Pageviews by Countries (February 21-February 28)

Pageviews by Countries

Entry	Pageviews
Philippines	104
United States	95
Germany	17
France	14
China	6
Portugal	6
Singapore	6
Ukraine	6
Spain	4
United Kingdom	4

Environment and Tourism: The Yin and Yang of Boracay

The environment and tourism may be considered as the yin and yang of Boracay; at least for the year 2017.

Data from Malay Municipal Tourism Office showed that Boracay registered 1,725,483 tourist arrivals in 2016, 11 percent higher than in 2015.

Of which, 868,765 are foreign arrivals, 813,302 are domestic tourists and 43,416 are overseas Filipino workers.

Koreans remained the top foreign visitors, numbering 321,016, followed by the Chinese (273,297), Taiwanese (55,736), Malaysians (26,115), Americans (23,887), Australians (16,745), British (16,318), Saudi Arabians (15,681), Russians (11,593) and Singaporeans (11,155).

Jetty Port Administrator Niven Maquirang said Aklan Provincial Government is targeting two million tourists for Boracay this year.

“Among those positive indicators contributing to the tourism growth are the Philippine hosting of Miss Universe pageant and the golden anniversary of the ASEAN Summit. We are also hoping for an increase in the number of Chinese tourists coming to Boracay,” Maquirang said.

The island is also enjoying several free positive publicities abroad. This includes the tag as the best beach in the world by an international magazine. The Department of Tourism is likewise developing Boracay as a cruise ship destination in Asia Pacific.

However, while Boracay achieved leaps and bounds on tourism, it also suffers criticism because of environmental related issues such as coral degradation, drainage problem and the cleanliness of the beach, among others.

“We need the help of all stakeholders in ensuring the environmental sustainability of Boracay,” said Merlyn Aborka, chief of the technical services section of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office.

“But the problem is stakeholder seems to have their own interpretation of how to save Boracay from environmental degradation,” said Aborka.

Meanwhile, Malay Councilor Nenette Aguirre-Graf is pushing for a summit to tackle the environmental woes in the island.

But until now, it was not clear if ever the summit will be materialized.

Sources from hotel managers in Boracay said that the DENR headed by its current secretary Gina Lopez is implementing strict measures. The strictness aims to return the image of Boracay as paradise.

ASEAN leader worried over China’s militarization in South China Sea

Ministers of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) have expressed apprehension over China’s continued militarization and aggressive claims at the South China Sea.

In a press conference here, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said the ASEAN ministers were determined to push for the drafting of the framework for the Code of Conduct with regards to the maritime dispute.

The press conference was held Tuesday afternoon as the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat Meeting held at the Shangri-la Resort and Spa Boracay came to a close.

“The retreat is mainly for the set up of points of discussion for the succeeding ASEAN meetings this year where the Philippines plays host,” Yasay said.

Aside from the militarization of China, the ASEAN was also worried over the issue of the ongoing nuclear program of the North Korea.

“The ASEAN ministers hope to have more on this in the future meetings,” Yasay added.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City is ready to host 208 delegates who will be attending two meetings of the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in March.

More than 100 individuals who will be deployed for protocols, liaison officers and volunteers are into a four-day skills enhancement training as added preparation. The ongoing training held at the Richmonde Tower here is handled by the Foreign Service Institute that covers protocols for liaison officers, events and conference management.

Jose Ariel Castañeda, Deputy Director of the Iloilo Organizing Committee (IOC) said some of the participants had already experienced this city’s hosting of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

Aside from Iloilo City, other government agencies are also on their toes to ensure the success of this year’s hosting that coincides with the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN.

He added that all possible scenarios that may happen during the meetings have been covered with the convergence of efforts various government agencies.

Iloilo City then has to look further into the welfare, convenience and entertainment of the delegates to ensure a productive meeting, he said.

