EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE

Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

Student Name: MONTANO, Estela Marie V. Student Number: 20-1-00970

Date Submitted: March 29, 2023
Title of the Activity: Reflection Paper – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

What this documentary and write a reflection and research paper on it following this format:

1. Overview of the Documentary (What is it about, where is it, who are involved)

The pandemic has brought in challenges for all tourist-centric businesses, but their collective focus
on ecotourism practices in the Philippines became everyone’s saving grace.

In his groundbreaking documentary series, Atom Araullo Specials: Dayo, journalist Atom Araullo
explored the unusual love and care that foreigner have for the natural beauty of our nation. The natural
beauty of Siargao Island was depicted in this documentary, along with how its residents, like Marja Abad
and Sanne Davis, continue to preserve it. Icthus Divers to the left and the continuously deteriorating
problem of Infectious Waste in the water body of San Luis Batangas demonstrate the responsibility
displayed by locals and even tourists. Also, it was demonstrated to us how a bamboo bicycle produced
by a Fil-American benefitted the people of Tarlac and provided them with employment. Additionally, how
can a foreigner who was born in Michigan, USA, reside in a less developed and urbanized province in
the Visayas.

2. What were actions/programs shown in the video that are relevant with Sustainable Tourism?

First, Marja Abad, a native of Manila, graduated from a prestigious university in Metro Manila after
successfully completing a respectable course. Her account goes as follows, Siargao has been making
waves through headlines and increasing tourist arrivals. With the popularity comes several threats to its
natural environment, evident in the increasing volume of litter. The Siargao Environmental Awareness
Movement (SEA Movement, or SEAM), a group of volunteers "trying to keep Siargao clean and green,"
is working double time to ensure that Siargao doesn't follow the fate of our other island destinations.

Described as a "Eco Warrior" in their tagline, Nature Kids of Siargao aims to help children and their
families in Siargao by providing a range of programs that are related to both education and the
environment. Using recycled materials promotes environmental awareness and opens up job chances.
Sanne, a foreigner who was born in Sweden, started the group because she thinks that spending time in
nature is essential to learning about sustainability. She learns about Siargao's way of life and views it as
her savior, sanctuary, shelter, or somewhere else one may fully listen to oneself. One kilogram of rice is
in exchange for the three kilograms of recycled fabric trash bags. Green fills will be used to fill materials
like bean bags and neck pillows made of polyester that require filling.

Bryan Benitez McClelland, a 29-year-old Fil-Am and the creator of the BAMBIKE, discovered that
Bambike production is common in some regions of Africa while studying sustainable development and
environmental resources in the US. He began it here as a result of the country's abundance of the raw
material, bamboo.

QF-PQM-035 (03.05.2022) Rev.05

 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

Finally, as we all know, the deadly virus has led countries to close their borders, airports to close, and
airlines to cancel flights. One such person who was impacted is Dustin Borglin, an American traveler
from Michigan who got trapped when the Philippines went into lockdown in March.

3. What is your reflection on these actions/programs?

I've come across and experienced such things even though I am not into travelling things, and I'm
glad that there are many volunteers and even foreign nationals who wish to stay in our country to assist
the underprivileged and continue to support initiatives and programs that protect the environment. Many
environmental problems are associated with its popularity, as evidenced by the rising amount of garbage.
While the island’s quick rise to fame brought in more businesses and investors, it definitely had its
environmental downsides. When tourism increases in remote islands, this usually means that more trash
gets produced, and it can create problematic waste disposal issues, especially if there is a lack of
awareness and education about proper protocols. Both locals and regular visitors of the island alike have
expressed as much about this particular topic and has since organized and worked on ways on how to
achieve this. Despite this alarming situation, some hope exists. Individuals and organizations all over
the country are striving to protect the seas through a host of conservancy programs. The global
community of scuba divers is no different. In Marja’s case, I think she was curious as to how it got to that
point and how it could be avoided after seeing a society that was essentially subsisting on rubbish. The
amount of rubbish that is left lying around on the street and the beach that would otherwise end up in a
landfill or the sea is the most obvious. Because it's challenging to teach a dog new trick, I also observed
how she manages to work with children. whenever she works with youngsters, the persistence to see
optimism. It returns you to that naivety, which helps you forget about the major issues we face. Her
mission is to continue educating them on how to have better lives and contribute to their communities.
This helps children develop an appreciation for the Earth and all its inhabitants. What I really like about
Sanne, she realizes that sometimes, you need to escape to find yourself. Or you need to lose yourself to
find yourself. And sometimes, you need to do something you’ve never done before to be able to do the
things you love to do. With the Covid-19 pandemic impinging on public mobility and safety, Bambike is
also providing a solution to the need for alternative ways of commuting, sparking a revival of the interest
and excitement over cycling. Bambike has been encouraging riders to cycle more responsibly by using
bamboo bikes, which are handmade by talented craftsmen from a community in Victoria, Tarlac that is
part of Gawad Kalinga, a Filipino development organization that aims to end poverty by giving long-term
livelihood to the less fortunate.

4. What is your reaction after learning that these environmental problems and actions by people take
place?

Our lives will have more meaning if we feel the need and act on it. I discovered that although we may
not always know what to do, if we wait till the perfect moment, we will eventually find ourselves in the
proper place. To be honest, even me I know I admitted environmental destructions. It makes me delighted
to know that some of my small efforts go a long way toward supporting the various programs that were
mentioned. These are only a few of the initiatives we may do to promote sustainable tourism. I'm hoping
that many individuals would support these programs because I know that having the It would be extremely
beneficial if these programs could continue. As a conservative, I think that everyone deserves to live in
a reasonably clean environment with access to clean water and fresh air. Because they lack knowledge,
resources, and the ability to take appropriate action, others don't seem to understand the environmental
QF-PQM-035 (03.05.2022) Rev.05
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

issue. Nevertheless, it is still surprises me that the efforts made by Dayos to support and assist the less
fortunate.

5. Did this documentary changed your mindset or at least resulted in realizations? Explain.

Honestly, this excellent show made me realize that even little things can make a big difference in
protecting the environment, so I, along with everyone else, should be grateful that so many volunteers
are working to preserve mother nature because, if not, perhaps we would be facing much more serious
environmental issues right now. That reinforced my desire to be more environmentally conscious, which
made me understand that I needed to conduct more research in order to learn where the young and I
could focus our efforts in order to completely support various actions and programs in line with
sustainable tourism. “We are what we think, all that we are arises with our thoughts, with our thoughts
we make the world.” A quote from Buddha, I think it is connected in this show. I strongly believe that
whatever happens in our life is the one which we have already thought of in our mind. That is incredibly
profound. It's frightening because the world we imagine with our ideas has the potential to be horrifying
if we don't have control over them and where they lead. What is happening in our environment right now,
with the implications of climate change on human rights being one of the most important topics that the
world's many nations were concerned about. in particular because it is connected to human existence,
particularly in underdeveloped, poorer nations where living things are in danger of losing their homes.

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