Saving the Troubled Paradise

     South east asia has a great numbers of natural wonders that tourists can explore and wonder their exotic beauties.  Boracay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in south east asia located in the island of aklan.  This popular beach resort  is currently closed from tourism activities to give way for it's full rehabilitation and recovery brought about by heavy tourism.  Boracay island paradise was just simply overused.  It is closed for six months and the new boracay will be reopened by October 2018.  The period of six months will be enough to allow time to heal the island and recover from heavy damages and restore it's  natural pristine beauty.   It was the Philippine  president Rodrigo Duterte who ordered the temporary shut down of botacay that earned ire among his antagonists and was slammed by his critics saying it was a fool's dream.  But gradually people are seeing the progress and the good outcome. Many of  President Duterte's supporters posted on social media the results of rehabilitation that are highly effective and the oppositions and critics are now dumbfounded and were proven wrong.
   
     Following the footsteps of President Duterte is the government of Thailand.   Thailand administration is now carrying the strategy and measures to save it's  own troubled paradise the 'Maya bay' of the Koh phi phi islands.

     Koh phi phi are island group in Thailand between the large island of Phuket and the west straight of Malacca coast of the mainland.  The maya bay of Koh phi phi has a beautiful beach sorrounded by tall lime stone cliffs and the emerald-green colour of the waters adds to stunning features of the bay.  Under the waters of maya bay are the rich coral reefs that are simply breathtaking.  This paradise was made popular by the movie of Leonard Dicarpio 'The beach' that lead to it's  prominence and people from all over the world swarned the Maya bay of Koh phi phi.


     " The Beach "  Leonard Dicarpio's block buster movie:

     In early 2000,  20th century fox released Danny Boyle's film ' The Beach.' that featured Leonard Dicarpio.  The said movie depicted the beauty of the Maya bay.  The film was a smashing hit and was shown around the world.   Since then people have learned the quiet paradise of Koh phi phi and started to flock the Maya bay.   On a daily basis and idealy,  the beach resort can accommodate  2000 tourists but the beach recieved an average 200 boats and 4000 visitors during the peak seasons. This resulted to heavy tourism and the paradise became overused.

     The imminent danger:

     The Beach movie brought mass tourism to Maya bay - which had brought Koh phi phi a tremendous problem.  Large pile of garbage were all over the place left behind by visitors, non-biodegradable materials like plastics can be seen floating in the sea and some were on the sea floor and the worst of all,  large part of the coral reefs around the is gone and sealife had virtually vanished brought about by boat achors and dumping of plastic materials.   77 to 80 percent of coral reefs have been devasted by destruction linked to bad tourism according  to Dr.  Thamrongnawasawat, a well known marine scientist and a member of National Strategy Committee on Environment Development.


     The closure of the paradise:

     Dr.  Thamrongnawasawat concluded that the damage to the coral reefs was caused by dumping of plastic materials and boat anchors.  Though the people of Koh phi phi made a drastic measures to clean up the maya bay, the coral reefs were beyond repair and it was too late.   He suggested that the temporary shut down of the bay was the ideal and permanent  solution to the existing problem for three to four consecutive months just like what the Philippine government did to Boracay.   He emphasized that the 3-4 months of cease operation will give enough time for the coral reefs to heal and he also added that the temporary closure of the Maya bay in the low seasons will allow rehabilitation of the environment both on the islands and in the sea without being disturbed by tourism activities before the damage is beyond repair.
     Because of the progess to save Boracay and the measures are still being carried out by the Philippine government under President Duterte in which continues showing apparent good results,  the Thai government also carried the same measures to save  Maya bay as suggested by Dr.  Thamrongnawasawat.   The famous beach island paradise was officially closed in June 1st of 2018.  Tourism is strictly prohibited from the island and will continue to the 30th of September of 2018 making it as the second major beach resort in south east asia to cease from operation this year after Boracay of the Philippines.
    The Boracay island will be reopened by October but President Duterte will be implementing regulations of disciplinary measures and numbers of visitors will be limited up to 2500 on a daily basis and the Thai government will also be carrying out similar protocols once the Maya bay opens to tourists.

