It's More Fun in the Philippines

All of us here may have heard of the new tourism campaign slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”. A week after it was launched, rather days before its launching in January 5, this year, it had already dominated the social websites and captured the interest of locals and foreigners alike.

 

There are many who get thrilled by this slogan and there are also some who criticized it for allegedly plagiarizing Switzerland’s tourism slogan of “It’s more fun in Switzerland” back in the 1950s.

But hey that was 60 years ago and even intellectual property rights lapse after 50 years.

Jim Paredes, a well-known singer, commented " Amazing Thailand came after Amazing Race and Incredible India came after Incredible Hulk, nobody really owns words".

Regardless, the allegations of being a copycat, I believe that the line “It’s more fun in the Philippines” is not a fabricated slogan but it is simply the truth about our country.

A truth without a proof may be worthless, so I’ll be sharing some photos taken during my wander around our country.

Filipinos are so fun of eating, and we eat almost everything, scallops, crabs, kuhol and worms. Yes, even worms, I dared myself for the popular exotic wood worm Tamilok in Palawan and it tasted like no other. You want to know how the worms taste like and how it feels when it’s already inside your mouth. No, I won’t tell, I suggest you better try it for yourself.

Filipinos are also very innovative in food. From the fresh strawberries picked in La Trinidad, Benguet, we came up with Strawberry jams, strawberry ice cream, strawberry wine and strawberry taho. 

And just a week ago, I passed by a bakery boasting their Malunggay pandesal. Amazing right?!

Food Trip. More Fun in the Philippines.

There is no place better to fall in love than the Philippines. Tourists have gone over heels in love with the beauty of the country and warmth of its people.

In the 2008 Korean movie, “Romantic Island”, which was shot in the Philippines, Boracay was portrayed as a paradise, a romantic island where two souls meet and where love grows. You should watch that movie, it’s a cute film.

Filipinos are naturally romantic. But I have not known a man more romantic than Don Mariano. Don Mariano Lacson was a sugar baron in the province of Negros. In the 1920s he built a mansion in memory of his beloved wife, a Portuguese from Macau, Dona Marga Barga. The mansion was the largest residential structure during that era boasting its Italianate and Romanesque construction.

This majestic beauty was not spared by World War II. The United States Armed Forces in the Far East and Filipino guerrilla soldiers burned down the place to prevent the Japanese from using it as their headquarters.

And this is what was left with the mansion, now known as The Ruins.

The Ruins survived the wars and weathered countless calamities, and yet amidst all of these, it stands magnificently beautiful; A proof of love withstanding time.

Falling in Love. More Fun in the Philippines.

So Korea, Japan and Russia top the list of suicide rates worldwide. Hmmm, maybe we can invite them in the Philippines and dare them to have a feel first on how it is to breathing hard like it’s their last. They can take a literal plunge in Danao, Bohol, have a canyon swing adventure and be left defenseless, alone, and hanged up on a 200 meter high and 300 meter wide space.

Or maybe they can try to sit at the edge of this cliff in Camotes, Cebu and think if they would jump to cut their lives or dive to enjoy the water.

Or to have a face to face act with death itself, they can meet the crocodiles in Palawan...

...or the python in Bohol and volunteer themselves as prey.

I am sure after all these; they would learn to appreciate their lives the more.

Suicide. More Fun in the Philippines. Ah sorry, what I meant was...

Conquering your Fears. More Fun in the Philippines.

Who would not love to watch the sun going down from the red sky and vanish in the deep sea.

Sunsets. More Fun in the Philippines

And how fun and humbling would it be to dance with the inmates of Iwahig prison in Palawan.

Dancing. More Fun in the Philippines.

And with the countless beautiful sceneries...

                                                                 Camotes, Cebu

                                                       Sagada, Mountain Province

                                                            Helmet Diving, Boracay

                                                           Santiago, Camotes, Cebu

                                                        Anawangin Cove, Zambales

...sometimes, we are mesmerized and become oblivious to turn around and front the camera for a cheese.

                                                          Lake Danao, Cebu

                                                     Chocolate Hills, Bohol

Sight seeing. More Fun in the Philippines.

I can go on and on with my list but to top it all, what makes our country different from the rest is its people, the Filipinos . It is us that make the stay here interesting, enjoyable and worthwhile. It is us the make it more fun in the Philippines.