On Tuesday, March 14, 2006 , Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will hold a bilateral meeting with and host a state dinner for Rt. Honorable Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand at the facilities of the renowned Bohol Beach Club in Panglao Island .

We are told that this is the first bilateral talk and state dinner ever held outside of Metro Manila. For whatever reason that Pres. Arroyo chose Bohol for this talk, Boholanos have a lot to thank the President for bringing to world attention the Province of Bohol . She has been the number one promoter and advertiser of Bohol 's tourism and development. Her choice of Bohol may even contribute to Bohol 's chance of bagging the number one place in the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2006. As of now Bohol is one of the three finalists and the only province in Asia to get the nomination. Awarding will be in April at the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Headquarters at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. during the 6th Global Travel and Tourism Summit.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards is a prestigious annual award given by the WTTC in recognition and promotion of the world's best practices in responsible tourism development. Indeed the Pamilacan Dolphin and Whale Watching attraction is a complete turn around as far as the people of Pamilacan are concerned. The Pamilacan experience is a case of hunters becoming protectors of their prey. Fishermen who used to hunt dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays for livelihood have now become their rabid protectors also for livelihood – this time for a sustainable livelihood.

I have personal experience in the process of this turn around. It was not an overnight process. On the contrary it was a bitter process that turned out for good. It was difficult to persuade people to abandon the only livelihood they know in order to live – that of hunting and catching whale sharks and manta rays. But at last they were persuaded that becoming protectors of their prey is a better and more rewarding livelihood.

Now people will understand why Boholanos are not bothered by the political turmoil in Metro Manila , much less the calls for the President's resignation. She has always been a good benefactor of Bohol and Boholanos are known to recognize their debt of gratitude.

At the height of the noisy rallies in Metro Manila during the 20th anniversary of the EDSA I people power revolution, Boholanos were never apprehensive that President Arroyo might succumb to the calls.

With this bilateral talks, Bohol will again be catapulted to the limelight, its efforts on tourism (eco-tourism, that is) underscored and broadcast worldwide through the facilities of national and international media outlets. This is one advertisement that Bohol cannot afford but which will be given free by President Arroyo.

Pres. Arroyo's bias for Bohol gets a favorable endorsement and validation from the Rt. Honorable Clark when she consented to hold the bilateral talks in Bohol and to make part of her itinerary a swing to the Pamilacan Dolphin and Whale Watching attraction.

The government of New Zealand has a stake in Pamilacan as it has provided grants for the development of this eco-tourism attraction along with the Rajah Sikatuna National Park in Bilar.

We hope that the bilateral talks will result in not just better relations between the Philippines and New Zealand but that it will also bring in other economic benefits. New Zealand is known for its dairy products and technology. It is also into forest protection and conservation that Bohol could benefit from.