you are right about there being not too many backpackers in the Philippines. I was there for a month of a backpacking trip and I loved every minute of it. I am a 53 year old Canadian woman who backpacks alone and at no time did I ever feel unsafe. The people were fantastic and nobody tried to rip me off. Not even once. I have been all over the world and this is my favorite place ever. The beaches make hawaii look like garbage and at a fraction of the cost. I am hopeing to get back for a couple of months at the end of this year. I don’t understand why people aren’t flocking to the islands. They must be crazy. But the good part about that is I get the beaches all to myself with the exception of a few locals who are very polite and respectful. Keep spreading the word because they all don’t know what they are missing.

Sinulog Festival however, is the traditional Ati-Atihan Festival were the people in the parade are wearing the costumes of the early Filipino Aborigines and body paints. I haven’t been to one but I have seen performances in some parts of the Philippines although they are native in Cebu City.

I’m a 18 wheeler truck driver here in the USA and I’ve seen all of the 48 contiguous States and some of Canada (Ontario & Quebec). I plan to retire in the Philippines and go backpacking. I’m arriving 28Jan2010 and will attend the Salibanda Festival in Paete Laguna 31Jan with a newly met internet buddy, Tutubi of backpackingphilippines.com. If you have some future backpacking trip sometime March, I’ll be most grateful if you will consider me joining.

Itchie

I am studying and gathering ways to entice backpackers and tourists to visit Philippines. Traveling with them, talking with other backpackers has given me the view of why there are no backpackers in the Philippines. What makes them skip Philippines when choosing places to visit just like what you have mentioned, accommodation, visa, food, way of living, safety, etc…

Also, it is not just that, even Filipinos are stereotyping that traveling is always expensive holding them back to travel and explore more of the country and the world. My goal is to help my fellow people to be aware of what it is outside the country, how it will be possible for them, that stereotype stories aren’t true, backpacking is possible for Filipinos, and to all backpackers from all over the world to discover Philippines and know more about us and our culture (Of course, in a budget way when my research is done). I will share it all to you to help and inform fellow travelers and first time travelers out there about what, where, how to get from one place to another in convenient and affordable ways.

Even my Australian boyfriend’s mom says she have never heard of Philippine tourism and she is an archeaologist which we expect will know more a lot about geographies, people, and countries…but she said, it is since the Marcos regime countries around the world has shut Philippines from the world because of the Martial Law. That is ages ago, since then nobody has ever tried to do something to make the Philippine tourism booms…

I am trying my best to contribute though, I am planning to start a travel agency that will caters to the Filipino backpackers that will offer REAL prices and NOT the ripped off ones as we always thought and it happens because of that kind of thinking. Also, a website to promote Philippine Tourism and the wonders of our country that the world should know. Thanks for sharing Pinoy Boy, keep up the good work! We might have to put up our group to campaign for our tourism hey…Pinoy Tourism Patriots!!! lol

the funny thing is i asked them about the philippines, and they don’t know anything about it. some know that’s in south east asia, my italian friend asked me if people still live in the mountains, a girl from london i met said isn’t the philippines part of the pacific islands… too many words, very dissapointing.

basically, its the lack of information from tourists. they don’t know anything about the country, plus if they know somethings its the bad thing going on in the south with our muslim brothers. the only backpackers i know who came to the philippines were my three friends, one from new zealand, one from australia, and one from london because i convinced them too. so whenever i travel, its been my mission to as new friends to encourage and inform them to come to the philippines, been lucky so far..