Australia and the Philippines had increased by 5 per cent. “I am happy to say that we’re doing pretty well,” Ms Jones said.

“Domestic travel overall (within the Philippines) was up 13 per cent, with destinations in, for example, Camarines Sur (in southern Luzon) posting an increase in visits of 194 per cent compared to last year.”

Worst affected destinations were Europe, which saw a 10 per cent decline in traffic, followed by the United States with 6 per cent. Australia and the Pacific suffered a decline of 4 per cent, Ms Jones said.

There were destinations, however, that had actually seen improvement in traffic movement. “France, the most popular destination, was up 1 per cent,” she said. “It was the same with South America and Maldives. But the majority of destinations around the globe had negative figures.”

Ms Jones attributed the spiral in travel traffic everywhere to a diminishing number of passengers in air travel. “The financial crisis has had people opting for other means of travel for safety and economic reasons,” she said.

“Further, many businesses have chosen Internet conferencing over sending executives interstate or overseas. Things like that.

“As a result, airlines have cut their number of destinations to concentrate on more profitable ones. All that, in turn, has had a negative impact on hotels and many other businesses in the travel industry.”

But in light of continuing interest in tourist travel between Australia and the Philippines ~ and cuts in spending ~ Philippine tourism is bumping up its aggressive promotion.

“You will see and hear more on the Philippines in the Australian media next year,” Ms Jones said. “The travel market around the world will rebound, and I believe the immediate future of travel and tourism is looking good.”

The Philippines is clearly preparing for it. “Already, there have been more hotels built comprising 1,230 more rooms,” Ms Jones said. #

Screenshot of National Geographic's Adventure 25 Best New Trips in the World in 2010 promotion

The Philippines was named “One of 25 Best New Trips in the World in 2010” by National Geographic, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs recently reported.

The DFA report said that the Philippines’ ancient cultures, structures and biodiversity were cited by the National Geographic as key reasons to visit the country.

In its November 2009 Adventure issue, the DC-based National Geographic described the Philippines as ‘harboring as many islands at the Caribbean and some of the most spectacular reefs on the planet.’

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa said the inclusion of the Philippines in the list shows the global community is “taking note of the natural and cultural wonders in the country as well as the efforts to protect and preserve them.”

The DFA said that the Philippines has been promoting its cultural and natural wonders as preferred travel destinations for global tourists. It works closely with the National Geographic in raising awareness on the importance of sustainable development and ecological protection.

The National Geographic list of 25 Best New Trips in the World in 2010 includes Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Canada, France, Kenya, Iceland, New Zealand and the US.

“Now more than ever, travelers want their dollars to do more – for others, for the planet, for themselves. At least that’s what we found while searching for the best trips of 2010,” National Geographic said about its 2010 list.

Last Wednesday a grateful and tearful nation bade goodbye to Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, well-loved 11th president of the Republic of the Philippines, internationally known icon of democracy, loving mother and grandmother, and a fellow Tarlaquena.

In between trying to get some work done, once in a while I would walk to the TV lounge to catch a glimpse of President Cory’s slow-moving funeral procession mobbed by hundreds of thousands of mourners and admirers chanting her name. From a distance the emotionally charged scene looked like a canvas of yellow and black colors with brown hands jutting out of the picture.

I felt sad that I wasn’t in Manila for this historic moment; I wished I could have joined some of my friends who patiently waited for hours somewhere along the route to the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque, to pay their last respects to a much-respected lady. Perhaps I’ll feel better if I can share with you my simple personal experience with President Cory. I will no longer extol her many virtues because by now you’ve heard, read and seen a lot about this national leader who has left us with beautiful memories to last a lifetime. Allow me to share my personal story to demonstrate the profound impact President Cory had on those whose lives she touched including mine.

I had completed my six years of employment at the Westin Philippine Plaza when the much-heralded EDSA Revolution took place in February 1986. Yes, my family and I were among the more than a million Filipinos who marched on EDSA, an unprecedented collective action that ousted a 20-year dictatorial regime, installed our country’s first lady president and restored democratic processes throughout the land.

A couple of months later I was called upon to serve the new government, invited to lend a helping hand in the best way that I knew how. That’s how I landed in the Department of Tourism, as Deputy Executive Director of then Philippine Convention Bureau which later our team evolved into what is now the Philippine Convention & Visitors Corporation.

Passion to serve

Leaving my comfort zone in the private sector, I suddenly found myself in an unfamiliar capacity as a public servant. I didn’t mind the pay cut nor the bureaucracy because amidst the euphoria of our country’s newfound freedom, I, too had a passion to serve.

My colleagues and I were always in awe whenever we would catch a glimpse of President Cory in her signature yellow suits at official functions. One of my memorable moments with her was when she addressed the DOT staff in one of our tourism events. She reminded us to shun the “excesses of the past regime” and remain “simple, humble and honest.” She told us to be a role model and put “service to God, country and people” above all else. Those words of wisdom set the standards for my three-year government service.

My job was to promote the Philippines as a tourism and convention destination. And it turned out to be the most professionally enriching and emotionally rewarding job I’ve ever had in my entire career.

As part of my numerous marketing responsibilities, I travelled overseas either to help man the Philippine booth at international travel fairs, attend tourism conferences or go out on selling missions with my colleagues. As I recall, we did all these functions on a shoestring budget. After getting used to staying in the finest Westin hotels whenever I travelled for my previous employer, my new team and I searched for budget hotels, especially in countries where room rates were astronomically high. Once we found ourselves staying in a Holiday Inn in the middle of nowhere. I asked my traveling companion, our Tourism Attache in Washington DC, where on earth she found this motel. In an age when computers were not yet a way of life, she simply relied on what the travel agent said “our budget could afford.”