The Chairman of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat)

I chaired the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat today in Boracay. The Retreat is the first gathering of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017 with the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.” During the Retreat, the Ministers discussed the way forward for ASEAN Community building, including the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, especially the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint, and strengthening of ASEAN’s external relations and maintaining ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture. The Ministers discussed the six priorities of ASEAN for 2017, namely, (1) People-oriented and people-centred ASEAN, (2) peace and stability in the region, (3) maritime security and cooperation, (4) inclusive, innovation-led growth, (5) ASEAN’s resiliency, and (6) ASEAN: a model of regionalism, a global player. The Ministers looked forward to the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN this year, commemorating five decades of cooperation and Communitybuilding in ASEAN and emphasised the importance of continuing to promote initiatives that directly benefit the people of ASEAN, including the need to redouble efforts to increase intra-regional trade and further strengthen mechanisms for extending consular assistance to ASEAN nationals consistent with ASEAN’s goal for deeper FINAL 2 regional integration, and the usefulness of tapping ASEAN think tanks to assist in charting the future direction of ASEAN. The Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern and discussed ways of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. These issues include non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism, piracy and armed robbery at sea, cybersecurity, natural disasters, climate change, irregular migration, trafficking in persons and illicit drugs, maritime security and cooperation, and developments in various regions, including the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, among others, as well as sustainable development. The Ministers agreed on the need to maintain ASEAN centrality and unity, including having a credible, collective and cohesive ASEAN response in addressing domestic and regional challenges. Recalling the 14 February 2017 Statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the Ballistic Missile Launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), ASEAN expressed its grave concern over this development and urged the DPRK to comply with relevant UNSC resolutions in the interest of maintaining regional peace, security and stability. On the South China Sea, a number of Ministers expressed concern over recent developments and escalation of activities in the area which may further raise tensions and erode trust and confidence in the region. At the same time, they noted the need to sustain the momentum of dialogue in order to ease tensions in the region. They reaffirmed the importance of the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities, and avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes, including FINAL 3 through full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. The Ministers underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and efforts within the ASEAN-China process to complete a framework of the Code of Conduct (COC), in order to facilitate the early adoption of the COC.-DFA Secretary Perfecto Yasay

Boracay weekly weather forecast (source: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ph/weather/-/caticlan)

WedFeb 22

Risk of a thunderstorm

27°C

 30

 25°

 40%

 ~5 mm

 25 km/h NE

 7

ThuFeb 23

Risk of thunderstorms

27°C

 30

 25°

 100%

 15-20 mm

 20 km/h NE

 1

FriFeb 24

Risk of thunderstorms

27°C

 30

 25°

 90%

 10-15 mm

 15 km/h E

 2

SatFeb 25

Mainly sunny

27°C

 30

 25°

 20%

 1-3 mm

 20 km/h E

 7

SunFeb 26

Chance of a shower

27°C

 30

 25°

 40%

 <1 mm

 20 km/h NE

 8

MonFeb 27

Light rain

26°C

 26

 25°

 90%

 10-15 mm

 20 km/h E

 0

TueFeb 28

Risk of a thunderstorm

27°C

 30

 25°

 70%

 ~5 mm

 25 km/h NE

 6

Weekly Page Views (February 14-February 21)

Pageviews by Countries
Graph of most popular countries among blog viewers
Entry Pageviews
United States
446
Philippines
88
Russia
71
Germany
22
Turkey
16
France
7
China
6
Latvia
4
Singapore
4
Malaysia
2

ASEAN delegates arrive in Boracay

(L-R): H.E. Thongphane Savanphet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR; H.E. Dato' Ramlan Ibrahim, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia; H.E. Myint Thu, Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar; H.E. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand; H.E. Nguyen Quoc Dzung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viet Nam; H.E. Enrique A. Manalo, Undersecretary for Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines; H.E. Brig. Gen. (Ins) Chee Wee Kiong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore; Mr. Garry Ramlee Bin Ibrahim, Acting Director-General, ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Dr. Soeung Rathchavy, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; H.E. Jose Tavares, SOM Leader and Director General for ASEAN Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia; and H.E. Mr. Hirubalan VP, Deputy Secretary-General, ASEAN Secretariat.

Delegates to the Foreign Ministers Retreat of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit have started arriving in this world-renowned resort island.

Undersecretary Charles Jose of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said during a press conference said Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. will be chairperson of the event, the Philippines being the host of this year’s summit.

Jose said illegal drugs, sea disputes with China and human trafficking are among the challenges faced by ASEAN member states.

