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Post by Registrar on May 17, 2020 9:02:49 GMT 8
Dateline MANILA, 16 May 2020.
Information, a mix of both news and commentary, is reaching me from a number of sources to the effect that SUN CRUISES/CORREGIDOR has ceased operations.
Sun Cruises operates the Tour Boat, the Transvia bus system and the Corregidor Inn. Locking the doors at Sun Cruises effectively closes down easy access to Corregidor. The status of general access to Corregidor is not known to me.
The "Sun Cruises" operation on Corregidor is but a small aspect of the operations of the Magsaysay Group of Companies. The Magsaysay Group is predominantly involved with shipping, logistics and the deployment of Filipino OFW's for international ship crewing purposes. The "Wuhan Effect" has resulted in an estimated 45,000 maritime OFW's becoming jobless, and being repatriated to the Philippines. Thousands of these are ship crews repatriated home by Magsaysay at its cost. Upon arrival in the Philippines, they have been placed under quarantine for 14 days in hotels and the athlete accommodation areas within Clark Economic Zone. A number of cruise liners, said to be about 25, are presently parked in Manila Bay, "under maintenance."
From Source JMR, I have as follows:
"... received a news that SCI businesses on the island shall permanently stop operations effective today May 16, 2020. Its a very challenging year for them.. First when the Taal Volcano erupted last January and the 2nd one, this pandemic that may suspend tourism for a longer period of time.."
From "C", I have this report:
"Sun Cruises, called me up this morning that the company is closing."
Doris Ho had been believed to be supporting the Corregidor aspect of the business, which has not been a profit source, for love of country and its history. Her advisers took the view that cold-blooded accountants and bean counters could be expected to take. "The pandemic was the final nail."
While there are any number of commentaries and talking heads making pronouncements and prognostications along the lines of "TOURISM DEAD IN THE PHILIPPINES", I prefer to consider that "TOURISM IS NOT DEAD IN THE PHILIPPINES, ITS JUST RESTING."
CORREGIDOR FOUNDATION INC, which as the island's administrative and governance authority is ultimately responsible for the island, is caught on the spot. CFI does not consider Corregidor Historic Society of sufficient relevance to issue any statements, keeping its approach "commercial in confidence." CFI has never been a customer-centric authority.
I have fears for the future of Corregidor due, in part, to the overwhelming presence in the Philippines of POGO's, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, which operate online gambling within the country for Chinese backed syndicates. Gambling in China is illegal under Chinese law and has been officially outlawed since the Communist Party took power in 1949. Any form of gambling by Chinese citizens, including online-gambling, gambling overseas, opening casinos overseas to attract citizens of China as primary customers, is considered illegal. As a consequence, humongously huge amounts of capital is being invested by Chinese-based enterprises in countries within China's sphere of economic influence, of which the Philippines is now one. These investments are not always to the economic and social benefit of the general populations of those countries, but are certainly to the benefit of those friendly to the Chinese elite. That there is a significant money laundering industry is played down officially, local authorities seeming to take their cue from the “soft stance” of President Duterte on issues involving China.
In early March 2020, the Filipino media carried reports by prominent Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the committee on national defense and security, that "some 3,000 members of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) may have entered the country as tourists or as workers in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs)." China may have already begun taking advantage of what they considered the growing security void caused by President Duterte’s termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US.
In 2018, more than a million Chinese tourists visited the Philippines, up from just 163,689 a decade ago. By way of interest, among 180 unruly foreigners barred from entry into the Philippines in 2019, Chinese nationals were dubbed as the rudest to arrive at Philippine airports, based on statistics from the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Sixty-three Chinese Nationals, or 35%, were the most represented unwanted arrivals. Given the total number of Chinese arrivals, that they sourced the most significant number of refusals is hardly surprising. Other refusals included 23 Koreans, 10 Americans, nine Japanese, eight Australians and five Britons. My advice - when arriving in the Philippines, STFU, say "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon" or "Good Evening" as the case may be, and smile at everybody, no matter how the flight might have been.
