Recently in the city of ParaƱaque, the newly opened Grand Westside Hotel located in Entertainment City was inaugurated with the presence of President Ferdinand āBongbongā Marcos, Jr., who expressed confidence about its tourism and economic prospects, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the newly opened Grand Westside Hotel in Paranaque City, tagged the biggest hotel development in the country yet, would be a major economic and tourism boost.
During the inauguration of Megaworld’s Grand Westside Hotel, Marcos said the 19-story establishment with over 1,500 rooms would not only strengthen the governmentās tourism campaign but would also generate more jobs and business opportunities for Filipinos.
Marcos said the hotel’s addition to Philippine tourism is particularly noteworthy in light of the sector’s “remarkable” growth, which contributed 8.6 percent to the country’s gross domestic product in 2023.
“Thanks to this hotel, we can do more. Not only can we accommodate the resurging number of local and international tourists coming to this side of Metro Manila, but we can also expect our Entertainment City to become better known and even more distinguished, elevating its status to more potential visitors in the coming years,” the President said in his speech.
Marcos disclosed that other developments from the real property giant are underway, including the 1,500-seater Grand Opera House also in Paranaque, more theaters and a gaming complex, among other things.
“With all these, we foresee not only the entry of more tourists but also the generation of more jobs, of new businesses and greater opportunity. In fact, [while] many have benefitted from the actual construction of these [properties], around 20,000 direct and indirect jobs will still be created throughout the operation of this hotel in the years to come,” he said.
The President said he is looking forward to Megaworldās triumphs that will āundoubtedly contribute to the new Philippines, ang Bagong Pilipinas.ā
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of ParaƱaque, are you delighted with the Grand Westside Hotel operating in the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that Chinese tourists who intend to secure a temporary visitorās visa for travel to the Philippines will have to come up with an additional requirement, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released details on Thursday on the additional requirement for Chinese citizens applying for a temporary visitor’s visa.
The DFA said that Chinese nationals applying for a 9(a) Temporary Visitorās Visa at Philippine Foreign Service Posts will be required to submit their Chinese Social Insurance Record Certificates.
According to the DFA, the certificates must be registered for at least six months at the time of the visa application.
Those exempted from the visa requirement are Chinese citizens who are currently enrolled in primary, secondary, or college educationāwho will be required to submit proof of enrollmentāand retirees over 55 years old.
Meanwhile, the department said other exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
āThe additional visa requirement is part of the DFAās continuing efforts to enhance its visa policies and regulations for the safe and efficient entry of foreign visitors,ā it said in a statement.
Last month, the DFA announced that the Philippines would tighten its visa requirements for Chinese tourists amid many fraudulent applications received in its embassy and consulates in China.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jesus Domingo said on May 9 that the stricter visa requirements intend to “weed out” the “illegitimate and unsavory” tourists from the legitimate ones.
Several Chinese nationals have reportedly been involved in organized crimes such as human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, and fraud.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the new requirement the DFA came up with will reduce the number of Chinese nationals who intend to commit crime while in the Philippines? Considering the recent conflicts between China and the Philippines at sea as well as the high number crimes committed by Chinese nationals in the Philippines, do you think the new requirement is justified? Do you think the new requirement will severely reduce the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country?
The government here in the Philippines are trying to balance the nationās need of security and the gains from attracting foreign tourists. Specifically speaking, the spotlight is currently on the handling of visa requirements from Chinese tourists as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) made clear the need to help ensure national security, according to a GMA Network news report.
The BI responded to the statement of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) that tighter visa rules for Chinese nationals could harm the nationās tourism as well as the businesses connected with tourist activities. Take note that criminal/illegal activities involving Chinese nationals happened many times here in the Philippines (click here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday that tightening the visa requirements for Chinese tourists would also help the Philippines protect national security, considering the illegal activities involving Chinese nationals.
Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval explained that while tourism is very important to the Philippine economy, the government also needs to implement stricter measures to protect public interest.
