Samal, Global Crises, atbp
Hi, I am back from a week’s time out on Samal Island. Sure, I stayed in my favourite resort, the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort. First time I came here was in 1982… . I don’t wanna give any promotions for this place, but I still get the service here I love to enjoy during those holidays…:and, great food, affordable prices, very clean surroundings and a wonderful beach… .
While staying there I was informed about a comment of Tourism Council President Araceli Ayuste, of the Island Garden of Samal, the official name of this island-city: “We don’t want this island to become the next Boracay because we know it can become much better than Boracay,” Ayuste said. I can only strongly agree. I also don’t want to see Samal Island becoming too crowded and ‘over-commercialized’. I love, what Ayuste added: “We don’t like to see our island’s natural resources over-exploited by many investors!”
Many foreigners who visited Samal as tourists in the past fell in love with the island and ended up as foreign expats and permanent residents. One of them is my friend Ulrich Kronberg, editor and publisher of two German sail boat magazines based in Hamburg/Germany. Uli runs his company by internet from the island. This time he is back in Germany to attend another tourism fair.
This and that… - as my friend Bob Martin entitled one of his last columns here in LiP… .
Crises!!! Even hanging out and relaxing on Samal Island during the last week, one can’t avoid to receive all these “dramatic financial news from all around the globe”.
Before heading to China President Gloria Arroyo asked the congress to pass a law quadrupling bank deposit insurance to boost confidence in the banking system amid a global credit crises. The maximum insured deposit guaranteed by the state-run Philippine Deposit insurance Corp. never satisfied me and many other expats and Filipinos. 250,000 Pesos shall be increased to one million Pesos (about 20,800 US$).
The Philippines’ banking system seems to be stable. The increase was felt necessary to help underline confidence. As Arroyo spokesman Jesus Dureza stressed: “There are no bank runs now!” Now… .
This is that… .
When relaxing on Samal Island, Boracay came again along my way. Headline : “GREEN VEHICLES CURB POLLUTION IN BORACAY”... .
The use of electric-powered vehicles has received the green lights on the resort island as part of efforts to curb air and noise pollution in this (world-famous) Philippine tourism spot. Two “e-cars” and six “e-bikes” imported by the Malay Municipal Government from China arrived over the last weekend and were taken on a test drive on the island to encourage resort and hotel operators to have their own fleet of e-vehicles.
Of course, e-vehicles are cheaper to operate compared to gasoline-powered models. The price of a brand new e-car ranges from 300,000 Pesos to 700,000 Pesos. These vehicles will also reduce toxic emissions and noise pollution, which have been largely blamed on regular motorcycles - not only in Boracay, as we all know, living in the Philippines for good or coming here as tourist.
Boracay’s charms indeed had been made fragile by a host of environmental threats over the past years. And, I am pretty sure, not only there… .
This and that… .
While writing this post it rains cats and dogs. Another ITCZ or rain system with low pressure hits Mindanao/Davao… . I love it… I am looking forward the cooler season… .
Hi Klaus, good for you to promote Samal. I have heard bad reviews of Boracay and it didnt sound so nice.
I have already gotten some enquiries from our German cruising friends, and others. Hope I can help in developing tourism here and also put “Samal” on the map by word of mouth. The website is so so much work – I get headaches!! I am hoping to put different languages there – hope you can help me
with German. Our friends already helped me out – but they are traveling around and hard to catch them. Can you tell me if there is much difference between written Dutch and German? I know you can understand each other …
Cheers, Ellen
Hi Ellen, thanks for your comment. Boracay doesn’t actually deserve such bad news – but some things are really true. I try to promote Samal – but not too much. Anyway, sure I can help you out with German translations. Dutch is totally different – even we have many several terms and Dutch people can also understand German. Send me an email, and I will find time to meet you, if you like… CHEERS!~!!
Hey Klaus You enjoy your vacation the world will get along with out us for a while …Phil R.
