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WOW Philippines E-Newsletter - SEPTEMBER 2008
Welcome to the September issue of WOW Philippines E-Newsletter, a monthly e-publication of the Philippine Tourism Office in Singapore. Through this channel, we aim to keep you abreast on the latest tourism news and developments in the country.
This month we are cast the spotlight on the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX), which is the country’s premiere business to business travel event. This year’s focus is on adventure tourism, in line with the DoT’s new Adventure Philippines campaign.
Held in tandem is the Philippine Travel Mart with the theme "Triple X: Xtreme Adventure, Xtreme Wellness and Xtreme Leisure in the Philippines". Both events will run from 12 – 14 September 2008 at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall.
You are also invited to visit our website www.wowphilippines.com.sg for updates on different destinations and packages on offer. We hope that you will be encouraged to help us promote tourism to the country
Let us know what you think! We will be very pleased to hear from you.
In this issue:
• Message from the Tourism Attaché
• Activities
• Tourism News
• Destination of the month
• Travel Trends 2008
• Upcoming Events
Message from the Tourism Attaché
Are you ready for Adventure Philippines?
The Adventure Philippines programme was launched internationally in March at ITB Berlin, the largest international travel fair. The programme is a tie up between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Recreational Outdoor Exchange (R.O.X.).
It has a fresh vibe that offers something new to all adventurers, foreign and domestic. Adventure Philippines not only aims to showcase the beautiful sites and the majestic scenery of the Philippines, but also how we can really enjoy and be part of it.
The Philippines is already famous for its white beaches, the scenic natural landscapes, and the stunning marine life, but there are still a lot of untapped ecological treasures our country can offer.
Adventure Philippines will introduce these untapped resources, explore their wonder, and break away from traditional travel packages. The program will promote new activities that are hard to resist.
Tourists and local adventurers will discover new waves for surfing enthusiasts and new finds of diving sites. With over 7,107 islands of diverse experiences to entice the traveler, the Philippines is set to be South East Asia's adventure capital.
New features for Philippine tourism will also include trekking, sea kayaking, and the tranquility of bird watching. Our ecological treasures and the warmth of the Filipino people are truly world class.
Ms. Gerosel Siquian
Tourism Attaché
PHILIPPINE TOURISM OFFICE
DoT Activities
Farewell to Ambassador Belen Anota
A farewell party was held for H.E. Ambassador Belen Anota on 16 August 2008 at Scotts 28 condominium function room. The Ambassador has completed her tour of duty and will be returning to the Philippines
Adventure spotlight at PHITEX 2008
While the Philippines organizes a number of travel marts each year to target buyers, the Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex) this month remains the main business vehicle of the DoT. Phitex 2008 will focus on adventure tourism, in line with the DoT’s new Adventure Philippines campaign.
"Adventure tourism is getting to be a multibillion-dollar global industry accounting for a fifth of the world’s tourism market. Travelers all over the world are searching for more adrenaline-packed activities and excitement, more than the usual scenic packages. And we have what it takes to bring them to the Philippines," said DoT secretary, Mr Joseph Durano.
To push "Adventure Philippines" directly to the target market, Mr Durano is bringing in huge wholesale travel buyers from some 20 countries where adventure tourism is getting to be a craze, particularly bird watching, mountain trekking and climbing, camping, and whitewater rafting.
"These foreign travel buyers will join the Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex) 2008 to do business with local sellers of tourism packages," Durano said.
Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) executive director, Mr Daniel Corpuz said: “Adventure travel is one of the market segments the DoT teams can promote by identifying the products that will appeal to their respective markets. Phitex will validate the adventure travel programmes that the Philippines can offer.“
PCVC is targeting at least 150 foreign buyers for Phitex, particularly wholesalers promoting and selling adventure programmes. “When it comes to sellers, we will no longer be talking about destinations, but specific adventure tourism products and suppliers,” Mr Corpuz added.
Phitex will be held at SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, Metro Manila from September 10 to 11. It is held in conjunction with the 19th Philippine Travel Mart, which will be held at the Megatrade Hall at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila from September 12 to 14.
The guidelines on joining Phitex 2008 are found at www.wowpinoy.net/phitex where interested parties can register online.
19th Philippine Travel Mart 2008
An Xtreme experience awaits visitors of this year’s Philippine Travel Mart like they’ve never seen them before.
