We are often reminded that we should not be foreign to our native land, (translated from the local saying “huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan”) emphasizing the importance of being able to at least appreciate the sights and sounds that our country has to offer. While it is pretty much a given that needs no prodding, we tend to be either overwhelmed or unaware as to what is there to see in the country.
Thanks to events like the recently-concluded Philippine Travel Mart, we get to know a bit more about these different sights and sounds, providing an opportunity for us to experience them ourselves thanks to the numerous travel deals being offered during the event.
That being said, I have to note that these deals are not geared for solo travelers like myself but more couples or groups. And this bias against solo travelers is a bit frustrating, but I digress.
Even if you just feel like going on a staycation in the metropolis, the event was a venue for different Metro Manila-based hotels to show off what they offer and the deals available for their rooms or whatever packages they have available, some of which are exclusive to the event itself.
It was also an opportunity to showcase future attractions, most notable perhaps is the City of Dreams Manila Entertainment Complex, an up-and-coming gaming and leisure venue at the Entertainment City, which boasts of the first Nobu hotel in Eastern Asia, as well as the famed Nobu Restaurant, and the first-ever live and interactive children’s amusement concept by Dreamworks called DreamPlay.
The Philippine Travel Mart 2014 also became a venue to introduce some new concepts in travel and tourism, notably that of the double-decker jeepney. By itself, it is a massive piece of transport, designed not only to take people from one point to another, but also designed to be a mobile entertainment venue itself for fun events or parties, thanks to its features such as flatpanel TVs and a karaoke system.
Overall, it has been a successful event, as all Philippine Travel Marts have been in the past years. Here’s hoping this year’s event has provided some inspiration for would-be travelers to explore the beauty of the country and have taken advantage of the offers there. And to those who missed, you can check out next year’s event.
Or make it an inspiration for you to book your own budget travel adventure.
You can check out the full album on my Flickr page here