   
     Tourism is tourism it certainly adds revenue to the goverment but off course it should be handled with the great sense of responsibility.  We have already seen the adverse effects of bad tourism to the environment.   I have seen alot of natural wonders that were great before but are now heavily polluted because of the lack of discipline among visitors and the local residents as well.   Now,  here in the Philippines, the current administration under the leadership of Duterte is implementing a very strict disciplinary measures. Though this measure is being opposed by antagonists and critics people have seen progress to the sorroundings and some of the heavily polluted tourist destinations are now improving.
     I am infavor of the actions of the Thai government  to temporary shut down of Koh phi phi's Maya bay just to save it.   Mother nature needs to be nurtured as well.   I am also proud of the kind of individuals like President  Duterte who is firm in his every decisions and can make a strong influence to save the environment.

Sources:

www.edition.cnn.com > travel koh phi phi
www.thesun.co.uk > koh phi phi
the back packer south east asia

Baguio's Most Haunted Revisited

     Baguio city,  the summer capital of the Philippines.   I have been to this place many times and I will keep on going back to that place all over again because of it's cool climate and beautiful tourist destinations.
     Baguio city is located approximately 1,540 meters ( 5,050 ft. ) above see level in the Luzon tropical pine forest ecoregion in the province of Benguet.  It is a highly urbanized city and there are famous tourist attraction that the city can offer and they  are the Penabenga Park; Wright park;  Baguio city hall;  SM city Baguio; Baguio Cathedral; Burham park lake and BenCab museum.  Well these are the popular places that can be visited.
     Baguio is also known for having alot of haunted places.  Infact alot if tourists claimed that there are transient houses that are infested with ghost.  Haunted places in Baguio also add to the tourist attraction sites and there are infamous haunted places that can be visited.  The Laperal guest house,  Teachers' Camp, Casa vallejo and the Diplomat hotel which is the most haunted of them all.

     We were going  to the Banaue rice terraces but we decided  to stop by Baguio city just to visit the old abandoned Diplomat hotel.  It was my second time to visit this haunted place and a friend of mine who tagged along with me also wanted to see the old ruins of Baguio.

Photo of the Diplomat hotel in the 1920s

     History and background:

     There were reports of strange occurrences with in the walls of the old hotel and near by  residents claimed that at night slamming of the doors and dragging of chains and cluttering and breaking of plates were heard.  Even security guards assigned on graveyard shifts often seen shadowy figures resembling nuns would roam the corridors of the hotel.  Reports of other apparitions were prevalent here.  It was said that during the WWII,  the japanese infantry invaded the diplomat hotel making it as a headquarter and before the liberation, barbaric acts were carried out by the Japanese soldiers within the walls of  dominican hotel.   Dominican priests were murdered and decapitated,  nuns were raped and killed and even the children were not spared  even the helpless kids were decapitated as well in the fountain area.
     After the liberation, the hotel sustained  heavy damage and it was renovated.  Tony Agpaoa, an entrepreneur and a psychic surgeon manage the hotel but  he died of heart attack and because of the continuing series of paranormal activities, the hotel ceased operation and was abandoned. Until today, residents still reports of ghastly agonizing sound of cries, mourn of sorrow and deep despair from the hotel.
     When the first time I visited the place, I could really tell that there was something there and the second time I visited,  the same eerie sensation that I felt that ran through my spine specialy in the fountain area.  The old hotel has two fountain areas.  It was said to be where the massacre took place of Dominican priests, nuns and children.  Because  of the strange events of paranormal activities,  the old hotel was featured on television programs as a holloween presentation.

The fountain area where it was said that ghost apparition is prevalent 

The corridor 

     Though the diplomat hotel was considered as the most haunted and series of paranormal occurrences are very prevalent, it was made into a historical land mark and a heritage site.   Today the place can be used and rented for wedding venues and photoshoots.

