I WAS in a company of a Manila-based businessman who would like to invest in Western Visayas. He wants to put up restaurants in strategic areas to accommodate tourists coming from Cebu passing Bacolod, Iloilo and Antique before reaching Kalibo then Boracay.
It was a good day and the ocean fast craft from Bredco port started on time. We took the aircon area for convenience. Mr. Businessman whispered to me, "Ver, I smell the scent of urine. Is this coming from the toilet or the crew simply fail to clean the vessel very well." We have no choice but to transfer to the open air area.
From the tourism standards, this could be unbelievable because the fast craft bears the signage that it is accredited by the Department of Tourism. I would like to suggest to our friends from DOT to review all the fast crafts and the roll on-roll off vessels traversing the ports of Negros and Iloilo.
In Iloilo, we met businessmen who are in food business and specializing on Iloilo home cooked food and delicacies. Mr. Businessman marked the classic food: batchoy, siopao, tinolang manok, adobong-baboy, sinigang-isda, mixed seafood and the oysters from Capiz.
We proceeded to Antique via the new blue buses owned by the biggest transportation company in Asia... that company based in Negros with a family feud. The blue buses are catering passengers going to Kalibo, Boracay, and Pasay in Metro Manila.
Mr. businessman wants to put up a hometown food restaurant in San Jose. The capital town of Antique is dominated by fast food restaurants that could not be attractive to tourists because those restaurants could be found all over the country. We made a tour to discover home cooked food.
In small carenderias, we tasted tinolang bantalaan, grilled alloy, stewed tuloy, linagang-baka, fried dorado, and tabios cooked with serguelas leaves. For their delicacies the bestsellers are peanut bandi, bukayo, puto, bibingka, boiled corn and crispy camote. Added attractions could be kamonsil, mangga, lumboy and serguelas.
Antique under the leadership of Governor Rhodora Cadiao is welcoming investors and businessmen who could promote tourism. The province boasts of its quality rice, fresh vegetables, assorted fishes, river gem stones, good roads and peaceful environment.
After stopping in Panay for few days, we went back to Bacolod via another fast craft (not smelling urine anymore). When we arrived at Bredco port, we had problem with taxi cabs. Almost all taxi drivers wanted us to pay a higher amount. They do not want to use their taxi meter.
One taxi driver wanted us to haggle for fare. We asked if there is a contract deal or a tariff in the absence of the taxi meter. Even tricycle drivers are charging five times higher ...and their units are overloaded. The drivers are giving the impression that they are discourteous.
We are calling the attention of Bacolod City officials to do something about this. Attention Bacolod Tourism Office! We are also ringing the ears of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to do its own investigation and suspend the erring drivers.
In Iloilo City Port, taxi and tricycle drivers form their lines courteously while waiting for passengers and they charge the passengers with "honest conscience." If Mayor Jerry could do it, we expect Mayor Bing to do the same.
When we arrived at the hotel, we were surprised to see the headline of a local newspaper ... another person of interest was killed by a riding-in-tandem. If we equate all these from the point of view of tourism and business, what is our impression?*