Fanfare greeted the recent launching of the country’s tourism campaign in London proudly proclaiming to all the world that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines!” The English Capital will host this year’s Summer Olympics. This near-sighted Ibaloi writer fully supports the promotional “blitz” and believes that it is money well spent (£10,340 or P707,256 as reports have it) if it encourages the international community to give the Philippines a second look. Let’s not forget that Thailand and Malaysia are where they are now because in great part to their vibrant tourism industries due mostly to effective worldwide advertising campaigns. Information is power, after all.

The ads will hopefully make it obvious to all and sundry that our beloved archipelago of delicious coconuts and smiling carabaos has a plethora of surprises to offer in terms of natural beauty and splendor other than the innate hospitality and English-speaking proficiency of pinoys. Even Malacañang is encouraging all Filipinos to act as our country’s tourism ambassadors knowing very well that we all (or most of us, at least) should pitch in, in promoting the country. The Philippines is beset with problems but there is also a lot of good that should be trumpeted to the rest of the world. We are all stakeholders in our nation’s progress. It wouldn’t hurt to proclaim some good things about our motherland for a change.

A magandang Baguio! Welcome to visitors of the city of pines and flowers. Let us keep the land of my Ibaloi ancestors clean and green by disposing litter in trash receptacles and practice proper waste segregation. It’s more fun and cooler in Baguio!

I’m on radio, Mondays, 10 to 11 a.m. at DZEQ Radyo ng Bayan for Turismo ngayon and on TV, Fridays, 10 to 11 a.m. over Skycable Channel 12 for Usapang turismo.

Here’s “Persian Miniature” by the poet William Jay Smith: “Ah, all the sands of the earth lead unto heaven./ I have seen them rise on the wind, a golden thread,/ The sands of the earth which enter the eye of heaven,/ Over the graves, the poor, white bones of the dead./ Over the buckling ice, the swollen rivers,/ Over the ravened plains, and the dry creek beds,/ The sands are moving. I have seen them move,/

And where the pines are bent, the orient/ Grain awaits the passage of the wind./ Higher still the laden camels thread/ Their way beyond the mountains, and the clouds/ Are whiter than the ivory they bear/ For Death’s black eunuchs. Gold, silk, furs/ Cut the blood-red morning. All is vain./ I have watched the caravans through the needle’s eye/ As they turn, on the threshing floor, the bones of the dead,/ And green as a grasshopper’s leg is the evening sky.”

Until next week and may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.