Keep WOW Philippines alive!
In the aftermath of the tragedy, it will be more than the hostages lives that will be taken. Thousands of international tourists have already cancelled their trips to the Philippines. This is not just some vain concern. There are regions and villages that are entirely dependent on tourism to put food on the table and send their children to school.
What happened at Luneta is despicable. Luneta itself is ridden with crime, but even this incident is an extreme exception more than it is a norm. There is a need for an upheaval in the system, yes. And we should demand for that change.
At the same time, there is a little something we could do to make change, and a little brighter future for our country.
I was based in Jakarta when the bomb went off in Bali in 2002. I have seen Kuta, Bali entirely deserted of tourists when I visited later that year. I have also seen how it was locals and other Asians who helped bring Bali back to life. It took a few years, but Bali got back on track.
I call for Filipinos to do the same by travelling locally. This is the time to help our country and kababayan out by exploring the beauty of our own shores. There is so much to discover in this country, and the antics of one madman and the ineptness of our police should not destroy our local treasures and heritage. While the rest of the world is scared to visit, it will be the courage and love for our own that will bring them back.
It’s just one little thing that will be a big help to so many others. Pass the thought on.
Come, explore with us!
As mentioned in a previous post, I’ll be embarking on a 2-week journey throughout the Philippines with some colleagues and friends of the press. Follow our trail throughout the Philippines on our travel blog, Whee!Explore.
Are you there, God?
It has been sweltering in the Philippines. I thought it was just an unusually hot summer, up until I found myself near faint in the heat in my own apartment. I headed out to seek refuge in an air-con mall, something I rarely do, but when that got out old I decided to brave the heat and bug a friend in Cubao.
I had to take the train, which was thankfully roomy, but once I stepped onto the platform I felt like I was on the verge of melting. And I was so damn thirsty.
I ducked into a 7-11, where I realized that I probably died sometime ago–
it was the one 7-11, green and orange stripes and all, which didn’t have a slurpee machine.
It’s official. I died at some point and was sent straight to hell.
HOSHEHT, TRIP KUNG TRIP – The Genesis
I won a trip around the Philippines at my first presscon with Microsoft Philippines. It has been twenty-four hours since we first sorted out the details, and I’m still in shock and awe over it.
After announcing the success of the rousing feedback from the windows7ako facebook page, the presscon attendees were put into groups and challenged to put together a Philippine travel itinerary with a budget of P100,000 in about 45 minutes. I was grouped with friend and fellow writer, Pepper Laforteza, and Mirage writer, September (yes, her real name, remember). We put together a Philippine-wide trip from Old Manila to Mindanao, exploring over land, air, seas, and our stomachs.
The original itinerary was:
MANILA (1 day): Breakfast at Hizons, trip to National Museum, Carlos Celdran Intramuros Tour, Dinner in Binondo, then a bus to Baguio for a connecting bus ride to Sagada.
Sagada (4 days): Lodgings in Rock Inn, foodtrip around town, hiking, spelunking (including the epic 1 hour cave tour connecting the small cave with the big cave). Take bus to Baguio on last day, catch a flight to Cebu.
Cebu: (3 days): Airwalk at Crown Regency, more foodtripping on lechon and other delicacies, with a daytrip to Bohol. We take the superferry to Davao.
Davao (4 days) : Lodging at Pearl Farm, snorkeling around the resort, tour of Mr. Apo, etc.
When we were done, I worried that we might lose because it was a bit much. We had the longest itinerary (2 weeks) so we could max out P100,000, and we knew that it was more than enough to go around (rule of thumb: costs outside the capital are significantly lower) The other teams kept their travel itineraries to a particular region, which made them look a lot more organized.
Ours was adventurous, but is it too adventurous?
Then when the time came for the judges to announce the winners, Jojo kicked it off with, “Well the winners will have to take two weeks off—”
HOLY SHEHT.
WE WON OUR OWN CRAZY TRIP.
So it’s confirmed, from May 24 to June 6, 2010, Pepper, September, and I will be doing our crazy trip throughout the Philippines.
Stay tuned, we’re in for quite the ride! Thank you Microsoft and sponsors!
For the first of many pics chronicling this journey, this is a pic from my FIRST Microsoft event with BlueRep from back in 2005.
I wrote the show and ended up starring as Clippy the MSWord Helper. It was also my very first corporate event.
[Writing Meme] Day 5: Your Favorite Quote
Two stick to me —
“From the ashes of my failures shall rise the empire of my successes.” -as seen by Jessica Zafra on the back of a jeep
and,
“The world is not perfect, therefore it is.” -Kino no Tabi/Kino’s Journey. This is the fansub translation in the anime. The official English manga translation says it’s “The world is not beautiful, therefore it is”, which could also apply, but I much prefer the insight from the fansub.
Part of the 30 Day Meme. Next is Day 6: Whatever tickles your fancy.