Aside from the Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, Boracay also hosted the ASEAN meetings for Committee of Permanent Representatives last February 19 and Senior Officers Meeting on February 20.

“ASEAN FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE”

Statement of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum 2017 (ACSC/APF)
Regional Steering Committee
17 February 2017
As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marks its 50th year, we, civil society organizations (CSOs) and people’s organizations in the region remain critically engaged in asserting alternative forms of regional integration that addresses the long-standing issues and concerns affecting the peoples of Southeast Asia.
There have been several concerns raised by CSOs in the past years of its engagement with ASEAN including the lack of genuine people’s participation in ASEAN decision-making, the rising inequalities among member states, prevailing inaction on human rights issues, and the dominance of elite-centred and market-oriented development strategies among others.
Over the years, these issues have provoked wide-ranging responses and resistance against the current neoliberal integration model espoused by ASEAN. Consequently, it has also prompted CSOs and people’s organizations to lead the way for establishing new forms of regional integration based on existing and emerging alternatives at the country-level – alternatives that are based on people-to-people interactions rather than state-to-state relations or purely market-oriented solutions to the region’s problems.
As Chair of the ASEAN this year, the Philippine government is hosting the ASEAN Summits this April and November. A number of ASEAN high-level meetings have also been lined up to take place in the country. Similarly, the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) is also set to hold parallel activities to voice out the people’s concerns and issues in the region, as had been our practice for the past eleven years. This February 15 -16, we, representatives of CSOs and social movements from eleven countries in Southeast Asia have come together for the First Regional Consultation Meeting (RCM) leading up to the main Conference in August 2017.
The ACSC/APF is a network of Southeast Asian civil society organizations and social movements that engages the ASEAN processes to address the issues and concerns of the people –human rights and access to justice, peace and human security, trade, climate change, migration, job and livelihood and social protection. Its constituents include workers, the peasantry, urban poor, fisherfolk, women, children, LGBT community, indigenous peoples, migrants, older persons, workers, youth and persons with disabilities.
Even as we advance alternatives to the current ASEAN regional integration model, we continue asserting the meaningful participation of Southeast Asian peoples in government discussions especially on issues   that affect our lives. By doing so, we seek to contribute in building an ASEAN region that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people. ###
 Philippines - (CHAIR) Ms. Jelen Paclarin, Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau / PhilWomen on ASEAN
 Philippines - (CHAIR) Prof. Eduardo C. Tadem, Freedom from Debt Coalition
 Brunei - Ms. Siti Zaleha Kaprawi, Women Graduates Association, Women Council of Brunei Darussalam
 Cambodia - Ms. Srey Sotheavy, Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
 Indonesia - Mr. Harry Sandy Ame, AGRA (aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria)
 Lao PDR - Mr. Cher Her, The Association for Vulnerable Children and Community Development
 Malaysia - Ms. Lee Shook Fong, Centre for Independent Journalism
 Myanmar - May Shi Sho, Karin Development Network
 Singapore - Mr. Soe Min Than, Think Centre
 Thailand - Sunsanee Sutthusanee, Pro-rights Foundation
 Vietnam - Dong Huy Cuong, Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation
 Regional - Deborah Christine Stothard, Forum Asia

Boracay is most loved instagram location in PHL

This resort island has been identified as the most loved instagram location in the Philippines in 2016, according to a family travel blog.

Benjamin Beck of the Home Away Travel Blog told this writer through an email that it is no surprise that Boracay has been considered as the most loved instagram location.

Based on the monitoring of the family travel website, Boracay has generated 71, 608 likes; followed by Coron Island in Palawan with 47, 259 likes. In the third spot is the Malapascua Island having 38, 622 likes.

Other most loved instagram locations in the country are the Chocolate Hills in Bohol with 37, 436 likes; Enchanted Kingdom, 14,201 likes; Quezon Memorial Circle, 13,496 likes; San Agustin Church, 12,738 likes; Hundred Islands National Park, 11957 likes; Rizal Monument, 10, 287 likes; and Malacanang Palace, 9917 likes.