With the theme "Triple X: Xtreme Adventure, Xtreme Wellness and Xtreme Leisure in the Philippines," the travel fair will run from 12 – 14 September 2008 at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall.
It will feature packages that highlight a different kind of Philippines to take you away from the beachside lounge chair and off to the rush of your life - on the surf, on a raft, on a sailboat, on a hanging bridge, or off to the jungles in search of some of the world’s rarest birds.
Organized by the Philippine Tour Operations Association in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, the yearly three-day Travel Mart is the country’s largest travel fair and features showcase pavilions of the regional tourism offices, tour operators, hotels, airlines and transport services, plus other usual stakeholders of the local travel industry.
This year’s theme coincides with the Department of Tourism’s new focus on adventure travel, and both highlight the travel public’s growing taste for extreme rush and recreation.
The 19th Philippine Travel Mart is co-presented by the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Tourism Authority, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation, sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, PAGCOR, Philippine Airlines, Hewlett Packard, Kodak Philippines and in participation with Air Philippines, Blue Water Day Spa, AIM Conference Center, ROX, Next Mobile, Chase Technology and Microdata.
For more information, email philtravelmart@gmail.com
Tourism News
Philippine Asian MICE Forum 2008
On August 27-28, 2008, the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) hosted the Philippine Asian MICE Forum at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City.
Supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), and the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), the event gathered local industry experts and professionals in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry to learn the latest trends, challenges and directions of MICE in the local, regional and global market.
The event also helped participants identify opportunities and threats of the MICE industry in the Philippines to help shape its future, as well as, to provide continuing education to industry players in their quest for professional growth.
The two-day forum examined successful MICE destinations in the region and how they were addressing increased competition. Representatives of select Asian countries presented the state of their local MICE industry in terms of infrastructure, government incentives and their compelling value proposition that drew worldwide attention.
The event featured panel discussion among clients who discussed their criteria for choosing where they would hold events and who would run them. The second day of the forum focused on marketing Asian MICE venues and offered insights into costs and pricing, bidding for international events, customer care, safety and security, new technologies for MICE, and sponsorships that would assist industry players in developing effective competitive strategies.
Philippines destinations in 7 wonders race
The Philippines has the most number of destinations in the top 20 list of the New Seven Wonders of the World online contest.
As of the latest count, the Tubbataha reef of Palawan ranks ninth, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol is tenth, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park is at 11th and Mayon Volcano is in 20th place.
The DOT is now renewing its call to the general public to vote for the country’s nominees. Voters have until Dec. 31 to log in their nominations at www.new7wonders.com and the top 21 finalists at the end of the first round will be announced in January 2009.
A second year-long competition will then be held to determine the top seven contenders to be officially declared the new “Seven Wonders of Nature” by the year 2010.
The rankings are updated twice daily on http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/liveranking.
Boracay Gold Crowne Resort is Boracay’s new gem
Sun worshippers who consider the island of Boracay an escape from the daily grind of work and stress in the city will have another venue to consider: Boracay Gold Crowne Resort, located at Station One.
Recently acquired by Astoria Plaza Hotel, this exciting resort is in the process of renovation and upgrades. True to Astoria Plaza’s mission, Boracay Gold Crowne is a value for money proposition as it provides quality of service and ensures that the stay of every guest is more than satisfactory.
Turning Boracay Gold Crowne Resort into a top resort destination entails an infusion of Astoria’s chic spacious interiors, which is exactly the transformation process that’s underway, with no less than design partners of Astoria Plaza, Cebu-based Gallego Architects and noted hotel interior design studio Atelier Almario responsible for the hip room and modern architectural designs of the resort.
These features, coupled with the beachfront, will enhance Boracay Gold Crowne as a prime spot where one can enjoy a memorable stay and relish the magnificence of the world-famous Philippine sunset against the luminous blue waters of Boracay.
Boracay Gold Crowne Resort is situated at the Station One, Boracay Island, in Malay, Aklan. For more information on the newest resort in this sun and fun white sand island, e-mail rsvn@astoriaboracay.com or sales.bgc@gmail.com. Information on The Boracay Gold Crowne Resort can also be accessed at www.astoriaboracay.com.
Cebu Taoist Temple
Cebu takes pride in being the country’s oldest colonial city. Apart from Spanish churches and landmarks, Chinese temples also attest to the richness of Cebu’s heritage.
