By: June S. Blanco

The first bilateral talks between two sovereign nations outside Metro Manila will be held on Tuesday in Bohol. High on top of Tuesday's agenda in the bilateral talks between the Philippines and New Zealand are the strengthening of trade relations and environmental concerns. Venue of the bilateral talks slated March 14 and 15 is the Bohol Beach Club (BBC) in the resort town of Panglao .

History repeats itself

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado said this is a historic event: this is the first time a state visit is held outside of Malacañang, the official residence of the Philippine President. “For this province however history already repeats itself. Almost exactly 441 years ago, the Philippines entered into the first-ever recorded treaty of peace and friendship with a foreign sovereign when Boholano chieftain Datu Sikatuna entered a blood compact with Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi,” he said. Dr. Gregorio Zaide, the noted Philippine historian, points to Bool in Tagbilaran City as site of the blood compact or usa'ng dugo (one blood) hence the Sandugo on March 16, 1565 , the governor pointed out. Preparations for the Presidential Visit – President Arroyo's first this year – and the State Visit of Prime Minister Helen Elizabeth Clark have shifted to high gear. Malou Frostrom, President Arroyo's appointments secretary is slated to arrive this morning with a party of at least 20, to fine-tune preparations in all areas – protocol, security, food, media coverage, among others – for Tuesday's visit.

Top in the agenda

Aumentado said the Philippines is New Zealand 's biggest supplier of electronic and television spare parts. On the other hand, New Zealand is the country's biggest supplier of dairy products. Discussion is expected to focus on strengthening further this trade ties. New Zealand has also been giving financial and technical assistance to the Philippines in its environment preservation, conservation and rehabilitation efforts. One tangible area where assistance has been poured into is the Pamilacan Island Marine Tour – Asia 's lone entry and now finalist to the Tourism for Tomorrow 2006 Awards conducted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) annually to recognize and promote the world's best practices in responsible tourism development. If the weather permits, President Arroyo, Clark and their respective parties will breakfast in Pamilacan Island off Baclayon town.

Also with GMA's party are Senators Mirriam Defensor – Santiago and Richard Gordon.

Other projects are the protection and enhancement of the Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape (RSPL) that spans the towns of Loboc, Bilar, Batuan, Carmen, Sierra Bullones and Valencia , as well as the study of Bohol 's karst or limestone formation conducted by Dr. Peter Urich of the University of Waikato in Wellington , New Zealand .

While the President and the prime minister are here, Aumentado said he will propose more projects in the environment department like eco-tourism in Banacon Island in Getafe town and the reforestation of the Carood Watershed in Bohol 's northeastern basin. The 1,700-hectare mangrove plantation in Banacon is Asia 's biggest, and is now the Philippines ' nominee to the Ramsar Wetlands Conservation Awards. As early as Friday, Malacañang itself prescribed the guests' attire to the historic Tuesday evening tete-a-tete of the two heads of state at the BBC Tarsier Function Room: elegant beach. BBC is owned by lawyer Anos Fonacier, Bohol 's “Mr. Tourism.” He bagged a special lifetime achievement award from then Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon for practically blazing the tourism trail in Bohol and his contributions to the industry in Cebu and in Luzon .

Ambassadors, commissioners too

Bohol practically has its hands full as aside from the President and Clark, at least five ambassadors and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Philippines commissioners are also visiting to witness the talks. Ambassadors Emaleen Abd,rahman Teo of the Embassy of Brunei Darrusalam, Erendira Araceli Paz Campos of the Embassy of the United Mexican States and Asha Dvitiyananda of the Royal Thai Embassy and her husband Apichay have arrived. Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki is expected on the 14th. Unesco Philippines Commissioners Carmen Padilla, Teresita Villaruz and Cesar Montano, the movie actor, have also arrived even as more guests are expected. Padilla's party is evaluating Bohol to determine if it qualifies to be declared a Unesco cultural heritage site. Aside from local media, the regional, national and international press will cover the event.

EcoTourism

“Being named a finalist in the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards will definitely boost further Bohol 's tourism. It was rough sailing at first for Pamilacan islanders when they had to give up a livelihood they had engaged in since time immemorial. Yes, it was difficult, even bitter for some, but they changed – all in the name of conservation of the remaining dolphin and whale population on earth,” said Aumentado.

Some deem a complete change as turncoatism, a display of “jellyfish principle,” and therefore something not to be proud of, he observed. But the islanders sacrificed, endured training in accounting and bookkeeping that were all Greek to them – grasping at a lifeline that spelled a new livelihood after hunting whale sharks for food and other uses was banned. Pamilacan comes from pilak – vernacular for harpoon – the hooked spear attached to a line to hunt whale sharks and manta rays with. The island is endowed with a circumstance other islands and islets around Bohol do not have – it lies smack in the middle of a marine mammal migratory “highway.”

The award

Tourism Region 7 Director Patria Aurora Roa said the Federation of Tour Operators set up the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in 1989 to encourage action from all sectors of the industry to protect the environment. In 1992, British Airways took over the running of the awards – developing them to encompass all aspects of sustainable tourism, with the explicit aim of leading the industry in this field, she said. Awards in the conservation category are given to tourism business, organization or attraction that, as a result of sustainable travel and tourism development has made a significant contribution to the conservation and preservation of natural and/or cultural heritage.

The country's entry, Dolphin Watch Pamilacan (DWP) had underwent final evaluation. The award will be conferred on April 11 during the gala dinner of the 6th Global Travel and Tourism Summit at the WTTC headquarters at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. in the United States of America. DWP is competing with top tourism destinations in South Africa and Kenya – short-listed from over 100 applications from more than 30 countries of an extremely high standard – so high that judging took considerably longer than expected, said Olivia Ruggles-Brise of WTTC.

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat is a privately-owned wilderness reserve in South Africa renowned for its 130 rock art sites. On the other hand, Campi Ya Kanzi offers luxury tented camp lodging for exclusive private Maasai-led walking safaris in Kenya. As all finalists will be invited to attend the ceremony, all expenses paid, this will mean another US trip for Aumentado who is expected to lead the Philippine delegation.

Whale and dolphin watching

DWP is owned and managed by the Pamilacan Island Dolphin and Whale Watching Organization (Pidwwo). It provides interesting marine life tours that, since 1999, have paved the way in turning the tide against illegal and unsustainable fishing. Pamilak spotters continue to watch out for the gentle giants locally known as balilan. This time however their companions no longer throw harpoons; they direct the sights of their guests to where the whale sharks are. An added attraction is the sight of dolphins skimming the surface in lines as if on orders from an invisible “battalion commander,” chasing each other hence the local name lumba-lumba. Other species also make the Pamilacan waters their playground. The hunters-turned-guides are more than willing to tell their guests the lore and quirks of each species.

Pidwwo

Pidwwo was organized as a people's organization in 1998. The marine life tours now provide jobs for men and women, generating profits that go back into the business and into environmental and social projects in the island. DWP is now financially self-sustaining. Provincial Tourism Officer Oroncia Balio said after initial assistance from World Wide Fund Philippines and the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAid), the business has made it on its own for the last two years, and counting. Balio said aside from financial assistance, NZAid also provided training-workshops as well as items like life vests and snorkeling equipment that helped package the tours into “a real business enterprise.” “Pidwwo earned close to P1 million last year,” she confided. The organization headed by Leo Sumalpong is debt-free, has now its own booking office at the Baclayon Public Market and a website: www.dolphinwatchpamilacan.com. DWP is a story of hard work, determination and community conflict resolution leading to success. Admittedly WWF and NZAid assisted, but it has been the determination of Pidwwo that led the community to success.