UK ok’s travel to ‘east side of Mindanao’; excludes SoCCSKSarGen
Browsing through the Inquirer Website today, Bariles ran across an article which reports that the United Kingdom has recently revised its travel advisory on Mindanao. Upon closer look however, he finds out that the advisory only meant “travel to east side of Mindanao‘.
Bariles’ eyebrows began inching upwards ala-Loren Legarda but instead of reacting even farther, immediately searched for UKs Foreign and Commonwealth Office site to find out….
where the bloody hell is “east side of Mindanao”?
Well, according to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth site, updated 11 May 2009…
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Summary, Terrorism and Local Travel sections. We no longer advise against all travel to the east side of Mindanao.
Then the travel summary proceeds by not identifying where “east side” is but goes on to say….
We advise against all travel to south west Mindanao covering the following areas, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM, including the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) plus the western provinces of Sarangani, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay. We advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao. This is because of ongoing terrorist activity there have been a number of terrorist attacks against civilian targets, most recently in December 2008. See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
Bariles immediatly took his anti-hypertension pills after reading this. Eventually however, he relaxed a bit, thought hard and asked this question, “When was the last time has anyone met a Briton around here?”
Oh well, nothing much will change really. We have been shunned off by Britons, by the Canadians, by the Europeans and the Americans since time immemorial, since this moro-moro wars have progressed into one giant “economic enterprise” for both sides of the fence. Another travel advisory doesn’t really hurt at all.
And besides, just look at what these people will be missing – the Sarangani Bay Festival this month of May, the Tuna Festival of GenSan in September, the Talakudong Festival of Tacurong, the white sand beaches of Gumasa, the Lemlunay Dive Resort of Maasim, the col and balmy Kalsangi Golf Course at the foot of majestic Mount Matutum, the idyllic mountain lake resorts and seven falls of Lake Sebu, the flower gardens of Tupi, the world’s largest pineapple plantation in Polomolok, the bird sanctuary of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat’s local version of Taj Mahal in their provincial capitol, the country’s only European-accredited fishport in GenSan, among others, not counting the abundance of fresh fruits all year round and the freshest tuna and seafood plus the world’s safest pork and cattle.
So there….
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Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
gilbertyaptan Says:
A travel advisory, like any advisory, is just that — an advice which one may or may not take. But I do protest the inclusion of SocSarGen in the said advisory because of the reason cited — “ongoing terrorist activity there have been a number of terrorist attacks against civilian targets.” I suspect this advisory may be written by a Ricky Hatton fan.
This bad rap/rep should be taken as all the more reason for us to keep on shining and excelling in what we do best.
gilbertyaptans last blog post..Crimson Crescents (An original short story by Gilbert Y. Tan)
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 12:23 PM
dimple Says:
my boss who is a BRITISH National.. had been goin’ in and out SOCSKSARGEN area.. he fell in love with MINDANAO.. that includes, SOCSKSARGEN.. he is even planning here for GOOD…
posted this para dili na mahighblood si BARILES…
hehe..
sooner or later, ma-lift din yang TRAVEL ADVISORY na yan…
peace!
dimples last blog post..Caring Careers – Marbel
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 12:30 PM
dimple Says:
*planning of staying here…
dimples last blog post..Caring Careers – Marbel
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 12:32 PM
RainCindy Says:
I felt bad after reading UK travel advisory.
Soccsksargen is one of the best place to visit here in Philippines. It’s really cheap from food, hotel and fares. We have a lot of virgin tourist spot here as well, white sand beach, diving spots, people are very friendly and a lot more. In fact my British Uncle just bought 2 hectares of land where he wants to put up his home before he will retire. He had blissful vacation last March in Gensan.
To all British national, why not discover SOCCSKSARGEN and enjoy your vacation with small amount of penny to spend?
RainCindys last blog post..DFAT at Ranchero Grill
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 2:15 PM
rrrrrr Says:
hindi naman siguro lahat ng british..well its ok.lang!(baka exxageration naman niyan ng mga MEDIA kaya natatakot sila.)
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 3:04 PM
BrAvO SiX Says:
it’s just an advisory…
they can still travel….
pero duna ra gihapon impact sa tourism ng place..
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 3:41 PM
BrAvO SiX Says:
hmmmm… i think UK lifts travel restrictions to “east side of mindanao” as of May 14 posting by the DFA..
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
bariles Says:
@Bravo Six, that is correct. Soccsksargen however belongs to the southwest area so it is still under travel restriction. And you are right, this has been causing a great impact on tourism around here. What we can do is promote local tourism instead. It’s just too bad we ar often lumped up with areas where the real action has been going on. Tsk-tsk-tsk!
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 3:57 PM
freddy00nl Says:
Dear Bariles,
Be happy that the UK people don’t come across Sarangani, South Cotabato area, here in Europe were not realy fun of having them to visit, they really are not nice, drink a lot, are very violent, and very mis behaving. They are able to spoil very easy a very nice fiesta like tuna festival……….coz of bad behaving
So be happy………that many other people are coming to the South aside from the British.
I’m sorry to that i offend many good guys………and they know exactly what people i mean
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 4:12 PM
rosilie Says:
Galing nyo sir Avel!
They sure miss a lot from mindanao!
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Leonard Pe Says:
let them be.. it’s their choice, besides almost every news is a “marketing hype” since “bad news” sells.
Maybe it’s one of their way of hitting back since Manny just smashed the face of one of the boxing icons from EU.
Leonard Pes last blog post..Silent Saturday 8 : A River in Laguna
Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 9:26 PM
georgie boy Says:
dear kuya avel,
DON’T WORRY I WILL STILL DEFY THE ADVISORY AND WILL BE EXPLORING SOCKSARGEN ON MY VACATION THIS JULY!!! SEE YOU KITA KITS!!
Posted on May 17th, 2009 at 3:10 AM
gensanite Says:
mao ron!!! personalon man gud nila ang pagka-pildi ni HATTON kay PACQUIAO… ing-ani diay sila manimalos? hehehe… joke…
well… i’m pretty sure they’ll miss out on a lot of really good things that we offer… it’s not our loss, anyway…
Posted on May 18th, 2009 at 1:20 PM
lito Says:
sayang …kung alam lang nila na soccsksargen is worth visiting for!!!
i also wonder kunti lang ang turista dito…
litos last blog post..happy…by sam concepcion
Posted on May 18th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Nick L Wales Says:
After reading the advise from the UK travel board i was debating weather or not to visit gensan but after the comments from everyone on the site i am more excited than ever to visit your beautiful country .
Thanks for the comments and im sure i will have a fantasic time
Posted on June 15th, 2011 at 8:08 AM