One of the more popular destinations in the city is the Taoist Temple, located at the highest elevation of the Beverly Hills subdivision, which is about 6 km north of downtown Cebu.
The temple has an elevation of more or less 300 meters above sea level and you need to take 99 steps in order to reach the main temple. Not an easy walk but the view is truly rewarding.
It was built in 1972 with the help of Cebu’s prominent Chinese community. The Taoist Temple is constructed in a highly ornate style with a pagoda style roof and prominent oriental Chinese architecture.
The temple is the center of worship for Taoism, the religion that follows the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tze. Taoist devotees follow their rituals on Wednesdays and Sundays, as they climb the 99 steps of the temple to light joss sticks and have their fortunes read by the monks.
The next time you visit Cebu, be sure to visit the Taoist Temple
Davao mall developments
Davao City has several new mall developments in the pipeline. Ongoing developments include the P3-billion Ayala Business Park and Mall, which stands in a 9.5 hectare property. Slated to be completed by 2010 the mall will be preceded by an IT/Business Process Oustsourcing Park, which is the first phase of the development.
Davao City is part of the country's cyber-corridor under the Mega-Region Development plan of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also the business sector of the City particularly the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI) is eyeing the IT sector as one of its core industries for development.
Apart from that, the city is promoting retirement villages. Japanese, Chinese and American retirees find the city the place that they want to settle for retirement. The projected money spending of a retiree is at US$1,000 a month.
Mindanao home to world’s tallest religious statue
The tallest religious statue in the world, the 50-foot statue of the Divine Mercy is in the Philippines. Divine Mercy Hills is fast becoming a popular pilgrim site in Mindanao.
The statue is located in the tranquil Hills of PSB Ulaliman, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental. The project developer is Architect Felino Palafox Jr. and the statue’s sculptor is Mr. Nick Reyes both world-renowned in their fields.
The project is funded by donations from individuals. The Divine Mercy Statue will be blessed on September 8, 2008.
New tamper-proof hi-tech Philippines passport
Filipino overseas travelers will soon travel with the latest state-of-the-art electronic passport equipped with a tamper-proof microchip bearing identification and personal information.
The new maroon E-passports with electronic chips are set for release in October this year according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The new passport will replace the manually processed green passport, where the bearer’s information is encoded long hand. The E-passport will also gradually take the place of the machine-readable passports (MRPs), maroon booklets embedded with computer-recognized biometrics and safety features for tamper-proofing.
The E-passports will use technology as secure and tamper-proof as identification cards used in the United States military and defense establishments. Besides advanced security features on its laminated information page and individual sheets, the E-passport will contain the bearer’s photo, fingerprints and personal information in one tiny chip embedded on the end cover page.
Sacobia proposed as camping site
The Department of Tourism is reviving a proposal to transform a portion of the 5,724-hectare Sacobia Valley in Bamban, Tarlac and Mabalacat, Pampanga border area into a camping destination.
Ronaldo P. Tiotuico, DOT Region-III director, said he has presented the proposal to Janet Lazatin, newly-appointed Assistant Secretary for Health, Sports and Wellness at the Department of Tourism in Manila, who has committed to develop Central Luzon as one of the pillars of health and wellness industry.
Lazatin said the Sacobia Valley near the sprawling Clark Freeport Zone, can be a haven for camping and ecotourism with its vast forests, valleys and hills, and the pyroclastic flows from the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
The camping holiday proposal entails the construction of 50 portable but sturdy tents complete with environment-friendly fixtures like beds, tables and chairs, kitchen and lounging area with each tent accompanied by a clearing for parking and an outdoor grill for family cook-outs.
San Nicolas: Manila’s old world charm
If old Spanish houses designed with capiz (mother-of-pearl) windows, floral arches and huge doorways fascinates you, then you should visit San Nicolas - Binondo’s largest district.
A short walk from Binondo Church you will find fascinating and marvelous vintage houses in this old Manila district.
This area in Binondo probably has the largest collection of 19th-century houses in Metro Manila or probably in the entire Luzon. According to some historian, San Nicolas is one of the few parts of Manila that survived World War II.
Most of the old houses can be found in the streets of Madrid, Lara, Elcano, Lavezares, Camba, San Nicolas, Barcelona and Peñarubia. At the corner of Madrid and Peñarubia Street, there is a three-storey Floral style bahay na bato (brick made house) which was built in 1890.