āWe also have to look into the national security issue, the safety of the country. Kung merong mga ilegal na ginagawa [if there are illegal activities], I think itās also important to have strict measures kung may nakikita na tayo na kakaibang nangyayari [if we see anything different happening] or mga activities that are probably inimical to national security or public interest,ā she said.
Sandoval made the remark in reaction to the statement of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) that tighter visa rules for Chinese nationals visiting the Philippines could ādiscourage tourism and hurt businesses.ā
She said that the BI has always been strict in inspecting arriving foreign nationals, particularly those involved in illegal activities.
Several Chinese nationals have reportedly been involved in organized crimes such as human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, and fraud. Some of them were also linked illegally working for a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).
This prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to tighten the Philippinesā visa requirements for Chinese tourists amid a high number of fraudulent applications received in its embassy and consulates in China.
The DFA, however, ruled out ongoing tensions with China in disputed areas in the South China Sea as the reason for imposing more stringent visa measures for Chinese visitors.
Sandoval welcomed this development, saying it would add a layer of security in the Bureau of Immigrationās assessment of foreign nationals entering the Philippines.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) that tighter visa rules for Chinese visitors could hurt Philippine tourism? Do you think that Chinese tourists could not behave themselves while they are in the country? Do you want visa rules on all Chinese visitors be tightened for the long-term? Did a Chinese national cause trouble in your local community lately?
As part of its pursuit to attract more foreign tourists and generate higher tourism revenue this year (click here and here), the Philippines is targeting tourists from the United States with the perception that they are heavy spending tourists, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Philippines targets to attract about 15 percent more inbound visitors from the United States, seeing the “highly valuable” market as a big contributor to the full recovery of the countryās tourism sector.
In 2023, at least 903,299 visitors from the US arrived in the Philippines, generating PHP35 billion in tourism revenueā the highest among the countryās top tourist markets.
āThis (receipt) is 215 percent higher than the tourism receipts from South Korea, so this is how important the American market (is). While the arrivals are fewer, the contribution is bigger,ā Philippine Tourism Director-Attache in New York Francisco Hilario Lardizabal said over the weekend.
Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that visitor receipts in 2023 reached PHP482.54 billion, with the US as the top spending market, followed by Australia with PHP17.74 billion, South Korea with PHP16.41 billion, Canada with PHP15.85 billion, China with PHP12.24 billion, and Japan with PHP10.02 billion.
In a briefing with visiting Filipino journalists on April 26, the official said the American market tends to spend more and stay longer in a destination.
In the Philippines, Lardizabal said the majority, or 55 percent of inbound travelers from the US are former Filipino citizens, whose main travel motivation is to visit friends and relatives.
āFilipinos from the US do go around the Philippines and stay longer in the Philippines, and mind you, they also spend a lot. Apart from the money they spend on travel, they sometimes also give out money to their relatives,ā he shared.
Presenting the countryās planned promotion efforts for the entire year, Lardizabal is confident the Philippines would achieve 15 percent more of the 2023 arrival figure.
Lardizabal said the DOT was taking a multi-pronged approach to entice the market by forging partnerships, conducting more training for travel agents, joining B2B (business-to-business) travel trade events, and organizing curated familiarization tours.
Emerging trends ā Before the pandemic, most US travelers to the Philippines were baby boomers, or those in the age bracket of 60 to 78, and Generation X, or those aged 44 to 59.
Citing a 2022 study, the majority of US travelers āshowing interest in the Philippinesā now are millennials or those born between 1981 and 1996, Lardizabal said.
āIyon ang dapat natin bigyan ng pansin (That should be our focus), how do we address the needs and preferences of the millennials,ā he said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines should do more to attract American tourists?