Hi Phil R., very well said… THANKS!!!
uhmmmmmmmmmm, you are right..samal is a haven, davao is a comfort zone,
but one thing here in my mind, a big question, if investors will invest in samal like that of boracay, can the island get its hold? i mean i have heard that samal island is shaped like a …an inverted triangle, what if it cannot hold the weight of whatever establishments to be erected..will it flick? might be turned upside down? scary as i was thinking..i hope it is not the way as i thought it is..
these days, i am looking for a place where you can relax, like in beaches where we dont have to pay entrances, places like where one can just enjoy the view with its natural environment, not manmade, not hampered, not altered…hmmm, it is impossible nowadays, i used to enjoy these things for free 20 years ago…hehehe..well, now i have to work harder to enjoy such as these…samal, nice places, costa marina, blue waters, chemas, and bali..oh i see, there is a place near balibali resort in samal that is for free…i should be there soon…hi klaus..have a nice day.
Hi emsdiolola, I am sure samal can hold it. It will take time for Samal Island to reach Boracay. Paying entrances might be always a hinderness. Can you avoid it? No. I am glad to have friends, who owned their beaches some years ago. I won’t pay entrance fee. I have no problems to pay such things, if I get the service… I am getting this since since 25 years in PARADISE PARK AND BEACH RESORT… – even I don’t like to make such promotions for them here… . Sure, there are still places in Samal Island, where you can enjoy the beach without paying an entrance fee. SECRETO LANG…
Hello Klaus,
I’m the journalist from Chilean TV program La Ruta. I wanted to ask you about de T’boli people. What do you know about them? Do you know anybody that could help me contact them or give me information? Do you recomend us a special activity for us to do or visit in Mindanao or the rest of the Philippines? We are looking for cultural and atractive expericences and adventures.
Thanks for your help
Tanya Hirsch
Hi Tanya Hirsch – thanks for stopping by. I also received your seperate email. Of course, I could give you some more information, if you have specific questions. I am sure, Bob and I could help and assist you, if you and your staff really plan a visit of Mindanao. By the way: my wife has been a cultural dancer during the 1980s here in Mindanao. During that time, when I also visited Mindanao for the first time, we were also able to visit some tribes in the mountains. Again: let’s keep in touch. Bob and I would love to help you and your staff… .
Hi Klaus,
I do understand you really love Samal Island. I am glad to have heard the comments by Tourism Council President Araceli Ayuste, and hope that Samal and Talicud will not go the way Boracay has gone. An aunt of mine by marriage, who used to be a Filipino but is now a German citizen, has land on Samal, and I hope she’ll keep the land the way it is and that we can build our dream house there one day. Hope to see you there…
Hi Soichiro, yes, I really love it and, I am glad there are still some very wonderful but lonely places. I am pretty sure that Samal will not go the same way then Boracay. Really? Your aunt (former Filipina) is a German national and owns land on Samal? Actually I know all Germans living there. Anyway, glad to meet you on day… Meanwhile stay safe…
Hi Klaus, yes, she is. Basically she lives within Davao City and has owned the land on Samal quite a long time now. Next time I talk to her, I may ask her if she knows you.
Have a nice day!!
Hi Klaus, I am guessing the second issue will impact the first, i.e. Development will be held back substantially by the impact of the financial crisis on international tourism. On the bank run issue: I believe the Philippine banks are not in the same predicament of leveraging that western banks are. In developed countries the banks have borrowed to invest and encouraged their customers to do likewise. I communicate with Dmitry Orlov regularly (writer of ‘Reinventing collapse’, about the peak oil impact on particularly American financial systems as well as globally) he says there are 15 borrowed dollars floating around in the US economy for each dollar which has already been earned. Of course this all developed over decades of people and governments ignoring the fact that there is not an endless supply of oil to feed endless growth. Now the penny has dropped, but most people are still unaware of the fundamental cause. This is a huge issue and is not going away any time soon.
Hi Soichiro, many thanks… . I would be glad if you do so. Maybe your aunt and I now each other. I haven’t been much on Samal, but when I wrote some columns for SAMAL NEWS, some people got to know me. Usually I relax there at some still available hidden places. CHEERS!
Hi Chris, thanks for your interesting comment. Honestly, I heard the same comment regarding Philippine banks from my Rotary friend, who is the President for Mindanao of a Philippine bank. Let’s hope and pray, that both of you (and many other experts with the same knowledge and opinion) are right. – I have heard already about Dimtry Orlov thru an American friend, who resides in New York. Give my regards to Dimtry. Maybe you can help me to catch up some quotations of him. “Reinventing collapse” seems to be a very interesting publication. Tnak you very much in advance… .
