Palawan is gearing up for what its officials hope will become its biggest and most tourism-driven festival yet, as the province unveiled a more ambitious vision for the 2026 Baragatan Festival aimed at drawing both domestic and international visitors in the years ahead. The Provincial Government of Palawan, together with the Palawan Tourism Council (PTC),...
Author: Andrea H. Trinidad (Andrea Trinidad)
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Reclaiming connection in seemingly ordinary moments
Irene Laturnas Velasco and I are both from Negros Oriental. She grew up in the town next to mine, and long before we became close we already shared many common friends and stories. She is friends with my older brother and cousins, too. But strangely enough, it took adulthood for us to really find each...
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Low arrivals, high receipts: Why Philippine tourism’s next growth phase is about value, not volume
At first glance, the Philippines’ tourism recovery appears incomplete. International arrivals have not returned to pre-pandemic highs, and the pace of inbound recovery lags behind that of several Asean peers. Yet beneath this apparent weakness, tourism receipts have surpassed pre-pandemic levels even as visitor volumes remain below 2019 numbers. This divergence signals a structural shift...
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Want more tourists? Fix the airfare and infrastructure problems first
A recent article in Esquire Philippines attempted to settle the debate on whether travel to and in the Philippines is more expensive than elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) defended local pricing, saying hotel rates reflect the high cost of doing business in the country. There is some truth to...
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Maybe JP’s coffee-shop walkout isn’t really about his misspelled name
“Starbucks LOST a ‘Loyal’ Customer Today!” One JP Abecilla fired off that dramatic declaration on Facebook, and his post quickly went viral. What was it all about? A misspelled name on a cup. According to JP, Starbucks had long been his go-to place for reading, relaxing, and enjoying a Grande Americano with a Cinnamon Danish....
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With Philippine tourism at a crossroads, it’s time to reset for resilience and relevance
Tourist arrivals to the Philippines in the first quarter of 2025 reflect both an overall increase in volume and an alarming dip in key source markets. According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), arrivals from South Korea and China fell by 13.9% and a dramatic 33.7%, respectively, compared to the numbers in the first quarter...
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A support system, a voice, and a movement for women and girls with hemophilia
In observance of World Hemophilia Day today on April 17 and of National Hemophilia Awareness Month this April, stories like mine find the space and voice they deserve. This year’s theme, “Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed, Too,” cannot be more personal, more painful—or more powerful. For the longest time, hemophilia has been known...
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Gary V wears his faith on his sleeve
Unbowed by a health challenge that forced him to cut short the opening night of his concert “Pure Energy: One More Time” on Friday, Gary Valenciano delivered a powerhouse performance on Sunday, proving why he remains one of the Philippines’ most enduring icons. On Saturday night at the hospital where Gary was being treated for dehydration, his wife,...
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Donny Pangilinan, Nourijune Hooshmand star in anti-human trafficking short film
Young actors Donny Pangilinan and Nourijune Hooshmand recently launched a short film to raise awareness on the harsh reality of human trafficking and how a strong support system is vital to the survivors’ recovery. The short film, “Graduation,” was produced and directed by the nonprofit Called to Rescue Philippines (CTR PH) and written and directed...