Missed Opportunities in the Local Tourism Industry

By Ivy Guting

Bontoc, Mountain Province. “ I am on vacation, but I was still able to guide tourists
who wanted to visit Maligkong Rice Terraces..” This was quoted from Mr. Jessie
Padchonga of Bontoc, a former tourist guide who is now based in Slippery Rock,
Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Padchonga was joined by Juliet T. Sorya, also a tourist guide
who was active in the early 80’s and Juliet P. Lucas of the Department of Trade and
Industry. They were the resource speakers in a forum held at Xijen College of
Mountain Province on February 16, 2010. The forum tackled the issues ailing the
tourism industry in Mountain Province. One of the issues discussed in the forum
was the dearth of tourist guides in Bontoc and other potential spots in Mountain
Province. Except for Sagada, local hotel operators are hard up in coordinating for
tour guides for their guests. Maligkong Rice Terraces, the Bontoc Museum, Mainit
Hot Springs. Samoki weaving village are areas tourists would want to visit in Bontoc.
In the forum, Padchonga and Sorya encouraged the students of Xijen College to
work as tour guides during the summer months. Padchonga and Sorya gave out
tips on how to approach tourists, lectured on the ethics of tour guiding and ensuring
client satisfaction. “Tourist guiding is a decent livelihood and you learn a lot along
the way..” stressed, Pachonga who started tour guiding at a young age of 11. At
this time, a German tourist whom I guided when I was 11, came again for a second
visit to Bontoc and is staying at my house. Padchonga also related that his
American clients who learned he was now a Pennsylvania resident invited me to
their home states and took me on a tour. It was a way for them to thank me for
their wonderful experience in Mountain Province. “ I experienced guiding a group
of thirty seven individuals but I was able to hold their attention while I talked about
our culture…” Sorya recounted during her days as a tour guide. “Despite the
economic crisis, people are still travelling. Vietnam is the current favorite, “ said
Padchonga.

Meanwhile, DTI Provincial Caretaker, Juliet P. Lucas presented the potentials of the
tourism industry in Mountain Province. Lucas also shared that in her visit to Japan
as a government scholar; she observed that the Japanese are also into festivals that
showcase their culture. “Festivals draw a large number of foreign visitors each
year..” she added. Padchonga shared that there is a need for coordinated efforts
among the government and private sector for a functional tourist information
center. This was stressed by the tourists that he guided lately to Maligkong. The
tourists said that the information center they visited at the Provincial Plaza did not
provide much information.

Pachonga and Sorya impressed upon the students of the joys and learning derived
from tour guiding. Padchonga met his wife, a professor of Slippery Rock University
and now runs his own garden landscaping service Company called Padchonga’s
Lawn and Garden Care. He currently employs about five Americans.

At the close of the forum, the management of Xijen College supported the setup of
a tourist information center as a project of the student council in the near future.
Padchonga committed to act as resource person via e-mail, to students who will be
interested to try out tourist guiding as a career option. “I come home on vacation
every year, I hope to see some of you earning for your keeps as tour guides..”
Padchonga said.