SorsogonWeb | Province of Sorsogon | Philippines

SORSOGON CITY - With its rich and diverse eco-tourism wonders, like the long stretch of pristine beaches facing the Pacific seaboard, this city has the potentials of becoming a haven for retirement.

This was bared by internationally-renowned businesswoman and lawyer Ms. Loida Nicolas-Lewis in an interview in the television program "Open Line" at the AITV 5, as she pointed out that retirement tourism is one of the new approaches in the industry that will provide a major source of revenue for the local government as well as alternative livelihood for the residents.

"We already have our tourist attractions in place where retirees, both foreigner and local, could enjoy the beauty of nature, bask in the sun, watch the sunset and generally enjoy the twilight years in comfort and peace. All we need to do is to provide them with top-class accommodation and complete amenities," related Lewis.

She explained that foreigners, particularly those who have retired from work, are looking for a quiet, beautiful and affordable place where they could enjoy their final years in comfort and convenience. "For this, we have Sorsogon City and the entire province of Sorsogon that can provide these senior citizens with world-class tourist amenities at a much lower price."

Lewis said that she has convinced other Balik-Sorsoganons, who attended the Balik-Sorsogon program during the Kasanggayahan Festival celebration last October, to support the proposal wherein they can be of help in encouraging retirees from their places abroad to come to Sorsogon City as soon as the project is implemented.

She further urged city officials to pursue this kind of project which will boost definitely not only the tourism industry but the local economy as a whole.

Lewis went on to show the proposed 3-storey building that will be constructed starting January 2004 at the back of the Fernando's Hotel here, that would initially set the pace for the retirement tourism project to push through. "The main development site for the retirement haven will be put up in Barangay Cabid-an, near the El Retiro Retreat House."

On the other hand, local businesswoman Milagros Duana has ventured into a caregiver school which now provides trainings for caregivers and tourism workers that would play important roles in the retirement tourism project.

Duana said with the Sorsoganon's hospitality and excellent human relations skills, the tourist-retirees can be assured of warm welcome and world-class services by local workers.

Former Batangas Governor J. Antonio Leviste, husband of Senator Loren Legarda-Leviste and who happens to be a Sorsoganon by parentage, described Sorsogon City as a perfect place for retirement being a quiet, clean and pollution-free place.

He urged the present administration of Mayor Sally A. Lee to continue its work of keeping the city clean, green and peaceful in order to achieve its dream for genuine progress and development.

‘Small efforts that will make a difference’
by: Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
(November 2003)

“I think Filipino migrants should realize their own individual power and influence. Then they start bringing these to individual families and communities back home through small efforts that will make a difference,” said Loida Nicolas-Lewis, chief executive officer of the US multinational food giant TLC Beatrice Ltd.

Nicolas-Lewis made a presentation on her efforts for her home province of Sorsogon, where she and the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NAFFAA) support a local civil society organization that provides microfinancing for the enterprises of some 9,000 poor residents.

Her grants to the People's Alternative Livelihood of Sorsogon, Inc. (PALSFI) has enabled the nonprofit organization to offer loans of up to P15,000. The repayment rate is a hundred percent, and PALSFI now has P39 million in assets.

Nicolas-Lewis contends, however, that lending is “not the mere handling out of pesos” but also “the teaching of values—integrity, accountability and responsibility to oneself, family, and community”.

Nicolas-Lewis, who is national chair of NAFFAA, believes that the country's problem is “a lack of a sense of nationhood”.

The forum also showcased other efforts to lure migrants to spur domestic business activities, tourism, and social development in the country.

Tourism secretary Richard Gordon, whose office co-organized the convention with NAFFAA, said that if the eight million Filipino migrants bring home a foreign tourist or a fellow migrant, it will be “the quickest way for the country to bounce back.”