We’ve been featuring a lot of travel articles on the Philippines lately and it’s awesome that a lot of people have begun to scratch their travel itch when it comes to local places. Seeing what our country has to offer is something to be proud of, but if we can’t do it responsibly, it ends up being more a source of shame than honor.
“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.”
You’ve probably seen this quote as part of signs used in nature spots or maybe even heard of it while listening to John Kay’s Nothing But lyrics. Considering the fact that Philippine domestic tourism is on the rise, we can only hope that more travelers take this phrase seriously.
With this as our inspiration, we put together a quick how-to guide on how not to be a jerk while traveling. We need to preserve what’s left of our country’s resources and beautiful places!
1. “Take Nothing but Pictures”
Places that have been “untouched” by civilization seem to be all the rage these days. Think of the beaches of Caramoan or Calaguas! For whatever reason, having to take a dump in the bushes is no longer a deterrent for tourists and travelers… it’s actually the draw.
Bringing home keepsakes of your trip might seem like a good idea at first. After all, what’s one bottle of Boracay’s sand, right? Wrong. Mother Nature didn’t spend thousands of years turning rock into powder-white sand just so you could decorate your bathroom with it.
They’re pretty, sure… but at what cost? Photo from philippine-made.blogspot.com
If we’re going to maintain the appeal of “untouched” places for future generations to come, it’s simple: don’t touch. Commercial establishments are already sapping up resources from our once-untarnished destinations.
Take photos and nothing else. You’re more likely to enjoy sharing a photo of a tarsier on your head than actually smuggling one home anyway.
2. “Leave Nothing But Footprints”
Metro Manila tends to have a crappy reputation for garbage and pollution. Our rivers are dirty, our streets are covered in trash, and our buildings (even historical landmarks such asIntramuros or Luneta) have been vandalized with graffiti. Oftentimes, we travel to get away from this environment. Unfortunately though, this trashy mentality is something some people from the city take along with them.
Mt. Pulag is one of those places that have experienced a huge boom in visitor numbers lately. Photo from mynomadichabits.com
Imagine rafting along the Puerto Princesa Underground River, or bathing in waters of theDitumabo Falls in Baler… then seeing some junk food wrapper floating by or a can of soda landing on your head. Newly-popular spots like Mt. Pulag are ALREADY facing problems related to tourists’ garbage and camping wastes.
If you can pack something in your bag, then it shouldn’t be too much of an issue having to take the containers back either. A lot of our most-visited travel spots are homes — not just to locals, but to wildlife and vegetation. How would you feel if someone came into your house, left garbage all around your room, and carved “JHÜNJHÜN W@S H3R3” on your wall?
3. “Kill Nothing But Time”
We’ve probably all heard of the saying, “when the buying stops, the killing can too.” Outcry over killing elephants for ivory or rhinos for their horns have gone mainstream in international news these past few years. Unfortunately, very similar practices have mostly been ignored in our own country.
After their fins are sliced off, in most cases, sharks are thrown back into the ocean to die an agonizing death. Photo from Wikipedia.
You may not be the one holding the smoking gun or the bloodied bolo, but when you buy products made from a place’s local wildlife, you sign a death warrant for future killings too. Do you really need a turtle shell keychain? Are you that curious to find out what shark’s fin tastes like (it’s bland, rubbery, and the broth tastes like chicken, by the way)? And do you realize that eating bird’s nest soup is like swallowing bird SALIVA? Gross.
We’re proud to say that a lot of places have actually taken steps in the right direction when it comes to wildlife preservation. Resorts like Montemar in Bataan actually help with sea turtle cultivation by caring for the newly-hatched turtles until they’re ready to be released into the wild. A couple of times a year, guests even help with the release (for a small fee, of course… turtle care ain’t cheap yo!). Initiatives like this aren’t just good for the animals, but give you that warm fuzzy feeling of doing something good. Master Splinter would be proud!
4. Support Local!
Okay, so maybe this one’s a line we wanted added in to the original saying.
Why bother spending hours on a plane only to look for the nearby McDonald’s as soon as you land? Travel is about seeing new places, trying new experiences, even eating new food! Support local businesses, hire local guides, participate in the place’s traditional activities, and dine at local restaurants.
Mingling with the locals is often the best way to immerse yourself in a place’s culture. Photo from intrepidtravel.com
Given that the Philippines isn’t as developed as our Southeast Asian neighbors or Western countries, small businesses (that maintain sustainable practices) help fuel the development of an area. You’ll find that the most immersive travel experiences you can have are those that put you at the center of a place’s culture and practices.
You’ll find tons of seafood restaurants in Palawan, Iloilo, Capiz, or Davao at much cheaper price points than any fine dining restaurant in Manila. Not only that, you’ll also get to try their local dishes! So whether you’re trying Pigar-Pigar from Pangasinan or Poqui-Poqui fromIlocos, you’ll find that actively seeking out these local places is not just easier on the budget, you also leave without the bad taste of commercialism in your mouth.
Your Kids Will Thank You Later
All these rules are pretty simple to follow, and will ensure that the beauty of the Philippines remains unspoiled for future generations. Traveling is and will always be one of the funnest and most fulfilling things we can do. If we all get with the program and stop acting like irresponsible tourists, maybe our kids will get to experience the Philippines’ great places as we did.
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