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Post by EXO on May 31, 2018 19:13:05 GMT 8
EXO writes:
Got three pieces of Corregidor jigsaw here which I will share without attribution of the sources:
Occam's Razor requires that I should prefer the explanation which depends on the fewest assumptions, so I figure Corregidor lacks competent management.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Oct 18, 2018 18:10:18 GMT 8
Corregidor Island Fees as of 6 Sep. 2018. Zc823. Mc Arthur’s Lodge Fees as of 6th Sep. 2018 I visited Corregidor Island between the 16th Oct. to 18th Oct. 2018. This is a cropped section of a fee information sheet posted in the Corregidor Island Administration Building. I took advantage of it and booked for two nights. On the night of the 16th Oct. the place was busy, 4 Filipino environmental contractors booked rooms, they were visiting only and two Australian pilots who had landed on Kindley Field. Zc824. Corregidor Fees as of 6th Sep. 2018. This fee information sheet is posted in the Corregidor Island Administration Building where one pays the fees. This applies mainly for visitors that come to the island with their own arranged transportation. It is available at high resolution with this URL: www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/45352186012/in/dateposted-public/
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Post by Karl Welteke on Oct 23, 2018 17:14:18 GMT 8
Corregidor Inn was closed this week, 15th Oct. 2018 Perhaps this was an unusual week. I was scheduled to join the PMA Cadets visiting Corregidor, an instructor invited me. PMA had to cancel their Corregidor visits because Sun Cruises Inc did not have any boats available. And the Navy could not help out on a short notice. But I was not going to be disappointed, I went ahead, as usual with boats from Bataan. When I arrived Tuesday, the 16th Oct. several Corregidor residents told me that last Sunday, the 14th Oct. was the last Sun Cruises boat and they would resume the ferry runs on the 15th Nov. 2018. As we have learned, the people on Corregidor did not have the latest word because we now know that Sun Cruises Inc resumed the Daily Corregidor Ferry Schedule as the 20th Oct. 2018. I went to the hotel at about 1630 hours on Tuesday, 16th Oct. 2018, and hoped to meet the staff and find out what is going on. I did not meet anyone and the hotel was locked up. For the first time in 14 years, on my visits to Corregidor, I even found the Corregidor Inn Generator House locked up. I share these 7 images of the Corregidor Inn, which were shot on the 16th Oct. 2018. They are uploaded to my Photobucket account, as the server. Because of Photobucket’s quality of service not all pictures may open. Indeed the first 2 pictures do not open. I will try again but I am not hopeful. But as an alternative I also will provide the IMG Thumb. Z140. The Corregidor Inn swimming pool is secured. Z141. The Corregidor Inn swimming pool is not being used or maintained. A few months ago a employee said there a bureaucratic problem. Z142. The Corregidor Inn was such a nice hotel, I miss the international flags welcoming worldwide visitors, but the flagstaffs have not been replaced. The flower bushes also need trimming. Z143. The Corregidor Inn dining area, I really enjoyed consuming our breakfasts here with good company but there are no visitors today. Z144. This is one of the changes from the Corregidor Inn renovation; one could catch a sunset from here. Z145. The Corregidor Inn entrance to the new reception and lobby area, but today it was locked up. Z146. The Corregidor Inn generator house, this is the first time in 14 years, that I have seen it closed.
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Post by EXO on Oct 24, 2018 10:34:52 GMT 8
Karl,
I suppose all I can say is that maybe it was the "off season" but no one wanted to admit it. I would have expected that a couple of hundred Philippine Military Academy students would have been a good enough reason to get a special thing going, but apparently not.
Corregidor would be better off as a National Park. At least then letting the grass grow could be seen as intentional.
Thanks for your report, it says heaps that can't be expressed except in your photos.
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Post by T2 on Nov 12, 2018 18:16:31 GMT 8
I cannot believe this, it is so destructive to the wellbeing of Corregidor. You just don't run a historical site like this! Coming from Bermuda we all know how fragile tourism is, it is our life line here. I hope someone can get a hold of this and fast!
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Post by EXO on Nov 13, 2018 6:59:51 GMT 8
T2,
It is difficult for outsiders such as us to understand what is regarded as the "normal" state of tourism-related affairs on Corregidor. I thought I might have, once, but I was wrong. Everything I say (or write) is conjecture - trying to test my theories by examining the available evidence.
But as outsiders, we are the customers! If you run a business and you're not listening to the customers, what sort of a business person does that make you? We have the right not to come this season!
