Superyacht TV photographed in Subic Bay January 2012

Image courtesy Martyn Willes

A few years ago “the Philippines” was the whispered word in the world of superyacht destinations, now it seems everyone wants to come and check out the Philippine islands, from the perspective of the bridge of their own superyacht. Could it be that the Wow of the Philippines is even more fun for the ultra–rich?

Superyachts that used to come here did so in secret; privacy and seclusion was the objective. I recall when one such superyacht arrived off Puerto Galera in 2007, just long enough to dive the famous Canyons dive site off Escarceo Point. Staff at Asia Divers, who supplied the divemaster, were sworn to secrecy; the next morning the yacht was just a memory.

Philippine Windsurfing Championship, Puerto Galera

Image courtesy John Smart

Every year in February, Puerto Galera traditionally hosts the second leg of the Philippine Windsurfing Championships on the waters off Boquete Beach. In 2012 the event will be expanded into the Puerto Galera water sports festival, to include all manner of wind–powered and human–powered water sports.

In addition to the windsurfing championships there will be competitive kite–boarding, dinghy racing and paddle banka racing and potentially dragon boat racing. The goal is to make February the on–water eco–water sports tourism festival month in Puerto Galera and to provide a vacation–extension for windsurfers and kite–boarders who usually travel to Boracay for the Funboard Cup in January and then have nowhere else to go.

What’s More Fun In The Philippines?

Image courtesy Girlie Cervantes

For sure almost everything you can imagine doing is actually “more fun in the Philippines” and for sure the main reason is the people but, as a promotional slogan for an entire country, for the foreseeable future, the statement has so much potential for negative parody that, in my opinion, its use is most dangerous. I can imagine how easily sarcasm would have turned to ridicule, when combined with the infamous Manila tourist bus rescue. “It’s more fun in the Philippines” may even become a trade description issue insomuch as a few, who will no doubt find it less fun, could sue over the comparative lack thereof.

If, as our new head of Tourism suggests, the slogan came from research derived from comments made by people who have already visited the Philippines then is “it’s more fun in the Philippines” what we should use? Billionaire, innovation pioneer and former head of Apple, Steve Jobs, is oft quoted as shunning market research in favor of defining something that people do not yet know they want tomorrow and then helping them discover why they should want it today – market research simply tells you what people thought they wanted yesterday.

Badladz Burrito Best Mexican Food Award 2011

Image courtesy Mylene Cooney

My Best Mexican Food Award for 2011 goes to Badladz Adventure Resort in Puerto Galera, Mindoro. It receives this award not only for delivering the best tasting Mexican food sampled around the Philippines in 2011 but also because the servings offer the best value for money of any Mexican restaurant I have ever eaten in, including those in Mexico.

Mexican food is not most people’s the first choice for foreign cuisine, unless you hail from the southern states of North America – most gastronomes would not class Mexican food as cuisine in any event. But the Badladz buritto and juevos rancheros are so distinctive that they are impossible to overlook if you have even the minutest passion for Mexican food. And that is why Badladz wins my 2011 award for the best Mexican food. [see: even my grammar is more spiced by the thought of dining at Badladz]

Dive Thru Scuba Resort Best Beach Resort Award 2011

Image courtesy Martyn Willes

My Best Beach Resort Award for 2011 goes to Dive Thru Scuba Resort on Panglao Island Bohol. It receives this award for offering the best overall value for money accommodation, dining and scuba diving experience, above all others visited during the year.

It was while writing the featured destination article for the Bohol edition of the Active Boating & Watersports magazine that I was introduced to the Dive Thru Scuba Resort. I had the opportunity to stay for a couple of nights there and to explore its inner workings and management style.

AirPhil Express My Worst Airline Award 2011

Image courtesy Martyn Willes

My worst airline award for 2011 award goes to AirPhil Express. It receives this award for the worst possible customer service ever encountered from any airline in 26 years of international flying. AirPhil Express does not care about its reputation enough to apologize for its shortcomings and it apparently has an anti-customer support policy that amounts to premeditated theft.

In October 2011 I booked a flight for a client with AirPhil Express; the booking was made over the Internet, through the AirPhil Express booking website, and paid for using my Mastercard credit card, issued by the BDO Unibank, and confirmed by that bank to be a valid payment instrument for purchasing airline tickets. As apparent confirmation of the credit card’s validity, I received a receipt from the AirPhil Express flight booking website, confirming payment and instructing me as to my obligations at check–in, having used a credit card for payment.