Recently Muntinlupa City hosted the 2024 edition of the Flavors of NCR food festival at the Filinvest City Central Park in Alabang and I personally witnessed the formal opening ceremony which involved many high-level officials and special guests. A lot of people visited the food festival on April 19 and 20 which added to the credibility of Filinvest City Central Park as a suitable open-air venue for special events.
For the newcomers reading this, Flavors of NCR is a special event presented by the Association of Tourism Officers ā NCR which collaborated with the City Government of Muntinlupa for this yearās event. It is a showcase of unique cuisine found in the sixteen cities and one municipality of the National Capital Region (NCR). The local government units (LGUs) that participated include: Caloocan, Las PiƱas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, ParaƱaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and the Municipality of Pateros.
Event launch
The ribbon cutting led by high officials that include Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano (3rd from left), Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon (3rd from right) and Department of Tourism-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin (2nd from left) to name a few.
The opening ceremony of Flavors of NCR 2024 was attended by Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Department of Tourism-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Association of Tourism Officers-NCR headed by Manila City Tourism chief Charlie Dungo, and Pasay City chief of staff Peter Eric Pardo. Also present were Muntinlupa Vice Mayor Temy Simundac and Muntinlupa City Council Raul Corro.
āWe are delighted to host the Flavors of NCR,ā Mayor Biazon stated during his welcome remarks to all the guests. ā(We acknowledge) the presence of other cities here so that their products will be showcased and we are proud to have you here.ā
Biazon stressed that hosting the Flavors of NCR opens up opportunities for Metro Manilaās LGUs and their respective food-and-beverage stakeholders access to the Calabarzon region composed of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon with a collective population of over sixteen million people.
It should be noted that the Alabang area of Muntinlupa is a popular destination for Calabarzon residents as well as those from nearby cities who enjoy shopping and recreational activities during the weekend. That being said, Flavors of NCR fits nicely with the weekend vibe at Filinvest City.
After the formal ribbon-cutting was done, Flavors of NCR 2024 officially opened and a lot of people and photographers followed Biazon and the guests visit the different food booths of each city.
Each LGU and their best
I visited and explored the designated areas (also referred to as āboothsā) of each LGU during the food festival. Each area had a different style of interiors and layouts of food, drinks and other products being offered to visitors. There were also chairs and tables present for those who need to seat down and eat. Check out my raw YouTube videos plus pictures belowā¦
Native delicacies on display for sale at the Las PiƱas City booth.
Burger patties being cooked at the Mandaluyong City area.
Delicious halo-halo from Aling Consuelo Halo-Halo sa Ugbo. This was sold at P100 each.
Marikina City had four sellers that attracted customers during the food festival.
Drinks, dessert and other stuff offered to customers at the Las PiƱas City booth.
As expected, the variety of food and drinks were really great. Offered to customers were chicken, beef, pork, siomai, barbeque, puto, bibingka, pansit, siopao, fried chicken, roasted pig, pastries, cakes, halo-halo and ice cream to name some. There were also non-food products being sold such as bags and accessories in some booths.
The Muntinlupa City area.
Sea food and other food items being sold at the ParaƱaque City booth.
Fried chicken being prepared for customers.
The best of Muntinlupa City offered to customers.
Food and bags for sale inside the booth of Malabon City.
It was really nice to see these small businesses represent their locality and offered their best products to visitors at Filinvest City Central Park. Adding zest to the food festival were some performances by different bands from the cities of NCR. There also was a modern dance activity that drew in lots of visitors which added to the customers at the food festival.
Conclusion
The 2024 edition of Flavors of NCR at Filinvest City Central Park was indeed a nice showcase of what each LGU had to offer for those who love food and drinks. In addition, this festival really emphasized unity between the local governments of NCR and it also promoted local tourism. The festival also attracted some residents of Filinvest Cityās residential towers (plus others from Ayala Alabang, Palms Pointe Village and other residential communities) and some employees (who worked at offices near the park) whose shifts ended.
In the perspective of tourism, this event really boosted Filinvest City Central Parkās status as a venue for special events or activities. To date, the said park continues to be an attraction for visitors and already it has been used by organizers of sports events and musical events.
