hi guys! :armysmile:

i saw on "Balitanghali", QTV's lunch time newscast, earlier today that the PMC MBLT5 is operating a Boracay-like beach resort in Patikul, Sulu. the place is really beautiful, although it is ironically located inside a Marine Corps camp.

hope to hear more about this from the PMC members and insiders. :armywink:

some more details about the report made by GMA News' Jun Veneracion, the same guy who was with the Marines in the frontlines against the MNLF Malik group.

in his report, Veneracion said in Tagalog that the resort is located within MBLT5's camp in Patikul, Sulu. Veneracion was given a tour of the resort by no an officer of MBLT5. the officer showed to him the white sand beach, the cottages for visitors that were named after famous beaches in the country (e.g. Boracay, El Nido, etc.) and even showed to him that the Marines and some visitors were "having fun" in the area by playing a water sport that is similar to water skiing. the ski was attached to a PMC rubber boat (there was a clear MARINES mark on the rubber boat) and aboard the rubber boat was several Marines and a Caucasian guy, who was identified in the report as "a US Marine".

Veneracion ended his report by saying that Sulu has beautiful beaches and sceneries but the "war" in the place overshadowed their beauty.

Work and play keeps the doctor away. Glad AFP enterpreneurs maintain their own beach resort.

That's why you soldiers should do your best to end the fighting.

If Sulu and Tawi-tawi's beaches and dive spots began to attrack foreigners, imagine the benefits it can give to our locals there?

Kaya, fellows, help Sulu and Tawi-tawi as well as Basilan tap that opportunity. :thumb:

It's a good thing.

Now the Marines have something relaxing to look forward to after a hot and tiring combat patrol.

:thumb:

Super cool :bow:

It should be the safest resort on the planet, no Abu Sayyaf will dare kidnap its guests!
:demon:

Ahem, is it open to the general public?

sulu prov has many beaches, the Marines wherever they are are constantly developing their area of opns. fortunately, mblt 5 is stationed near a beach so they developed the area.

problem at sulu is the people; i remember being one of the first unit to occupy Talipao, Sulu (of course after fighting it out w/ KT.) As per observation, locals there; men are always cleaning their rifles while the women till the land, fetch water etc . . . women do all the hard work.

The Marines planted veggies in their areas, imagine the local persons buying from the soldiers . . .when asked why ? "ayaw nilang magtanim" = perhaps translated to "ayaw nila mahirapan".

the land is good / the soil is good - - - pero tamad ang tao. (not all sana . . . )

then the Marines occupy a beach = being amphibious in nature . . . he he he nadevelop ang area.

IGASAN is another very good beach in the area

tumpak!

if only the rebels will surrender all, they will surely prosper by engaging in the tourism business instead of kidnapping the tourists :headbang:

Was able to talk to a former CG ng 1st ID, PA, marami nga raw magagandang beaches in that part of the country, yun nga lang malaki talagang factor yung peace and order situation.

how wonderful if it becomes reality! the philippines have the best beaches in the world! and our marines are the still "the few, the brave and the best representative of philippine soldiery"! long live the philippine marine corps!

comment merveilleux si ce devient réalité! les Philippines ont les meilleures plages dans le monde! et nos soldats de marine sont toujours "les peu, le braver et le meilleur représentant de la troupe philippine"! désirent ardemment de phase les corps marins philippins!

jak cudowny jeœli ono staje siê rzeczywistoœæ! ten Filipiny mieæ ten najwy¿sza oferowana cena wyci¹ga ³ódŸ na brzeg w ten œwiat! i nasz marynarze jesteœcie wci¹¿ "ten ma³o, waleczni ludzie i ten najwy¿sza oferowana cena symbolizuj¹cy od filipiñski ¿o³nierze"! d³ugi ¿yæ ten filipiñski flota korpus! désirent ardemment de phase les corps marins philippins! :banana:

I agree.

There are still quite a number of unspoiled islets and excellent dive spots and coral reefs over there that remained untapped due to the ongoing conflict.

If only our misguided Muslim brothers can see the futility of their rebellion and embrace peace, prosperity will come to Basilan, sulu and the rest of Mindanao.

it's a catch 22, really. if peace prevail on that region and becomes tourist friendly, the place will be destroyed forever. ironically, the turmoil is keeping sulu sea one of the most pristine areas in the world. think about it... just look at the other beaches in the archipelago...

i agree...

peace brings development, and greedy development destroys the environment.

if ever peace comes to sulu, the government should enforce strict rules to preserve the environmental integrity of the place.

or else, the beaches of sulu will become another boracay.

It's a valid concern but that can be considered as a paranoia.

Look at Boracay, Bohol and Palawan.

These remain okay despite the many tourists.

The people in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi need jobs badly like we do.

The development of tourism in these areas will surely help defeat the rebellion in these areas. Denying these areas the needed development will PRESENT US MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

That's the better response to the problem.

the key word is "should", but i doubt it...

Good point.

We can go around it by encouraging NGOs and the local people themselves like the businessmen, schools, church and politicians to pool themselves together and make it work.

Then again, without peace, it's hard to realize.

So, the first step towards that realization rest upon the military.

Don't be discouraged by the seemingly lack of interest by the locals in helping their own selves.

Get around it and change the whole thing.

BE THE ROLE MODEL THAT THEY CAN EMULATE PERHAPS.

AGREE SIR ! Maganda talaga IGASAN kaya lang delikado. Totoo na ang mga lalaki linis ng linis ng rifle. one time baba kami sa zamboanga at naghihintay ng ferry papunta sa basilan, may isang lalaki na tingin ng tingin sa dala ko gusto ba namang palitan ng kambing o kalabaw nung sinabi hindi pwede dahil hindi sa akin mamili daw ako sa mga anak niya na babae. :lollol: