By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan – I had the chance to visit Boracay when we were invited to attend a media workshop. I was excited (our thanks to Health Justice and Ms. Inday Espina-Varona) because it was my first time to set foot on what is known as “vacation paradise.”
Sunset, sea, white, powdery sand these are few of the thingsto enjoy when you are in the world’s best island, Boracay.
I imagined the beach to be peaceful, a place where you can find solace, a place where you can recharge, free from the hustle and bustle of Manila.
The beach was a beauty indeed, but not what’s on the perimeter.
As I read through a lot of online articles, many Boracay visitors sang praises, but there were also quite a number of articles with negative feedback.
So, here’s my take on Boracay.
As a first timer, I wouldn’t know how much it changed over time. But judging from what I saw – the overcrowded street, side-by-side establishments, ongoing construction of hotels –the island has lost its natural beauty.
Establishments ranged from hotels, villas, bars, stores, spas, restaurants and, yes, even fast food chains along the beach.
Foreigners walked and flocked to bars where rave parties were. Some were drinking and watching the band playing.
Many were dancing the night away. I joked to myself, am I still in the Philippines?
On the other side of the beach, the busy main road was full of people, some were about to leave and some have just arrived looking for a place to stay. And with a lot of people also goes traffic as hotel services assist guests here and there. The road was too dusty, by the way, as construction by a water company was ongoing, aggravating the traffic as well as the pollution.
As one of the speakers of the workshop said, “I thought we were in downtown Manila.”
It is only right to think that those establishments will create work for the locals of the island. However, some of the workers (particularly the hotel where we stayed) say otherwise.
While waiting for our service outside the hotel, I heard the guard say that there were not enough hotel drivers, that was why it took a long time for a shuttle to pick up guests. As we rode the shuttle, I asked the driver why they don’t have enough drivers, and he said they were very much understaffed because people were resigning due to low wages.
“We are not really drivers, Ma’am. We are bell boys. We were on break when the guards called to pick up the guests,” the bell boy-turned-driver whom I failed to get the name, said. He lamented that their wages is way below minimum wage. “That will not suffice especially when you have children. Those who can stay with that kind of wage are the old ones.”
I asked if he was able to finish his lunch, and he said yes.
It is just ironic how the establishments, especially grandiose hotels earn profits from the tourists, but the people remain poor.
I also noticed a number of beggars, some of whom were indigenous Ati. Maybe I just don’t see them during day time but I noticed there were many of them during night time. And these beggars, especially kids who ask foreign tourists for alms are even ill-treated.
I saw a boy approach a foreigner who was talking to his girl,apparently drunk. When the boy came and asked for alms, the man said: “Go away, man! You motherfer!” The boy quickly ran.
How I wanted to punch the man on his face and say, “You’re just a visitor here, don’t be so smug. You motherfer!”
Whatever “progress” there has been doesn’t seem to benefit the people. They are poorer, they are ill-treated, and they are exploited. The beautiful island is being exploited, too.
I worked here in the Island for a years.. but the years passed by ‘Ganun parin tataas nga ang wages 10 peso, 15 peso lng” They don’t think the employee’s need and the cost of living here in the island is so expensive parang Manila narin. 1 Rented a small room and what we called here is “Boarding House” a small room made of wood and it cost 2,000 up /month + our daily basic needs + our Family needs “Panu nalang kung may pina paaral pa sa College, Kulang talaga” Until now we still hoping na sana tumaas manlang ang wage dito sa Boracay.
“It is just ironic how the establishments, especially grandiose hotels earn profits from the tourists, but the people remain poor.” Exploitations happens to every country, Hawaii, Jamaica, Guam, Puerto Rico etc etc.
Corporation and government doesn’t care about inhabitants. We go to colleges to work for a corporation or government. Corporations need profits and governments need taxes. And we want to be part that vicious cycle because we are blinded by fake comfort and fake beauty.
The person might be poor financially, but he/she doesn’t have a bill, a loan, employees, and taxes to pay.
Minimum wages is farce. It’s about inflation. What if one peso equals one dollar?
If only there was an app that vetted resorts’ treatment (including pay) of workers. Travelers could do a simple search-on Tripadvisor, for example-for places with documented fair treatment of their employees and then be assured that their money was being well-spent. Taking the eco-tourism notion further, to include the human components as well as the environment.
Boracay is far from unique however. My wife and I stayed at a place in the Camotes where the two employees-both Leyteanos-were basically slaves. 1000 peso/month salary. I reported the resort when we returned to Cebu but I’m sure nothing has come of it.