Apprehension is understandable in lieu of the August 23 hostage crisis. Taking into consideration that our culture is known for its hospitality, this event was unimaginable and unacceptable. Yet, we must also consider other cultures which take on a more ego-centric tilt with an every-man-for-himself way of life, and even a superiority complex which often gives them the illusion that an event like that cannot happen to them, or that they can easily overcome it. We must also consider how these other cultures are slowly being incorporated into our own citizens’ psyche.
Remember the prediction of such institutions as the World Bank and ADB. They said that the Philippines was headed for a depression because the west was in a depression and would spend less on travel and leisurely expenses. Rather than experiencing a drop in tourism in 2008 and 2009, the income that the tourism sector actually rose by 3-5%. This is because, though the rest of the world was cutting down on leisurely expenses, our local tourists were not. According to Mike Suaco, Manager of the Discovery Suites Gym and Spa in Ortigas, there has been a rising rate of local clients. The highest gym and spa usage, said Suaco, are around the holidays when families check in for a day or two to join in special events, or even couple discounts for the months of June and February. Nonet Pillora, an artist and shop owner at Boracay’s D’Mall also states that though seeing a foreigner may still make heads turn, there are a lot more young Filipinos on the beach that foreign visitors. He also notes that foreigners and Filipinos aren’t very different on how much they spend, differing rather in what they spend on. Filipinos choose jewelry and accessories more, and buy in bulk for pasalubong while foreigners choose things such as key chains and display pieces for the home. Stephanie, Nonet’s wife, an Australian explains that, “we choose things for ourselves, to show off where we’ve been and that only we have it. You (Filipinos) take things to give away and share. It still our cultures, definitely.”
Gabo Punzalan, owner of the Water Camp resort in Cavite as well as the Josephine restaurants mentioned that, yes, they noticed a lessening of Asian tourists, but their seats were eagerly filled by Filipino families. He noted that though there seemed to be less Asian tourist walk-ins in both their restaurants and their resorts, no pre-made reservations were cancelled, nor was there a decline in their sales. He said, “Actually, I was thinking, there might not even be a real decline in the tourists. We could just be imagining things.” It seems that the vacated roles of certain tourist groups or types can easily be filled in by others.
Another issue is that of our OFW workforce. In 2009, OFW’s legally remitted close to 20 billion dollars, a big chunk of the Philippines’ National Income. Some feared that there would be lay-offs and even premature contract ends due to disdain. Although there were some isolated reports of these, it is believed to be a continuation of the maltreatment of foreign blue collar workers rather than a new or worsening of the working environment in lands other than their own.
Jocelyn Dulay, a Nursing Assistant from Dubai said that “Budlay gid ‘to kay mahidlaw ka sa mga ginhikanan mo. Mapalibog ka sa bana kag mga bata mo. Kag ara man ang takot kay kung anu-ano man ang ginahambal sang mga tawo bag-o ko maglakat nga may ga-pang-rape, gapanakit, mga amo na bala.” [It is really hard there because you’ll miss your parents. You worry about your husband and kids. And there is fear oo because of what the people were saying before I left, that there are rapists, there are those who will hurt you, those things.] She continued, that it helps if you already know someone there who can find you a good employer. For her, it was her sister Veronika who found her a good employer. She added that, “mabuti din dumaan sa mga Agency, like POEA kay may feeling ka bala na may matatakbuhan ka.” [It is also good to go through agencies like the Phil. Overseas Employment Agency, because you feel like you have someone to run to.]
Gemina Olvido, a semi-retired domestic worker from Hong Kong, said that they did have fears, especially that CNN was making the event look “napakapanget.” She continues, “Tumawag ako agad sa pinsan ko to ask nga, ‘ano ba ang totoo?’ The next day, they text me ‘Ate, ingat ka dyan, galit daw mga instik sa inyo.’ Natakot naman ako. May mga masbata akong kasama na sabi, ‘Auntie, paano kung tapunan tayo ng asido?’ Pero pag pasok ko [sa trabaho] wala naman. Sabi pa nga ng iba, ‘Didang, I’m so sorry. If all Filipinos are related, he must have been adopted.”[I immediately called my cousins to ask what was really happening. The next day, they text me, “Ate take care there, the Chinese are mad at you.” I got scared. I had younger colleagues who said, “Auntie, what if they throw acid on us?” But when I got to work, nothing. One even said, “Didang, I’m so sorry. If all Filipinos are related, he must have been adopted.” She further states that in the news it seems like all of China is rallying against the Philippines, but she says it’s like how the war in Mindanao is seen. “Akala mo buong Pilipinas binobomba, bawat kanto may danger. Eh hindi naman. ‘Yun lang kasi ang napapabalita.” [You’d think the whole Philippines was being bombed, that there was danger in every corner. That’s not true. It just so happens to be the only thing you see in the news.] Ms. Olvido ended her statement by saying, “Tsaka hindi talaga matawaran ang Pinoy. Sino pa bang ang magkukuskos ng banyo nila, ipagluluto sila, nakangiti parin? Pagkatapos, kukuwentuhan pa mga anak nila hanggang makatulog na parang anak na rin nila? Para saan? Para sa presyo ng kalahati ng mga bag o sapatos nila.” [And really nothing beats the Filipinos. Who else will scrub their bathrooms and cook for them all with a smile? Then, tell stories to their kids until they fall asleep? For what? For half the price of their bags or their shoes.]
In most fields of study, from Physics to Economics, and even Religious Philosophy, the basic principle is that an action elicits a reaction based on the benefits or lack thereof of the original action. If, as a country, we are to be moved, let it be towards progress. Let us learn how to handle things properly, and not just practice our finger-pointing skills.
Tourism may be a very strong player in our economic game, but we must realize that we still have a whole team playing for us. We can be tourists ourselves, we have our export and outsourcing industries, and of course our OFW workforce—our team of mga bagong bayani.
Articles
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/component/content/article/83-opinion-columnist/25250-economic-responses-to-hostage-crisis
Economic responses to hostage crisis
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/199255/hk-tourists-cut-vacation-short-after-hostage-crisis
HK tourists cut vacation short after hostage crisis
http://bantaypresidente100.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/the-economics-of-the-quirino-grandstand-hostage-taking/
The Economics of the Quirino Grandstand Hostage-taking
Interviews
Dulay, Jocelyn
Olvido, Gemina
Pillora, Nonet
Pillora, Stephanie
Punzalan, Gabriel
Suaco, Mike
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