This was taken during Saturday night.
The successful staging of Flavors of NCR could inspire food festival organizers to have their events held within Filinvest City in the future.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: Were you able to attend Flavors of NCR at the central park in Filinvest City? If you did, how was your experience? Do you wish to see another food festival to be held at Filinvest City Central Park soon?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently at MalacaƱang Palace, the ambitious P170.6 billion agreement to rehabilitate and modernize the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was formally signed in the presence of President Ferdinand āBongbongā Marcos Jr., House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin which symbolically starts the public-private partnership, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The PHP170.6-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement for the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is expected to herald economic growth through better collaborations with both local and foreign investors, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Monday.
At the signing of the concession deal between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) in MalacaƱang, Bautista said the PPP project would āopen floodgatesā of opportunities from investments, business, tourism, and employment.
āWe welcome this development for the NAIA PPP Project as this will not only generate revenue for the government but it will also create opportunities for Filipinos. With a modernized NAIA, we are elevating the airportās facilities and services to international standards,ā he said.
The agreement, Bautista said, would send signal to the international business community about the viability of government infrastructure projects.
āThis radical transformation comes at no small price Substantial investments in infrastructure and technology will necessitate collaborations with local and foreign partners,ā he added.
San Miguel Corporation president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang, for his part, said the NNIC would not only rehabilitate but also improve the airportās functionality and āestablish a new standard in serving excellence.ā
āTogether with our partner, Incheon, we have assembled a team of experts, focused on implementing immediate improvement, and help us achieve our long-term goal for NAIA,ā Ang said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos who witnessed the signing described the pact as an āinvestment in our future.ā
āThis undertaking is not just about revenues that will be remitted to treasury alone, but resources invested in the airport,ā Marcos said.
The agreement, signed by Bautista, Ang and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines, covers 15 years with an option for a 10-year extension.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think this new public private partnership will succeed with achieving its goals of modernizing the NAIA, creating new jobs and attract both new investments and a higher number of foreign visitors in the years in the come?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
An ambitious resort, casino and convention center inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone will rise in the near future, according to a news report by The Manila Times.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from The Manila Times news report. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
A world-class $300-million convention center, resort and casino will soon rise at the country’s premier freeport to further boost the tourism industry in the region.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose AliƱo spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the Subic Sun Convention Resort and Casino Inc. at the Bravo building compound of Subic International Hotel on Thursday, March 14.
“In a couple of years, the Ibis Styles and Mercure Hotels, which is affiliated with the Accor International Group, will be operating a world class integrated leisure and convention center in Subic Bay, which will be the very first integrated resort casino and hotel complex in the freeport,” AliƱo said.
Subic Sun Convention Resort and Casino Chairman and President Pablo Edgardo Puyat, meanwhile, said the operations are anticipated to begin in 2025.
“Both the Ibis Styles Subic and Mercure Subic are in the company’s economy and midscale segments, respectively. Ibis Styles Subic is set to open in 2026 and is the first internationally branded hotel in Subic,” he said.
Ibis Styles Subic will offer 175 rooms and will feature amenities such as a swimming pool, meeting space, and a gym.
Ibis Styles is an economy hotel brand focused on in-style stays while the Mercure is a French midscale hotel brand, with both brands owned by Accor International Group. The Ibis Styles and Mercure Hotels are just part of the initial phase of the project.
Mercure Subic, set to open in 2026, will offer 250 rooms and be the second internationally branded hotel in the area. It is located adjacent to Ibis Styles Subic.
“A world-class integrated leisure and convention center will be constructed in progressive phases, encompassing a six-hectare property that will feature an integrated resort casino complex and five-star resort hotels,” Puyat added.
He said that aside from the convention center and exhibition hall, the area will also have duty-free shops, dormitels, carpark, hotel and recreation center, Americana complex, Americana seaside clubhouse, American country club, and the New Dragon Restaurant.
