In recent years, sustainable tourism has become a large factor for younger travelers. By ensuring the destinations we visit follow sustainable practices, we can easily know that our presence in the area won’t negatively affect the local environment. For our local traveling scene, steps have been taken in most tourist hotspots to ensure sustainability remains a top priority.
What’s next after sustainable tourism? Now that we’ve moved toward securing an eco-friendly tourism scene, how do we further improve the system? For the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), purpose tourism is the way to go.
To PTAA public relations officer Jaison Yang, purpose tourism isn’t simply a charity trip, on which supplies are dropped off and the travelers call it a day. It is an initiative to help establish a means for the beneficiaries to be self-sufficient. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu says, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Hoping to witness how this type of tourism would play out, I joined the PTAA and its board members on a recent trip to Paluan, Occidental Mindoro for a series of outreach programs. Despite the early call time, the group’s overall demeanor was filled with excitement for what was to come. Upon arrival, the team was quick to settle in, eager to get to business straight away. While others started to prepare the items to be donated, the rest of the team prepared sandwiches to be distributed later that day.
For the first program, the PTAA provided students from the Katuray Minority School with snacks, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. They were then taught about the importance of dental hygiene and how to properly brush their teeth. It’s surprising how a simple toothbrush was enough to put a bright smile on the children’s faces.
On the next day, the team was quick once again in preparing for the day’s activities. This time our journey led us to the remote community of Mangyan families in the small town of Aglimasan. It was a lengthy trip, over two hours. As we arrived on the island, smaller boats were used to transfer us and the stuff we prepared the outreach program. As exhausting as it sounds, the sheer excitement of the children upon our arrival was enough to keep the energy up throughout the day.
Despite the lack and limitation, Aglimasan by all appearances was a place of peace. It was as though I was at a resort on some faraway private island. Up on a hill, the Aglimasan Elementary School stood out as the main gathering area for the residents. We were warmly welcomed by the community and the schoolteachers before lunch was distributed to everyone.
After a hearty meal, the team got to work at setting up the day’s activities. For the main event, mothers from the community were invited to attend a soap-making session. Using the materials provided, community members were taught how to make soap bars that could be sold off at a profit. Meanwhile, those with sight problems were given reading glasses to aid their daily activities. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also held for a soon-to-be put-up multi-purpose hall funded by the PTAA for the indigenous folks. Solar lights and other relief goods were also provided.
As the programs played out, I found myself sneaking away a bit into the shade of a mango tree by the beach. I noticed some kids tossing some stones up a tree so I joined them for fun. They were aiming for the mangoes. Finally, one of them landed a lucky hit. I held back a hearty laugh after the victor took a big bite only to end up grimacing as the mango was still unripe. I offered to share the rice cakes the community had given us to snack on and we enjoyed it under the mango tree.
Once the programs were finished, we said our goodbyes and headed back to our boat. As tempting as it was to stay longer, we had to make our way back as it would be too dark to navigate the waters once the sun went down. Watching the sunset on the ride back felt like a meditation.
During dinner, we gathered together to reflect and share how we felt throughout the trip. On my turn, I shared how I couldn’t help but feel it was rather bittersweet. Visiting these remote areas had a joyful aspect as we got to know the residents and interacted with them. But there was also sadness in seeing how these remote communities didn’t have access to some basic needs. When others shared their experiences, I would see just how much the trip had impacted them as much as the beneficiaries. Some had tears falling on their cheeks.
Nevertheless, the common sentiment was that there was excitement for the potential of forming similar programs and partnerships with other communities in need across the country. After all, what took place in Occidental Mindoro serves only as the start of many. “The PTAA foundation has made an impact on this community in Mindoro,” said PTAA president Evangeline Tankiang-Manotok. “Its success will depend on the support, dedication, and passion of our members.”
In the end, both parties benefited from the experience. Communities received aid and learned ways to generate income and improve their livelihood while those who traveled to reach out and lend a hand left with a better understanding of the environment and culture of the indigenous people.
Here’s hoping that purpose tourism will catch on.