Indeed, I did just that. My wife is going to Manila for Christmas. My daughter, in the military, and who likes Corregidor, will accompany her. Neither will visit Corregidor. I am staying home this trip.
Ever since I have been going there regularly (2000) , Corregidor has been in the hands of two commercial groups who are very much earnings driven. They are competitive, and therefore not necessarily cooperative. They are secretive, in the sense that neither of them has any regard for listening to stakeholders. Naturally, when there is no profit, their motivation evaporates.
One of the key understandings of life is that we must pay a premium for certainty. Tourists love certainty. They love a great many things. They like value for money, they like not being ripped off. So what is it that Corregidor stands for today? History? Memory? Environment? Escape? Bush walking? Bird Watching? SCUBA? Sacrifice? Service? Business Conferencing? Team Development? Day Tourism?
OK, so someone has decided that Tourism on Corregidor is cyclical. So they close the Inn in the off season. But have they put a calendar on the internet saying that as of such and such a date, "Hey, we're opening for the 2018 Summer Season!! Come and be comfortable!" No way. It's all left in a state of uncertainty.
What does an off-season accommodation closure do for your earnings? WTF knows!
You got it right. Tourism is fragile. It does not happen as of right. It needs to be nurtured. It is a service industry, not something run in accord with the Divine Right of Kings.
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Post by T2 on Nov 14, 2018 7:52:29 GMT 8
Thank you EXO, I always enjoy your writings. “Naturally when there is no profit their motivation evaporates“ holy COW....this is exactly when the motivation needs to be turned on and jacked up to find out why the profits have diminished....what went wrong? I know this is not you EXO, it is the controllers of the island. If you do not listen to the consumers of your product, the ideas, the suggestions, you will fail...this is happening now. Tourism has many levels with countless things to do when we are not working. History is our tourism. The Royal Naval Dockyard here in Bermuda is a first class destiination and a world renowned place to visit. There is no self entitlement here in dockyard It has been achieved by every single business putting their best efforts into their product. Corregidor needs to be taken over with passion for the island, by someone or some group that actually cares about Corregidor and her fallen men. Once this has been achieved success will follow. I hope this person shows up soon!
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Post by T2 on Nov 14, 2018 8:10:59 GMT 8
On reading Karl Welteke’s findings about Corregidor Inn, they should have left alone, let it be a little cranky and unpolished THAT is how Corregidor IS. Upgrade the bathrooms, provide ice cold beer and fresh sandwiches is all it needed. I am certainly not a know it all but the Corregidor Inn refurbishment program was the last straw.
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Post by EXO on Nov 14, 2018 14:27:24 GMT 8
T2,
My theory has it that there are two years left on the contract between CFI and Sun Cruises. That means two years to get ROI. No wonder the prices are high.
Contracts and contractual relationships which started when CFI was under the previous management (Col. Matibag) are now under a different CFI which is under the control of presidential appointees and the DOT. (Col. Matibag was ousted.) We can only assume that Col. Matibag was deposed because some folk wanted to change the way things were, and that they could do better if they got their hands on the steering wheel. The investors of the Corregidor Inn and the boat service, having significant funds tied up, find themselves in a position where certainty is even more at a premium. Their capital works are being paused - and for this the they cannot be blamed.
Thus, my hearsay information has it, the the kitchen facilities at the Inn are unfinished. The cooking is being done at the staff house, and meals are trucked to topside for lunch and hand-carried up the hill for hotel guests. The maintenance oversight, formerly conducted by the island's resident administrator Ron Benadero (who, being 'old' CFI, has been replaced) is now under the supervision of someone else, and the standards have fallen. Tall grass surrounds the Inn, Middleside, the roadsides,and many of the historic buildings. The walking trails are not being maintained. Where someone did try cutting the grass, they didn't gather up the cuttings, but left it strewn everywhere, to brown and die. So the place looks unkempt. What of it?
Now, all of this might be just a temporary negativity which exists during the OFF SEASON. It's not rainy season any more. It may all have been fixed yesterday, or by this Friday, who knows? We cannot possibly extrapolate whether this situation will continue once TOURIST SEASON gets into the swing. The two have no relationship. We can only wait and observe. Optimists will see ultimate success, pessimists will predict otherwise. No one has a crystal ball. Even Bet365 aren't running a book on this one.
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Post by T2 on Nov 15, 2018 11:04:14 GMT 8
WOW...again. One of my favorite WWII sayings, K I S S. Things just got way too complicated and fussy and now it’s in a heck of a mess. December 6 is my Corregidor run, I sincerely hope I can visit my old friend again.
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