AliƱo also said that the additional facilities inside the freeport will attract more tourists because they will now have luxury hotels to stay in.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think this development will help solve the lack of hotel rooms inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone? Do you look forward to the announced amenities as well as new duty free shops?
If the newest data about the 1.2 million international tourist arrivals released by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the period of January 1 to March 5, 2024, is indeed true and accurate, then it looks like achieving the 7.7 million international tourist arrivals target for the Philippines for 2024 is doable. The DOT recently announced that that 1,227,815 international tourist arrivals (which includes both foreign tourists and Filipinos based overseas) were counted during the first 65 days of the year, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Philippines is off to a good start in reaching its year-end arrival target after getting 1.2 million foreign visitors in the first two months of 2024 alone, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported Thursday.
As of March 5, international tourist arrivals to the Philippines have tallied 1,227,815.
Foreign tourist arrivals took the lionās share with 1,160,129 or 94.49 percent while overseas Filipinos make up the remaining 67,686.
Speaking at the Philippine Pavilion at the Internationale Tourismus-Bƶrse (ITB) 2024 Convention in Germany, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said this is 22.86 percent higher than the 999,390 arrivals received by the country in the same period in 2023.
āI would like to express my profound gratitude first to all our Philippine sellers who continue to champion Philippine tourism. As of today (March 5), the Philippines has received over 1.2 million international visitors, a robust indication of the future of Philippine tourism. Cheers to all the reasons to celebrate and Love the Philippines,ā she said.
South Korea remains the countryās top source market for visitors, with 349,956 or 28.50 percent of the total, followed by the United States with 195,603 (15.93 percent), China with 85,876 (6.99 percent), Japan with 73,159 (5.96 percent), and Canada landing in the fifth spot with 50,555 (4.12 percent).
Australia took the sixth spot with 50,488 (4.11 percent), Taiwan with 42,955 (3.50 percent), the United Kingdom with 30,507 (2.48 percent), Singapore with 25,253 (2.06 percent), and Germany with 20,816 (1.70 percent).
In January, the countryās visitor receipts also grew by 4.84 percent to USD652.26 million from the USD622.14 million recorded in the same month last year.
By doing the math, 1,227,815 international tourist arrivals divided by the first 65 days of 2024 is equivalent to 18,889.46 per day. Multiply that by 366 days for 2024 (a leap year), the total would be 6,913,542 which is several hundreds of thousands of international tourist arrivals short of the declared target. The DOT and the rest of tourism industryās stakeholders still have lots of work to do to ensure that more than enough visitors from overseas will come into the country and add to the nationās economy. It should be remembered that the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and China Banking Corp. found the nationās Philippine tourism recovery still lacking.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this latest development? Do you think the reforms and initiatives the Department of Tourism (DOT) executed last year are generating positive results right now? Did you notice the lack of Arab nations among the top markets of international visitors the DOT declared? Do you think there is enough momentum and time for the Philippines to be able to attract 7,700,000 international tourist arrivals by the end of the year?
As many of you my readers should know by now, I blogged a lot about tourism in the Philippines, what the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been doing and what the nation has achieved with regards to attracting foreign tourists.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article of September 28, 2023. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Philippine government on Thursday vowed to promote inclusive travel in its bid to position the country as an LGBTQI+-friendly destination in the region.
During the first Tourism Pride Summit in Makati City, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines plans to implement programs and initiate government interventions to address the unique challenges that the community faces when traveling.
The summit, she said, is one intervention to spark conversation and give members of the LGBTQIA+ a platform where they can share experiences and suggestions on how the government can make travel enjoyable and safe for them.
“Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he seeks a tourism industry that is inclusive, where no destination and no stakeholder is left behind in the development of our country,” Frasco said.