     Sources:

     www.wheninmanila.com
     www.aswangproject.com
     www.traveladvisor.com

   

The Pinto Art Museum

     Antipolo of Rizal is the closest mountainous  place from Manila about an hour travel.   It has been one of the favorite summer getaway places for the people to go to because it's doesn't cost so much and the place itself has alot to offer for travellers and tourists.  People can definitely enjoy the 360 degree view of different places surrounding the Antipolo in Cloud 9,  see the 17 century old statue of virgin marry in Antipolo cathedral,  explore the mysterious cave of Pamitinan and enjoy the majestic water falls of Hinulugang taktak.  Well,  there is another reason to go to Antipolo.  Quite recently, the Pinto art museum was built and made available for public.   The museum showcases contemporary artsworks and at the same time offers natural wonders which make this place unique and an ideal getaway place specially on weekends for families and friends.

     It is located at 1 Sierra Madre st., Grand heights.  This is an ideal place to appreciate contemporary artworks and enjoy the scenic view of nature. The museum is owned by Joven Cuanang M.D. a neurologist and art collector.   The area of the museum is vast about 1.3 hectares and has alot of galleries and it would take 2 to 3 hours to visit all the areas and galleries. Upon admission, you will be given a map so you can have directions. Definitely you will be amazed by the Santorini-inspired white builidings as you roam with in the vicinity of the museum.

     Surprisingly, the artworks are just as stunning as the classic arts that are found in the Philippine National Museum of fine arts but they signify and depict the sience of art of the modern era and they are more bizarre, more complex and too profound. It is very obvious that the point of views of contemporary artists are just too obscured but they are doing an excellent job expressing their thoughts through their artworks though some are too complicated to understand.

     The Pinto art museum houses the contemporary artworks of several artists like Jim Orencio,  Dr. Joven Cuanang,  Mark Justiniani,  Marina Cruz,  Antonio Leano,  Joven Mansit,  Elmer Barlogan, Emmanuel Garibay,  Neil Manalo,  Rodel T. Garcia, Jose Santos, Anna Varona, Fernando Sena and many more.   It's  the artworks  of Mark Justiniani that I like the most and for me, they're  the most unique. Aside from artworks, you can also see the roofdecks,  gardens, cafe, and theater with in the museum.

The chapel

The upper garden

Roofdeck sunset view

Museum of indigenous arts

Mindanao art collections 

Gallery 1 

Gallery 2

Gallery 3

Gallery 4

Gallery 5

Gallery 6

     Manila truly has wonderful museums to visit but if want to enjoy artworks and at the same experience the scenic view of nature,  well,  the Pinto art museum offers both.   Trully an ideal getaway place and what so good about it is that it doesn't cost much.

How to get to Pinto art museum.

     From cubao: You can take a U.V. express to Antipolo church ( P50. 00 fare ) and from Antipolo church, you can take a tricycle to Grand height subdivision ( P40.00 fare ).

     From LRT Line 2 Santolan station:  You can take a jeepney to Antipolo church ( with Antipolo simbahan sumulong hi-way placard ) and from Antipolo church,  you can take a tricycle to Grand heights.

Entrance fee:

     Adult  Php 200.00
     Senior citizen Php180.00
     PWD Php180.00
     Student with valid school I.D  Php100.00
     Children 3 years old and below ( Free )

Sources:

     www.rizanoia.com
     www.tripadvisor.com.ph
     www.pintoart.com


   

The Filipino-American Friendship Day

     Every 4th of July,  everyone knows the Americans celebrate the Independence day of their powerful country,  the United States of America commemorating the brave american shoulders who fought and died for the freedom against the British.
     The 4th of July was once a significant day among Filipinos in the old times.  It was once the independence day of the Philippines but was moved  to every 12 of July respectively and officially the 4th of July was recognized as the "Filipino-American Freindship Day. "

     The 4th of July was celebrated as the Filipino-American friendship day during the old times up to the latter part of the 80s.  This was to commemorate the strong alliance between the Americans and Filipinos against the japanese forces during the WWII and to remember the brave  soldiers of both Filipinos and Americans who fought intrepidly and died in the hands of the Japanese infantry.  But now adays,  this significant holiday is no longer celebrated because it was removed from Philippine official holiday list for political reasons and only very few people knew about this special day.

