April 07, 2015

that thing called "wasak ang kiltepan": an open letter to director antoinette jadaone


the devastation of kiltepan. photo taken by dayanne crisologo. visit the link to the post here. as of today, i was told via private message that sagada has already been experiencing shortage in water supply. with these number of people, i am afraid the locals will suffer. now there's your true devastation. sige, hugot pa.

Leave No Trace - outdoor ethics principles for tourists and travellers
Dagsaang mga turista nakakasira sa kapaligiran ng Sagada - an interview of ivan henares about visitors going to sagada
Save Sagada - a facebook page created by locals and sagada supporters to raise awareness about their town's devastation by unruly tourists
"Often, filmmaking in a place like Sagada, whether documentary or drama, is about trying to "capture" a place and sell the product for a target market. So "That thing" the film product, is sold to be consumed by the target market- youngish metropole consumers with the disposable income to go "Conquer Sagada" and have a weekend tryst with nature. However, "That thing" is also that product called Kiltepan, to be consumed by the target market whose yearnings for whatever they yearn has been tapped into by the film but who have no real relationship to Sagada except for the celluloid image. Typically, directors and producers do not make films for altruistic reasons but as "my art", for commercial consumption."  - a quote from a Sagadian from the Save Sagada Page

"As far back as i can remember, water has been a perrenial problem of Sagada so i would not be surprised if it becomes worse with the influx of tourists….water system is long gone and most of the houses have to find their own water source, by hosing water all the way from the rivers to their houses. Like the lack of long term plans for waste management, the problem of sustaining water supply in a systematic way, is a concern that the local government, year in and out, refuse to address." - a quote from the Safe Sagada Page

"here's the thing, what lit the surge for package tours to sagada? it's the demand from people but what lit the people's fire in going to sagada? and they just all went there unprepared blocking your streets, desecrating your churches, and invading your homes (as i've seen that some people opened their homes as homestay for people who can't be accommodated by the lodges).

sometimes, artists think their work only has a certain impact, as for this case, jadaone only meant to show the path to moving on and in that pathway, there was sagada and baguio. people have this natural tendency to covet in a sense that they want to experience what they see.

people in the comments blame the irresponsible tourists but we addressed them, "what lit their fire". irresponsible people have always been in existence. in the places i have traveled, especially in mindanao whose people are highly over-protective, they would often say, "when you visit again, only bring responsible people". it is selfish, yes. but when you see a beautiful place and you want to keep it hidden from the irresponsible people, then you will be. how many of you here stated you won't show your favorite sunrise place in sagada?

i have hidden so many places away from the blogsophere out of respect for the place and the locals that are living there but me ajnd a few friends still visit because they trust us. we have proven them that we can be trusted. i know i have that power and i have that reach because of the internet but i choose not to but if the locals tel that they need help, then i'll publish.

people say selfish because they want everything but after using, visiting, whatever, they won't take care of it. would you be generous enough to give information to these people? it has something that most explorers like us take into consideration. the movie may not be the sole reason for the influx of people but it has a large impact during last holy week's clusterfuckery."
- a quote from a supporter, Save Sagada.
note: i am enjoying reading the comments, good and bad. i am called SELFISH and PROUD but i take it as a compliment (sorry not sorry). as respect and as requested, i will filter them all. i will only publish comments that are leaning towards the sentiments of the sagada people. if you are going to post comments that are negative and disrespectful for the sagada locals, don't do it. i'll automatically delete them moving forward.


some sort of TL/DR/note for all the replies i have received: 

please read That place called Sagada: Residents and travel advocates ask tourists not to visit this Holy Week

"“For the past two weeks, I had to personally fetch water from the spring every night. This spring source is shared by 15 households for our village which is covered by Poblacion – the municipality that is covered by the area of hotels and inns,” she said.

Sagada was a “special destination,” and not for mass tourism, said Tourism Assistant Secretary Art Boncato in a phone interview with InterAksyon.com.

In areas such as this, “carrying capacity” must be respected. In fact, the DOT (Department of TOURISM) was not increasing its efforts to promote it to travelers. Tourism would have to take the backseat as environmental protection was the community and the DOT’s main concern."


another good read is Save Sagada, a facebook group dedicated to promoting responsible tourism in sagada. upon reading the threads in the page, i was disturbed by the remnants of the massive diaspora last holy week. to consolidate all their feedback in one post i have created LNT for tadhananers post which inclues LNT principles as well as photos and threads by locals sharing their heartaches.

"Since yesterday, the Sagada Tourism Information Center has recorded 3,000 tourists going inside Sumaguing Cave. The cave is now temporarily closed until the 300+ tourists currently inside (as of April 2 4 p.m.) have gone out the cave"

thanks to the Anonymous people for the links. these give me more grounding because it is a clear and distinct fact that sagada does not speak for itself. there's a reason why people flock there.

i've read the comments of most telling me to stop "blaming" the director because i am barking up the wrong tree. there are a few people who get the point. thank you. those who don't just makes my point stronger. click bait? yes, to get the message across. earning? no, i don't have adsense (a blessing). blame it on tourism? yes, we have been doing so for the longest time. other comments? i just laughed at them but i published them anyway.

here's a thought experiment for you all and this is pretty much a familiar one:

a bad president was voted and people blame the masses for the wrong choice. who are the masses? what kind of education have they all attained? if they are out of school, where are they getting their knowledge? who feeds them to vote the "wrong" person?

the problem is a lot of artists/creators think we're all passive voyeurs when in fact we're not. humans are reactive and perceptive and i know people will definitely react to this post. artists/creators' war cry have always been "i can do stuff i want, i don't give a damn" and sometimes with "art" as an excuse. they don't know the power of their creation unless they see how people move and, sometimes, that's a dangerous thing. case in point, the photo below. irresponsible people/"masa" will always be there. they, like you, are also mesmerised by the things they see and hear. it's not always their fault.

who/what sparked them? who/what lights their fire? no one gave me a definite answer.

----
dear director jadaone, 

i unapologise (if there is such a term) for the strong message in the following paragraphs. i have a moral responsibility to deliver it as sincerely as i can upon seeing the devastation that was caused by your film's hype. i haven't seen the movie thinking that it's going to be a typical filipino film; however, the moment i saw your trailer, me and my other environmentalist friends only have one thing in mind: "magagahasa to gaya ng anawangin." (this [place] will be raped like anawangin). the photo above just manifested our worst nightmare.

anawangin sunset
but what happened to anawangin? my first visit to anawangin was last 2005. it was a haven for those who seek solitude. turquoise blue waters that barely made any waves, pine trees, white ash on sand, no-fee-pitch-anywhere policy, bangkeros charging just gas fee. at night, fireflies swarm the place as if the stars are just within reach. you can sleep anywhere, even outside your tent. when you wake up, your personal belongings are still inside your tent while the sun bakes you to crisp because you woke up late from being too drunk last night. if you have problems with your family, with your work, and you want the cheapest place to hide to rejuvenate your energy, anawangin was part of the secret sanctuaries list with just a very low budget, a few cans of beer, and a tent. people who visited there were responsible. we made sure to keep the place pristine for other people to have their own moments.

the only footprints in the sand there were only ours
... until jessica soho and her band of media people came. 

the last time (definitely my last time for sure) i visited anawangin was 2009. bangkeros charged 1200 for a roundtrip, tent pitching fee was 150 per tent per day, there was a sari-sari store that sells soft drinks for high rates, there were police officers, there was noise polution, overcrowding, no more fireflies only flies, and my friend's phone was stolen inside his tent. it was an appalling experience.  there was a makeshift restroom which stench seethes for a huge amount of radius. we were even shocked to see that a sign was put up to inform people about discipline because the mass of visitors that went to anawangin no nothing about the principles of LNT (Leave No Trace) or any type of outdoor ethics.

no more liquor allowed because of the swarm of barbaric guests that invaded the once-called sanctuary
i have nothing against media people promoting tourism but the means they are promoting it is as if the place is just like SM where they can litter, loiter, and be the city people that they are. nothing about taking care of nature was incorporated in their segments. i doubt they talked to the barangays on how to properly regulate the amount of visitors (but people who are in charge of tourism in a specific area only count profit and we can only do so much to lecture them). 

humans are stewards of nature as appointed by the deities they worship (unless you worship the lords of destruction and you become their agents). we have a moral responsibility to take care of our environment for future generations to come. since i haven't seen the movie, i doubt you have shown LNT principles nor have talked to the tourism office on how they should manage the influx of visitors as a result of showing your film. instead, we have this devastation -- overcrowding. just look again at the photo below. 



how many people went outside trail just to stand on their spots? how many species of animals were displaced? how much trash do you think would be left after they're done with their "moments"? please read LNT principles. i was told that the story of the movie had the girl deciding to go to sagada at the spur of the moment. that is already the most dangerous suggestion to people -- anyone can always visit the place by bypassing the LGU/locals/DOT and that's their worst nightmare. sagada is a very peaceful place with a very low population. as ivan henares stated in this video, sagada only has 12000 residents. 4500 people per in sumaguing cave alone is way too much to handle. just imagine all the stress the locals' have been through when tourists blocked their roads to park their vehicles illegally but were shunned out of sheer disrespect. if movie directors can cleverly place product placements in their movies, even if the situation doesn't call for it (i.e. an unrealistic supply of corned beef a character's kitchen stash in a horror movie), i am pretty sure you can incorporate responsible travelling as well. you are a brilliant director, your awards prove it. you have a great influence over your fans but i hope you steer things in the right path.

