Brutal reality
An international event is supposed to showcase a country’s readiness, efficiency and ability to host the world. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate that the government can deliver services that meet international standards.
But what happens when the preparations focus more on appearances than on the actual needs of the event and its participants?
Consider the experience of a foreign economist whom Nosy Tarsee came to know and who recently arrived in Manila for a local gathering of regional economists that coincided with the ASEAN Summit. Instead of spending hours waiting for a taxi and getting caught in traffic, he decided to walk from the airport to Cubao. The journey took him nearly five hours. He even passed through Bonifacio Global City before walking the length of EDSA.
Think about that for a moment.
A foreign visitor had to make a choice between enduring a long wait for a taxi and spending several hours walking through one of the country’s busiest thoroughfares just to reach his destination.This was not a tourist looking for an adventure. He was attending a gathering of about 350 Filipino economists. He came to participate in an important professional event, not to test his physical endurance or experience firsthand the country’s transportation problems.
The incident raises a basic question about the country’s priorities when preparing for international events.
How much attention is being given to the actual needs of foreign delegates? How much effort is being spent on ensuring that they can move conveniently, safely and efficiently between the airport, hotels and event venues?
There is a difference between preparing a country for an international gathering and merely preparing its image for international consumption.
Cosmetic improvements may make streets look cleaner, buildings more presentable and public spaces more attractive. But these changes mean little if basic services remain inadequate.
A freshly painted wall cannot compensate for a dysfunctional transport system. New decorations cannot replace efficient airport transfers. A polished façade cannot hide the inconvenience experienced by visitors who must navigate a city without reliable mobility.
The lesson is simple. International events require more than beautification projects and carefully staged presentations. They demand functional infrastructure, efficient public transportation, proper coordination and genuine attention to the welfare of visitors.
The world does not judge a host country solely by what it sees on stage or along the designated routes. It also judges the experience of getting there.
And sometimes, the most revealing assessment comes from a visitor who decides that walking five hours is better than waiting for a ride.