Place for fun

“It’s more fun in the Philippines.” The new tourism slogan, although the same as the slogan used by Switzerland in the 1950s, does sound like an attractive catchphrase for promoting the country in the world of tourism. Despite some of the country’s negative aspects, the slogan does project the Philippines as a place for fun, enjoyment and relaxation.

The Philippines has a tropical climate that can be enjoyed by Westerners during their freezing winters. It has great, pristine beaches such as those in Boracay, Amanpulo, El Nido, Caramoan and Panglao (Bohol). It has other beautiful tourist spots like the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Mayon Volcano in Albay, Taal Volcano in Batangas, the Banaue Rice Terraces and the Underground River in Palawan, to name just a few. It has the spectacular Manila sunset which never fails to awe the viewer at twilight time.

The lush vegetation; the lakes, rivers, waterfalls; the exotic flora and fauna of the country are things enjoyed by the tourists who visit the country. A Saudi visitor once said, “God gave us oil but took away the weather; He did not give the Philippines oil but gave you many things to enjoy.”

But more than its natural attractions, the Philippines is to be enjoyed because of its people. The Philippines has one of the most cheerful people in the world; the 2009 Happy Planet Index said the Philippines is the 14th happiest place in the world. A joint study by Axa Asia Life and research company Taylor Nelson Sofres in 2007 gave the Philippines an even higher happiness ranking. It said that Filipinos are the second happiest and most optimistic people in Asia and have a positive outlook on life in general. Tourists cannot help but be “infected” by the happiness of the constantly smiling Filipinos.

The secret of the Filipinos’ happiness may be in their sense of humor. Dr. Maria Rhodora Ancheta of the Department of Comparative Literature, College of Arts and Letters of the University of the Philippines, believes national humor is a potent showcase of “Filipino-ness” and helps us survive. Humor, whether oral or written, demonstrates the strength of the Filipino character and shows how laughter is used to reduce conflicts between people.

The tourist will not feel lost in the Philippines. He will be moving and interacting with hospitable cosmopolites of the world. Filipinos may be poor financially, but they are rich culturally and ethnically. The Filipino is basically of Malay stock with a sprinkling of Chinese, Spanish, American and Arab blood. Many Filipinos, because of their exposure to other cultures in the principal cities and places abroad where they have worked, have a smattering of such languages as French, Italian, German, Japanese and Korean.

The Department of Tourism says that the Filipino character is a little bit of all the cultures put together. “East is East and West is West, and ne’er the twain shall meet,” but they do meet in the Philippines.  The bayanihan spirit or spirit of kinship and camaraderie is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family relations were inherited from the Chinese and their Confucian culture. Their piety comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity into the country. The Filipino’s musicality is also legendary.

One big factor that makes a tourist feel at home in the Philippines is the fact that Filipinos are a largely English-speaking people. In fact, the Philippines is said to be the third largest English-speaking country in the world.

The people are perhaps the biggest factor that makes it fun for tourists to visit the Philippines. Hospitality, a trait displayed by every Filipino, makes the people legendary not only in Asia but also the entire world. Due to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian, the tourism department says.

“It’s more fun in the Philippines.” We have the natural attractions and the people who can lure tourists into the country. Now, let’s work on the problems of infrastructure and peace and order that will make the country a truly ideal place for tourists to visit.