i hate being the holier-than-thou white knight but i need to in stating my stand. when i visited mt. guiting guiting for the first time, i was told by the denr about a traverse trail. out of curiosity, i visited the place of sir remy robiso, whose backyard is the jump off of the traverse trail. i haven't taken photos of what his backyard was before but if you've only seen it, it had barb-wires and a sign which said, "bawal ang mga minero dito" (no miners allowed). judging from what i've seen, robiso is a hardcore environmentalist fighting against mining. the traverse trail was infested by illegal miners and something has to be done.

remy robiso
"that moment" at the summit of mt. guiting guiting

last 2009 (yes, 2009), me and a few friends collaborated with denr and sir robiso to re-open the trail. our goal was to get more tourist to visit the area to scare miners away. after our climb, we spread the itinerary to all mountaineering groups we know. when i visited mt. guiting guiting again for a solo climb in 2010, the barb-wires and the signage were gone. he built a house for resting mountaineers instead. the visitors have scared the illegal miners away. however, my job didn't end there. i visited the place every year for 6 years constantly reminding sir robiso and the first wave of guides about LNT. i have suggested a limit of 12-15 people per group, a mountaineer to guide ratio of 3:1, and a relaxed itinerary of 3-4 days. i have also encouraged mountaineers to give the guide's association their extra gear. 

this is just a small thing a small person can do. it's been a while since i last visited sibuyan so i'm only hoping for the hopeful that they've sustained what we have started. you, ms. jadaone, with a very high influence in philippine media and perhaps a high profit from your movie can surpass what i have done. as what f.sionil jose wrote, "... artists in our time have a duty to make this nation and people ethical." since the damage has been done, i am requesting you to go back to sagada tourism and initiate a continuous improvement project to prevent the same devastation of nature again. it is not enough that you have shown the world how beautiful our country is. mother nature is not a slut you just simply pimp to get profit from. she is your mother, your mother's mother, and the mothers' before them. since you have worked with star cinema/cinema one/abs-cbn, you may collaborate with ms. gina lopez as she did a stellar job in promoting tourism in sibuyan. 

truth be told that i haven't visited sagada yet. our vehicle only passed by. i hope that when the time comes that i get to visit the place, i could also call it paradise and have my own introverted moments.

please help us take care of her.


sincerely,
a small person who loves nature

308 comments:

  1. I don't get it. Anong kinalaman ni Direk Jadaone sa pagdami ng tourist sa Sagada? Kasalanan ba niya kung gusto ng mga tao magpunta dun? I mean kailangan sa kanya ang sisi pag nasira ang Sagada? Bakit hindi na lang magimplement ang Dept of Tourism ng rules na dapat ganito lang ang dami ng taong pwedeng pumunta per day or maging strict sa no littering/loitering policy. Walang kinalaman si Direk Jadaone sa nangyayari sa Sagada even her, she can't control kung gusto ng mga taong pumunta dun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. so tell me what caused the influx of visitors there? holy week?

      Delete
    2. You should totally go so you have a balanced judgment. To be fair, while the movie hype added to the influx of people, it really is like this during Holy Week or any other long holiday, like in December or any long weekend for that matter. Not just in Kiltepan but in all other tourist spots there.

      Locals and people who have stayed there long term (like myself) know that is the worst period to go- we either stay put or stay away. Just like when it's Panagbenga season in Baguio, you see people on the streets from all over but not locals who'd rather watch it on TV unless they have family members participating in the parade.

      You have to understand though that tourism generates income for the locals as well. It doesn't mean they like arrogant tourists any better. It doesn't mean when they start earning for the beauty of their place that we should start thinking that their values has been corrupted (like your Anawangin example). It doesn't mean they're okay with taking your money for your trash (though they do have good recycling efforts). LNT, absolutely! Responsible tourism, amen! But to think for a moment that a beautiful place can stay hidden forever is too naive. You can still enjoy the solitude there for sure, you just need to be strategic with timing.

      Delete
    3. You see, it's like fire. Give fire to people and they may either destroy or create. What happened here is just the same. The people were given the knowledge that this very pristine and very beautiful place exist. Of course, people would want to experience this firsthand. There is nothing wrong with giving knowledge to people. It's what people will do with that knowledge that changes the game. I get your point, really. But, you're barking at the wrong tree. I think it will be better to take what we experienced here to make rules and regulations that will be applicable to all, just like what you did with the traverse trail.

      Delete
    4. Yes. I agree with you. The local government should do something about it. Hindi kasalanan ni ms. Jadone na dumami ang tao. Sana instead of ranting, you could have thought of something na makakatulong to preserve sagada. Why not those who wish to visit eh magregister muna sa website (local government/DoT sagada) so they could monitor din the number of tourists. Then print the acknowledgment form, then present it to the local government upon arriving. No acknowledgment form, you cannot stay in sagada. I know medyo hassle on our part but hey, this is a win-win solution. Kailangan lang talaga ng close monitoring ng tourism officer ng sagada.

      Delete
    5. "You see, it's like fire. Give fire to people and they may either destroy or create. What happened here is just the same. The people were given the knowledge that this very pristine and very beautiful place exist. Of course, people would want to experience this firsthand. There is nothing wrong with giving knowledge to people. It's what people will do with that knowledge that changes the game. I get your point, really. But, you're barking at the wrong tree. I think it will be better to take what we experienced here to make rules and regulations that will be applicable to all, just like what you did with the traverse trail." --- quoting

      Delete
  2. I don't know kung ano point mo dito yung Sagada or yung mga travels mo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you for reiterating that you don't get the point. pretty much shows who you truly are.

      Delete
    2. Yun nga yun point, katulad bng karamihan ng mya pilipino, hindima gets ng utak mo

      Delete
    3. eh ikaw nga rin barbaro sumagot sa mga comments sayo eh

      Delete
  3. I know how it feels. My take on this, however, is that the root of the problem is the people (the tourists) themselves. And they won't stop loving beautiful places ergo travelling. Humans have always had that innate affinity to beautiful things (i.e. Sagada, Anawangin, travelling, reminiscing). But what is beauty but definition?! The solution then is to redefine beauty? And what you've just done is what I mean by redefinition. It helps when people (e.g. bloggers) post pictures like this and discusses the issue from a different perspective. It makes tourists rethink whether their planned destination is really beautiful...and ultimately whether travelling is beautiful at all. But I guess only less than ten percent of the Pinoy tourists will change their minds. People will still be spurred by the mass media to massacre Kiltepan and La Presa.
    But two things give me hope.
    1. You may not agree with me on this but I think it is good when tourist officials make travelling costly (i.e. inaccessible). It helps to keep the number of tourist in check.
    2. There is a chance that there will be a paradigm shift. Very soon, more and more Pinoy will be shifting to international travel. And hopefully by then, local destinations can have a break.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. with this scenario, i guess i will have to make an exception. kung pwedeng gawing 10k ang bisita sa sagada mapanatili lang ang kaayusan diyan, payag na ako.

      Delete
    2. masusunod po kamahalan!! o yan ha! sabi na ng mahal na reyna yan! hanggang 10k lng ang bisita sa sagada!

      Delete
    3. Bilang nakapunta kna, kaya pwede nang taasan ang pagbisita... Bravo! Promoting tourism sa Philippines. Wag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan. Pag di tinangkilik, umaarte. Pagmaraming pumunta, umaarte.

      Delete
    4. 10k per visit for u payag ka? seriously? but what about others na less fortunate pero gs2 bumisita to see beautiful places, they also have their own right to enjoy things di ba?...again the blame should be put on the tourism people na humahawak ng lugar, that's theier responsibility to put restriction and implementation para sumunod din mga visitor na maging disiplinado po...just my honest opinion..tenxxx=)

      Delete
    5. but of course people reacted to 10k. sa tingin nyo, anong lugar mas devastated? batanes o sagada? anong mas mahal sa kanila. pag mahal lugar, konti ang bumibista. pag konti ang bumibisita, konti ang kalat/pasaway.

      Delete
    6. too selfish.t

      Delete
    7. if i have to be. selfishness is a virtue.

      Delete
  4. Sagada WAS paradise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. but you said it urself, you havent visited sagada, so how did you know it was a paradise in the first place?.....oh i know! because of direk jadaone.....

      Delete
    2. it WAS until the photos. it WAS until people visited it previously, came back and saw the devastation.

      Delete
    3. It STILL is. the tourism board in Sagada may not be perfect, but the locals know what's what and strive to educate tourists and fight to keep the serenity of the place. Its a two-way street, tourists and locals should work together.

      Delete
  5. Verbal Diarrhea bla bla. Dont blame the director. Hindi sya ang nagkalat. Bring your blabber elsewhere

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahahaha! That's the risk when people comment by exhausting their vocabulary just to rephrase a rather overused remark like 'Bring your issue/blabber elsewhere'. They often end up with a remark that is at best...empty.:)
      Very witty comments Kat. :)

      Delete
    2. Calculate website Traffic Worth, Revenue and Page views... BWahhahahah!

      Delete
  6. Gusto ko lang itranslate ang gustong sabihin ng may-ari ng blog na 'to kasi masyado diyang mabait sa lagay na yan ----

    PUTANG INA 'NYO LAHAT. Isang katotohanan na kapag ang media pinutakte ang isang lugar ay winasak nang mga PULPOL na turista. MEDIA = DESTRUCTION. Sige promote natin 'tong lugar na 'to, dalhin sa bente kwatro oras, gamitin si John Lloyd at Bea sa bilang endorser. Sa sobrang hyped ng media hindi lang Sagada ang nawasak sa Pilipinas! Boracay pa! Dahil 'yan sa inyong mga PULPOL na TANGA'T KALAHATI na walang PAKIALAM sa kalikasan kundi MAKIUSO sa kung anong napapanod!

