Landmark Decisions: What is the Philippines’ most famous symbol?

Picture this: The Statue of Liberty and you immediately think of New York. The Colosseum in Rome. The Sphinxes and Pyramids of Egypt. The Taj Mahal in India. The Great Wall in China, while the Little Mermaid whispers Copenhagen. So much for landmarks.

You do the tango in Argentina. Pizza and pasta in Italy; paella in Spain. Smell the tulips in Holland while a kangaroo takes you hopping back to Australia. Someone shouts aloha, and it’s welcome to Hawaii. Friends greet you with a wai and you think of Thailand.

Why is it that every time you see cherry blossoms – be it in Washington DC or Sydney or anywhere else in the world – memories of Japan come rushing in? Or why every time Tony Bennet swoons, "I left my heart" – no matter where you are or what you are doing – your heart skips a beat and you dream of San Francisco? And speaking of dreams, remember the Singapore Girl?

You get the drift? Now let’s quickly shift to our islands and see what we can come up with.

So we sought the assistance of colleagues in the travel industry – world travelers all – to give us a better picture of the Philippines. What is the ideal, most recognizable landmark, attraction or symbol of our country?

Alberto Lim, president, Ten Knots Development Corporation: A smiling Filipino face. We have no recognizable landmark like the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House or the Manhattan skyline that immediately conveys a sense of place. But ask any foreign visitor what impressed him most about our country and the invariable response is the warmth and friendliness of the people. It is the authentic smile that best characterizes the Philippines.

Tina Cortes, general manager, Sun Cruises Inc.: For obvious reasons I am tempted to say Corregidor, considering this is one landmark that symbolizes Filipino courage, heroism and love of country. But somehow, how the rest of the world perceives the Philippines as a destination all these years will definitely have to come into play. So I believe it is just fitting that we showcase the Filipino people, though culturally we are as diverse as our islands. Our hospitality and passion for music, dance and life itself always stand out.

Celia Villanueva, general manager, Philippine International Convention Center: Come to think of it, I can’t think of just one particular landmark, a sight or an object immediately identifiable as distinctly from the Philippines. Wala talaga. Right now, iba-ibang symbols: the jeepney and calesa for the adventurous tourists. Tubattaha Reef for the divers. South sea pearls for the shoppers. Honestly, I wish for the day when everybody would shout "Philippines" upon seeing the facade of the PICC. But you must agree with me when I claim that our way of organizing and managing conferences here is uniquely Filipino.

Mamerth Banatin, president, Adam’s Express Travel: You have to reckon with Mount Fuji of Japan, the Ankor Wat of Cambodia, the Grand Palace of Bangkok, the Shwedagon Pagoda of Myanmar, the Petronas Towers of Malaysia and the dances of Bali. For the Philippines, nothing in the world can match the majestic Banaue Rice Terraces. I’ve only seen it once during my early college days, but one trip is more than enough to last me a lifetime of memories. It’s not just what you see but what you experience. Imagine the earth-walled terraces completed by hand 2,000 years ago and yet still functions perfectly today – a great example of irrigation technology. Visit the terraces on a full moon and when you see them bathed in silvery moonlight, you cannot but feel blessed by their serenity and grandeur. It simply brings you closer to God. Oh yes, others may claim there are similar terraces in other Asian nations. I have seen them all and can honestly say nothing beats ours.

Liza San Juan, director of sales and marketing, Century Park Hotel: Without a doubt it’s the Banaue Rice Terraces. I don’t think there is anything close to it in any part of the globe. We don’t call it the "eighth wonder of the world" for nothing. This unique man-made attraction is truly awesome. It makes you forget to breathe.

Helmut Gaisberger, general manager, Mandarin Oriental Manila: My choice would be the Filipina. Not only is she renowned for her beauty and charm, wit and warmth, grace and gentility, she has been recognized as well for her strength and spunk. Filipinas have excelled in various fields of endeavors here and overseas – in business, banking, politics and government, arts and culture, tourism and industry. The Filipina has got an innate character which has won the hearts of many foreigners, myself included. Even the country was and is governed by a Filipina.

Fina Joven, president and general manager, Annset Holidays Inc.: I can only think of two. One, of course, is the colorful jeepney. Upon arrival tourists show some interest in trying the very unique-made of transportation. Secondly, our national costumes – specifically the Maria Clara, patadyong and barong tagalog.

Margie Munsayac, director of sales and marketing, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort: Thinking of a landmark can be difficult. So I would go for the fiesta. It is the embodiment of the Filipino’s unique marriage of religious fervor and fun-loving spirit. From every corner of the country and almost every day of the year, fiestas are celebrated to honor patron saints with religious rites and colorful festivities, gathering everyone at the local church and plaza. The fiesta reflects the strength, generosity and hospitality of our people.