VIRAL: Boracay Tourists Lose Belongings, Lessons Learned

A viral Facebook post last April 30 teaches us a hard lesson when it comes to traveling. Jean Cezar Retulin, a front office staff in a Boracay resort, shared photos of three foreign tourists victimized by robbers over the Labor Day weekend. She also shared how she tried to help them in reporting the incident to the police.

While Retulin received praises from netizens for being a Good Samaritan, other netizens, however, criticized the rising crime rate in Boracay.

Concerned Boracay Citizen Helps

Retulin says that she saw the tourists crying on the side of the beach and she approached them. The three tourists were going through what was left of their belongings. They told Retulin that they lost their iPhones, cash and credit cards when they left their bags and went for a swim.

The teary-eyed foreigners were helpless and did not know what to do. As a concerned citizen, Retulin helped them find a ride to the police station so they can report the crime. Upon reaching the station, they find out that they are not the only ones victimized by robbers.

Speaking to Pilipinas Popcorn, Retulin said she hopes Boracay would not be known to local and foreign tourists as a place where things get stolen. She said what happened to the tourists she helped out could happen anywhere else. As someone who works in the tourism industry, it is important for Retulin to remind travelers to be more vigilant about their belongings. As an employee of a local resort, she is saddened by the incident which she says has an impact on local tourism.

Lesson Learned: Mind Your Belongings Wherever You Are

In her post, she also shares a message in the local dialect to mind one’s belongings and valuables whenever in a public place. The beach is no exception.  This incident highlights the need for local authorities to their best in fighting crime. It also emphasizes that tourists should not take things for granted when it comes to securing their valuables while on travel.

The summer months bring the most number of visitors to Boracay as well as other popular beach destinations in the Philippines. With the influx of tourists comes higher incidence of crimes. Theft and robbery are on top of the list from January to March 2017.