An Interview With 2007's Best Travel Blogger Ivan Henares
In our deeply engaging conversations with Ivan Henares, he shares with us the deep heritage of the Filipino. We are one of the richest nations (in terms of both natural resources and culture) in the world and yet we still have to reach our true potential. He has shown us that we can be our country's “ambassador” each day of our lives by being grateful and proud of our rich cultural heritage, and reflecting this attitude to everyone we meet. (Interviewer's Note: This goes as well for our readers from other countries. You don't need an official title to be an ambassador of your country.)
What's it like being included in the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in 2008?
It was an honor to have been recognized as a Philippines 21 Fellow for 2008. That meant representing the country at the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in Tokyo, Japan. We got to meet and interact with young leaders and professionals from all over Asia and the United States.
Take us back to when YOU were starting YOUR blog at http://www.ivanhenares.com. How did it come about?
In 2005, while on my first backpacking trip in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and Brunei, I decided to start writing a blog so that I didn't have to tell my travel stories over and over again. That started the constant documentation of my trips. And the blog took off from there.
How often do YOU update your blog? Do YOU travel to some exotic or interesting place every week?
I update as often as time permits. I've got a lot of backlog since I've been busy with work lately. My work entails a lot of travel in North Philippines. If I have both the time and budget for it, I try to fit in trips of my own, sometimes weekly, sometimes fortnightly.
What's one thing YOU love about being Filipino?
We have a really rich culture and heritage. Sadly, most Filipinos don't give a damn about who we are or our national identity, placing other cultures on a pedestal higher than our own.
What does a Vice-President in the Heritage Conversation Society do?
Aside from policy decisions and administrative stuff, I do a lot of advocacy campaigns for the preservation of our architectural heritage. The Philippines is so behind when it comes to the appreciation of heritage, particularly the economic value of it. Many countries have stringent laws and strict implementation when it comes to old architecture since they add character to a city and increase its tourism and economic potential.
We asked Chiqui Escareal-Go this before, but we want to hear YOUR perspective. If YOU were Secretary of Tourism, what would be YOUR top 3 priorities? What would YOU be remembered for after YOUR term ends?
Top of mind would be ensuring sustainable tourism development. It's not just about the money. Host communities must be properly educated on how to manage tourism and make sure the attraction is not damaged by greed. There should be a strong awareness on the proper care of heritage and the environment. Let's not destroy the very source of our livelihood in exchange for short-term gains.
Second would be to make sure the benefits of tourism reach the grassroots and not just the big players. The creation of backpacker trails that would link culturally rich towns and cities not previously found on a foreign visitor's radar would give an added boost to local economies.
Finally, I'd change the rating system for our tourism establishments which is based on a checklist that only considers the occurence of certain facilities, amenities and services, disregarding quality. For example, a hotel with big rooms can be rated First Class even if the quality of the rooms and services are horrible.
When my term ends, I'd like to be remembered as someone who changed the mindset of Filipinos towards our rich natural and cultural heritage. It's what makes us unique. That's what we should sell and market to the world.
How can each Filipino help the country today?
By voting for leaders with political will. Ondoy is a game-changer. For one, I'd like to see the Lina Law repealed. It's time to relocate those informal settlers our corrupt politicians have long coddled for their votes.
Who are YOU voting for President next year? Why?
I'm still undecided. But experience and track record both in the private and public sector will play a very crucial role when I select my candidate. While we may look at platforms too; then again, politicians can just claim anything to please voters. So track record is really important to me.
Who are YOUR personal heroes? Why?
I look up to a lot of people. As a lover of history, I've read about the lives of many of our heroes. What sets them all apart is their willingness to give up themselves for our country. Can we do the same today?
What are YOU hungry for?
I'm hungry for a Filipino nation with a strong sense of nationalism. We must be proud to be Filipino and of everything that is Filipino, and be willing to fight for what our country stands for. With love for country, every thing else will follow.
About Ivan Henares
Ivan is a tourism manager, educator, travel writer, tour organizer and heritage activist. A feisty advocate for the preservation of Philippine architectural heritage, he talks about his personal travels and advocacy in his blog Ivan About Town, named Best Travel Blog at the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards.
He is Vice President of the Heritage Conservation Society, Expert Member of the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee, and Corporate Secretary of the Ateneo Alumni Association. He currently works as Deputy Executive Director of the North Philippines Visitors Bureau, Editor of Northbound Magazine and teaches at the UP Diliman Asian Institute of Tourism. Ivan is also one the movers behind the culinary and heritage tour experiences of Ultimate Philippines Tours.
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