     Filipino-American friendship day was also known as the Philippine Republic day.  It was a commemoration in the Philippines celebrated yearly every 4th of July. It was formerly an official holiday designated as Independence day, celebrating the signing of ' Treaty of Manila ' which gave way to the Philippine independence from the United States after the WWII in 1946. It was a secular, heritage and governmental type of holiday.


History and background:

     The Philippines was an occupied territory of the United States from 1898 to 1946. It became a commonwealth in the beginning of 1935.  When the Japanese invaded the Philippines during the second world war,  the commonwealth became a government-in-exile precided by Manuel Luis Quezon.  When Douglas McArthur returned to the Philippines and landed in Leyte,  Sergio Osmena succeeded Manuel L.  Quezon after in 1944.  The return of McArthur lead to the bloody and gruesome battle against the Japanese imperial troops until the surrender of the Japanese in September 2, 1945 and the Philippines gained it's independence on July 4, 1946.
     For a very few years, the Philippine Independence was held every 4th of July. It was then Diosdado Macapagal moved the date to the 12th of June, the date in 1898 in which Emilio Aguinaldo issued the Philippine Independence from spain.  The 4th of July was declared as Philippine Republic day coinsiding with the American independence day under the Macapagal administration.

     This holiday was moved to the 15th of November be President Ramon Magsaysay as the observance of the Philippine-American day.

     Sometime, during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos,  The Filipino-American Friendship day was moved back to the 4th of July. It was during the term of  President Marcos that the relationship of  the Philippines and United States became closer and the alliance became much stronger.   It was also the time of height of the so called 'cold war' between The United States and Soviet union.
     During the coldwar the Soviets had strong influence to a very few South east asian countries leading to the creation of communist factions leading to the rise and threat of communism.  Kampuchea  ( now known as communist Cambodia ) fell under the hands of Khmer Rouge and Vietcong of the South vietnam allied with communist North Vietnam causing the fall of saigon.  In the Philippines,  The Communist Party of  the Philippines and the New People's Army ( CPP-NPA) were the very well known communist factions and  were considered as the worst threat and President Marcos took this seriously and didn't  want the Philippines to fall into the hands of communist sympathizers.
     Because of the threat of communism and the gradual rise of communist factions, President Ferdinand Marcos declared the Martial law which lead to the suspension of the 1935 constitution. President Marcos made the Philippine-American Frendship day which was relegated to a non-working holiday without mentioning of the Republic Day.

Delisting:

     After when President Marcos was ousted and President Corazon Coangco Aquino took over,  the practice of celebrating of the Filipino-American Friendship day as a non-working holiday was formally abolished in 1987 to give way to newly created holiday during that time such as People power and Ninoy Aquino day.  Section 26 of the Administrative code of 1987, specified list of Philippine holidays and nation wide special day didn't not include 4th of July.


     It wasn't fully understood why the Filipino-American Friendship Day was delisted some speculated that this was strongly linked to the ousted President  Marcos that any trace of him should be removed and deleted.  Well,  for whatever reason  no one will never know despite the fact that many Presidents of Philippines gave importance to it as reminder of our strong allegiance with the Americans who fought side by side with Filipinos against the Japanese during the WWII.

     Though the Filipino-American Freindship day is no longer celebrated, we Filipinos must not forget how our forefathers made a strong ties with our American allies and how they struggled, shed blood and fought bravely for the glory and freedom of the Philippines.  And we should always remember that this strong alliance help to counteract the possible rise of communism and up to now, we are living in a free country brought about by this alliance of both Filipinos and Americans.

Sources:

manila times online
Wikipedia> Filipino-American Frienship Day