TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines – A tourism group will create an online portal allowing stakeholders, students, and those interested in the tourism industry to interact and discuss issues related to the booming tourism industry.

Realizing the power of online communication or the internet as a powerful tool to gather public opinion, tourism advocate Robert Lim Joseph said he will be initiating the “Tourism Watch” online portal.

Joseph said the facility will create an online facility for tourism stakeholders and the general public to interact through discussions regarding tourism-related issues to help the tourism industry achieve a higher level.

“We will be inviting people from media, academe, students, and other stakeholders, to be active in the online tourism watch,” he said.

Joseph, one of the prime movers and founding chairman of the Tourism Educators and Movers and chairman of the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines, said it is important for the country to have a proper venue where issues and positive things happening in the local tourism industry are published online.

To be formally launched in January, 2011, Joseph will spend at least P500,000 to put up and run the online portal, He said he will immediately invite stakeholders to contribute their views, including complaints on Philippine tourism. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

SOLON CRIES FOR JUSTICE

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines – “The victims of Samar 1+10 deserve justice; the time to move is now!”

This was expressed by ANAD Partylist Rep. Jun Alcover in his message to the bereaved families of nine-year-old Joven Cabe and 10 soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, who were gunned down by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Las Navas, Northern Samar last December 14, 2010.

Their remains now lie in state at the St. Francis Chapel, in Camp Sumoroy, Brgy. Dalakit, Catarman, Northern Samar.

Alcover told Joven’s family that “he did not die in vain; his death serves as the beacon of hope that others, especially the youth of today, will emulate.”

Regarding the fallen soldiers, he said, “you have died a glorious death for God and country; all of you have triumphed over evil. You have offered the supreme sacrifice for us to continue enjoying the fruits of freedom and democracy.” (Nestor L. Abrematea)

WATCH YOUR KIDS, PARENTS URGED

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) is warning parents in Panay and Negros islands that student activists may become full-pledged communist rebels.

Army spokesman 1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas indicated this particularly as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) is set to celebrate its founding anniversary on December 26.

“The Communist underground movement may openly use this time as a chance to bring their recruits from the cities for exposure trips with the NPA in the countryside,” Posadas said.

“What is alarming now is that students are being sweet-talked by Communist recruiters taking advantage of the youth’s idealism and rebelliousness. Worse, children are being forced to join the NPA,” Posadas noted.

One such kid is 16-year-old “Teofilo” from Sta. Catalina town in Negros Oriental who was reportedly forcibly taken by the NPA at when he was 14 but escaped and surrendered to the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB). (Tara Yap)