ALL eyes are on the Philippines right now after the devastating tragedy that happened last August 23 where former police officer Rolando Mendoza held 25 people captive in his efforts to redeem himself in the police force. The unfortunate event caused the lives of eight people.
Just recently, The Hong Kong government issued a travel ban and “black travel alert” on all its citizens to avoid traveling in the Philippines.
Every year, the Philippines receives around 130,000 to 150,000 Hong Kong nationals as visitors. The hostage incident poses a setback to the Department of Tourism’s efforts to attain the 3.3 million tourism arrivals this year. Tourism, which promotes consumption and job creation, constitutes 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Meanwhile, the Philippines achieved success to the recently held Miss Universe 2010 pageant at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas after Maria Venus Raj was named fourth runner-up.
A Malacañang official said last Aug. 24 said that Venus’ “success…is a bright spot in an otherwise sad day for our country.”
It would be unjust not to mention the hostage crisis that took place. Miss Universe is an event of joy and celebration of beauty and everything that is wonderful about humanity. But in order to appreciate such profound joys, we must also consider the other side of things, things that are part of our reality.
How does one recover from the aftermath of such a tragedy?
People from other nations have failed to consider all the facts of the hostage incident, and to be kind and logical in their opinions. The Philippines may not be considered as the best place to visit as of today, but the country is capable of recovering.
This country was built on so many things that are both wrong and right, yet it still prevails—and this nation continues to fight the good fight, because it is the nature of Filipinos to never give up.
Venus Raj is the perfect example of never giving up as she almost lost her bid to the Miss Universe 2010 but she gave the crown a good fight and in the long run she made her country proud. Though death and despair reside in the moment, such a tragedy will not keep the country down for long.
Violence and crime are not to be tolerated but they are enough reasons to make any form of society to improve itself to promote a safer environment. The country’s tourism will undoubtedly suffer after this, but this doesn’t mean all the things that have made Philippines—a country full of history and cultural diversity—are gone. All units concerned will just have to compromise and compensate for the damage done by this unfortunate incident but Philippines will still and always be a sight to behold. (AJPress)
( www.asianjournal.com )
( Published August 26, 2010 in Asian Journal Las Vegas p. A6 )
