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| Koh Tao, Surat Thani, Thailand |
Readers of the largest crowd-sourced tavel site, TripAdvisor,
named the 10 most beautiful islands for 2013. The world’s top 10 islands in
TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Award 2013 are as follows:
Ambergris Caye, Belize; St. John, US Virgin islands; Bora
Bora, Society Islands (French Polynesia); San Juan Island, Washington, USA;
Santorini, Cyclades, Greece; Isla Mujeres (off the coast of Mexico); Moorea,
Society Islands (French Polynesia); Koh Tao, Surat Thani, Thailand; Easter
Island (Chile); and Nosy Be, Antsiranana Province (off coast of Madagascar).
That’s the choice of world travelers themselves. But three years ago and by other travel watchers,
Marinduque was being bruited about to be the next tourist hotspot in Asia and this 'little' Marinduque was No. 2, remember? How did that come about?
In April 2010 during the Holy Week, Senator Bongbong Marcos, Jr. visited Marinduque with his family and made a statement about the need to promote the poverty-stricken island of Marinduque as a major tourist destination. He cited Marinduque’s vast resources and natural beauty. “Marinduque is known worldwide for its colorful Moriones Festival and that’s good, but it has so much to offer in terms of world-class attractions and facilities that we must capitalize to boost tourism…” Read. (I was busy rehearsing a passion play, “Ang Kristo: Pasyondula” then but was tasked at that time by provincial administrator Juan Roberto Abling to also coordinate Marcos’ visits to the municipalities, which I, of course, did).
In April 2010 during the Holy Week, Senator Bongbong Marcos, Jr. visited Marinduque with his family and made a statement about the need to promote the poverty-stricken island of Marinduque as a major tourist destination. He cited Marinduque’s vast resources and natural beauty. “Marinduque is known worldwide for its colorful Moriones Festival and that’s good, but it has so much to offer in terms of world-class attractions and facilities that we must capitalize to boost tourism…” Read. (I was busy rehearsing a passion play, “Ang Kristo: Pasyondula” then but was tasked at that time by provincial administrator Juan Roberto Abling to also coordinate Marcos’ visits to the municipalities, which I, of course, did).
By May 2010 CNN International had come up with an article stating
that Marinduque could very well be “the next tourist hotspot in Asia”,
alongside Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Hainan Island in China and the Ho Tram Strip in
Vietnam where billion dollar investments for resorts were funneled by their governments
and developers. “For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper’s
radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The
laid-back island province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday
haven…” It also cited Luzon officials who are on a crusade to raise the area’s
public profile quoting Marcos that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are
modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit
its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.” Read
In June 2010, also CNN came up with “25 killer things to do
this summer” that recommended visiting “one of Asia’s next gen tourist
hotspot”, namely Marinduque and the other places in Vietnam and China – “up and
coming tourist hotspots… amazing summer destinations, each for unique reasons.” Read
By January 2011, The West Australian’s John Borthwick had chosen “10 of the world’s best islands” with Marinduque yes Marinduque on the No. 2 spot.
Sicily (Italy) came first, Marinduque second, followed by Reunion (Indian Ocean),
Manihi (French Polynesia), Maldives, Phu Quoc (Vietnam) Koh Lanta (Thailand),
Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Santorini (Greece). Said he: “Little Marinduque, a
short flight south of Manila, is one of the loveliest islands in the
Philippines. It’s a quiet place of waterfalls, villages, jungles. A butterfly
farm and old Spanish churches – in short, authentic regional Philippines.” Read
Elle Canada followed suit, Its choices entitled “Travel
destinations: The new hot spots” picked out top islands by continent or island
groups. It listed among others, Punta del Este (for South America), Bonaire for
Carribean, Marinduque for Asia and Hvar for Europe. “There are no Starbucks on
this volcanic Philippine island – life in Marinduque calls for a calmer pace
(Think white-sand beaches and sulphuric hot springs)…” Read
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| This blogger (left) with former Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Cong. Lord Allan Velasco as DOT staff look on. |
I had the opportunity to present these facts, together
with Cong. Lord Allan Velasco to then Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim during a
Holy Week 2011 visit to Marinduque so the latter could help press buttons for
the needed rehab of the Marinduque Airport. Or else, the Philippines’
Marinduque could be forgotten by travel watchers before it could even take off
as a tourism hot spot, I argued. Lim was awed by the many amazing things about Marinduque.
For personal reasons, however, (wanting
to spend more time with his family that the demands of his job apparently could not allow
him), Lim resigned from that cabinet post in August 2011.
But the Marinduque Airport rehab is to be completed this
year, 2013, according to DOTC and CAAP, two agencies of govrnment that could really make
it happen. With the tourist influx it would bring throughout the year, etc. etc. Marinduque could truly
make a definitive comeback, don't you think?
