There is hope

I admit that I did not have high hopes that the voting results of Monday’s elections would differ much from the survey results that showed a number of candidates from the entertainment industry and sports field likely to be elected to the top 12 spots in the senatorial slate.

In fact, I was just determined to vote for candidates that I felt would really bring some substance to the chamber even though I was not confident that my vote would matter.

But, lo and behold, there is hope, with Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan posting impressive numbers that, as I write this column, place them at second and fifth in the continuing count.

Analysts from the various media election count news programs, attribute the strong numbers of Aquino and Pangilinan to the Gen X (ages between 45 and 60) and Gen Z (ages between 13 and 28).

The rest of the candidates leading in the magic 12 are pretty much those projected in the early surveys. The unexpected high votes for Aquino and Pangilinan and their pending entry to the Senate are a mere dent in the partisan fight between the Marcos administration and the camp of former president Duterte.

The surprising support for a voice of the opposition in the Senate gives hope that moving forward, the younger generations will make sure that more qualified people are voted as legislators who know what they are doing and are not merely running to enjoy a pork barrel.

However, it is quite clear that opposition or independent candidates should work early to let the new generation know who they are and what they stand for to have a chance at beating the usual “suspects.”

Domestic tourism

Perhaps the global turmoil stirred up by US President Donald Trump has convinced Filipinos to limit their foreign travels within the Asian region and in the country, fueling a domestic tourism resurgence that will hopefully make up for the 0.5 percent drop in tourist arrivals (primarily from China and South Korea, two of our biggest tourist markets) in the first quarter of this year as reported by the Department of Tourism.

According to DOT statistics, arrivals for the first quarter of this year were recorded at 1.93 million, slightly lower than the 1.94 million arrivals recorded in the first quarter last year. Visitors from South Korea were still the top arrivals, but the figures went down by three percent while Chinese tourists, another top tourist market for the country, dropped by a larger seven percent -- most likely due to the continuing dispute over the West Philippine Sea and the exodus of Chinese POGO operators.

Tourist arrivals from the US showed a 7.9 percent gain. It was not quite clear though if the US arrival numbers reflected Filipino balikbayans and their families. Japanese tourists likewise ramped up their visits to the Philippines, posting a double-digit growth in arrivals of 18.87 percent.

A request for domestic tourism figures, unfortunately could not be accommodated by the DOT.

Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific, thankfully, revealed that it recorded a 15 percent increase in domestic flight count in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, driven mainly by additional routes such as Clark-El Nido, Iloilo-Bohol and Davao-Caticlan.

It is interesting to observe though that there seems to be a lot of Filipino balikbayans and their families visiting the country and doing staycations.

A recent midweek stay at the Nobu Hotel at the City of Dreams in the Manila Bay area just before Mother’s Day, surprised me with the high occupancy of the three hotels in the complex and the full-packed cafe-buffet outlet, with some food staples -- dried fish during breakfast, running out as the chefs admit that due to the high number of guests their supply for the week had ran out more quickly than anticipated.

The surrounding malls in the Manila Bay area are always packed and I have observed a lot of Filipino balikbayan families shopping and perhaps enjoying the tourist refunds that the Department of Finance has implemented. I was even surprised to see foreign tourists buying luxury brand items, something I have not seen in the past.

According to a statement released by the DOT quoting Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, the DOT continues to expand international access, modernize the country’s gateways, strengthen digital infrastructure and embed sustainability into every layer of development.

Frasco said that “under the Marcos administration, we highlight new milestones that make the Philippines even more ideal for travelers and investors alike. The CREATE MORE Act incentivizes strategic investments in tourism infrastructure and hospitality development. The VAT Refund for Tourists Act enhances the visitor shopping experience to match global standards. The Digital Nomad Visa Executive Order welcomes remote workers and entrepreneurs seeking longer, more meaningful stays.”

The DOT, Frasco said, continues to implement bold innovation, as well as flagship programs, to improve the overall tourist experience, with over 700 kilometers of tourism roads constructed under the Marcos administration and tourist rest areas all over the country, with more than 30 now constructed and ongoing, and 60 more coming this year.

According to Frasco, “we are introducing even more initiatives to enhance travel convenience, safety and the overall tourism experience. We will be rolling out and constructing the country’s very first Tourist First Aid Facilities. We’re constructing more hyperbaric chambers to address dive-related concerns. We are putting up Tourist Courts to expand on tourist safety and we are instituting a Medical Tourism and Health and Wellness Concierge at our airports so that every traveler to the Philippines feels supported throughout our journey. We are not standing still. We are moving forward – opening our islands, our opportunities and our hearts to the world.”