I didn't know the tourism slogan "It's More Fun in the Philippines" before I came to the Philippines, and I am afraid to say that it's not commonly known in Taiwan.

The main reason, in my opinion, is that the Philippines is a highly westernized society and for many Taiwanese, they are more familiar with the Confucius or Buddhist cultures in East Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. While the Philippines is a closer neighbor to Taiwan, the psychological distance between Taiwan and the Philippines is actually farther.

Because of the perceived cultural closeness, Japan has long been the number one foreign tourist destination for Taiwanese. Japanese has been the second foreign language Taiwanese would like to learn and one can find numerous Japanese restaurants in Taiwan. Now that Covid-19 cases are decreasing, Japanese cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have started seeing Taiwanese tourists coming back and many people are visiting Hokkaido now for hot springs and crab dishes.

That is not to say, however, the tourism slogan in the Philippines is not appealing. In fact, I like this Filipino motto better than the Taiwanese tourism slogan "Taiwan, Touch Your Heart." The Taiwanese slogan seems vague to me and less straightforward to touch the hearts of consumers and catch their eyes.

For Filipinos who have never visited Taiwan, I would say Taiwan is one of the best foreign destinations to get their money's worth from it.

First of all, it's very near to the Philippines so two to three days will be enough for one to experience Taiwan. Secondly, food in Taiwan is affordable compared to Metro Manila and agriculture in Taiwan is well-developed so there are a variety of high-quality fresh fruits tourists can choose from. I am not exaggerating saying that it's like going to a big all-you-can-eat restaurant entering a night market in Taiwan.

Last but not least, public transportation in Taiwan is very convenient so tourists can just take the train or the high-speed rail to go around Taiwan to tourist attractions to enjoy hot springs, see sakuras, visit temples, drink bubble tea and eat street food.

What will Taiwanese tourists like to do in the Philippines?

Just like the slogan, tourists to the Philippines love the sunshine, white beaches, crystal clear blue waters, coconut trees, whale sharks and sea turtles, water activities, fresh mango and coconut drinks, and most important of all — friendly, amiable and welcoming Filipinos. Nonetheless, it will be even more favorable if there are some cultural touches added.

I visited Vigan last November and it was a pleasant surprise to me.

Before my friend and I went to Vigan, both of us have heard from Filipino friends that "Food in Vigan is delicious!" "You must try longganisa and bagnet!"

During the two days in Vigan, we tasted longganisa, bagnet, empanada, okoy, sinanglao, poqui poqui and many other foods. The Spanish buildings and mansions are well-preserved, and we love the horse-drawn carriage ride to take us to see the whole city. Under the bright sun, every photo we took was so picturesque and it was just like walking in a small town in Europe.

When the night comes, it is so tranquil and soothing drinking beer with friends at the rooftop bar of a hotel and walking on the streets of Vigan is like "Café Terrace at Night," the painting by Vincent van Gogh, has turned into reality.

The photos and exhibits in the Crisologo Museum are also intriguing.

I have been interested in the family trees of Filipino political elites because it is a good way to understand the socio-economic context of the Philippines. From the Crisologo murder showcased in the museum, I learned more about local politics in the Ilocos Region, and it seems there are so much more in the history waiting to be explored for one to understand how the Philippines becomes what it is today.