Hi Claus; having read thousands of books on a wide variety of matters, I can say Dimitry is in my opinion the most important writer of this generation. I found him through a website: peakoil.com his blog is at cluborlov.com you will find an invitation to email him on the blog. You will also find an article I wrote for him called ‘Peak oil in the outback’. If you scroll down you will also see an article Dmitry wrote called “The new age of sail” which I really enjoyed.
His whole angle is about facing the reality head on that has been staring us in the face for decades: endless growth on a finite planet is impossible. He also manages to do this with a good deal of humor.
A year ago in Australia, I found 99% of people had no real idea about what was coming or why; before I left this had dropped to about 75%. Many seem to think it’s a theoretical issue, while it has aspects which are systemic banking failures, the most important factor is that we are too heavily reliant on oil and no significant discoveries have been made since 1972! (north sea oil shelf, since then the average new discovery is about 3 days of world supply!)
Here in PI I have found almost nobody has a clue about the issue, or how it will effect them. I had a very hard time for weeks explaining to my wife that the rise in the price of rice and fuel was not the fault of the Philippine Government in particular but to do with international trade, peak oil and worldwide gullibility in believing the philosophy of endless growth.
At least here if there is a total systemic collapse we will have food and water!
Hi Chris, thanks a again very much for your long and interesting comment. I strongly agree with you, especially what you said about the Philippines and its people. Indeed many have no clue, how the crisis can effect them. Of course, your explanation is correct: the rise in the price of rice and fuel wasn’t indeed the fault of the Philippine government. Your last sentence is really great… .
Hello Klaus,
Sorry again for catching up on lip, but again I can not again not post comment. I know you do not want to plug any private business, but I have to say Paradise Island is the cleanest freindliest place I have rver been to. I was there 3 imes the first time I was in the Philippines. Once just a few hours with Joselyn just to check out. Once to have a family beach party with 10 of us. And once just Josey and I to spend the night. You say cost to use but heck It was p100 each and when I was there the first time, about $2.00 per person. included covered area to have our food and lounges with pads to sleep the food off. hehe Crews all day to pick up leaves and anything else, including in the water. Cost including drinks for the day for 10? About $40.00 USD Now that is a WOW. Hope nothing ruins it.
Hi Andy, thanks for also stopping by here. Yes, of course, I really don’t want to plug any private business. But you are very right regarding Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort. I have been there for the first time in 1982. We know the owner family since that time. Up to now – from time to time we take our ‘time-out’ there for four or five days. The service is amazing. We can rest, relax and enjoy at its best. And, it’s just a five-minutes boat ride away from Davao… .
hi? i am glad that there are concerned people (more concerned than the most local residents) like you from other countries about Samal island. i suggest that you should gather information or organize a german association (as i understand from you that there are several germans frequenting in the island) to know each other more and maybe help to protect the envorinment in the island and surrounding waters. my sister is also a german citizen who speaks fluent german and she visits the island with his son once a year as she also owns a private beach in Camudmud, Babak. my mother is a native of the island (her brother was the longest serving mayor of the sland in Babak) and we have a mango and pomelo farm in the island. From time to time, i write to the local tabloids in Davao (although i am based in Manila) to protect the environment especially the gulf surrounding the island against dynamite fishing.
thanks for your concern with Samal island.
Hi Rickie Fernando, thanks for stopping by – and, thanks a lot for your interesting comment. Yeah, meanwhile I am together with a group of several Germans. I wouldn’t say that it is an association. But topics, you have mentioned in your comment, have been discussed already several times. We are not sure, if we can do anything. It’s amazing, I have been in Camudmud several times. Maybe your sister can contact me, if she visit Samal Island again. Your mother’s brother has been the longest serving mayor on Samal Island? Amazing too… we should keep in touch, because some of my in-laws (sister in law, family NERI) have several and sounding same relations… .Let me kindly also know, where and what you are writing to protect the local environment. It’s really a topic, which concerns me since long time… .