Envoys of Philippine Heritage

By JACKY LYNNE OIGA,
MA. GLAIZA LEE,
CZARINA NICOLE ONG
April 4, 2009, 3:06pm

Local tourism takes a step up with world-class tour guides.
With the proliferation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) all across the globe, it has become well-known that the Filipino people are the Philippines’ most important asset. Hardworking and resilient – who could doubt the talent of Filipino workers? But its people aren’t the only thing the Philippines has to offer. In fact, the Philippines is home to unparalleled natural beauties and diverse cultures, and it’s only right that the rest of the world discover these too.

“We’re always in this continuing effort to enhance the experience of the millions of foreign tourists that come to the country,” says Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ace Durano. “And in all the surveys that we do, what comes out that makes their visit memorable is really the people they interact with and meet while they’re here.”

But interacting with people is limited for foreigners. “Just how many people do you meet when you travel?” asks Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Undersecretary of Tourism Planning and Promotions for the DOT. “You probably meet the taxi drivers, cashiers, and the tour guide.” During his first trip to Italy, Jarque recalls having a countess for a tour guide. She was such a wonderful guide, that Jarque still considers Italy the best place he’s been to.

“Part of the experience, the positive experience anyway, is really the tour guide that you are fortunate or unfortunate to be assigned,” explains Durano. “And so we thought it’s high time that we enhance the tour guiding program of the country.”

Thus, the Mabuhay Guides were created.

The search for the best

“Think of it like an American Idol audition -- plus a little bit more,” Benito Bengzon, Jr., Director of the Office of Tourism Coordination said when asked to describe the selection process for the Mabuhay Guides.

The applicants had to go through a panel interview where they were asked to do their own spiels then the panelist would throw in some questions and comments. But the challenge doesn’t stop there. From over a hundred applicants, only 30 were chosen to sail through and these candidates must possess all the qualities essential for tour guiding.

“They must have an intellectual capital and people oriented as well. For these are very important in tour guiding. You have to like dealing with people and have the ability to adjust to different situations. They must know how to handle their jobs under pressure,” explained Bengzon.

Ironically, the applicants weren’t the only ones who had a hard time; examiners themselves were put through a difficult position in choosing the applicants that would sail through. What with the overwhelming number of qualified and above average professionals who have the knowledge of and passion for country.

Noteworthy training

After days of deliberation, 30 applicants were chosen to go through a rigid, albeit interesting training program headed by an impressive range of lectors like Jun de Leon, Virgilio Almario, Nes Jardin and Jaime Laya to name a few.

These professors and lecturers equipped them with everything they need to know about the Philippines: Filipino identity, history, literary arts, music and even dance. They also had diplomacy and etiquette trainings. After which, the applicants were very lucky enough to have their actual guide training with Nicola Godfrey-Evans and Dr. Roger Rajah both from the London Blue Badge.

“We were looking at a benchmark, and everybody will agree that the level of tour guiding in London is indeed a benchmark, that is why the London Blue Badge was incorporated into their training,” shared Bengzon.

According to Sandra Rhea Balbastro, one of 21 graduating Mabuhay guides, their training was indeed very stringent yet rewarding.

“For six grueling weeks, from 1 to 7 pm, we had our training with a lot of great professors and then the London Blue Badge tutors came here to train us. It was amazing! Because we never thought that simple things like, how to point an object and where to stand are very crucial aspects of guiding. It’s more of being able to clearly communicate without stuttering or moving your hands too much,” she narrated.

According to Cultural Center of the Philippines president Nestor Jardin, arts play a big part in the tourism industry. Some travelers often seek to indulge their artistic expression and are prepared to pay for it. They believe that arts can enrich their experience, and often their encounters define their travel experience.

“Arts enhnce tourism. For example, the Gugenham in Bilbao. The area where it is built used to be an old factory. When it was established, the area became alive with restaurants and shops. Another example is the New York City. People go there to watch Broadway, musicals, operas, and ballet. This contribute to the city's income, not only from the ticket sales, but also from transportation, restaurants, and hotels," said Jardin.

He believes that tour guides should be aware of the art scene in the Philippines and what's happening in the industry: who the performing groups and top-rated artists, what's being shown in the various arts venues, and where the venues are located so they can bring them to productions and exhibitions that they could be interested in.

But the challenge for Mabuhay Guides doesn’t end there. With them being the pioneer Mabuhay Guides, a lot of expectations are hurled their way.

“The continuation of the program depends on their work, the experiences of those who will hire them, and the feedback they will get from industry players. But at the same time, the privilege is that the first batch of Mabuhay Guides will be setting the benchmark,” asserts Durano.

With their hard-core training coupled with immeasurable ardor for our country, the Mabuhay Guides are expected to elevate Philippine tourism to the next level.