Major Tourist Spots in the Philippines Are Taking a Breather While We’re All Staying At Home

Empty tourist spots in the Philippines during COVID-19

Before all the craziness of COVID-19, our major tourist spots were all hustle and bustle, filled with people going about the leisures of life under the sun. Today, we are all of a sudden seeing unprecedented, empty sights of these places that are usually packed with tourists. 

While it’s sad to see these places suddenly devoid of human movement, if there’s one silver lining to be found in this emptiness, it’s that our touristy areas such as Boracay, Baguio, and Vigan are taking an unexpected breather from the impact of our daily footprints. 

Boracay

Image credit: @ladadidaddie

The tropical paradise of Boracay is usually dotted with tourists from different parts of the world and the Philippines alike. During the day, the island is a vibrant sight with people enjoying various water activities. Come the sunset, it grows more alive than ever with parties starting here and there, as if Boracay is just beginning to reveal itself. 

Image credit: Jack Jarilla

Today, as Aklan province is undergoing community quarantine, the famous island of Boracay is yet again relishing the chance to take a breather more than a year after its rehabilitation in 2018.

Image credit: Jack Jarilla

The island is undisturbed, and the purity of its sand and beaches is serenely captured in photos by local Jack Jarilla. 

Baguio

Session Road in Baguio
Image adapted from: Wikimedia Commons

Session Road, the commercial heart of Baguio City, is usually alive with commercial activities.

Image credit: Baguio Midland Courier

Today, as the Summer Capital of the Philippines is bracing itself against COVID-19, it is definitely not business as usual in the popular road as shown in these photos. 

Image credit: Baguio Midland Courier

Its long stretch is devoid of any activity – sidewalks are empty, and cars are nowhere to be seen.

Cebu

Image credit: @maratamarichris

In Cebu, the Lambug Beach in Barangay Lambug, Badian is considered one of the most popular beaches of the province – especially during the holidays because of its white sand beaches akin to Boracay’s.

Image credit: Guiller Escarpe

But as Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia had banned beach activities under the enhanced community quarantine of the Queen City of the South, the beach now has the time to momentarily bask in calm and quiet.

Vigan 

Image credit: @zoshuae

The historic streets of Vigan are often filled with tourists taking photos or bargaining for souvenirs with street vendors. 

Image adapted from: Vigan City Police Station

But we can’t experience its old-world charm for now. Today, instead of tourists, lone military men are patrolling the streets to ensure that locals are staying at home.

Image adapted from: Vigan City Police Station

Intramuros

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The gate to Intramuros is often peppered with locals going to work or nearby universities. If you are ever lost here, you can always ask the guards dressed in sky blue uniforms for directions. 

Image credit: Katipunan ng Kabataan ng Brgy 655

But no one is seen going out and about in Intramuros these days as Metro Manila is being placed under community quarantine, having the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of writing.

Image adapted from: Richard Reyes Galgo

The Soriano Avenue is cleared of cars and kalesa that are instead replaced by a lone motorcycle. 

Tourist spots in the Philippines taking a break

These empty sights offer a sad picture of the scale of this current outbreak, forcing even some of the most popular places in the country to be devoid of people.

We can, however, also look at these pictures with renewed hope, because Mother Nature is able to take this as an opportunity to recuperate from human activity after all. 

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Cover image adapted from (clockwise from top left): Jack Jarilla, Baguio Midland Courier, Guiller Escarpe, Richard Reyes Galgo