TO host international events like the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Meeting and CEO Summit requires meticulous planning, impeccable organization and painstaking attention to detail. The primary goal is to ensure the safety and comfort of all visiting head of states, top honchos of global companies, foreign scribes and other guests.
How did the Philippines fare on its second Apec hosting? Was Apec 2015 worth the sacrifice of thousands of travelers stranded in Manila and elsewhere due to canceled flights, and the ordeal endured by countless commuters who were forced to walk to their destination when Metro Manila roads were closed?
One way to assess the country’s Apec hosting performance is to listen to comments on social media, where netizens gave mixed reviews that can be summed up in this comment: “For the delegates, we did good. For the people, we were beyond terrible.”
Another way is to listen to foreign journalists who covered the event. A story that the BusinessMirror published on Monday captured the general sentiment of the visiting scribes who said the warmth and hospitality of Filipinos—from the staff who assisted them in Apec meetings to the people they met on the streets—made their stay in the country more pleasant.
A Canadian journalist had nothing but good words for us: “I find Filipinos very welcoming and very warm, compared to people in Canada and North America. In Canada we’re a bit more reserved. It’s a very nice change to see and to feel the warmth of the Filipino people.”
“Filipino hospitality is very much appreciated. The service here is very good, especially at the International Media Center. Members of the staff warmly greet you and say hello with a big smile,” a Chinese journalist said.
However, foreign journalists are brutally frank when they talk about the traffic congestion in Metro Manila. Outside of Pasay and Makati cities where the Apec Leaders’ Meeting and CEO Summit were held, traffic in other parts of the metropolis became unmanageable when roads were closed. Some foreign scribes who got stuck in traffic offer these words to describe the situation—“terrible” and “awful.”
A Chilean journalist who works for Diario Publimetro told the BusinessMirror: “I was surprised about the traffic. It was really a problem to go from point A to point B. Traffic was awful. But aside from that, everything is okay here.”
Surely, there are inconveniences and difficulties attendant to staging a high-profile event like Apec 2015. The strict protocol required in securing visiting heads of states is just a part of the tremendous task. For this, the Joint Task Force Apec Security, led by the Philippine National Police, deserves a grand salute. The 30,000 police officers, soldiers and emergency personnel who took part in securing the forum deserve the highest commendation. Securing Apec became more daunting in the wake of the fatal terrorist attacks in Paris a few days before the event.
Foreign observers agree that the Philippines did well in hosting the regional summit. For doing a good job, Filipinos deserve a pat on the back.
Image credits: jimbo Albano