Hurdling another threat

Just in time when we finally say hello to another year, we are faced with many issues with our security. I chuckled at an editorial cartoon from this paper where a bruised and limping dog symbolizing the previous year passed a torch to a healthy pig to show that it is now the pig's turn to take over. Can the pig manage? I hope so.

Just recently, the United Kingdom issued a travel advisory for tourists not to visit the south of Cebu. This isn't the first time though. The military explained that this could probably because of the area's proximity to Mindanao, where an explosion just happened in Cotabato City. According to the provincial police, there is no direct threat to Central Visayas. In short, there is nothing to worry about. Our place is still safe to visit.

Other tourists think so, too. The influx of tourists that have been plying the highways of southern Cebu never seems to go down despite the advisory. Add to that, the Sinulog festival is just around the corner. We know for a fact that the Sinulog is a yearly gathering that tourists, especially those from Europe, love to witness for its color and vigor.

So the travel advisory is not new to everyone. Why fret about it though? On some level it will create a global impact and affect the tourism industry especially that of Central Visayas. But the Department of Tourism thinks that this has no effect at all. I just hope it holds true for the rest of the time being.

The bottom line here is that we should have peace. Analyze the domino effect; had the suspects of the bombing been content with the government or whoever, there would have been no bombing, no travel advisory, no threat to our own tourism. It's indeed funny why we make enemies out of our own countrymen. It's like fighting with your own sibling inside the same house.

But like all other threats, I'm hopeful that this is just miniscule. Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas have handled far more difficult threats to tourism than just a mere travel advisory. In fact in 2017, bookings and tours in Bohol were cancelled because of the Abu Sayyaf skirmish in the town of Inabanga. While that will not happen again (crossing fingers), we have all learned our lesson; to be resilient in trying times like these.

The Sinulog celebration is just around the corner and everybody is on their toes to keep the security in place. The authorities couldn't stress it enough to include the public in securing the whole event. We can all do this by being vigilant and by reporting what they think is different from what is normal. They all need the help they can get. Let us not be passive, instead let us be proactive to help the community. We all want a common thing, and that's for peace and order to flourish. Best of luck!