I had the good grace to be
assigned to two exciting events these past few days … I owe the Department of
Tourism (DOT, Region 2) the challenge to be there.
First, I was asked to facilitate
two trainings in Sta. Ana, Cagayan: Frontline Service Management (FSM)also
known as Effective Customer Service and Tourist Reception and Guiding
Techniques (TRGT) last May 14-17, 2012. The following day I have to go to Isabela
for the Mini-Summit for the Crocodile Conservation Project of the Mabuwaya
Foundation from May 18-21, 2012.
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| The TRGT participants at Nangaramuan Beach |
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| The Monkey Rock on its stomach |
The training in Sta. Ana proved
to be a very challenging one because the DOT and the LGU of Sta. Ana had to
make sure that the trainees will be equipped with the necessary skills to face
the challenges of the tourism industry
in the future. The participants profile for the FSM include non-working professionals as well as
out-of-school youths and frontline
service providers.
For the TRGT, we had 24 participants at the
start but was trimmed down to 19 on the last day, some chose not to continue
with the training maybe because they think they cannot take the heat.
Participants had to pass some oral exams and a mock tour which allowed each one
to act as a tour guide while inside a bus and while visiting the destinations
in the town as well as while inside the
training room. During the last day, everyone was graded by the trainer and DOT
officials.
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| A view from the top of the aka sleeping dragon |
The trainees will serve as local
tour guides in the town of Sta. Ana in the northeast of the Province of
Cagayan. Preferred destinations include the Boacag waterfalls, St. Anthony
Museum, Nangaramuan local Beach, San Vicente Port, Crab Farms and local resort
facilities.
The group I was with were Zoo
Keepers and animal lovers from all over the world as well as sponsors of the
Philippine Crocodile Conservation Efforts since 1999. We were all ready to
rough it out in the wilds for the sake of the Philippine Crocodile, and indeed
we all had a great time sleeping on tents and riding on specially crafted six
wheeler trucks over mountains and hills!
The Philippines have saltwater or
estuarine crocs and freshwater crocs or the Crocodylus Mindorensis. For this
project, the foundation is specifically takes care of the freshwater crocs.
They are small (3 meters for male and 2.5 meters for the female) and are
endemic to the Philippines. They are now endangered because of hunting and
deforestation since they live in freshwater wetlands, creeks, rivers and
marshes. They feed on insects, snails, fish, birds and small animals. The
presence of a large number of people in the areas where they live impacts strongly
on their habitat being lost especially to large scale farming like kaingin or
slash and burn. 
