MANILA — My boyfriend and I were supposed to go to Apo Island this January but I decided to abruptly cancel all our plans of capturing the island through our lenses, and possibly even writing a travel feature about it, after receiving what I would consider one of the biggest kinds of BS in my experience as a seasoned traveller, and a freelance travel and lifestyle correspondent.
This is not the first time that arranging for a trip to Apo Island has left me angry, disgusted, and frustrated — with most of my ill feelings focused on arranging for boat transfers.
Let me tell you about my most recent experience — basically, the straw that broke the camel’s back. I definitely will not be recommending a visit there to my colleagues and friends in the diplomatic circle, and in my circle of travel bugs and influencers to save them the hassle of what I experienced.
I got in touch with a certain Lodge to arrange for boat transfers from Malatapay in Zamboanguita to Apo Island, off the coast of Dauin. After our initial exchange, I received no confirmation whatsoever if the reservation had been taken into consideration, so I decided to get in touch again after more than a day of waiting to ask about the status of my reservation for the boat transfers. I still received no reply.
What ticked me off even more was when I asked if their rooms were air-conditioned; I was given a curt reply telling me to go to Siquijor instead. In verbatim: Dili sorry Walay coryente sa Apo Adto mo siquijor.
I don’t think this is any way to treat and talk to a potential guest and customer. That and our succeeding exchanges proved to be a deal-breaker for me because it made me feel that I was not welcome to the island, and that this so-called host wasn’t really interested in accommodating any guests.
I found the treatment rude and arrogant especially because I was dealing with someone who was supposedly in the hospitality industry, from a country that supposedly prides itself for the warm hospitality of its people.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that when you are in the hospitality and tourism business, you are supposed to treat your guests — potential ones included — exceptionally well. That means going beyond the bare essentials. It means that as a host, you must go out of your way to answer every query politely, you must exhaust all means to satisfy your guest, and basically, you must take it to heart to make sure that the entire experience from reservation to the conclusion of the stay is beyond pleasant because a customer is a customer regardless if he or she is a local or a foreigner.
Customers pay to be treated well, and not to be treated or spoken to like crap.
I am sorry to say but my past two attempts at going to Apo Island have both been exasperating and frustrating.
The previous time I tried to make arrangements for boat transfers years ago at the port in Malatapay, the man I inquired from didn’t even bother looking at me while I was talking to him or at least giving me a decent answer on the range of options a solo traveler can take for a cost-effective way to cross to the island.
However, when a pair of foreign travelers arrived, he didn’t even bother excusing himself but went all-out to accommodate them.
I may be a local but I’m a customer, too. As a paying customer, I think I also deserve the best kind of treatment as every guest expects.
I am not saying you must roll out the red carpet. At the very least, be courteous when talking to your guests, and go out of your way to make a guest feel welcome because unless you are able to do that, you do not deserve to invite people to be your guest.
Another frustration that I have when it comes to visiting Apo Island is that it is unreasonably expensive to go there if you are a solo traveler.
Imagine having to pay P2,000-P3,000 for an entire bangka just to go there. For solo travelers, this is too impractical.
I do not think it is impossible to have regular hourly trips made available for tourists and backpackers who wish to visit the island without going through the burden of either paying for an entire boat or going all the way to Malatapay to find people who are willing to share their boat with.
In case you don’t know, more and more people are backpacking or travelling alone or in very small groups. This demographic among travellers is increasing and is preferring more practical options. If these options are available especially in places like Apo Island, tourism will definitely flourish even more.
If the reason for making it expensive, and virtually inaccessible for small groups is to regulate the number of people going to Apo, then the solution is simple. Follow the best practices of Aloguinsan and Puerto Princesa’s Underground River by being honest about the concern.
Make it clear to the public that only x-number of people will be accommodated on the island at a given time to allow nature to breathe. Plain, simple, and it will definitely earn the admiration of people who patronize sustainable tourism.
I’ve been to other islands such as Olango and Malapascua in Cebu which offer more reasonable prices for boat transfers. They even go out of their way to assist tourists to cross to their island at the minimum cost possible. It only costs me less than P100 to cross from Mactan Island proper to Olango; to think that its distance is farther than Malatapay is to Apo.
I believe this issue on common courtesy, hospitality, and accessibility are things that our Provincial Tourism Office must look into immediately.
Otherwise, it is a mortal sin to promote a place and promise travelers a great time only for them to be met with the level of reception that I encountered.
In the hospitality industry, perception is very powerful. A place may lack certain amenities that one can get in urban places but what makes up for it is the warmth and the courtesy of the host, the ability of the host to make his guest feel that he is not a cash cow, but as someone who is truly welcome to share and learn the local culture with. That is the kind of experience that is considered priceless.
I have been to many far-flung places in the Philippines and around the world, and I have slept and camped out in areas with hardly any semblance of the bare necessities but I treasure the experience because of the way my hosts made me feel welcome, and made me feel that they were excited to let me learn about their way of life.
So let me end this with the conversation that I had with the person from the Lodge in Apo Island, and let me show you what it means to talk to guests with courtesy:
Instead of saying, Dili sorry Walay coryente sa Apo Adto mo siquijor, tell your guest: Ma’am, sorry pero wala ra ba’y kuriente sa isla. We hope okay ra mo ana. Pwede mi magprovide ug kandila para naay suga, ug paypay para dili mo mainitan inkaso medyo galha. We hope madayon ra gihapon mog bisita kay bisan walay kuriente, chada sad mag stargazing magabii.
Instead of saying, Walay tubig Walay coryente ug init kaayo sa Apo , para da Filipino init para da foriener ok Nila, say, Ma’am/sir, mag inform lang ko daan na wala ra ba’y tubig ug kuriente sa Apo. Usahay init kaayo pero makaprovide mi ug pamaypay para dili kaayo mo magalhaan. Although naa na sad mi mga guests na enjoy ra gihapon sila sa experience.
And instead of saying, Dili na puede mag tent sorry, say, Ma’am/sir, sorry pero mag-inform lang unta ko na lately, wala na gi-allow ang magtent. We hope muconsider gihapon mo ug puyo sa amo kay siguradoon namo nga memorable gihapon inyo experience.”
Now following this review of my experience, I am not expecting an explanation. I believe I have heard enough. Words are wind.
I would appreciate for change to happen in the way that tourists like me are treated. I would appreciate a more pleasant experience for tourists to come. I would appreciate to be treated well as every traveler and tourist should, even if I do not have blonde hair and blue eyes.
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Author’s email: fso.stacy@gmail.com