    Siguro 'yung mga nag "boo" ay in-lab na in-lab sa pelikula at kasama sa mga nakuhaan dyan sa litrato na 'yan?? Wala na kayong ibang ginawa kungdi sumabay sa uso at magpaikot sa mga napapanood 'nyo. Sino pa ba ibang pwedeng sisihin???? Tourism office??? Isang sangay ng gobyerno na binebenta tayo sa Malaysia???? Wala nang iba kungdi kayong mga TURISTANG LANGAW!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Continue...

      Tingnan 'nyo ang Mt. Quirino ng Baguio! Naging isang malaking squatters area! Dalhin 'yan sa inyong mga bobong taga Maynila!!!!

      Delete
  7. I wonder where people's minds are judging from the comments posted. Anyway, I love your fierce passion backed by tact author!

    "Mother nature is not a slut you can simply pimp to get profit from." Beautifully said

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i wonder as well. i am trying my hardest to understand.

      Delete
  8. sir, matagal na pong wasak ang sagada. winasak pa lalo nila! dapat may gawin talaga sila sa lugar na 'yan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has seen better days, but "wasak" is too strong a word. Its still in better shape than other vacation spots in the country, like Baguio, Bora and Banaue. Give it time, this past years lang tlga dumami ang tourists dun. kung aabot sa state na "wasak," it will be up to how the locals handle the situation, will they just think in terms of profit or not? Sa ngaun mas marami pa rin ang concerned citizens and responsible business owners kaysa mga kapitalista mag-isip na tao, so may hope pa rin n hindi maging "wasak"

      Delete
  9. A gift of "yey" because this is spot on.

    Nagpunta ako sa Sagada nung Holy Week ng 2014. Nagdivert kami ng bakasyon kasi alam na namin...

    ReplyDelete
  10. parang inappropriate naman na isisi sa director ng film na dumumi ung site. mas marami lang talaga ang iresponsableng tao. saka its a scenic spot, malamang dadayuhin yan ng tao..

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi. I understand your intention, and I laud you for calling out the bs that happened to a wonderful place. However, you can't put all the blame on the director. It wasn't Jadaone's intention for Sagada to be trashed--her purpose was to tell a story. Addressing this letter to her is, and I'm not gonna mince my words, just plain wrong and senseless. Address this letter instead to the tourists who were there for superficial reasons. What is better, I think, is to educate them on appropriate and mindful travel and tourism. I'm pretty sure the hits of this post is on the rise. Grab this opportunity to promote responsible tourism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks :) i'm just a small person i can only do so much. no one reads this blog until today yet me and my friends have already posted stuff about it... for years. i addressed it to her because she is the director. she chose the project and implemented it. she has more influence next to the producers. my thinking is that she lacked hindsight to not see this happen. so in some ways, she also needs to do something.

      having worked with tourism people for quite a long time (currently i am dealing with one right now) and based on my experience with them, they won't budge unless you shout at them or something tragic happened. denr/pasu/tourism of sibuyan listens very well to feedback and i commend them for it. some, are purely bs. they don't know the place they are supervising.

      if ms. jadaone could use her influence, she could change things. mataas pa hype ng pelikula she can use the opportunity. kami, lumang plaka na kami. the irresponsible tourists will always be there.

      Delete
    2. that photo just shows that tourism really doesn't care and it's disappointing. malalaman naman nila mga taong nagrerehistro kung overcrowded na di ba?

      Delete
    3. Kailangan mo lang mag-namedrop para madamay ang site = Site Traffic. LOL

      Delete
    4. sana pala nilakad ko approval ko sa adsense para kumita ako sa ignorance nyo.

      Delete
  12. Mahirap talaga kapag WALANG DISIPLINA at nakakalungkot dahil may mga pinag- aralan pang naturingan ay walang PAKIALAM sa kalikasan at kahit sa FUTURE GENERATIONS

    ReplyDelete
  13. every year bsta holy week marami talaga pumupunta sa sagada. duon man ang setting ng movie marami talaga pumupunta duon. ngaun mu lng cguro yan napansin pero kami na nakatira dito napupunu talaga ang sagada bsta holy week. at sa iba pang peak season

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. as in ganoon kadami sa kiltepan kahit noong holyweek? siguro marami noon per kalat. nakakatakot lang talaga tong photo na 'to.

      Delete
  14. Huwag naman sanang ipagdamot ang ganitong likha ng kalikasan. Wala naman sigurong nagagawang masama ang media sa pagpapakita ang pagmamalaki sa mga ganitong lugar. Ang pinakanakakagalit lamang dito ay ang ugali ng ilang taong walang utak, walang pakialam, iresponsable at insensitibo sa kalikasan. Wala naman sigurong intensyon ang media na gawing komersyal ang mga lugar na pinapakita nila. May ilang tao lang talaga ang makitid ang utak at ang iniisio lamang ay ang makisabay sa uso at hindi upang makiisa sa kalikasan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gusto ko rin naman magshare. nagshare ako ng isang lugar kasi gusto ko maligtas sa mga illegal miners by promoting tourism sa multiply. pero kung nakita nyo mismo ang lugar -- kung gaano kaganda to, etc -- minsan sasabihin mo na lang "itatago ko ba to o hinde?" desisyon na tinuldukan ko noong 2009 noong inopen namin ang traverse route sa isang hiking destination. inobserbahan namin yung lugar at dumami tao kahit multiply lang. binalikan namin lugar kasi tingin ko di pa sapat yung nilecture ko. ayokong inaapi ang mga guides. so far so good kasi wala pa kami casualty doon at nareregulate nila ang tao.

      marami na kasi talagang iresponsable na tao. di na mawawala yan. sometimes creators/artists think we're all passive voyeurs so they can do things they want thinking they won't be judged. but the truth is, humans are reactive and receptive. so dapat kung magpopromote ng lugar, responsibilidad ng kung sinong gumawa ang response ng tao. case in point, sagada.

      Delete
    2. F na F mo lang ung - "Itatago ko ba to o hinde?" Private Property lang ang peg?

      Delete
    3. oo para di mawasak ng mga iresponsable (na baka gaya mo).

      Delete
  15. I think medyo mali na ituro kay Direk Jadaone ang sisi. Dapat Open Letter to sa mga Barubal na Turista.

    Kung kasalanan to ni Jadaone, kasalanan din ito ng mga bloggers na nagpopost ng pictures ng adventures nila sa mga lugar.

    Hindi naman madidiskubre ni Jessica Soho ang Anawangin kung hindi nakita ng mga researchers ng KMJS yung mga posts ng adventure/travel bloggers about Anawangin.

    Opinion ko lang naman to. Yung nangyayari sa Sagada, tingin ko hindi lang inexpect ng mga Travel Authorities or whatever you call them yung influx ng tao. And hindi pa sila sanay sa ganun. Soon, mawawala din ang interes ng mga tao sa Sagada or mareregulate na ng Tourist Officers yung mga tao cause I hope they will devise a plan like shifting (100 na tao lang pwede kada sunrise haha)

    Most blogs like this, ang purpose ay mapromote din yung pinupuntahan niyo. You help other people to plan their own adventure sa lugar na pinuntahan niyo. Or you introduce the people sa lugar na napuntahan niyo. Almost the same kay Direk Jadaone. She told a story ang setting ay magandang sunrise sa Sagada. She could've chosen Sunset sa Manila Bay or somewhere else pero she chose Sagada, nagclick sa mga tao. Di niya naman siguro kasalanan yun (as a whole).

    Turista talaga problema. Yung mga walang disiplina, tapak dito, tapon doon, dura everywhere. God. Sana may pinagbabawal magtravel mga ganung tao.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kaya nga minsan di ko na binoblog ang ibang pinuntahan ko kasi gusto kong itago sa mga iresponsableng tao. ganun din ang choice nila sa pagpili sa sagada.

      Delete
  16. I think medyo mali na ituro kay Direk Jadaone ang sisi. Dapat Open Letter to sa mga Barubal na Turista.

    Kung kasalanan to ni Jadaone, kasalanan din ito ng mga bloggers na nagpopost ng pictures ng adventures nila sa mga lugar.

    Hindi naman madidiskubre ni Jessica Soho ang Anawangin kung hindi nakita ng mga researchers ng KMJS yung mga posts ng adventure/travel bloggers about Anawangin.

    Opinion ko lang naman to. Yung nangyayari sa Sagada, tingin ko hindi lang inexpect ng mga Travel Authorities or whatever you call them yung influx ng tao. And hindi pa sila sanay sa ganun. Soon, mawawala din ang interes ng mga tao sa Sagada or mareregulate na ng Tourist Officers yung mga tao cause I hope they will devise a plan like shifting (100 na tao lang pwede kada sunrise haha)

    Most blogs like this, ang purpose ay mapromote din yung pinupuntahan niyo. You help other people to plan their own adventure sa lugar na pinuntahan niyo. Or you introduce the people sa lugar na napuntahan niyo. Almost the same kay Direk Jadaone. She told a story ang setting ay magandang sunrise sa Sagada. She could've chosen Sunset sa Manila Bay or somewhere else pero she chose Sagada, nagclick sa mga tao. Di niya naman siguro kasalanan yun (as a whole).

    Turista talaga problema. Yung mga walang disiplina, tapak dito, tapon doon, dura everywhere. God. Sana may pinagbabawal magtravel mga ganung tao.

