I JUST got back from “the home of the winds” for a very short errand (not official travel). A quick run is always fun, before going back home to LT’s "Kekkan"--although the skies there are bluer during the summer, the grasses are alluringly greener this December (and colder too). " 'Low volume, High value' tourism is the is the way to go!" is the mantra from Mt. Iraya, I told you so.
In the mountains the line was echoed; “Sagad in Sagada!”,--too much volume in a tiny space. A thousand heads translated to a thousand water bottles and a mountain of take-out wastes. “What is the use of the many guests who stay, when they just come to throw things away?” Then there is the monstrous traffic, the limited access to communal areas: “How about us?” asked the hometown people. The leaders would have to strike a balance here and there. “Low volume, High Value” is really the way to go. Not every site is for mass tourism – there is beauty in simplicity in this faster and bigger and higher trends.
To conserve and preserve the asset, the process involves putting premium on the product or tourism experience, making the most yield from the taxing visits in small communities. The Department of Tourism’s high regard for mass tourism destinations should also be reversed – lest we wish to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
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We wish to thank our La Trinidad Yuletide Celebration 2018 partners for making a colourful and memorable Christmas community celebration: the Trinidad Evangelical Association of Ministers (TEAM) and La Trinidad Ecumenical Council of Churches (LTECC) for the two day Evangelical Christmas Concerts, for the Cordillera Career Development College, Concordia College, and King’s College of the Philippines for the Mini-Christmas Village booths, Oldwest and Dapayan bands for the Christmas concerts, the League of Vegetable Trading Post Organizations, KCP, Mr. Benny Hipolito, BSU Cooperative, Gacad Family, Savemore, Tiongsan, Mr. Johnny Bengdaen, Gawis Events, and all the active and participative people from the Business Sector for their Donations. Truly, a celebration by the community requires the support of the community themselves. I wish also to convey my gratitude to my colleagues who were there to support the events during my absence in some of the Events; Jao, Celso, Jude, Silas, Esco, Denzel, Wesley, Mayanne, Hydra, Orly, John Ray Jr., Raffy, Laurence, Andres, and the SVHR Staff of Maam Cindy!
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Last night was truly eventful when we finally met our Sunstar.Baguio bosses and their friendly and talented team for a sumptuous dinner. I have always acknowledged that being a columnist for this paper is one of my life’s highlights – certainly, a milestone in this simple but colorful journey. In my highs and lows of life, being a part of the Sunstar.Baguio team is definitely one of my all-time high.