PHILIPPINES: STILL A WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT

   RECENTLY, SIX BIG COUNTRIES ISSUED A TRAVEL ADVISORY ON THE PHILIPPINES WHICH IRKED THE PALACE. RESPONSIBLE COUNTRIES WERE BRITAIN, UNITED STATES, FRANCE, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND CANADA.

   A TRAVEL ADVISORY IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE ANNOUNCEMENT BUT A WARNING I THINK WHICH CAN REALLY ALARM PEOPLE AND WHAT THOSE COUNTRIES HAD ISSUED WAS VERY INSULTING FOR THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NO ANY BASIS. TRAVEL ADVISORIES SHOULD BE ACCURATE AND SENSITIVE. THEY SHOULD HAVE CONCRETE BASES AND BE ABLE TO GIVE EXACT INFORMATIONS TO AVOID FRIGHTENING PEOPLE UNREASONABLY. THEY SHOULD DEEM THE IMPRESSION WHICH PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE, THE MOMENT THEY OBTAIN THE ISSUE. THE DECISION OF PRESIDENT NOYNOY AQUINO TO QUESTION THOSE COUNTRIES IS JUST RIGHT. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THEM RESPONDED THAT THE MUCH-HYPED ADVISORY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SEVEN YEARS AND WAS ONLY UPDATED, IT CANNOT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM THINKING THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT SAFE TO VISIT ANYMORE.

   WHAT IS THE POINT IN SAYING THAT EVERYBODY IS TAKING THE TERRORISM THREAT SERIOUSLY EXCEPT THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION WHILE THERE IS REALLY NO TERRORIST THREAT THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS FACING RIGHT NOW? OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT CONFIRMED THAT. EVEN IF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD CLARIFIED THAT IT HAD NOT ISSUED A NEW TRAVEL ADVISORY ON THE PHILIPPINES, IT HAD ALREADY REACHED THE PUBLIC AND THE POINT IS THEY HAVE NO ENOUGH REASON TO INCLUDE PHILIPPINES AS ONE OF THE MANY COUNTRIES FACING THE SAME KIND OF MATTER.

    ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE SAID IMMINENT TERRORISM ATTACK WOULD HAPPEN, PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY (NOT ONLY FILIPINOS BUT ALSO THE OTHER NATIONALITIES LIVING HERE) ARE THE FIRST TO BE GIVEN AN ADVISORY BEFORE OTHERS. P-NOY IS NOT STUPID TO NOT KNOW THAT THERE IS ALREADY A THREAT TO HIS RULING COUNTRY. IN FACT, OUR MEN IN UNIFORM GUARANTEED THAT THEY WILL DO THEIR VERY BEST TO SECURE LIVES OF THEIR FELLOWMEN AND WILL DO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN PEACE.

" IT'S NOT THAT PRESIDENT AQUINO DOESN'T TAKE THE SUBJECT SERIOUSLY. WHAT'S FUNNY HERE IS THAT THOSE SIX COUNTRIES ARE TAKING IT OVERACTING."

SOURCES: PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

                      TV PATROL (ABS-CBN)

DATES: NOV. 8 - 13 2010