WHEN I visited Puerto Galera Most Beautiful Bay Inc. (PGMBBI), President Hubert d’Aboville in his very spacious Makati City office late last week, I could not help but look at the various artworks hanging from the walls.
One particular frame caught my attention and had my eyes fixed on it for some time. It was not an artwork, but it had black and white photos of an indigenous tribe.
I asked d’Aboville if those were photos of Mangyans, who are very much part of Oriental Mindoro and Puerto Galera. Shaking his head, he said that we Filipinos are clueless with regards the various tribes in the country.
He then told me that those in the photos were his Dumagat friends from the Cordillera region, whom he met during his early years of living in the country.
Right then and there, I kind of felt ashamed of myself, as he seems to know more about our culture and our past. Indeed, I guess, I am still a stranger in our own country.
Do not get me wrong, I love the Philippines and would not swap it for any other place in the world. But beyond the books, Internet, and the usual destinations, there are a lot of surprises out there that are still waiting to be explored.
Puerto Galera as weekend getaway
ONE of those places is Puerto Galera, which is just a good three hours away from the Makati central business district.
According to d’Aboville, he would love to see the day when there will be upgraded and developed boat rides from Batangas Port going to Puerto Galera that would be available at 6 p.m. on Fridays and with Monday return trips starting at 6 a.m.
For him, there is no better getaway for those caught up in the hustle and bustle of the city than a weekend spent in Puerto Galera.
By having boat rides available late Fridays and early on Mondays, d’Aboville believes that people can go straight to Puerto Galera from the office and then to work from the place’s beach resort community.
The way he sees it, with only P600 needed for transportation, there is no better value for hard-earned cash than in Puerto Galera with its beaches, diving spots, food, entertainment for the whole family, and even a round of golf.
Barely scratched the surface
I HAVE been to Puerto Galera on a couple of occasions in the past because of the Malasimbo Festival, which d’Aboville holds annually inside his huge property. From what I have seen, the place indeed is so breathtaking.
Still, d’Aboville told me that Puerto Galera has barely scratched the surface in terms of its potential as a tourism destination.
He said that highly respected architect, urban planner, and environmentalist Felino Palafox Jr. has already been to Puerto Galera and is ready with a master plan for its future development.
Presently, there are 157 establishments in Puerto Galera with a total capacity of more than 2,700 rooms. It is foreseen that another 500 rooms are needed in the near term. He predicts that once Puerto Galera diversifies further and can eventually cater to a mix of backpackers and those looking for a luxury vacation, it can easily hit one million in tourist arrivals annually.
Most Beautiful Bays in the World
THAT path starts with the holding of the highly prestigious 11th World Congress of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World in November next year.
During the congress, Manila and Puerto Galera will be visited by high level delegations from at least 20 countries, members of the club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, who would be closely looking at the country as a prime tourist destination.
He said, the congress, which already has the support of the Department of Tourism (DOT), would be the last major international event for the country next year.
Outside of the DOT, the local government units of Puerto Galera and Oriental Mindoro have also confirmed their support of the congress. Discussions with leading private companies are also ongoing for their involvement.
The Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club is a UNESCO-supported organization that has been advocating the protection, enhancement, promotion, and commitment of prime bays globally. Puerto Galera has been a member since 2005.
He said his love and passion for Puerto Galera is his own way of promoting Philippines Inc., wherein both government and private sector are working closely together toward a united goal of not just promoting tourism but more important in uplifting the lives of our countrymen.
Not bad at all for a Frenchman who discovered the Philippines in 1977 as a backpacker and for someone who found a 10-hectare and 1-square-meter home in Puerto Galera a day after his 10th wedding anniversary, which he and wife Ara celebrated in Oriental Mindoro.
Let us all pray together that Supertyphoon Ruby, which entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday and packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour, would not result in the loss of lives and properties. Stay safe everyone.
For comments, suggestions and reactions, I can be reached at raalzona@yahoo.com.