A EUROPEAN packed his bags and booked a flight to the Philippines just to visit one particular site in the country: the StoBoSa Hillside Homes Artwork, or the StoBoSa Colorful homes. He took a few pictures and talked with some residents before heading to the bus station – he has crossed a line from his bucket list and was contently on his way home. Some observer might laugh at the act, but he encouraged me with one statement that describes the other face of tourism: “You should be proud of this place”.
We might be familiar with the term “socio-economic development”, which is supposedly the mantra of government advocacies and projects. In tourism, it involves a two-fold purpose; first is Economic – that, which involves finances, activates spending, generates income, and mobilizes the economy, and second is the most under-appreciated concept: the Social and Moral purpose – the non-monetary benefit which prioritizes the over-all welfare of the community, promotes culture and history, and the character or identity of a town, including that which gives pride to its people, or that “pride of place” spirit.
Most people may only have the faintest memory of what the Stonehill-Botiwtiw-Sadjap area of Balili, La Trinidad looks like before the colors. Upon the sight of it, those who frequent the La Trinidad-Baguio road a couple of years ago, will readily give their criticisms to unplanned development which has become a trend to the city and its nearby towns – that StoBoSa area, along with Quirino hill and other places perhaps was seen, by some as “eyesores” probably to those who grew up in better’ neighborhoods.
Today, the colorful homes are now part of the Baguio City and La Trinidad Tour Circuit. Just search StoBoSa in Facebook and you can read the heartening reviews of tourists – sometimes, it is funny to think that the project has substantially transformed the negative energy of the area into a very positive one. Hello DOT-RD Ma’am Marie Venus Q. Tan!
Hence, even without much economic activity in the area, the social aspect, or that “pride of place” feature should be something that is valuable to the town. Telling someone, “Yes, that area is found in our place!” is a moment of honor for anyone. I live in the “Strawberry Capital”, or “Summer Capital” or “City of Smiles” or at “the Colorful homes”! Can you imagine living in a place without anything to be proud of?
The concept of “pride of place” encourages residents to love and protect their places and their assets. Because, when one has pride in his/her home, he or she will be defensive of the dangers and threats that are brought by impacts of human activities and, even external forces. That is why residents in most tourism-oriented towns will admonish undisciplined tourists; in some areas, the children themselves will tell littering visitors to pick their trash, or remind them of limitations on sacred or historical sites, and, we also hear news of communities who would form human fences to protect their environment, even at the cost of their lives.
In all places around the country that we have visited, even the simplest gesture of appreciating their places, would leave them with proud and glimmering eyes – “Salamat at na-enjoy ninyo ang pagbisita sa aming lugar!”. The joy of such scene is definitely more than the financial aspect of business and tourism.
For the community, this facet should be treasured and reflected in existing actions and policies. After all, not everything in life is all about the money.
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I just arrived from the 2nd quarter meeting of CAR Tourism Officers at Apayao: the last nature frontier of the Cordilleras. There are only few moments of my life where I felt so alive because of the adventure rush – the trip to Apayao’s Manacota and Lussok underground rivers and caves are surely part of them! I would like to thank Cherry and Jackie for helping us tour team Kramer in La Trinidad last Friday!
We also congratulate the Municipality of Tuba for a successful highlight last weekend at the Benguet Agri-tourism and Cultural village – the Municipality of Bakun will do the highlights this weekend.
Benguet tourism officers are suggesting and praying hard for the improvement and expansion of the said village to possibly include an event area within the cottage area itself, and the inclusion of an art gallery, picnic place, and perhaps, a bonfire area. Well, still, all the best not only for Benguet, but the whole Cordillera tourism!