SPECIAL BLOG FOR PEOPLE OF THE TOURIST INDUSTRY OF CEBU, PHILIPPINES.
Who supports the Cultural Arts , specifically the Filipino Cultural Dance and Folk Dances of the Philippines. Starting this business in May of 2009, I started researching and looking online for Information and Advertisement of the Filipino Folk Arts to Travlers coming here in Cebu, Philippines. To my amazment I did not find any promotion of the Cultural Dance hardly at all. I researched only to find that the Filipino Folk Dances and Cultural Dances are promoted and very established in most other Country's , but not here in the Philippines. Yes i found a few resorts that offer such shows, but never published or promoted as a Historical or Tourist attraction for Cebu.
I then assumed I would start such a business that would really promote and push the Filipino Cultural Arts to the Travlers coming here to Cebu. I naturally assumed once someone started this, many would be happy to join on board and help support this History and Traditions to Travlers........ THIS IS WHAT I FOUND TO HAPPEN.......
Japanese Agency's started including us in thier websites and on thier itenarys for Travelers from Japan to have a choice to experience this Wonderful Art.
Two or three Local Agencys included us on thier websites, for Customers to be able to choose and see this Art..... Many have promised to use us for thier itenarys and put our name on a tariff so guest coming here could choose our name from amoung list of other great things to do in Cebu.
We thank them and are so happy they are part of this.......
BUTTTTT>......... After establishing this Business to the Top of all The largest World Travel Guides, and also being the No.1 Internet information on The Filipino Cultural Dance. After sending almost 200 emails to different Agency's, Tourism Departments, Local Lifestyle Writers, Bloggers, I have received very little support...... Most of the time not getting any replies at all to my proposals........ The only support I have received has been mostly from Foreign Agency's and Few Local Agencies.
Does anyone care about the Filipino Cultural Dance ?????.... Does anyone think its a part of the Tradition and History of The Philippines???? Look in all the Philippine Travel Guides, Tour and Travel Agencies Tours they offer..... In most every single one you will find, Magellan's Cross, Mactan Shrine, Allege Guitar Shop, Tioest Temple, Church's, Historical Places, Malls, but where is The Filipino Cultural Dance. If you will check other countries Tourism, you will find that their Cultural Dances are included in most all of their Tour Packages. WHY not here in The Philippines ???? I am not meaning just a name on a Tariff, I mean as a listed part of the Cultural or Historical Tours...... Some can say, well we did not have a place that offers that, But what about now???? You already have the No.1 established and well received place for that.
So again i will ask, Who Cares About It. If i was a traveler wanting to come to Cebu, when i searched all information from travel guides and from Tour Packages, I would think, wow Cebu you can see allot of Churches, and Religious Places, and Beaches, Beaches, Beaches....
I think travelers also deserve the right and opportunity to see online The Filipino Cultural Dance. Let the guest make the choice. We give them the choice of all the religious sites, and other Famous Historical Sites. How much more the True Orgin of the Filipino People. The most important historical attraction. The Native Dance, clothing's, arts and crafts, the roots of what the people are about and where they are from........
I challenge each reader of this article to search and try to find me a place" not counting mine" that a foreign guest can choose or get guided on where they can witness or see a cultural or folk dance in Cebu Philippines. I mean a place that truly promotes it and tries or offers foreign guests a chance to choose it, before they arrive here in Philippines.
Has the local tourism industry sold out their Culture, and Traditions??? Do they care that this is also a big tourist attraction ?????? Do they try to promote it to foreign guests ??????
I say lets add it to the tour packages of the Historical and Cultural Tours..... Hey don't want to use my place.... That's fine........ Find another one with as high standards and quality, and praise and reviews as mine. I would say use that place. But if you cant find, then i would suggest you start caring more about what your country and traditions can offer to guests who come to see your place........ then your own personal opinion......
Writers, want to write about your Culture, and its dances, and its amazing talents???? That's great. Now after writing about them, where can the guest go to witness them. Where can they find a place online to book a reservation???? 7 days a week, 3 shows everyday...... with the quality and pride, reviews and best representation of the Filipino People and The Cultural Dances.
I believe as Travel Agents, and Tour Operators, Tourism Officials, As Writers, Bloggers, and Most of all as a FILIPINO, you owe it to your country and to the Travlers Or if not let them keep seeing how Cebu does not care about their own Culture..............
I find so many places here that will say, ok we will wait until we have large bookings, or we have big crowd before we will offer a Cultural Dance...... I have not heard any of them say, well we will close down the Mactan Shrine if we cant get big crowd today. Or we will not do the Historical Tours if we cant get large crowd....... Is the traditions and Culture of your fore fathers, worth so little...... Does it come that far down on your list of piroritys......... Sad Sad Sad.............
Most agency's and tours here i find would rather put up a large poster of a white sand beach, or a once a year festival, and take down the historal and cultural dance posters....... Again Sad....
