Jas Cruzada
On Monday April 27, Sorsogon tagged American blogger persona non-grata after his alleged demeaning remarks about the Donsol tourism office posted on his blog, I dreamed of this.
Read: Travel Blogger from the US Now Persona Non Grata in Sorsogon For His Facebook Post
On Thursday May 7, Nathan Allen appealed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Sorsogon to retract the board’s decision as this will affect his works to promote Bicol region. Allen has been heavily promoting tourist spots in the Philippines. He explained on his facebook post that what he had written on his blog was an expression of his disappointment towards his experience in Donsol (his bad encounters with some tourist officials as one in particular). Said posts reached board member Eric Ravanilla which resulted to the persona non grata tag.
PHOTO CREDIT:
Nathan Allen / Facebook
An excerpt of Allen’s post to his I Dreamed Of This facebook account:
“I just want to say that, as I have previously clarified, the issue (if you could even call it that) I encountered in Sorsogon was very minor. I was never “angry” about it, as the media is mostly reporting. I only expressed “disappointed”, which is quite different. I was not disappointed BY Donsol…only that I felt disappointed when I was IN Donsol. I just did not get a text that I *hoped* for. I did not lose any sleep over this…that is why I said it was a “minor issue”. It says in my original post that I did not expect much, given the last minute nature of my trip. I do hope people will take the time to read carefully“.
“I actually said right in the original post that the whale sharks were “awesome”, and in the comments, I specifically commended the many tourism employees there that made my experience memorable.”
Allen said he was worried that the decision would result to “unfavorable light” on the province.
“I sincerely hope they will reconsider taking such adrastic and damaging step. It seems like quite a misunderstanding, and takes away from the hardwork I do promoting the warmth and beauty of both Bicol and the Philippines in general. I also worry that it could shine a very unfavorable light on the beautiful province of Sorsogon. There is so much to offer tourists there.”
Netizens has since been sharing their opinion about the issue. Do you think Sorsogon should reconsider and withdraw persona non grata tag against Nathan Allen? Leave your comments below.
