Al Gara Mountains, Hofuf

Our Company’s Eid Al Fitr Holidays was declared on 18-21 August 2012.  According to my flatmate D, we shouldn’t go out on the first day since the shops would definitely be closed for business.  We checked Al Khobar on the first day of Eid and he was right.  We decided to stay at home.  I was busy the whole time because I was doing the pre-reading for my SHRM Live Classes for 2 September 2012.  I also catalogued my multimedia files.  We decided to go out of Al Khobar on Monday the third day of the Eid Al Fitr Holidays. 

D and Leo earlier decided that we go to Hofuf.  I’ve never been to Hofuf before and going there seems exciting.  We brought Toto Garry with us since it’s also his day off.  Leo knows Hofuf by heart since he went there a couple of times.  It took us 2 hours to reach Hofuf.  Going to Hofuf is like going to Riyadh.  You won’t be able to see anything except endless sea of sands.  Outside temperature that day was over 50 degrees.  The good thing is, the humidity is low.  Yes, you can bear the heat as long as there’s less humidity. 

Al Hassa or Hofuf in general is a farming community.  You’ll get to see irrigation canals which of course are unimaginable in the Kingdom of the Sands.  Trees or should I say palm trees grow in abundance.  Farmers farm them for their dates.  Farmers also grow produce which they sell to the local markets. 

Hofuf has the rustic beauty that you can’t see elsewhere in the Kingdom.  However, that beauty was neglected by the people and the authorities.  The roads leading to the Al Gara Mountain range became everyone’s dumpsite.  Trash are scattered everywhere. 

As a tourist destination, the least that the local authority could do is to clean it.  New buildings sprouting at the foot of the Al Gara Mountain practically blocked and killed the beauty of the mountains. 

I told Leo that Hofuf did not meet my expectations.  We went there to see the Mountain Ranges and the Caves but the garbage shattered all my expectations.  We promise ourselves that we’re going back to Hofuf come Hajj Holidays.  I think going there on October is a lot better.  The climate would hopefully change by that time.    

More fun??

I think it’s a misprint when they say ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’.  What they mean I guess is that ‘It’s more FAN’.  Yeah, right.  More fan because we’re in a tropical country, very high humidity and it’s very hot.  Maybe they also mean ‘More Pan’ because we’re pretty much surrounded by bakeries selling bread or ‘PAN’.

The dictatorship of Abnoy is targeting 10 Million tourist arrivals for the year 2012.  That I think is a fairy tale target because currently we only receive about 3.5 million tourists a year.  They include balikbayans so if you do your math correctly, you’ll estimate that there are only about 1.5 million genuine tourists who arrived in our country.

What went wrong? That’s the number one question that the former Ad agency executive who now heads the Tourism Ministry should ask.  First it’s not just about the slogan, logos and promotional materials.  It’s about branding and taking good care of our brand.  How can we establish a good tourism brand when government changes their brand every time there’s a new occupant in Malacanang.  We need to build a brand that we can sustain.  Something that would last that people the world over can recognize. 

Second, we don’t spend much on infrastructures like building good airports, hotels and developing tourist destinations.  In fact, NAIA being named as the World’s Worst Airport does not go well with our target 10 million tourist arrival per year.

A lot of businesses are dependent on the Tourism Industry.  If we can increase the tourist arrivals even by 100% from the previous 3.5 million, it will help our economy a lot in the sense that more jobs will be created as a result of tourism boom.

The only drawback with tourism boom is its ugly side, prostitution and sex tourism.  Yes, you can say that it will support a lot of people too, but flesh trade is a no no.  I don’t want to be hollier than thou but if we can, we should avoid it.  The challenge is how we can balance our national interest over the welfare of our countrymen.

Is it really more fun in the Philippines?

It's more fun in Switzerland

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with the “WOW PHILIPPINES” campaign that the Department of Tourism launched during the time of the former Tourism Minister Richard Gordon and the then PGMA.  It’s just that the current occupant of Malacanang just don’t want to be associated with the former administration’s program.  "WOW PHILIPPINES” can stand side by side by Malaysia Truly Asia or Incredible India.  It’s also very short, catchy and descriptive.  The problem with the Filipinos is we lack continuity.  That’s probably one of the reasons why we lag behind our Asian neighbors.