    ReplyDelete
  17. gusto ko rin naman magshare. nagshare ako ng isang lugar kasi gusto ko maligtas sa mga illegal miners by promoting tourism sa multiply. pero kung nakita nyo mismo ang lugar -- kung gaano kaganda to, etc -- minsan sasabihin mo na lang "itatago ko ba to o hinde?" desisyon na tinuldukan ko noong 2009 noong inopen namin ang traverse route sa isang hiking destination. inobserbahan namin yung lugar at dumami tao kahit multiply lang. binalikan namin lugar kasi tingin ko di pa sapat yung nilecture ko. ayokong inaapi ang mga guides. so far so good kasi wala pa kami casualty doon at nareregulate nila ang tao.

    marami na kasi talagang iresponsable na tao. di na mawawala yan. sometimes creators/artists think we're all passive voyeurs so they can do things they want thinking they won't be judged. but the truth is, humans are reactive and receptive. so dapat kung magpopromote ng lugar, responsibilidad ng kung sinong gumawa ang response ng tao. case in point, sagada.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is what happens with commercial films and their over-indulgence in "soul-searching" trends that involve untouched paradise. Not the fault of the director or the production team solely, but it's our common tendencies to envy fantasies prevalent in hipstery films like Tadhana that causes onslaught of Pinoys and money. Blame the heat, too, and Tadhana's strategic screening near-summer.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Was it really the director's fault? Diba dapat you should put the blame to the writer? Lol. And mind you, it's not mainly the media's fault. Yes, they have forgotten to include the basics. But blame the motherfucking tourists na irresponsible. Makikisabay na nga lang sa trend, hindi pa aayusin. Tourists should be held responsible for all the damage that were inflicted. I got your point as you reiterate LNT and such philosophies. Actually, I was planning to go to Anawangin with my friends but things have changed as I've read news and blog post about the current situation. Don't you think walang participation ang residents and mga namumuno don? Clearly, when a discreet scenic spot becomes famous, locals tend to raise everything kasi sikat, uso and such. And diba dapat nireregulate din ng local officials yun? It's a collaborative effort, thus the damages inflicted is a collaboration of all the people involved.

    Either ways, saludo ako sayo and sa ginagawa mo. At imbis na manisi ka, gawin mo nalang yung part mo as a nature lover. Continue what you're doing without blaming. May mga tao kasi talagang hindi iniisip ang kapaligiran, masunod lang yung mga kapritsong gusto nilang sabayan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the director is the writer, fyi

      Delete
  20. Ganito rin ung nangyayari sa Mt.Pulag...dati may control ung # ng climbers per day..at mga mountaineers lng ang umaakyat...napoprotektahan ang bundok kc npapractice ung LNT..dhil nging trending s media ang sea of clouds, bglang buhos ang turista, khit bata kaya ng akyatin...from 50 per day nging 650 na...recently, sinarado dahil nsisira n ung campsite pero after a months binuksan din ng DENR...ang laki rin kc ng kinikita nila eh...kung php500 per head ang registration at ang turista ay ganon kadami malaking kita tlga...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yung huling punta natin yung iba parang galing bahay lang.

      Delete
  21. Bullshit. Don't blame the director. Blame the people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kapag bobo ang presidente, sino ba ang sinisisi mo? yung mga bobotante? hindi ba pwedeng ang sisihin natin e yung nagbigay ng info sa mga tao? bakit nila nagawa 'yon?

      Delete
    2. di ako yung nagcomment nung Bullshit,

      pero ibig sabihin ba nito dapat hindi gumagawa ang media ng something that'll feature places na sobrang ganda talaga? Na dapat hindi ginawa ni Jadaone itong movie na ang setting ay Sagada?

      Delete
    3. Sobrang flawed ng logic mo the-she-wolf. :| You're coming off as stupid. Kontrolado ba ng direktor kung anong basura ang iiwan ng mga tao dun at hindi? Ano gusto mo? Ginawa niyang movie about recycling, trash segregation, and waste management ang That Thing? Ayos ayos rin naman ng logic, nakakairita lang e.

      Delete
    4. What a horrible analogy lol. I suppose we could blame every movie maker in the world for the litter and destruction of nature in scenic places that they shot in their movies which was caused by selfish and ignorant tourists.

      Delete
    5. to all those 3 above, what do you think sparked them all to go there and cluster****. holy week? if so, they should all be in church.

      Delete
  22. wala namang ganung intention yung direktor nung sinulat nya yung script. napaka-specific ng gusto mong ipagawa sa kanya. bat di na lang ikaw gumawa? tutal yan naman ang misyon mo di ba? bat ka nagtuturo pa? e ang trabaho nung writer/direktor ay magkwento lang. napaka-self righteous mo naman. ikaw na ang maraming magandang nagawa para sa environment. kami na ang walang karapatang mamasyal sa mga lugar katulad ng sagada.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hindi ka sirang plaka. Mayabang ka at madamot ka. Anong karapatan mong pigilan ang mga tao na mawitness ang magagandang lugar na gusto nilang makita?

      Delete
    2. "i am requesting you to go back to sagada tourism and initiate a continuous improvement project to prevent the same devastation of nature again." ayan gawin mo muna bilang advocate ka naman. kung wala kang magawa, ibig sabihin may mali sa kampanya mo. mag-innovate ka para maging effective at relevant. hindi puro ngasngas. hindi puro iba ang mali at ikaw ang tama. napaka-self righteous. na-se-sense ko rin yan base sa paraan ng pagsagot mo sa mga komento, gaya nito: "thank you for reiterating that you don't get the point. pretty much shows who you truly are." totoo namang hindi direct to the point ang letter mo kasi kelangan isingit ang mga me, me, me, mo. susme.

      Delete
    3. @Anonymous: may karapatan ako kasi wawasaki lang nila. ang dami kong mga tagong destinations na di ko pinopost kasi masisira lang ng iresponsableng turista. as a blogger alam ko responsibilidad sa kung anong mangyayare sa ipopost ko. that includes yung repercussions sa lugar ng mga itinerary na nilalabas ako

      @Anonymous: ginagawa namin yan sa ibang lugar. mag isa lang ako at konti lang kami na nag iinitiate na protektahan ang mga lugar na gusto namin. ang dami niyong butthurt. ikaw? ano bang nagawa mo?

      Delete
    4. since when did stating matters of fact became yabang? you only perceive yabang if you have inferiority complex. have you ever driven away illegal miners? i doubt you haven't. she and her team did. she merely stated what she and her team did to cite an example.

      can't believe some people can actually go full retard.

      Delete
  23. The movie helped to increase tourism but unfortunately it also made the paradise a trash bin. We were supposed to go there pero hindi na kami sumabay sa hype. I love nature, sagada is paradise sana wag sirain ang ganda. Kasalanan din ng tourists kung bakit nasisira ang magagandang lugar dahil walang disiplina. Just like you, I hope matuto ang tourists na IRESPETO ang bawat lugar na pinupuntahan nila. I hope alam pa nila/natin ang "take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints." Hindi trash bin si mother nature.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You raised valid points there, responsible tourism is really hard to practice. But putting the blame and pointing fingers at the director isnt helping. True,her status as director can help the conservation effort pero pano sya tutulong kung ang bungad mo ay sisi agad? Maybe you could ask her to help or suggest alternatives, something that promotes action in the real world rather than online bashing..

      Delete
    2. i linked the LNT principles. i provided examples on how she can help with the project by stating what we've done in ours (which people perceived as yabang, a typical pinoy trait of insecurity). she can pattern it and she can personally contact me.

      Delete
  24. I really like your point and I'm also an environmentalist, coming from an environmentalist Catholic school :) But I do think Ms. Jadaone, as the director, is indirectly liable to what happened, or the worst of what's about to happen. It is clear to me that when a beautiful scenery was shown in a film, it promotes it - its beauty, solemnity and picturesque. It may not directly tell you that you should take care of the place and maintain it but I still get a message like that, I mean what's the point of showing a beautiful place in a film if you don't care if it loses its beauty? Of course, everyone is hoping for the peace of mind and inner peace it brings to one person. People even flock to these places when discovered, just shows how "sabik" we are to see that kind of beauty that will pacify our hearts and minds. The problem here, I think, is how people get the message communicated, and not how the message was sent. I hate to admit it but our countrymen lack environmental education, and that is just sad. We lack EE that should be taught and highlighted in school and communities (my Alma Mater has EE subject and I'm proud to say it :) ). More than a form of media communicating a message, I see this as more of an issue of ignorance. But I am with you in this advocacy, I love nature so much, just like you. And I pray to God that there will be more people like you who have so much care for the environment. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Valid concern but addressed to the wrong person.

    Clearly, she has no fault for whatever you are fighting for. In the first place, she never invited everyone to come and visit the place.

    Anong pinagkaiba ng isang taong naninisi ng iba, sa mga taong naninira ng kalikasan? Isang mali, pinapatungan pa ng isang pagkakamali.

    Address your concern to everyone, not to a person who has nothing to do with what you are fighting for. It is about educating first yourself before publishing something :) We don't own the place, it's for everyone that's is why we can't stop or blame the director for choosing our place to be one of her locations for the movie...all we need is to do is remind each other to protect what we have.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hindi naman mali ang director na ipakita ang ganda ng sagada, wala rin naman masama na mag soul searching pero sana sa pag dalaw at pagsigaw nila para sa ninanais na moment, pwede naman iwan at kalimutan ang problema, hindi ang basura. Sa lahat ng gustong mag soul searching at makahanap ng JM nila, please, wag oa at wag sabay-sabay. Peace of mind ang gusto mo hindi palengke.