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Post by Karl Welteke on May 18, 2020 1:47:43 GMT 8
Corregidor is in crisis! The virus COVID 19 has stopped the Corregidor visits! Word has gone around that Sun Cruises Incorporated (SCI) will terminated their operations on the Corregidor Island. It is said they have trouble with the bottom-line. Does that mean they will not run the ferries, the tours and the hotel anymore? Communicating with Corregidor Foundation Incorporated (CFI) they offered these statements: CFI received from Sun cruisers on Thursday (that must have been on 5/14/2020) which stated 'this letter serves as the formal notice of our intention to stop our operations permanently as our formal step to a cordial Termination of our Contract. This did not come as a complete surprise to CFI due to the future that can be seen for reduced tourist even when the lock-down phase is over, as it is likely there will be restrictions of some sort at least until the year end. We have control of the website that Sun Cruisers had which is corregidorphilippines.com/CFI will issue a statement soon. To make a worthwhile statement certain thing must be clear which they are not at the moment. During the crisis we have been operating at reduced levels but have maintained the facilities. For example, generator use is down to only 8 hours a day and staff are down to 50%. Manila Office has not been operating but will open again on Monday (that should be 5/18/2020). We desperately need income. CFI are already taking steps to ensure there is income in order to maintain the Island and even to expand some of the activities and remembrance sites. As you have already probably heard the solar lights of the Eternal Flame are fully operational. The first of many planned developments. Zo617. The solar lights of the Eternal Flame are fully operational. Photo, curtesy of CFI, it is a March 2020 image, I believe. Zo618. The solar lights of the Eternal Flame are fully operational. Photo, curtesy of CFI, it is a March 2020 image, I believe. Note from Karl: As many of you know, I’m stuck on Oahu, Hawaii but the family and I have plans to be back in the Philippines by the 1st Sep. And I’m looking forward to visit Corregidor then, soon after.
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Post by fots2 on May 18, 2020 12:43:48 GMT 8
Karl, Everything Sun Cruises did on Corregidor is not operational now however Jing Jing at Macs is still on the island. She is contracted to CFI. You may have some food and a place to stay but things could be different by September. Good luck.
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Post by EXO on May 19, 2020 11:53:21 GMT 8
CONFIRMATION OF CLOSURE OF THE SUN CRUISES OPERATION ON CORREGIDOR
My earlier post was based on information from sources other than from Sun Cruises. I now have a confirmation, based on a letter from the Company's General Manager to a concerned third party. Notwithstanding what I have said earlier to the effect that we could see it coming, it's still hard to believe.
_________
This is to confirm that Sun Cruises, Inc. has terminated its operation in Corregidor.
For the last thirty-two years, Sun Cruises, Inc. has been reviving the tourist activities on the island by bringing in tourists via SCI ferries. The historical tours were done using SCI buses, and overnight tourists were accommodated in Corregidor Inn and hostel which are being operated and maintained by SCI as well. Recently, Sun Cruises, Inc. has invested on the major renovation of Corregidor Inn, including the restaurant and the kitchen. An al fresco dining area at Topside was also put up by the company. These, along with other investments and efforts were part of SCI’s unwavering commitment to the island.
Unfortunately, private effort alone, could not sustain such a huge task of operation after series of natural and health crisis which until now continue to persist. Thus, SCI management decided to cease operation.
While SCI has terminated its operation on the island, Corregidor as a war memorial and historical destination remains open when the government declares that tourist activity is allowed.
As to the future of Corregidor, a master plan is now being finalized. You may reach out Corregidor Foundation, Inc and Department of Tourism/TIEZA for more information.
Thank you. Best regards,
Janeth P. Borlagdan General Manager
Sun Cruises, Inc. 17th Floor Times Plaza Bldg., U.N. Ave cor Taft Ave.,Ermita, Manila Philippines 1000
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Post by beirutvet on May 21, 2020 21:27:34 GMT 8
"As to the future of Corregidor, a master plan is now being finalized.".......Did anyone else hear the echo of those empty sounding words?
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Post by EXO on May 22, 2020 19:28:23 GMT 8
Got a message I'd like to share:
Hi Mr. Whitman... I love what you wrote on Corregidor... I hope you still remember me.
I was the Resident Manager of Corregidor Inn for almost 8 years and yes I also got to manage the operations of Sun Cruises in Manila for the time being! I was heart broken to learn that Sun Cruises has to shut off its doors to the tourism world coz Corregidor Island has a lot to offer given the right budget from the national government to make it to a National Park.
Having said this the island needs a committee or an agency that has a passion on managing historical sites and I know how the dedication and determination of Sun Cruises had been for almost 30 years or more in managing the operations of the Inn and the cruise/tour to the island in general.. they have pumped in so much in budget in advertisement and upkeep of everything to sustain its operations in every aspect of course in coordination with Corregidor Foundation but if the national government limits its budget on the maintenance of island then everything gets limited attention in developing it to what we all desire to happen.
Our package tours is not that expensive tho’ as people thought they are coz this already includes a room, 3 meals and round trip transportation to and from Manila. Maintenance of the genset is way too expensive as the given environment affects its efficiency too .
Through all these years Suncruises had expanded its operations having opened a route from Bataan to Corregidor so as to widen and attract more tourists to the island thus the purchase of an additional cruiser which run below its minimum capacity. With all these being said a big blow came when Covid 19 just gave a big halt to all businesses and lives of people around the world and gave a very big dent on the tourism sector.