Last week, the current Tourism Minister who happens to be a former advertising executive launched the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” slogan.  Moments after it was launched, the cyberspace was bombarded by the copy of Switzerland’s 1950s campaign “It’s more fun in Switzerland”.  People were so disgusted that the government spent more than Php. 5 Million to pay BBDO Guerrero yet the finished product was another plagiarized slogan.  This is the second time that the Tourism was caught red handed.  The first one was when they launched “Pilipinas kay Ganda” with the then Tourism Minister Alberto Lim.  It turned out that the logo was an exact replica of the Polish Tourism Campaign.

The dictatorship of Abnoy should have retained the “WOW Philippines” if it could not come up with a better slogan and campaign.  Plagiarizing something is an insult to Filipino nation.  We’re supposed to be the nation with creative talents.  Why in the world can’t we come up with our very own and unique tourism campaign?  The dictatorship of Abnoy even condemns SC Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo for allegedly plagiarizing his rulings yet he condone to plagiarism committed by the Tourism Ministry.  It’s a classic example of hypocrisy in the highest order.

Even if the current Tourism Minister was caught stealing cookie in the cookie jar, he’s still insisting that what happened was just coincidental.  What could be coincidental when there’s google?  Haven’t BBDO Guerrero googled “It’s more fun..? For sure, they’ll know that Switzerland has already launched that campaign 60 years ago.

The Tourism Minister once said that selling the Philippines is like selling Chicken Joy.  Is this what he means when he say it?  Copying and plagiarizing tourism slogans from other countries and pass it on as original.  The worst thing is, not admitting to mistakes and spending several millions of pesos as a consequence of their mistakes.

World’s worst airport

NAIA Terminal 1
World's Worst Airport

I’m surprised that the Filipino media just found out how bad NAIA is. Isn’t it ironic for an irresponsible Philippine media who thrived in sensationalism and tabloid type of reporting? If you’re an OFW or you travel frequently, you don’t need CNN’s report to know that NAIA is the worst airport in the world. I’ve blogged about how bad NAIA was before and even ranted several times. I also don’t think that a president who’s averse to micro managing should inspect the facilities of NAIA (Terminal 1) just to prove that it’s indeed the worst airport in the world. Well, maybe he was there for photo ops.

As an ordinary citizen of our God forsaken country, I can’t seem to grasp why MIAA did not upgrade NAIA’s facilities. Where did the travel taxes and the terminal fees that they are collecting from travelers go? It’s the only international airport that uses tabo because it doesn’t a have running water. The toilets are also stinking. In fairness to MIAA, when I went home last August, they refurbished the interiors, changed the carpets but did not do anything with the toilets.

Airports are supposed to be the windows and doors to the outside world. It should leave a good impression when a tourist arrives or leaves the country. It’s not the case in the Philippines. We come and go but it’s still the same. If you’re away for over a decade, you won’t even see the difference. Most of the travelers, especially the OFWs don’t really mind the bad infrastructures of the airport. They’re more interested in seeing their loved once than mind the dilapidated NAIA. NAIA is not also the safest place to be. There are several incidence of robbery few steps away from the airport.

I think that it’s about time to rename NAIA back to Manila International Airport. Ninoy was never a hero, he was a dissident and a friend to the reds, like his son Abnoy. Rebranding or renaming the facility will truly help in changing the image of the airport.

Sex Tourism

You don’t have to be a Magna Cum Laude and First Placer in the Architectural Board Exam to know that most of the tourists visit the Philippines for sex. You don’t even have to be the Ambassador of the United States to know that. It’s an open secret and that’s the ground reality. Tourists visit our country not to visit the WORLD OF WONDERS or the Wow Philippines for that matter. They visit our country for sexcapades, period. Sexcapades nga mga pinoy, how much more mga tourist na may mga pera.

President Abnoy’s Tourism Secretary and his Presidential Spokesperson (Lady Gaga of Malacañang) are questioning the accuracy of the data of US Ambassador Harry Thomas. They’re in denial, period. As mentioned, it’s an open secret. Everyone knows it. Maybe they’re thinking that it’s not happening because of President Abnoy’s ‘Daang Matuwid’ ek-ek.

Ambassador Harry Thomas was right when he said that 40% of the male tourists coming to the Philippines are here for sex. As a US Ambassador to the Philippines however, it’s a diplomatic blunder. Regardless, he was right and he will always be unless we do something to correct the situation.