    ReplyDelete
  27. RESPETO at DISIPLINA sa sarili para matutong gumalang at makibagay sa kapwa at kalikasan... Hindi yung sisihan at pintasan sa kapwa mo dahil pare-pareho tayong tao. THINK Godly and ACT like the servant of God.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. It was an indie film. It was a perfect location. It was released on mainstream and caught the attention of many and had the interest to visit Kiltepan. I feel you . how devastating it is for a traveller who loves to discover hidden heavenly locations. I never went back to anawangin after 2006. Because it's become mainstream and charged a lot. But i dont think Tonet Jadaone or Jessica Soho are the people to blame or address an open letter to. What do you think travel blogs are for? To keep these places a secret forever? I get your frustration but whatever you think your point is with this article is just plain emotional and out of line. This should be addressed to LGUs and not the director. Attention whoring at its finest.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anong silbi na ginawa mong open-letter ito to Direk Antoinette Jadaone? If you've seen her latest films, she has worked hard to show the beauty of our country in her movies and I do not see that as a bad thing in any way, shape, or form. If you want to make an open letter, make an open letter to the shitty tourists who do not know how to clean up after themselves. Don't expect Direk Tonet to suddenly turn her films into nature documentaries just because people aren't smart enough to know basic ethics like that themselves. Wag mong isisi lahat ng bagay sa media. Kung ang tao, hindi marunong maglinis ng kalat niya, anong kinalaman ng media dun? Ewan nakakabobo 'tong blog post mo I swear. Leave it to the local community to stabilize the influx of visitors. Anong gusto mong gawin ni Direk Tonet, bumisita lang rin naman siya dyan hoping to showcase Sagada's beauty, nasisi pa siya. Hay mga tao nga naman.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Dapat palitan mo 'tong blog post mo ng "masyado po akong nagmamagaling, kaya ako lang ang tama... pakinggan niyo ako."

    ReplyDelete
  31. Ok lahat ng point mo except for the "we were the first" bragging moments mo. Ang ganda na sana ng lecture mo biglang mauuwi sa "nung kami pa lang ang pumupunta ok pa yan, nung sumikat na pumangit na" moments mo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bakit? totoo naman. where there's people, there's shit... piles of it.

      Delete
    2. So hindi ka tao?

      Delete
    3. pwedeng diyosa, pwedeng engkanto. pero pag naging diyosa ako malupit akong diyosa. walang sasamba sa akin. mawawala mga iresponsableng tao. pag engkanto naman ako, panigurado ililigaw ko silang lahat.

      Delete
  32. Ang laki ng galit sa direktor nitong nagsulat nito. There's no need for such negativity toward people who do not deserve it. Gumawa ng pelikula, sinira na ang kalikasan? Anong nangyari sa creative license ng mga artist natin? So dapat off limits na isama sa kahit anong obra ng sining ang mga magagandang lugar, para mapreserve ito? Kailangan lahat ng sine, o libro, o kahit ano pang likha ng sining, may section na environmental preservation, kahit pilit lang na ilalagay at hindi talaga makakapagpaganda ng likha? Sa tingin ko, mali na pagbuntunan ng galit yung may gawa ng pelikula dahil lang sinama niya yung isang lugar na maaaring malaki ang naging impact sa kanya. Kung meron dapat sisihin dito, yung mga mismong gumawa ng kabarubalan sa kalikasan at yung mga taong trabaho sanang protektahan at panatilihing maganda yang mga lugar na yan. Tutal, kahit ipagsigawan pa ng isang obra ng sining sa buong mundo na sobrang ganda ng isang lugar, at sobrang daming taong gustong pumunta, hindi ito masisira kung organisado ang pagbisita at may disiplina lahat ng bumibisita. Irresponsable din yung ganitong mga atake sa artists natin e.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dear "a small person who loves nature",

    I get your point, but I guess your small brain somehow is as proportionate as your small sheltered ideas. Please don't blame the movie, cmon! Yes, I understand that you love nature and you are disheartened by the sight of the sea of trash made by the sea of people trying to get a glimpse of the sea of clouds. Let the authorities worry it, they are paid for it. The environment fee paid by tourists in Sagada would somehow contribute in preserving it's beauty, but blaming the movie folks, aiagn, c'mon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the authorities that do nothing about it. thank you.

      Delete
  34. In my opinion, hindi si Ms Jadaone or Media ang may problema dito. I think its really about the discipline nating mga Pilipino, na dapat sana ay innate na sa ating lahat.

    Instead of putting the blame on others (to media and the director), I hope lets just start w/ ourselves ng pag educate sa tao abt sa pag alaga ng kalikasan, dahil mukhang walang gumawa nun diba?

    That would've been better sana.

    Nilagay mo lang ba si Antoinette Jadaone para mas maraming hits itong site mo. Hindi naman siguro diba.


















    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wala naman adsense so wala akong kita. nope, not the cause.

      Delete
  35. Discipline. Yes guys, discipline. It's the only key. ~bow

    ReplyDelete
  36. Nakakalungkot na hindi mo muna pinanood ang pelikula bago ka nag-react. Sa pelikula, mapapansin na ang mga characters ay nagpakita ng paggalang sa kasagraduhan ng Kiltepan: wala silang iniwang basura, walang kasabayang malalaking grupo, hindi sila nagtagal o nag-loiter pagkatapos ng sunrise scene. Minimal ang kanilang "carbon footprint", ika nga. Suma-tutal, wala pang 10 minutes ang eksena sa Kiltepan sa “Tadhana”.

    Kung tutuusin, ang pelikulang ito ay nabuo mula sa napakaliit na budget. Na-pick-up lamang ng Star Cinema ang pelikula matapos ang magandang takbo nito sa Cinema One film festival. Maging ang marketing para sa pelikula ay kapansin-pansing malamya kumpara sa mga mainstream films ng ABS-CBN. Sa kabuuan, ang kasikatan ng pelikula ay nagbuhat sa "word-of-mouth" at organic na pagpopromote ng mga nakanood na. Token advertisements lang ang naging papel ng media sa pag-promote. Halata na maging ang ABS-CBN ay hindi sigurado na Malaki ang kikitain ng pelikulang ito.

    Bagama't balido ang mga puntong inilatag mo (hinggil sa maaaring masamang idulot ng maramihang pagdagsa ng turista sa lugar), ang mga nangyayari ngayon sa Kiltepan ay wala sa control ni Jadaone o ng kanyang crew. Ni wala sa hinuha nila na magiging "box office hit" ang “Tadhana”, paano pa kaya ang ideya na gagayahin ng mga tao ang mga eksena dito? Hindi balak ng pelikulang magdala ng turista sa Kiltepan. Walang makikita kahit saan sa pelikula na tahasang nag-promote ang mga artista ng kahit anong lugar. In hindsight, mahuhulaan ba nila ang pwedeng gawin ng manonood? Kung oo, bakit hindi nila sinunod ang ehemplo ng mga characters sa pelikula? Ikaw, napredict mo ba na magiging ganito ka-infamous ang post mo?

    Ang “Tadhana” ay personal na kuwento ng dalawang nilalang. Hindi ito film tungkol sa isang lugar. Wala pa akong narinig na nagrereklamo sa dami ng pumupunta sa Nishigo. Kung napanood mo sana ang pelikula, magegets mo ako.

    Kung meron mang masisisi sa mga nangyayari ngayon sa Kiltepan, ito marahil ay ang hindi maayos na sistema ng pagtanggap sa mga turista, o ang kakulangan ng pagpapaalala sa mga dumadagsa ng kasagraduhan ng lugar. Ito ay trabaho ng lokal na kinauukulan, at hindi ng isang direktor ng pelikula. Ikaw, hindi mo naman trabaho maging anal sa grammar at sentence construction, may nagreklamo na ba sa iyo kung gaano ka kapangit magsulat?

    Dahil dito, mahirap nang seryosohin ang mga kritisismong ibinungad mo laban sa direktor. Hindi nakatulong ang mapanisi mong tono sa mga isyu na iyong ipinaglalaban. Bagkus ay nagsunog ka pa ng mga tulay. Nag-alienate ka ng mga taong maaaring makatulong sa iyong adbokasiya. Kung nagbungkal ka lamang ng kahit kaunting research, malalaman mo na ang mga pelikula ni Jadaone ay tumatalakay sa iba't ibang social issues, tulad ng diskriminasyon sa mga musmos at may edad, gender equality, social justice, at oo, maging mga isyu sa kalikasan. Pero mas pinili mong maging agresibo at hifalutin.

    Ang pagpilit na sisihin ang isang direktor sa mga nangyayari sa labas ng kanyang pelikula ay hindi naiiba sa pagsisi sa babae at kanyang pananamit kung bakit siya na-rape. Ginagawa lang ito ng may makitid na pananaw.

    P.S. Mas lalong makakatulong sa iyong adbokasiya kung aayusin mo pa ang iyong pagsusulat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oo na predict ko. at alam ko na ang isasagot ko.

      Delete
  37. I think ang problem ay yung tourism. Lately lang nauso yung mga package tour etc etc. nakakatulong sa turismo pero hindi kayang i-manage kumbaga. Kung iisipin, sala sa init,sala sa lamig. Ang problema nung una yung "tangkilikin ang sariling atin" since sa ibang bansa pa dinadayo ng iba para mamasyal. Now madami ng open na dating virgin na lugar but then hindi kayang alagaan ng tao. sa parehong kampo turista at ng authority ay may kamangmangan. :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Somewhere in between there surely is exagerration. The people who caused it; and even the blog entry itself.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Mas maganda sigurong i-address itong letter sa mga turista. Hindi naman siguro intention ng director na papuntahin sa Sagada ang lahat ng Pilipino at unti-unting sirain ang kalikasan. Ang naging primary role lang naman siguro ng movie ay binigyan niya ng sense of curiosity ang mga tao sa kung ano ang meron pa sa Sagada aside sa magandang sunrise kaya dumami ang turistang pumupunta. Wala lang talagang respeto ang ibang turista sa mga lugar na pinupuntahan nila.