How to Get There:
This Old Manila district is located in the Western side of North Manila, at the edge of the Pasig River surrounded by the districts of Binondo and Tondo. Take a short walk passing a short bridge in front of the Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz and the Binondo Church.
Subic Bay featured in Singapore newspaper article
Subic Bay in Zambales province on the west coast of Luzon island was featured by Singapore daily The Straits Times (19 August 2008) as a choice destination for families traveling for a budget of S$3000 or less.
The article touted Subic’s many attractions such as West Ilanin Forest Area, Jungle Joe's World, Extreme Adventure Park and Ocean Adventure Park. The story also mentioned Zoobic Safari, the 25ha attraction which features a wide range of animals and highlighted Tiger Safari where visitors can watch fearsome cats from a safari jeep.
Subic Bay’s shopping arcades, restaurants, hotels and world-class marina were also mentioned.
Destination of the Month
Camiguin – sleeping giant
Camiguin is a small place, and easy to pass over on the map. It is a tiny dot that off the north-west coast of Mindanao. It has seven volcanoes within its 64km circumference - the highest density of craters in the world.
In 1871, Mount Vulcan Dean vented its fiery wrath on the island. Most of the town disappeared into the sea. A white cross now marks the spot where the cemetery used to be - a hundred meters out to sea. These days, volcanologists tell us these volcanoes are quietly snoozing. Let's hope it stays that way.
Camiguin is a province in its own right. It has a governor and an administrative center, Mambajao. Most of its eateries are little booths along one side of the market. They are fun ways to get into the local culture, and are at their busiest at breakfast when hot cocoa and rice cakes get the morning nicely under way.
To get around, you can hire a jeepney with a driver. The island can be easily covered in a day with plenty of time for stops along the way. And stop you have to, if only to exchange pleasantries with everyone who hails you as you pass.
The "must sees" in Camiguin are the Katibawasan Falls - a 50m drop - and the Santo Nino cold springs. To me the best part of these and other destinations is the fun you have in getting there. Turning inland off the coastal road, you bump along and up through the island's lushest forest parts, getting to see a lot of local farming life along the way.
Clearly, the people here have plenty to rejoice about. The rich volcanic soils raise most everything they need - hardwood, coconut and bamboo for their nipa huts; fruits the best the Philippines produces (mangoes, avocado, jackfruit and citrus); crops of coconut, cocoa, rice and maize. "Soda water" too - mineral water, actually - gushes up from underneath the rocks.
Most families keep pigs, a cow or two, chickens and the pride of place in every yard - the rooster. Add to this a rich seafood harvest from the surrounding deep waters and it's little wonder people here are smiling all the time.
Then there are the flowers. The Camiguinos love them. Some huts have a sea of vibrant bougainvilleas spreading from the roadside to their door. As a guest, you can't but feel privileged to be invited into such a home.
Evenings on Camiguin are quiet - a barbecue or drinks on the beach at your resort. There are few white sand beaches on Camiguin, but at its northern tip, the coral sands have contrived to form an S-shaped island, a kilometer or so from shore. To get there, hire a pump-boat - 150 pesos for the round trip.
The clear turquoise waters around the island make for striking photographs, especially with the fishing boats dragged up on the sand and the green cloud-capped waters behind.
How to get there:
Airline Philippine Airlines flies from Singapore to Cebu via Manila. From Cebu, you can get a connecting flight to Camiguin. You can also go by ferry from Mindanao - from either Cagayan De Oro (three hours) or Balingoan Port in Misamis Oriental (one hour).
Travel Trends 2008
Philippine Tourism posts 7 per cent growth in tourist arrivals for first half of 2008
The Philippine tourism industry is well on its way to hit at least an eight per cent growth in visitor volume by the end of 2008. Tourist arrivals from January to June 2008 went up by 6.9 per cent to hit 1,633,887. The arrival volume recorded in the first half of 2008 is almost 48 per cent of the total growth target set by the DOT for the year.
Tourist arrivals from the Asia Pacific region accounted for 18 per cent of total inbound traffic in the first half of 2008.