I know that Doris Ho , Tina Cortez and the rest of the team tried all means to save it coz this is a legacy of Doris Ho to keep the historical value of Corregidor Island going strong as ever in the minds of the Filipino people and the generation to come. I am with you that soon it’s doors will swing open again and praying and hoping that Sun Cruises will still be at the helm of running it and with better and bigger support from the national government.
I appreciate so much that you and your group and all the WWII veterans and their families are one in helping preserve the history of the island and your regular visits always cheered and inspired us to always give our best service to visiting locals and tourists in general . Thank you for all your beautiful posts about the island and Sun Cruises Inc.
Agnes Jurado Las Vegas, NV
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Post by EXO on May 26, 2020 10:41:23 GMT 8
Sun Cruises, the commercial operation which brought us all to Corregidor, is closed, a casualty of the Wuhan Effect. Commercial enterprises don't catch the Covid-19 Virus, but they die from the virus' effect - hence the name I have given it. I am naming it thus, so that no one will ever forget its origin. The effect in the Philippines was so egregiously massive, that Sun Cruises, no matter how it was run, no matter how capitalised, could not have survived the effect of the series of decisions made for it by the Government. In the past I have been critical of many aspects of the way Sun Cruises has been run, but there was no way it could survive the complete and total destruction of the entirety of its immediate tourist market. The Wuhan Effect was not a blameless act of God. In my view, it's Governments which need to take the blame, and likewise it's they who should be responsible for the resurrection of Corregidor by way of penance. There is not a better time, or opportunity to be planning to reinvent Corregidor as a National Park first, and a National Battlefield Memorial Park second. Its ecology needs to be overhauled, and the bad decisions of the past rectified. I've written time and again about the tourism cycle, and the need for reinvention and renewal of tired and failing tourist facilities. Something we've all got in common is the Sun Cruises' journey to Corregidor, across Manila Bay. As a part of the " Wuhan Effect", were you to cross Manila Bay today, you would see 29 cruise ships clustered on Manila Bay. None have passengers aboard but thousands of Filipino crew still awaiting coronavirus tests. Many of them contain crew who are no longer receiving salaries and venting frustrations, having already met conditions for release, reports the Inquirer newspaper. I wanted to follow up whether there was any further news on the closure. So I Googled the terms "Corregidor Sun Cruises Covid" and got a bunch of pages, most every one of which was a tourism promotion predating the suspension of the Corregidor tours. So the closure has been pretty quiet, kept out of the newspapers. Like a turd in the dark, no one would dare touch it. I found a Sun Cruises, Inc. Management Customer Advisory announcing that in light of the directive of the Philippine government on postponing sea travel to and from Manila starting March 15, Sun Cruises was cancelling Corregidor trips March 15. I found a Sun Cruises, Inc. Management Customer Advisory announcing that in line with the government directives to enforce a Luzon-Wide Enhanced Community Quarantine, Sun Cruises terminal was to be closed March 17. The third item of note was the Sun Cruises Facebook page announcing closure of their terminal office April 13. They tied the cancellation of Sun Cruises' Corregidor trips until further notice to the enforcement of the Presidential Decree on the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine over the entirety of Luzon to control the spread of COVID-19. There was also a facebook entry about looking after your mental health in the time of Covid-19. In actual terms of news, our Forum page Corregidor, Sun Cruises and The Wuhan-covid Disaster ... was the first obvious news-based link after the Sun Cruises - Look after your mental health in the time of ...There needs to be a robust reinvention of what Corregidor is to be. It is not the answer to say "More of the Same" just as it is not the answer to flog Corregidor off to outside money, especially if that money comes from China. It should NOT be a place for real estate development, and NOT a place for a Casino, or a resort for well-funded Chinese tourists. No POGO operation should be allowed there. Most of this discussion won't involve Sun Cruises at all, it's about the role of Corregidor Foundation Inc.
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Post by micahwcollins on Jun 2, 2020 15:06:06 GMT 8
Well, now that Sun Cruises is shut down, maybe it's time everyone who regulars Corregidor chip in and buy a banca and station it in Bataan. Find a local fisherman to use it and care for it, but when anyone wants to go to Corregidor, it's a free trip across. A small banca can't be all that expensive. If I resided in the Philippines, that's what I would do, especially if you got a bunch of people to chip in. Anyhow, not sure how many of this group still makes frequent visits out there...
Micah
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Post by fots2 on Jun 2, 2020 15:34:52 GMT 8
The night after the Co-op found about it, it would go up in flames.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jun 3, 2020 1:08:47 GMT 8
Plus the Coast Guard will say something about it. They forbade me to use the boats the Corregidor residents used, I used those boats two times! Also the resident paid about 50 peso, I had to pay 500!
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