    I commend you thou for the bravery of voicing out what you feel about this kind of murdering the environment.
    I myself love the nature... I want to come back to Sagada but expecting to experience it with its natural behavior and not with those big vans on the streets, too many tourist around littering,loitering and creating not just air pollution but also noise pollution.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Promoters, promote responsibly.
    Bloggers, blog responsibly.
    Tourists, travel responsibly.
    Locals, serve responsibly.

    Bow.

    ReplyDelete
  41. This post is enlightening, but still, I don't think the director is to blame.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Keep writing despite those who try to shout you down. Tourism is okay, but is definitely not the only, nor the best answer for any community's sustenance. Tourism is not the end all be all. Film-making and movies are nice but are also not the end all be all of people's lives in Sagada. Relatives and friends in Sagada certainly have better activities to do than to go screaming at the sun. And then what? Better if tourist kiltepaners all assemble and go shout at lousy politicians.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for being one of the few who truly understands.

      Delete
    2. Keep writing and also go visit to speak with people on the ground there. Much more than a few people in Sagada understand.

      Delete
    3. may nagtip nga po sa akin na nauubusan na ng water supply ang sagada. e kung ganito kadami ang tao sa mt kiltepan alone, kawawa ang community.

      Delete
  43. An anonymous wrote: "Promoters, promote responsibly. Bloggers, blog responsibly. Tourists, travel responsibly. Locals, serve responsibly." CLARIFICATION on the last point: Locals can provide service responsibly but locals are not your servants. If you want to be pampered in Sagada, bring your yaya, mistress, boy-toy or other pamperer.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I don't get how the first photo shows the 'devastation' of kiltepan, sure maraming tao pero pag ganun ba devastated na agad? And if they did ruin the place how is that the director's fault? This letter should be addressed to the tourists who trashed the place and the locals/officials who are supposed to be doing their jobs maintaining it. There are lots of tourist spots in the philippines that are still clean and properly maintained kahit libo libo ang bumibisita. Dapat nga magpasalamat pa sila sa direktor kasi kabuhayan nila ang tourism and she did a damn good job of helping them. Putting the blame on her is just plain stupidity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ayan na po. inupdate ko na. may nagpm sa akin na nawawalan ng water supply ang mga taga sagada. having said that, my blog entry only scratched the surface.

      Delete
  45. To be fair, even if masyadong stretched ang solely blaming sa director and burden pushig ng responsibilities, I guess the point should get across: everyone has a burden in preserving the nature, whether director ka or tourist ka, point is, taking care and promoting a place goes hand in hand. Hindi pwedeng promote lang or take care lang, if we want to make everywhere a better place.

    ReplyDelete
  46. MAINSTREAM PA MORE. media lang naman nag cause ng hype na to eh. hindi naman ganyan dati ang SAGADA.

    pero sa halip na pupunta ako doon para isigaw sa kawalan ang feelings ko, sisigawan ko yung mga taong nagpunta nang PUTANG NINYONG LAHAT!!!

    ReplyDelete
  47. MAINSTREAM PA MORE!

    yun naman talaga ang dapat sisihin eh! hindi naman ganyan ang sagada dati eh! tama din yung sinabi ng author na hindi naman holy week ang dahil ng tao pagpunta dyan. pumunta sila diyan para HUMUGOT! e saan pa nila kukunin ang information na 'yon na sa SAGADA ang hugutan?

    kung holy week and idinagsa ng mga tao riyan, hindi totoo kasi dapat nasa simbahan iyang mga 'yan. imaginine ninyo kung iyang kapal ng dami ng tao na iyan ay nasa simbahan lahat??

    MGA IPOKRITONG ASWIT!!! playing victim card pa. "e kung sisihin ang tourism at ang mga iresponsableng turista?" eh pano makakapunta ang mga iresponsableng turista diyan in the first place. mga HUNGHANG!

    MAGPAKABOBO PA KAYO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kung holy week nga ang dahilan nila at simbahan yang kiltepan, isipin mo na lang kung ilang santo/santa meron ang pilipinas.

      Delete
    2. Holi week, any week of the year, no matter. All the saints are gone, finished. But mindless walking dead remain, screaming at the sun.

      Delete
  48. Gusto ko rin humugot pero ang isisigaw ko, "Pakshet kayong lahat!"

    ReplyDelete
  49. "Eh malalaman ba niya na ganito ang impact nang pelikula niya." Yadda Yadda. Parang sinabi niyo na rin na iresponsableng tao ang direktor at hindi nya naisip na ganito ang mangyayare.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sir check this out:

    http://www.interaksyon.com/lifestyle/that-place-called-sagada-residents-and-travel-advocates-ask-tourists-not-to-visit-during-holy-week

    "“For the past two weeks, I had to personally fetch water from the spring every night. This spring source is shared by 15 households for our village which is covered by Poblacion – the municipality that is covered by the area of hotels and inns,” she said.

    Sagada was a “special destination,” and not for mass tourism, said Tourism Assistant Secretary Art Boncato in a phone interview with InterAksyon.com.

    In areas such as this, “carrying capacity” must be respected. In fact, the DOT was not increasing its efforts to promote it to travelers. Tourism would have to take the backseat as environmental protection was the community and the DOT’s main concern."

    Tapos manhid ang DOT... syempre sila ang kumikita

    "That said, he denied receiving reports about water shortages in the area. After inquiring with the regional office and the municipal tourism office, he said that this was the first time they were made aware of such a concern.

    “In fact, it’s raining right now in Sagada,” he said."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks! i updated the post with your link.

      Delete
    2. Salamat sir at nakatulong ako. Ngayon gusto ko tuloy makita kung ano ang susunod na batch ng mga replies kapag una nilang nabasa 'yan.

      BTW hindi ko lang maindintihan bakit sobrang yakag agad sa pagsabi di nauubuhan ng tubig. Siguro best effort ng gobyerno/DOT para di matakot ang locals. Sila pa rin kasi ang apektado dito e.

      Delete
    3. yun na nga rin iniisip ko. binabawi nila para 'wag matakot mga locals. locals talaga ang nakakaalam ng totoong kundisyon ng sagada.

      Delete
    4. Sample comments from Sagada people in Save Sagada FB... "As far back as i can remember, water has been a perrenial problem of Sagada so i would not be surprised if it becomes worse with the influx of tourists….water system is long gone and most of the houses have to find their own water source, by hosing water all the way from the rivers to their houses. Like the lack of long term plans for waste management, the problem of sustaining water supply in a systematic way, is a concern that the local government, year in and out, refuse to address.

      Delete
    5. na-disturb ako sa lahat ng nabasa ko sa facebook page!

      Delete
  51. Hello,

    I am Benjamin Espina. I run a website called Visit Sagada (http://visitsagada.com) and I started it back in 2006 when there were very little resources about DIY traveling to Sagada. Throughout the last nine years, the site has gathered enough credibility to rank highly in search results for Sagada-related queries. My first trip to Sagada was in 1998 with my parents and just like many people who bemoan the supposed "fall" of Sagada, I was in before the boom.

    I admire your concern for Sagada and your fervor to pin some responsibility on the film maker despite never having been to Sagada. Even before the release of the movie, long weekends (especially Lent and the week in between Dec 25 and Jan 1) have been traditionally busy days for the town. Of course there's a current boom now because of the movie but previous numbers are probably not that far.

    What we need to zero in on here is the actual context of the criticism - the deluge of tourists in Sagada. The Philippines is an overpopulated country of 100 Million with tons of young people, now new-moneyed and excited to see their own country after years of being bombarded by campaigns on how people need to see their country first (Susan Calo-Medina's classic line - Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan not withstanding). The demographic is ripe for travel and those people will be influenced by pop culture and social media.

    But this needs to be said.

    For some reason, people who have been to Sagada before feel that they own Sagada more than people who have been there later or those who went because of that movie. This "founders have dibs" or "I WAS FIRST" attitude is even more annoying than those who just ride bandwagons.

    You do not own Sagada.
    And you don't have more rights to Sagada than a person who visited it for the first time this year.

    This is very much akin to elitist behavior with the presupposition that people who have visited after watching the movie are less worthy, less concerned and more likely to cause damage to the environment than the hipsters who bothered to go there before the boom happened - same story for Boracay etc.

    Ironically, these are the same people who won't stop yapping about these places to their friends in social media and they would be SHOCKED and even SADDENED when their secret hideaway becomes more mainstream.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you for the feedback. i appreciate it, sir.

      Delete
  52. I don't know about you miss, but blaming the director is subtle. Ikaw na din ang nagsabi na "art" is an excuse, thing is, it is art and art doesn't worry anyone. To make my argument short, tourists are the one to blame and DOT itself. Kahit ung local government na nga lang ng Sagada to implement strict rules and crowd control, or why not gawing per schedule ang visit dito given that wala ka namang mahihita sa gobyerno natin. Ang sakin lang wag na tayong mangsisi dahil wala din naman tong magagawa, magsiraan na ang lahat may mapapala ba? Gumawa nalang tayo ng sariling aksyon for the greater good. Gotta hand it to you, nature lover din ako and I've explored Sagada 4 years ago. It was such a breathtaking and wonderful place. Pangalagaan nalang nating ang dapat ingatan at ilapat ang dapat gawin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. so sisisihin pa rin natin DOT? siguro nga di nila na foresee ang impact ng tadhana. but it was stated that they're not actually promoting it wildly. kung sa position din naman nila at nasa harapan na ng pinto ang bisita, matataboy mo ba silang lahat?