Meanwhile, the Home Away Travel Blog indicated that the Philippines is on the 10th spot of the Most Loved Instagram Locations in Asia.

Japan is registered as the top most loved instagram location in Asia.

Weekly page views (February 5-February 12)

Pageviews by Countries Entry Pageviews Philippines 97 United States 54 Ireland 25 France 12 Malaysia 9 China 7 Germany 5 Thailand 4 Ukraine 4 Canada 2

Summit support groups deployed

Various support groups have been deployed in this resort island in Aklan for the two meetings of this year’s Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) summit.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said those deployed for the ASEAN meetings in Boracay had prior experience from the 2015 hosting of meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

 “We have fielded support group personnel with experience,” Miraflores said.

The groups will handle peace and order, fire safety and health concerns for the meeting on human rights on February 13-15 and  the retreat for ASEAN ministers February 19-21.

“We are confident the ASEAN meeting will be a successful event in Boracay and another boost for our tourism industry,” Miraflores said.

44 VIPs in Boracay Asean meeting

 Forty-four senior and junior officials were expected to attend the Asean Summit meeting in this island resort from Feb. 19 to 21.

Most of the dignitaries will come to Boracay via the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, while other will use the Kalibo International Airport.

Police were ready to secure the delegates but were fielding fewer officers.

A thousand officers will guard the ministers, according to Senior Police Officer 1 Nida Gregas, information officer for the Aklan Police Provincial Office.

The Philippines is hosting the Asean Summit in time for the association’s 50th anniversary.

“While we are fielding fewer police officers, we will be heavy on intelligence operations,” said Gregas. “So far, we have received no apparent threat to the upcoming Asean meeting.”

Cadets from universities in Manila will help the local police in security operations.

Koreans ‘still trust’ Filipinos

 South Koreans still trust Filipinos despite crimes victimizing their fellow nationals in the Philippines.

They are still encouraged to visit the Philippines either as tourists or for business, according to the consul and police attaché of the Consulate of the Republic of Korea.

“We believe criminal incidents (victimizing Koreans) are isolated. There are many Filipinos who are hospitable,” said Yong Sang Lee. “We also believe in President Rodrigo Duterte as an authoritative leader.”

South Koreans top tourists in Western Visayas in terms of number.

Arrivals from the East Asian country reached 337, 096 last year, according to the Department of Tourism Region 6.

Concerns on the safety of Koreans surfaced recently after a South Korean businessman was allegedly abducted and killed by rouge police officers in the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Quezon City.

At least 15 South Koreans have died in Visayas in 2016 — four each in Boracay, Cebu and Bohol, two in Bacolod City, and one in Dumaguete City — many of which were due to drowning and petty crimes, said Yong.

“We understand that accidents happen,” he said. “We could not ask for the 100-percent safety of South Koreans. What we are asking is for Filipinos to help make sure our tourists, especially South Koreans, are safe.”

Yong was in the island to observe a court hearing on the case of a South Korean who died in a helmet diving incident in 2015.

Peter Eom, father of the victim, said he would still encourage South Koreans to visit the Philippines despite what happened to his son.

Boracay tourism rises by 7 percent in January

Boracay tourism rises by seven percent in January 2017 with China as taking the lead for this year.

Julfe Rabe, information officer of the Caticlan Jetty Port, said Thursday that from Jan.1-31, they received a total of 169, 843 foreign and local tourists. The data is higher compared on the same month in 2016 wherein they only received 158, 701.

For the past years, South Koreans always were on the top lead of tourists visiting Boracay. But this year, a factor that made Chinese on the lead were that they celebrated their Chinese New Year in Boracay.

China in January registered 34, 748 followed by South Koreans in a slight difference with 34, 040. Other top ten foreign arrivals includes Taiwan with 3, 840; Russia, 2, 414; USA, 2, 039; Australia, 1, 874; United Kingdom, 1, 545; Malaysia, 1381; Saudi Arabia, 1152 and Germany 1025.

Meanwhile the Xiamen Airlines, a Skyteam member alliance, said that they will be opening direct flights to Kalibo International Airport (KIA) in March 2017. The routes will be coming from Fuzhou and Xiamen in China.

These new routes are seen to boost Chinese arrivals to Boracay.