Recently, news broke out about a stunt at one of the UNESCO World Heritage site here in the Philippines. It is said that foreigners were wakeskating (similar to wakeboarding) at the Banaue Rice Terraces and many netizens did not like this especially the conservative ones. Personally, I do not see anything bad about it since it is promoting the heritage site and doing its best to appeal to the tourists. However, one must also see it in the point of these netizens… I do understand why people do not like what happen because the site is being exploited for the sake of tourism so that they can earn more money. I think if the money is going to be used to improve the site for the tourists and the people living in that area to appreciate the beauty even more, then it is not a bad idea to promote the site but the problem is the way they promote it. The way they promoted the site is very interacting to the point that the viewers do want to go to Rice Terraces but the problem is one cannot expect to be allowed to wakeskate at the rice terraces after all it is a World Heritage Site.
I think the Department of Tourism in CAR have neglected that the site is something worth appreciating and the same goes for the culture and tradition of the residents. Even if they say that they made sure that no wildlife animals and plants got damaged or disturbed, it does not prove what they have done because there is this part of me where I cannot help but think that they might be just saying that in order to reassure us that the project is not bad for the environment. It can be a way for the organizers of the project to just control the negative uproar they are receiving. It is also reported that they have talked to the residents about this “stunt” but the question of whether they actually did talk to the residents is something I do not completely believe in. Another question is whether the organizers of the project have promise the local residents something in return if the people do agree with what they want.
I have always like the Machiavelle’s statement “the end does not justify the means” and I do think that this statement fits perfectly well in this situation because whatever they organizers have planned and wanted to do does not really make what they did good. If they wanted to improve the economic conditions of the local residents, then they could have found another way where they do not need to go against the tradition and culture of the locals. On the other hand, I do understand why they do something like this because wakeskating is very modern thus it diverts from tradition but the thing is sometimes preserving the tradition and culture is more important than modernizing the tradition and culture of the locals. Wakeskating might be popular now but the thing is the shelf life of the tradition and culture of the locals have been there for a long time already, perhaps longer than any of us can imagine. Besides, preserving the environment is important and I appreciate the organizers’ assurance but the fact is I am still doubtful of whether it is the truth or not.
One of the reason that people would want to go to Banaue rice terraces is because of its beauty and there are many reasons for people to go to the rice terraces thus wakeskating at the heritage site is quite useless since, in a way, it is misleading in the sense that we would not be allowed to do exactly what is in the promotional video. One must learn to appreciate it the way that it is because the Banaue Rice Terraces is magnificent in its own and it is priceless.
Sources:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/breaking-news/2013/10/29/wakeskating-questioned-311164
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uSoWjC2bW2Y
I would like to apologize that my “Work Cited” list is only links! I am now in Baguio and will be home on November 3. I brought my homework with me like I always do but it is quite hard since I can hardly get an internet connection because my Globe Tattoo can barely pick-up a decent signal so I have to do this post really fast.
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