      Delete
    2. Ikaw na din ang nagsabi na "art" is an excuse, thing is, it is art and art doesn't worry anyone. --- that's a common misconception of art, na walang impact sa tao. on its own yes dahil isa lamang itong object. e yung taong nagpeperceive sa art?

      Delete
    3. Hindi nga nila pinopromote whatsoever still, dapat may fallback plan padin.

      Delete
    4. kasi kung fall back plan lang din usapan, ang nakikita ko ay itataboy nila turista which is really harsh. the least they could do moving forward is to have travel agencies or anyone planning to go to sagada to secure permits ahead of time. that way, mareregulate ng DOT ang mga papasok na tao per day.

      Delete
    5. sige tanungin kita. pag nakita mong sobrang daming tao sa harap ng bahay nyo na gusto bumisita either papasukin mo sila and serve them with what you have or paalisin mo sila kasi sobrang dami nila. sa case ng sagada, anong naiisip mong fallback pag nakita nilang ganun kadaming tao nasa lugar nila? papalayasin? maraming tao masastranded. they're just being hospitable at the expense of their environment.

      Delete
  53. Sample comments from Sagada people, Reality Check: As far back as i can remember, water has been a perrenial problem of Sagada so i would not be surprised if it becomes worse with the influx of tourists...most of the houses have to find their own water source, by hosing water all the way from the rivers to their houses. Like the lack of long term plans for waste management, the problem of sustaining water supply in a systematic way, is a concern that the local government, year in and out, refuse to address."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nagjoin ako sa group. nag back read ako. grabe yung ginawa sa church...

      Delete
    2. Gawis nagjoinka nan grupomi!

      Delete
    3. I know you're concerned about nature but I hope you knew how to communicate well. Upon reading this, it felt like you're just bragging about what you know, where you have gone and what you have done for mother nature. And pointing to Ms. Jadaone as the person to blame for having all those travelers to go to Sagada felt like you're shouting at her, scolding her of some stupidity. I hope you have just sent her an email, letter, or scheduled a meeting so you may discuss what happened to Sagada and what she may do to help in preserving it. Your intention is good but this blog entry of yours is poorly-written. It reflects a negative peronality of the writer. And please, know how to capitalize the first letter of the first word of a sentence. And please, reply to comments as an educated human being. Wag pa-barubal.

      Respectfully yours,
      TheReader

      Delete
    4. @ Solang: yes! thanks for promoting the page. i was shocked to read the threads. sadly, i few people will only care.

      @ Anonymous: It is my choice not to capitise. I have capitalised your Anonymous as well as my reply to you. As for "wag sisihin ang direktor", so ibabato ko ulit ang question sayo, sino/ano nag spark ang sobrang daming tao na pumunta sa Sagada? Holy Week? No. Also about my replies, I just laugh at other replies to be honest kasi walang sense. I give sensible feedback to those who gives sensible ones. People should expect such comments just as how I expected influx of nonsensical comments in this post. You feel better now?

      Delete
    5. @ Solang: yes! thanks for promoting the page. i was shocked to read the threads. sadly, i few people will only care.

      @ Anonymous: It is my choice not to capitise. I have capitalised your Anonymous as well as my reply to you. As for "wag sisihin ang direktor", so ibabato ko ulit ang question sayo, sino/ano nag spark ang sobrang daming tao na pumunta sa Sagada? Holy Week? No. Also about my replies, I just laugh at other replies to be honest kasi walang sense. I give sensible feedback to those who give sensible ones. People should expect such comments just as how I expected influx of nonsensical comments in this post. You feel better now?

      Delete
  54. Mam, i like it na you are taking a stand to "try" to conserve places such as Sagada from ruin due to commercialism. Kaso, i agree with a lot of posts here na una, ano kinalaman nung director? Sagada will always be overrun by tourists during the summer months. That picture is an unfair representation of the place. Parang Luneta lang yan. Pag di pasko o may misa ang pope, maluwag. Pero pag may occasion overrun by people. Suggestion ko pumunta ka pag tag ulan. Solo mo kiltepan. Yun lang goodluck kung may makita kang sunrise hehe.

    Now as for the tourists/travelers, be responsible din. Wag dalhin ang ugaling dugyot na yun basura eh iiwan na lang kung saan saan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She-wolf: i dont know why galit na galit ka dahil dumami tourists doon at sa movie na nagpakita ng kiltepan peak. So are you implying people should stay away from Sagada? Parang mali kasi to blame the movie and the moviegoers na nagandahan sa place. There's another movie that showcased Pinatubo pero i dont read any fuss about it. Kasi mahirap puntahan. Same with Batanes. Malas lang siguro ang Sagada kasi medyo accessible sya. Kaya ang dapat eh promote responsible tourism or how to be a responsible tourist without having to blame anyone.

      Delete
    2. you want to know why? read the sentiments of sagada locals here after that nasty event:

      https://www.facebook.com/groups/210896265773691/

      Delete
  55. I cannot see the point of you, blaming the director.
    The tourists are to blame, NOT the director, the writer or the crew. When you point your finger at someone, there are three fingers are pointing back at you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the ah "thee fingers pointing back at me" classical line. if i could only blame myself for this spectacle, that is not being too loud with the rest in telling to divert their destinations to other places prior to holy week.

      the point is, these tourists came in after being inspired by the movie. never nag more than 300+ ang tao sa sumaguing cave. you can't just say it's holy week. we've been having holy week here since i don't know... it was just appalling that the locals had to have their homes opened just to accommodate travellers without booked accommodation. hindi nagkaroon ng ganyang problema ang sagada noong nakaraang holy week.

      log in to facebook and check Save Sagada.

      Delete
    2. so yes, that's three fingers for me for allowing this to happen and a billion more if i let this pass.

      Delete
  56. We willgo to Sagada this Thursday and we are from Manila. I was concerned about sa dami ng tao sa Kiltepan. The last vacation we had was at Nagsasa and we practiced to the best we can the LNT. We enjoyed the vacation, the nature all of it. I am also hoping we have that experience in Sagada.

    May mga tao talaga sadyang baboy at nde makaintindi ng preservation of nature. It's either ganun sila pinalaki or influenced by their sorroundings. Bakit kapag ang Pinoy nasa ibang bansa for example Singapore, nagkakalat ba sila kung saan saan? Hindi kasi may takot sila. Kaso nasa Pilipinas tayo eh and walang nageenforce ng rules strictly. Kung lahat ng tao may disiplina, kahit ilang libo pa pumunta sa Sagada, hindi mabababoy ung lugar.

    Nasa tao din talaga ang sisi and hindi lang si Director or sa DOT.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. everyone has a responsibility here. i am sure na trauma na ang DOT sa nangyare sa lugar nila.

      Delete
  57. Truly, I have read everything you say and you are wrong.
    Ready?I can explain.
    Okay, I have 5 counter arguments for you.
    Yes?

    1. Let me explain

    ReplyDelete
  58. when the residents and local government do decide to open up their place/environment as a tourist spot, they are in fact pimping nature. don't blame the director for creating a hype on a place that is otherwise called a TOURIST destination in the first place. blame the local people - those who open up their homes as homestays for tourists, those business people who run hotels and run restaurants in sagada, the local guides who run hiking treks and cave spelunking, the shop and inn-keepers selling pasalubongs and knickknacks to visitors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. eh sino bang lugar ang hindi mag iimbita sa bahay at magpatuloy ng bisita. ang nangyari sa amin noong mahal na araw ay kabastusan na!!!

      Delete
    2. would you open up your homes to strangers?

      Delete
    3. ummm... they did because they don't have any bookings.

      Delete
    4. It doesn't mean that their houses are open to everyone it's already an open ivite to be harassed.

      Delete
  59. simple lang naman yan pero ang daming sinabi ng author:

    "walang apoy kung walang posporo"

    may pelikula dati i hilda koronel at christopher de leon na nasa sagada sila. pero bakit hindi pinutakte ng tao ang sagada? kasi ang portrayal nila ay responsable. ipinakita nila ang sagada na sagradong lugar na kung saan ay pwede kang mapag isa at mag muni muni.

    wish ko lang sana hindi na lang binanggit ni jadaone ang sagada para walang jologs na maiingay na nagtatapon ng basura sa lugar namin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More on Baguio kaysa Sagada ang nafeature sa Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising ni Mike de Leon.

      Delete
  60. This is the saddest excuse for an article I have ever read. An even more pathetic excuse to drive internet traffic. Blaming the director instead of undisciplined tourism for whatever is happening in Kiltepan is like blaming the spoon and fork for obesity. It doesn't follow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wrong analogy. I say blame media for people getting bongga curls because actresses in show time and other shows have bongga curls. Blame media for getting paid to advertise dangerous and cheap happy meals to be flashed in television screens and be aired on radio. You don't blame something that's inherently inactive like the spoon and fork. People eat. What urges them to eat more?

      Delete
    2. The comments are funny! You simply don't get the point. You deserve to be trolled by the author. I am guessing that s/he is being entertained by now while you guys are crying in front of your monitors.

      As the other commenter posted:

      Match ---> Wood/Paper ---> Fire.

      If you don't get the logic then I don't know what to call you.

      Delete
    3. it's called a "choice". drug pushers are everywhere - do you do drugs? ads are everywhere - do you by every single item/service each billboard and commercial you see? responsible people take accountability for their OWN choices/actions and do not blame others.

      Delete
    4. Exactly the point why the director needs to be responsible for the work she released. As far as drugs are concerned, it doesn't mean that it's their choice that the government won't punish pushers? Are you out of your minds? We need to weed out what causes the problem. That being said, and I agree with the author, that she needs to use her influence to give message to people about responsible travelling.

      Delete
    5. We can't blame people if they have weak minds. Weak na nga minds inaabuso pa. Have you read the comments above? They're 99.9% stupid. Let's free the pushers, eh?