Taiwan posted an impressive double-digit gain for an aggregate volume of 60,195, to become the fourth leading source of arrivals. The Mandarin Air charter flights from Kaohsiung to Cebu and from Taipei to Kalibo, which were initiated by the DoT, had greatly improved tourist accessibility to Mactan, Bohol, and Boracay Island. In addition, the enhanced partnership with Taiwanese travel agents enabled the DOT to tap the high-end leisure market.
The introduction of specialized products on incentive and adventure attracted more visitors from Australia, which grew by 12 per cent. Hong Kong has been revived with the introduction of new products and tapping new trade channels.
Cebu Pacific’s entry into Vietnam at the beginning of the year stimulated more direct air connections between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Manila. This contributed to the growth in tourist arrivals from Vietnam by 45 per cent.
For the second half of 2008, the DOT will continue to adjust its market strategy and marketing programs to make sure the Philippines optimizes and takes advantage of the growth opportunities in the global market. Likewise, the DOT will diversify its product portfolio to stimulate tourist spend and longer stay, thereby, increasing the economic contribution of tourism.
Passenger shipping industry down while budget airlines fly high
While overloading used to be the culprit in most sea mishaps in the Philippines involving passenger liners, the case of the recently capsized Princess of the Stars shows that traveling by sea is not the primary choice to reach any of the archipelago's 7,107 islands anymore.
The ill-fated Sulpicio Line ship plying the Manila-Cebu route had a capacity of 1,992 passengers, excluding crew members. But when it encountered rough waters during a typhoon and capsized in June 21, it was only carrying over 700 passengers and more than a hundred crew members.
It means the massive 23,824-ton ship was carrying a 40 per cent load. Transportation industry observers note that a 40 per cent load factor even during an off-peak season is low. This reflects the declining popularity of inter-island passenger shipping, which is gradually losing ground to budget airlines.
It started in 2005 when Cebu-Pacific changed its business model and converted into a low-cost, no-frills airline. The airlines dramatically dropped its fares for various domestic destinations. Eventually, other local airlines followed suit. PAL Express, Asian Spirit, and Southeast Asian Air are also offering more affordable plane fares to local and international destinations.
Flying on budget airlines is not only more affordable, it is also more convenient. A Manila-Cebu boat ride, for example, takes almost a day. A plane ride, on the other hand, takes just over an hour.
Richard Pinkham, a Singapore-based aviation expert previously with the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, explained what this means to the customers: "If you can lure a new passenger onto an airplane with a super low fare, then it will be harder for that person to accept a long ferry ride in the future. They may return to the airplane even though the price has gone up."
Upcoming Events
Masskara Festival in the city of smiles
Bacolod’s most popular fiesta, Masskara Festival, is celebrated on the third weekend of October closest to October 19, the city’s charter day anniversary. The word Masskara was coined from two terms: “mass” meaning people and “kara” means the face… thus the “face of the masses” Festival.
The Masskara Festival is a celebration of victory over tragedy. Happiness over grief. Abundance over poverty. The Ilonggo people know how to live up to the Masskara tagline “Sige Lang, Sige Na. Bacolod Bato Kita”.
The festivities kick off with food fairs, mask-making contests, brass band competitions, beauty and talent pageants, a windsurfing regatta, drinking and eating contests, trade fairs and exhibits.
The climax is a mardi-gras parade where revellers don elaborate mask and costumes and dance to Latin rhythms, Rio de Janiero style. Thousands of people flock to the streets to witness street dancers clad in smiling masks, colorful costumes and intricate headdresses.
The festival is a reflection of the character of the people of Bacolod, who survive and overcome challenges despite problems and adversities. In fact, the Masskara celebration has become a world-renowned festival that every Filipino can be proud of.
Bacolod City Masskara - Schedule for 2008
16 Oct - Schools Category of Masskara Street Dancing 17 Oct - Barangay Category of Masskara Street Dancing 18 Oct - Open Category for the Masskara Street Dancing 19 Oct - Bacolod City Charter Day Celebration and Military Parade
Lanzones Festival in Camiguin
The Lanzones Festival in Camiguin is held every third week of October. It is a four-day grand festival of the island’s agriculture and tourism industries highlighted by a tableau of local culture and a grand parade of lanzones, the golden sweet fruit found abundantly in the entire province. It is Camiguin’s contribution to Mindanao as a cultural destination. The Lanzones festival is the residents’ way of giving thanks to a bountiful harvest not only for lanzones but other agricultural products.
