THE Philippines has gone a long way from Spanish Jesuit missionary Fr. Juan J. Delgado in 1751 and Dr. Jose Rizal in “Mi último adios,” referring to the Philippines as the “Pearl of the Orient/Pearl of the Orient Seas (Spanish: Perla de oriente/Perla del mar de oriente).
Sadly today, when Filipinos talk to potential foreign tourists, they seem to constantly say, “Come to the beautiful Philippines, but stay out of Manila.” The city may not be the “gates of hell,” as author Dan Brown seemed to say in his novel, but we are embarrassed by the Metro area.
What other country in the world discourages people from coming to its capital city?
It is hard to defend the city of Manila and the National Capital Region, as most of us who live here are constantly complaining. When was the last time you heard anyone say, “I am glad I live in Metro Manila.” “Traffic, pollution, crime, poor infrastructure and nothing to do but shop” might be the tourism slogan as written by most Manileños.
But is our negative view about greater Manila justified? Name one major city the size of Manila—or even smaller—that does not have all the same problems?
Back in 2010, Time magazine, in its travel section, wrote this: “For many folk, Manila remains a city less traveled, because its myriad attractions are obscured by a flawed public-relations machine.” The article goes on to identify specific tourist attractions, including Intramuros, Binondo and Malacañan Palace. Another travel guide talks about how interesting and unique Corregidor Island and Fort Santiago are.
Among the potentially big tourist attractions could be the many churches around the metropolis, from the Manila Cathedral to Malate Church. “Church tourism” is big business in Europe and we have done almost nothing to put our churches on the tourist map.
Struggling through Manila traffic and traveling in the shadow of urban poverty is unpleasant for tourists. But to say that there is nothing unique for them to experience about Filipino history and culture is wrong. Instead of emphatically telling tourists to stay away from Manila, we should be just as strongly telling the government—and the private sector—to clean up our city.
Improving the tourist environment is not going to happen overnight, but we have to begin sometime. Right now we are like someone that invites a person over for a visit but tells them to stay in the garden because the house is untidy and dirty.
Telling potential tourists to close their eyes and get out of the airport to the provinces as quickly as possible is a ridiculous solution to problems that can be solved with some political will on the local and national level and genuine concern by the people.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano
1 comment
Intramuros-Luneta park, Bay Walk, Binondo-Escolta, Malate, Ermita, NATIONAL HERITAGE sites in Manila; Cubao-Araneta, Timog, Morato, Matalino, Maginhawa and Visayas Av in QC ay pwedeng madeveloped as urban tourist sites….
Kung may sapat na budget (Facelift – Renovation – INFRA P5-10.0 billion / year) ang mga LGUs and National authorities…..kung mare-resolved ang TRAFFIC situation, ZERO CRIME RATES / peace and order, clean and green surroundings, Clean Retaurant / STREET FOODS – CLEAN public toilets, Shopping-Walk-Sidewalk widening-bicycle lane, hotel accomodation and better transport facilities..
May study na ang Dept of TOURISM authorities..pwede…prioritization at budget lang ang challenge at kailangan..