Instead of renting cars, we would have fun chasing taxi cabs in busy streets like Chicago or New York. Even the Tourism Secretary himself set an example for all of us, reminding us about President Cory’s standards. He, too, chased taxi cabs. I vividly remember one Winter day in Berlin, when my immediate superior, the Undersecretary of Tourism Marketing, and I stood almost freezing outside the exit gate of the world’s largest tourism fair. Along came a tourism official from Thailand and asked us what we were doing out there in the bitter cold. We replied that we were waiting for the shuttle bus to take us back to our hotel. He looked at us incredulously and asked, “Whatever happened to the stretch limos that your predecessors used to have?”

The world was happy for us Filipinos

Shortly after joining the DOT, the very first overseas function I attended was a convention of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) in Brisbane. All the Asian destinations were vying for a slot to speak and present their country before these 1,000 tourism professionals. Because of the Cory magic, AFTA gave the Philippines the first priority to present. I got so nervous by this unexpected opportunity that the Tourism Secretary almost had to push me onto the stage to deliver the opening spiel and introduce him as he warned me, “It’s now or never.”

Everywhere we went, people opened doors for the Philippine tourism team, and we felt that the world was just so happy for us Filipinos. More often than not, we would be asked about President Cory. One time I had to show my tourism brochures to a Customs officer who found my carry-on too bulky. But all he asked was, “How about giving me a picture of Cory?”

A year after joining the DOT, I represented the government in an Asia-Pacific tourism conference in Bangkok just after the May 11, 1987 elections. My staff had prepared a speech for me, which was about tourism statistics and tourist attractions in the Philippines. After my first nerve-wracking experience in Brisbane, by this time I had gained a bit of self-confidence in public speaking. But instead of reading my prepared speech on statistics, I just told the audience the story about the EDSA people power revolution, how the events unfolded, how we, as a people staged a bloodless coup that toppled a dictatorship and installed Ninoy Aquino’s widow as the rightful president, the position denied her after she was cheated of victory in an earlier snap election. Following the restoration of democracy, I told them that we experienced the largest turnout of voters in our history, as the Filipinos, basking in their newfound freedom, were eager to elect their own local officials and national leaders in Senate and Congress. As I talked I noticed that some American men in the audience were in tears, probably touched by the pride and joy of all Filipinos who I represented. After my 15-minute talk, a reporter came to me and asked for a copy of my speech. I told him that I didn’t have any; I just spoke from the heart.

I’ve also spoken from the heart in writing this email. Thank you for writing me to share with you and your readers my memories of the late President Cory. I hope you all had the patience to read this email.

In closing, I just want to say that in death, President Cory reawakened the Filipino spirit and united us once more.

I am so proud to be a Filipino. And prouder that I once served President Cory’s government.

Sincerely

Lynn

*** Lynn Z. Romero is currently Director of Sales & Marketing, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Philippine tourism in Sydney Christmas parade in 2007

Australians will have the chance to experience another Christmas festivity, Philippine style.

Complete with music and choreographed dancing, exquisite costume design and homegrown Christmas décor, the Sydney Christmas Parade on Sunday, 30 November will treat spectators a great sample of what to see in the Philippines on Christmas season.

The Philippine Department of Tourism will participate in the parade a second time around, after raving reviews of its participation at the inaugural parade last year.

“Last year’s participation was a story, but this is an epic,” said Philippine Tourism Attaché, Consuelo Jones about the 80-person delegation in this year’s parade, half of which were flown directly from the Philippines.

“The Philippines is still a voyage for discovery for most travelers but this will give a larger-than-life glimpse of its rich and diverse culture and heritage”.

The Philippines is reported to hold the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season, with caroling commencing as early as September.

Traveling Theatre

This year’s float concept has been described as a “traveling theatre”, capturing the Christmas spirit of a town setting from different, moving angles.

Philippine tourism officials with some Bayanihan members in Sydney Christmas parade, 2007

The float will feature a two-story replica of the century-old Spanish ancestral houses preserved in the Philippines, many of which have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their unique fusion of Asian building design with European colonial architecture tracing back to the 16th Century.

In a rare treat, performances by the world-renowned National Dance Company of the Philippines, the Bayanihan, will bring an eye-popping vision of the Christmas fiesta to life.

The dancers will hit the ground running, without a pause for breath in the hour-long parade, to showcase their lavish costumes and heart-throbbing dance sensibility.

Joining them in the procession are the street dancers of the Karansa Performing Arts, a local award-winning dance troop from the province of Cebu.

To top things off, twelve-feet tall giants made out of papier-mâché – known locally as the ‘Higantes’ – will be brought from the Philippines and will add further theatricalism.

Lucky winner enjoys Manila’s vibrancy

The Philippine Department of Tourism and the Sunday Telegraph Christmas Parade will also be giving away a luxury holiday to the Philippines, where one lucky winner and a friend will fly to the Philippines and enjoy the vibrant cultural city of Manila in five-star accommodation as well as kick-back and relax on the island of Boracay, known as one of the best beach destinations in the world.

The parade, modeled on the giant Macy’s parade in New York, will for the first time feature inflated balloons from New York as it winds its way along a 1.9km route from Wynyard to Darling Harbour.

Last year, the Sydney City Council touted the inaugural parade as “the most spectacular public event since the 2000 Sydney Olympics”. /Based on report of Christoph van Opstal / Philippine Tourism