Lost glory and opportunity

Puerto Princesa Underground River had been drawing about 160,000 tourists. Last year, when this was listed as among the finalists in the world’s new seven wonders of nature the number of visitors ballooned to 425,000.

Recently the 8.2-kilometer underground river was finally recognized as one of the new wonders of nature. With the confirmation, political and tourism authorities expect 550,000 visitors!

The influx of domestic and foreign tourists in Palawan is approaching the magnitude of tourist arrivals enjoyed by the islanders and stakeholders of another world class Boracay Island Beach Resort. The bonanza that tourism brought into the people of Boracay is now experienced by the population of Puerto Princesa in particular and Palawan in general. From only two flights daily using small planes in the past, over a dozen flights of jumbo planes daily now land in Puerto Princesa.

We are not talking here of statistics of tourists arrivals, we are trying to quantify the windfall that had accrued and is still accruing to Boracay and now Puerto Princesa. Their people are contented lot. Tourism businesses flourish and there are no idle hands as everybody who wants to work has work to do.

As we do, we cannot help but lament the lost opportunities with the islands of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan. These and the other islets around them are the real and precious pearls of the Philippines. Lulled in calm waters and braced by resplendent white sands and endowed with the wealth of marine resources. They are of no equal and can very well compete with the wonders and beauty and the gifts of nature. Yet, one wonders why despite all these, the people of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan are reeling in poverty and are in constant threat from conflicts, terrorism and clans war. Before the secessionists fronts and the terrorists took control of these three islands peace and quiet have always pervaded. No external or internal forces of destruction, no foreign influences divide the Muslims and Christian populations.

All those seemed to be just a fantasy but it was one which absorbed pulsating reality. But all is not lost for as long as the present generation remains focus on what options they want to follow. The choice is simple: follow the war path of the secessionist fronts, the fundamentalist but ironically un-Islamic agenda of the Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf guerillas which are all clones of Al Qaeda terrorist band, or, embrace and defend peace and pursue a productive life in an atmosphere of interfaith cooperation which prevailed in the past. An now is the time to make the choice and commitment.