      Delete
    6. It's just saying they're free to push drugs yet you let the "victims" get corporal punishment. Not that I am saying that Ms. Jadaone should be jailed but she needs to act in relation to how people reacted on her film and that includes Sagada's bastardization.

      Delete
  61. The comments are funny! You simply don't get the point. You deserve to be trolled by the author. I am guessing that s/he is being entertained by now while you guys are crying in front of your monitors.

    As the other commenter posted:

    Match ---> Wood/Paper [---> Gasoline] ---> Fire.

    If you don't get the logic then I don't know what to call you. Everything's causal just as how those flock of people came to Sagada. There are irresponsible people everywhere. They just need the right information of the next place they will bastardize.

    Salute. I hope the director reads this.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Parang sinabi mo narin na wag na kayong pumunta ng Sagada or wag ng i-promote ang Sagada and other places para di sumikat, maraming maka-alam at pumuntang turista. Choose Philippines nga tayo e.. Everyone has the right to travel everywhere they wants. Di naman pwede na ikaw lang nakaka-alam ng lugar sir. Ano lang yan e .. "Promoters, promote responsibly. Bloggers, blog responsibly. Tourists, travel responsibly. Locals, serve responsibly." Halika, biyahe tayo,
    Nang ating makita
    Ang ganda ng pilipinas
    Ang galing ng pilipino.

    Napasyal ka na ba
    Sa intramuros at luneta
    Palawan, vigan at batanes
    Subic, baguio at rice terraces?

    Namasdan mo na ba
    Ang mga vinta ng zamboanga
    Bulkang taal, bulkang mayon
    Beach ng boracay at la union?

    Tara na, biyahe tayo
    Mula basco hanggang jolo
    Nang makilala ng husto
    Ang ating kapwa-pilipino.

    Halika, biyahe tayo,
    Nang ating makita
    Ang ganda ng pilipinas
    Ang galing ng pilipino.

    From city to city,
    Seven thousand and a hundred plus islas
    Sa mahal kong pilipinas
    Luzon, visayas, mindanao ating puntahan.
    Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan!

    Nasubukan mo na bang
    Mag-rapids sa pagsanjan
    Mag-diving sa anilao
    Mag-surfing sa siargao?

    Natikman mo na ba
    Ang sisig ng pampanga
    Duriang davao, bangus dagupan
    Bicol express at lechong balayan?

    Tara na, biyahe tayo,
    Nang makatulong kahit pano
    Sa pag-unlad ng kabuhayan
    Ng ating mga kababayan.

    Halika, biyahe tayo,
    Nang ating makita
    Ang ganda ng pilipinas
    Ang galing ng pilipino.

    Nakisaya ka na ba
    Sa pahiyas at masskara
    Moriones at ati-atihan
    Sinulog at kadayawan?

    Namiesta ka na ba
    Sa peñafrancia sa naga
    Umakyat sa antipolo
    Nagsayaw sa obando?

    Tara na, biyahe tayo
    Upang ating matamo
    Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
    Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.

    Halika, biyahe tayo,
    Nang ating makita
    Ang ganda ng pilipinas
    Ang galing ng pilipino.

    Tara na, biyahe tayo
    Upang ating matamo
    Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
    Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.

    Halika, biyahe tayo
    Nang ating makita
    Ang ganda ng pilipinas
    Ang galing ng pilipino.

    Halika, biyahe tayo...
    Wow philippines...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hindi kasi siya hawang denr. pag hawak ng denr yan, bibigyan nila ang lugar ng moratorium gaya ng ginawa nila sa banahaw at halcon kasi sobrang nabugbog na ng mga tao. oo choose philippines for some pero may dagdag: choose to destroy philippines.

      Delete
  63. Ipasara muna nila yang Sagada para maghilom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Para sa sa mga nagrereklamo na hindi ako nagca-CAPS

      Delete
  64. words < actions
    small people < big people

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Big people with words that are not backed up by actions are not great? Tama?

      Delete
    2. Yep. About the destruction though, it could happen anywhere at any time. You just got unlucky this happened to a place that you hold dear.

      Delete
    3. I hold this country dear. It's what's holding me back from migrating :(

      Delete
    4. Well then I hope you forgive whoever you hold accountable for this downfall, for they are part of the country you (and I) love. I don't know how open letters work, but I definitely learned something from it. I wish you success in your endeavor

      Delete
    5. I am hoping for the hopeful. Thanks a bunch!

      Delete
  65. I don't think so..di mo kailangan ipasara ang isang lugar. Strict rules lang yan. Parang sa Boracay.. strict ung rules nila bawal magtapon ng basura. Ganun lang yan ka-simple.. Hawa-hawa kasi yan e.. Yun isang turista nakita mo nagtapon ng basura, ung isa magiging tingin niya ok lang magtapos ng basura. Pero kung may strict rules talaga.. or something parusa or multa.. ganun lang siguro yun. Di kailangan ipasara ang Sagada instead, promote pa nga dapat natin to e.. "Promoters, promote responsibly. Bloggers, blog responsibly. Tourists, travel responsibly. Locals, serve responsibly." I would love to see na lahat ng Pinoy e hindi turista sa sarili nating Bayan =). #Justberesponsible #TamangKaalaman #StrictRules

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. pero marami pa ring lumot sa boracay. minsan hindi sapat ang strict rules. pag bugbog na masyado ang lugar kelangan ipasara or iregulate na konti lang ang taong papasukin.

      Delete
    2. Kahit gaano pa maghigpit ang DOT/DENR sa mga batas, marami pa ring pasaway. Nagtatranscend na yung issue palabas sa mga tao e. Yung lugar na mismo ang kawawa.

      Delete
  66. seriously, i haven't seen a better rebuttal against the author other than whining, insecurities, and shit.

    ReplyDelete
  67. EVERYBODY.... I AM SELLING POPCORN.

    #ionlycamehereforthecomments

    ReplyDelete
  68. Didiretsuhin kita masyadong selfish ang article

    Para naman sa mga tao, maging liksyon ito at magkaroon ng disiplina

    HINDI DAPAT SISIHIN ANG DIRECTOR AT MEDIA! WALANG DAPAT SISIHIN DAPAT MAY DISIPLINA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Selfishness is a virtue. It's what drives people to protect.

      Delete
    2. since when did stating matters of fact became yabang? you only perceive yabang if you have inferiority complex. have you ever driven away illegal miners? i doubt you haven't. she and her team did. she merely stated what she and her team did to cite an example.

      selfish? or rather, over-protective? i prefer the latter. and if she really is selfish by your terms, she won't post this article to share her thoughts and to shake up people.

      can't believe some people can actually go full retard.

      Delete
    3. Thanks, whoever you are. I only talked about the stunt now. I have been keeping it for quite a long time. LOL.

      Delete
    4. MGA BOBONG TAGA MAYNILA NA NAGPADALA SA PELIKULA. HAHAHAHAHAHA.

      NA ZERG RUSH ANG SAGADA TULOY HAHAHA

      Delete
    5. BUTI PA AKO, NAGCOCOMPUTER LANG. WALANG PANGGASTOS. DI AKO PASAWAY NA TURISTA.

      Delete
  69. I haven't seen tadhana and probably never will. But aren't you barking at the wrong tree and not blame irresponsible tourists and tourism officers? The director may have made it her spot for filming but above all else, the blame is put on both the irresponsible tourists and the tourism board.

    I guess the director should just shoot in the slums of Manila if we're basing your argument with this kind of logic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What lights the fire? No one has given me the answer, probably you won't as well.

      You can't blame DOT. If you have seen the links I posted in the blog entry, they've already done so much damage control. Even if they place hard-set rules, people will still violate. Last Holy Week, people came there without booking their accommodations. Why? Because someone/something gave them information that it can be done. Straight from their flight to Italy, the girl decided at the spur of the moment to go to Sagada and that gave everyone the worst message -- bypassing locals and authorities is a good way to do some hugot moments.

      Delete
  70. IRRESPONSIBLE MEDIA = DESTRUCTION. FACT.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Yes, I personally believe the director should be blamed. I have watched the movie and Mace told Anthony that he wants to go to Sagada. They just went there. Knowing that there are SOPs and other protocols a responsible traveller (registering at DOT, booking accommodations, and so on) needs to comply to before going to the area, telling the audience that they can simply bypass and skip protocols is enough information to "light the fire" as you said.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhh... Now that's juicy. I think this is needed in the letter.

      Delete
  72. Ive been to Sagada years before the movie was shown. Yung Kiltepan ganyan din yung itsura nung umakyat kami, madaming tao, at hindi pa yun holy week. Pero di naman nasira yung experience for me. Madaming tao pero maayos din naman yung panonood nila ng sunrise. Wala din namang naiwan na kalat sa paligid. Wala naman akong naalalang badtrip moment dahil sa kalat or sa gulo ng mga tao.

    Yung sa movie dalawa lang sila dun sa bundok na pinakita, which is hindi naman sobrang makatotohanan. Baka dun ka lang nag-based ng expectation mo kaya nung nakita mo yung picture, kala mo dumami at nawasak na dahil sa movie.

    Ikaw na din nagsabi na di ka pa nakakrating tapos puro judgement ka agad. Sana yung responsibility na hinihingi mo sa mga turista e iapply mo muna sa pagsusulat mo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope. log in to Facebook and check the locals sentiments there. It's even disturbing than you can imagine. Some local is actually planning to post photos and cybershame unruly tourists.

      Also, I have friends who have been there even on Holy Week. They were devastated to see the photo. Nonetheless, the pictures tell so much. That density isn't helping anymore.

      Delete