This is the right time for our publicity hungry Senators to conduct hearings in aid of re-elections, este, in aid of legislation pala. They can invite resource people from the hospitality industry, the local police and the suspected pimps. Unfortunately, this kind of Senate inquiry will not put them in the front cover of any Tabloids or Tabloids pretending to be broadsheets? ABiaS CBN will not cover it either. They’re more interested if the subject of the inquiry is the former PGMA and her family.

There’s no use denying the existence of prostitution because of the tourism. The most proactive thing that our government could do is to create laws and monitor its enforcement.

GoHotels.Ph Review

Bed @ gohotels.ph

When I was planning my vacation, I intended to stay in Kabayan Hotel because they’re reasonably priced. When I booked online however, there were no rooms available. I have no other choice but to look for an alternative hotel. I remembered reading an article regarding a new hotel venture that the Gokongwei’s are into. I then searched the internet and found their website. So I decided to book with gohotels.ph at the Cybergate Plaza along EDSA Mandaluyong.

The price range is as affordable as that of the Kabayan Hotel and it looks clean too. I never hesitated to make a booking.

I booked for 3 nights (upon arriving in Manila 11-13 August) and another 2 nights (before leaving Manila 4-6 September). Booking with gohotels.ph is very easy as long as you have a credit card. Instantly a receipt of the transaction will be sent to your email including the electronic confirmation form.

You can also request the hotel for an airport pick up, just as long as you’re staying for more than 82 hours.

Rooms are priced at Php. 1,288 (+Taxes) per night. You may choose Queen Size or Double Bed depending on your needs. Gohotels.ph has AC, LCD TV, Wifi, Hot and Cold Shower, Bath Towels, Soap & Shampoo and a Safety Deposit Box as complement of your stay.

Actual Stay

Toilet @ gohotels.ph

I was not picked up by AVIS, the limousine company that gohotels.ph has a tie up. There was confusion in their arrangement that I was not able to avail of the services that I paid for. When I arrived at the hotel, the Hotel Manager just apologized to me but never offered any alternative solution, like for example, issuing a debit note to me. I did not insist since it was only Php. 625.00 and I earn more than that in the Kingdom of the Sands. It’s not fashionable to argue or create an argument for a very small amount of money. If I were to choose between the Php. 625.00 and my dignity, I’ll choose dignity.

When I arrived at the hotel I’ve noticed that the hotel lobby was very clean. It’s not well lighted and has no AC, however. I think they’re going green so I didn’t mind. The most important thing is that the place is clean. Check in time is at 2:00 PM so if you’re there earlier than the check in time, you’ll have to wait. You have to sign several papers before they’ll give you your Access Card. The drawback with the Access Card is that once you leave the room, the centralized AC will automatically shut down.

The Floors that serves for guests occupancy are the 5th and 6th. The 2nd and 3rd are for the parking spaces and Office spaces of Call Centers that renting in the Cybergate Plaza. Just like in the hotel lobby downstairs, the Elevators have no AC. I wasn’t surprised when there was also no AC at the 5th Floor Lobby. There were air vents and AC ducts so I assume that they’re just saving energy. I have no complaints since it’s all for our environment.

Shower @ gohotels.ph

I was given a room with a view on EDSA. I love the view and the room. The room is very clean and welcoming. It’s just that the Centralized AC could not really counter the heat of the sun that’s facing the window. I have no complaints because I slept well and was well rested because of the room.

The only disadvantage in checking in with gohotels.ph is that you’re not allowed to eat inside your room. You can eat your food at the 5th Floor Lobby or at the Cybergate Mall nearby. It’s not also for smokers because they ban smoking. They have smoke detectors everywhere. I am not a smoker so I don’t have problem with their regulation.

The location of gohotels.ph is along EDSA Mandaluyong. It’s very near to the Boni Station of the MRT. If you’re an OFW, it’s just a bus / MRT ride away from the POEA. The nearest mall is the Cybergate Mall, just beside Cybergate Plaza where gohotel is located. You can also go to Megamall through bus or just by walking. The only problem is if you want to go to Mall of Asia, it’s going to take a lot of time to get there. The airport is also farther but if you’re going to take the hotel limo, you’ll get there within 30 minutes.

Housekeeping is done from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. You’ll be impressed because they’re very keen on cleanliness.

If I were to rate gohotels.ph, I’ll give it a 9/10.