Letter from a Reader: Is It Really More Fun in the Philippines?

Image courtesy of www.pinoymanila.com

Dear Fashion PULIS,

I am an avid reader of your blogs and it makes life fun especially to those people like me who are not really into following the showbiz world.

I would like to share the experience I recently had in our Terminal Airport because I really wonder why we promote the tag line: “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” Is it really fun? I guess the government/DOT should fix our tourism first before using this tag line.

When I got back to the Philippines, I experienced the following that made me think of how much the government needs to work to provide truth to the tagline.

1. We waited for about 15 minutes inside the plane because the ground crew was still looking for an available ladder.
2. Terminal 1 really needs renovation. Its age, smell, and small size add stress to being in the airport.
3. When I got my 2 pieces of luggage of about 50 lbs each, nobody helped me to get it from the conveyor (unlike in the US, someone helped me immediately).
4. The custom officer rudely asked if I had things to declare. When I said I had nothing to declare, he asked where I came from. I replied I came from the US. Then, he retorted with, "Ano mga binili mo sa US? Ano laman ng bagahe mo? Ang laki ng bagahe mo wala kang ideclare?"
5. While I was in the toilet, I overheard a conversation between a worker and a passenger. After her sad story, the passenger gave her five Canadian dollars, to which she replied with, “puwede na po ito sir.” The toilet is so small that I could not bring my cart inside and there was no air conditioning.
6. While I pushed my heavy cart towards the exit door, five male porters were waiting. One of them said, "patulong ka na, konting pera lang naman yan. Di makakabawas yan sa dollars mo!" By this time, I was very frustrated already. I did not say anything because I was so tired and sweating too much.
7. When I was waiting for my ride, I felt sad how the waiting area looks like. It is such a shame for foreigners and balikbayans. I remember there was a couple on the same plane I rode saying they were excited to go to the Philippines for their much-awaited vacation and it was their first time. I wonder how they felt when they reached the airport.

Is it really fun in the Philippines? Perhaps, the government should consider that fun in the Philippines begins with its airport and I wish this were positive fun.

Yours truly,
Frustrated Balikbayan