A new natural wonder!

It couldn't have happened to a more deserving natural wonder! The underground river in Puerto Prinsesa in Palawan has been included in the provisional list of the New Seven Wonders of Nature! This is already a victory for the country, as it gives international recognition to a highly potential tourist attraction. There are many tourists who have not visited the country for one reason or another. The underground river just might change their minds. Its natural beauty is indeed magnificent, and paddling through it an even more wonderful experience! City officials are confident that even after the official tallies are in, the underground river will not lose ground, pun intended!

 The Philippines is way behind our regional neighbors in terms of tourism. I was told that the budget for advertising and marketing is nowhere near that of other countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Which is why I see so many ads promoting tourism of these very countries, including India and Korea on cable channels! Their slogans are catchy, and the images they show are indeed intriguing and inviting. It's been a while since I've seen a tourism ad from the Philippines. I can't even remember a slogan, after the last ones were pulled out due to plagiarism accusations!

 Hopefully the underground river of Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan changes all that. The city is in fact gearing up for the deluge of tourists they hope to see in the coming months. But as a people, we have much to learn about taking care of our own riches and attractions. I have seen popular tourist spots go downhill in terms of maintenance and care over the years. It seems we are very good in the opening months, but as time goes by, the quality suffers. I've seen caves that have become garbage bins, even toilets! I've seen rivers that were once clean but are now polluted as ever! I've seen man-made attractions that were world-class at the opening - service, bathrooms and all - become degraded after a few years! Only the most expensive places, and ones usually run by foreigners, maintain their cleanliness and class. Why is that?

 I've seen this attitude time and time again. Why can't we all be concerned with taking care of the things we have, instead of an attitude where "it's just not my problem?" And why is it so hard to have an innate sense of cleanliness and care for places? This is probably the same reason for the utter state of disrepair and filth of our very own NAIA-1, which has made it to the Top 5 world's most hated airports, based on a CNN poll! If these reports did not come out on the web, if they were not highlighted by media, NAIA-1 would continue to be in its sorry, hated state!

 We now have an attraction, that has gained free marketing and advertising on the internet. Millions are now aware of the underground river, and will now want to see it. If the river is to be the talk of praise and magnificence by those who have seen it, traversed it, then we better "unhate" NAIA-1 soon! Their amazing experiences may very well be neutralized by the horrors of NAIA-1. We don't want that.

Because if we fix it, they will come.