Advisories

This week-end, we were supposed to play host to about 20 golf enthusiasts from Hong Kong. Arrangements had been made for them to master the scenic 27-hole course at Malarayat Golf & Country Club in Lipa City, as well as the East and West courses at the fabled Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Mandaluyong (which, by the way, is currently headed by Comelec chair Ben Abalos, who has added some "wild" into the club’s life via deer and monkeys roaming the courses, the return of crows or uwak that probably gave the club its name, and even a few buwaya–the reptilian variety, not human).

"Supposed to" is the operative phrase here, since the whole trip was cancelled due to a travel advisory issued by the American Consulate in Hong Kong based on a "Public Announcement" from the U.S. Department of State dated April 28, 2004, superseding the "Public Announcement issued January 16, 2004 and expires on October 29, 2004". It begins:

"The terrorist threat to Americans in the Philippines remains high, and the Embassy continues to receive reports of ongoing activites by known terrorist groups. In view of a number of security-related incidents and the possibility of future terrorism and other violence or criminal activity, Americans traveling to or residing in the Philippines are urged to exercise great caution and maintain heightened security awareness. The U.S. Embassy urges Americans to avoid crowds, including, among other places, nightclubs and bars, and to exercise special caution in public places or when using public transportation."

It talks about bombings, kidnappings, shootings; of "extremist groups" like Jemaah Islamiyah with "transnational capabilities to carry out attacks", "terrorist groups" like the Abu Sayyaf and the New People’s Army, even extortionists. While Mindanao is repeatedly mentioned, the warnings cover the all-encompassing "in other areas": a shooting on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo, "kidnappers operating in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines", "an American businessman abducted in the Makati commercial district of Metro Manila and held captive for 21 days" and more, much more.

The Philippine government has, of course, raised a howl about this advisory–and with reason, for the picture painted by this announcement is one of almost total lawlessness and criminal activity. While all the incidents cited in the advisory are true, they have been strung like beads in a necklace to choke the life out of any travel plan to our shores.

I’ve often wondered what those controversial travel advisories advise; now I know.