by Tourism Industry Journalist Excellence Finalist
To the crazy passionate people who are in love with the Philippines,
I am deeply honored to be named a finalist for the Tourism Journalist Excellence Awards by the Department of Tourism. Yet alongside this recognition, I cannot silence the anger within me over the rampant corruption in our country—where congressmen and DPWH officials allegedly pocket as much as ₱245 million in a single day, brazenly delivered in pancit canton boxes.
From 2022 to 2025, this corruption has reportedly intensified, with funds cut from PhilHealth, Tourism, and Education and funneled into DPWH—turning contractors and congressmen into billionaires with flood control projects at the people’s expense.
During the program, as the song Noypi played, a heavy silence swept through the room. Among tourism professionals, you could almost hear a collective sigh: ang hirap mahalin ng Pilipinas. The frustration is overwhelming—like wanting to hurl a TV at the Taksiyapo wall and scream, p*tngina DPWH at mga kongresista.
If the government continues to look the other way, refusing to hold these officials accountable and send them to jail, the options left for the Filipino people may be no less explosive—whether through mass bloody protests, as we see in Indonesia, or, in the worst case, civil unrest.
We’ve been promoting our love for the Philippines for over 20 years, and sometimes people think I’m crazy for still believing—perhaps naively—that our corrupt government can be fixed within our generation. Some of our friends are already making exit plans for their children to work and live abroad—another wave of brain drain now looming over the Gen Z Filipino generation. Wala na ba talagang pag-asa ang bansa natin?
Why do we continue to promote the Philippines out of pure passion, driven only by love of country and the occasional certificate of recognition—while knowing there’s no real budget behind it, because our taxpayers’ money is endlessly corrupted by officials? Are we just going to forget and move on?
To the passionate and resilient tourism professionals of the Philippines—the true OGs of our industry—we honor each one of you. To all the finalists and award winners who continue to tirelessly promote our country, we salute your dedication.
Even as we confront the painful reality of ghost projects and insatiable greed—where billions in public funds are never enough for the corrupt—we choose to keep fighting for the Philippines we love. Now that we know being a contractor is the fast track to billions, we still choose the harder, nobler path: to promote the Philippines, even if it will never make us rich.
At the 1st Philippine Tourism Excellence Awards, we witnessed a few truly passionate and even “crazy” individuals and companies who took home well-deserved recognition. We want to support and help promote them, because the judging process was stringent and overseen by a national board of judges—making each award a testament to something truly remarkable and relentlessly driven to promote our country.
Here is our Philippine Bucket List based on the Tourism Excellence awardees:
Greenleaf Hotel Gensan stood out and beat several international hotel finalists in Manila! 🏆 Hope to experience a stay at this prestigious Tourism Industry Award winner for Best Hotel in Region XII in GenSan.
Ticao Island Dive and Resort. I’m intrigued by the diving experience in Ticao Island, Masbate (Bicol Region V), which is making waves and even outshining some of the country’s well-known dive destinations. One of these days, will visit Ticao Island Dive and Resort.
Ted’s Kitchen. Congratulations to our baker friend, Gel Santos-Datu, for winning the Salo-Salo Award for the Municipality of Santa Cruz, Laguna—a well-deserved recognition and a heartfelt tribute to the late Chef Day. 💛👏
Isabela de Basilan in Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula, received the Living Cultures Destination (Pamana Award) for heritage preservation. 🌿✨ Can’t wait to visit and experience its vibrant living culture and heritage treasures.
Mantigue Island in Camiguin won the Eco-Tourism Destination Award 🏝️—a true model for sustainable tourism practices. Can’t wait to go back and rediscover Mantigue Island.
Bolinao. Congratulations to the Municipality of Bolinao, Region I, for being recognized as the Best Municipality for Tourism Destination! 🌊🌅 A well-deserved honor for one of the country’s coastal gems. Soon will unwind at Veue Beach Cabins in Patar—one of the best resorts in Bolinao.
The Farm at San Benito. Congratulations to our friends at The Farm at San Benito for winning the Best of Filipino Brand of Wellness Enterprise! 🌿✨ May you continue to inspire more Filipinos to embrace healthier, well-balanced living.
Ephrathah Farms, Badiangan, Iloilo (Region VI Western Visayas). Congratulations on winning the Best Farm Tourism Enterprise Award! 🌾👏 Can’t wait to visit and discover what makes this farm tourism program stand out from the rest.
Bohol. Congratulations to Bohol for being named the Best Province Tourism Destination in the Philippines! 🌴🐬 A well-deserved recognition for a province that truly has it all—from the white-sand beaches of Anda and its distinct food culture to the iconic natural wonder of the Chocolate Hills.
FINAL THOUGHTS.
Congratulations to the 1st Philippine Tourism Awards for recognizing tourism excellence—offering at least a breath of hope amidst the challenges of our corrupt Philippine government. While contractors in Manila continue to become billionaires, tourism professionals press on with pure passion, armed only with certificates and trophies (without even budget for prizes), fueled solely by our enduring love for the Philippines. 🇵🇭✨
Ang hirap mong mahalin, Pilipinas.
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by a human—reflecting my own biases, opinions, and insights—with grammar and clarity checked using AI assistance.
P.S. Congratulations to our friends at Megaworld Hotels and Resorts for their well-deserved Tourism Industry Excellence Award—recognized for their Muslim-friendly program, Sampaguita campaign, and for truly embodying the Filipino Brand of Hospitality. 🌸🏨✨
Great to read.. Keep writing more and more.. All the best