“That is why in our effort to reach our hand of collaboration to the farthest reaches of our country, we reach out our hand of collaboration as well to the many sectors that are involved in tourism, especially and including the LGBTQIA+ community,” she added.
Frasco noted that LGBTQIA+ tourism presents vast opportunities for growing the Philippine tourism industry portfolio.
Citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Frasco said there are an estimated 36 million LGBTQIA+ travelers around the world.
āWe recognize the strength of capitalizing on LGBTQIA+ tourism considering that it is a USD200 billion industry that’s only slated to grow at half a trillion dollar industry by 2030,ā she said.
Obviously the DOT is determined to attract as many LGBTQIA+ foreign tourists as possible as well as their money so that it could help them reach their financial goals and add to the momentum to make the Philippines a major tourist destination by the year 2028.
If ever a huge influx of foreign tourists who identify themselves as homosexuals/transgender/bisexual/transsexual/intersex/non-binary arrive in the Philippines, there is the potential rise of criminal activities involving the acts of the LGBTQIA+ people in the country. Can they behave themselves? Already there is one local LGBT crime that resulted one death. Can you imagine the possibility of more crime happening as more LGBTQIA+ tourists arrived? Can these people really behave themselves?
I am not just talking about sex tourism but also potential violations such as rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, theft, scams, molestation, kidnapping, murder and other incidents that LGBTQIA+ tourists could commit here in the Philippines as they know they are favored by the DOT. If these specific foreign tourists could add to crime while touring the country, then the āLove the Philippinesā slogan of the DOT could end up having a very dirty reputation plus additional embarrassment for the entire nation.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the DOTās drive to make the Philippines a more attractive destination for LGBTQIA+ tourists? Do you think the DOT continues to ignore the potential danger that LGBTQIA+ tourists could unleash on Filipinos while they tour the country? Did you encounter a homosexual foreign tourist who committed a crime or victimized a member of your local community? Does the majority of the youth in your local community express themselves as LGBT-friendly or even as LGBT rights activists?
Do you think that the Democrats in America, the Islamo-Leftists and woke activists could be funding LGBTQIA+ people to come to the Philippines for vacationing as well as executing secretive efforts to establish new activists among Filipinos who will blindly fight for LGBT rights in the country?
In recent times, the Philippine National Police (PNP) advised people to avoid scammers, protect their personal information and only transact with legitimate companies with regards to making arrangements for travel as the summer season approaches, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The PNPās Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) noticed that scammers have been using digital methods and social media to deceive customers and take their money.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday advised the public to ensure that they are transacting with legitimate companies to avoid falling victims to scams ahead of the summer travel season.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) issued the warning due to the upward trend in vacation or travel accommodation scams last year.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, citing ACG data, said from 39 cases in 2021 and 91 cases in 2022, the police recorded 313 cases in 2023. This year, the police has so far recorded 35 cases.
Criminals utilize social media and digital technology to impersonate legitimate establishments, offering online accommodation services at much lower rates than usual.
However, upon arrival, victims discover that their reservations do not exist in the establishment’s system.
āWe would like to take this opportunity to warn and remind our public na mag ingat (to be wary). Katulad ng sinasabi natin (As we have been saying), this is not only limited sa mga (to) vacation scam. Pati nga āyung mga nagbebenta ng mga murang services, nagbebenta ng mga ano-anong produkto, mag-ingat tayo especially kung ang kapalit agad nun is magpapadala kayo ng pera without you not knowing kung sino ang mga iyon (This includes those offering cheap services, selling different kinds of products, let’s be wary especially if the scheme means you have to send money without you knowing who are these),” she added.
ACG director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia Director urged netizens to exercise utmost caution and refrain from providing personal or financial details online without verifying the legitimacy of the recipient.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the scammers have been victimizing a lot of local travelers lately? Have you seen lots of enticing travel promos on social media that promised huge discounts? If you have been traveling lately, do you do your bookings online or over the counter with a travel agency?
Author Carlo Carrasco 