The Philippine government’s week-long free guided tours and access for Filipino migrant workers to the walled city of Intramuros opened with a strong turnout on Monday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported.
The agency officially kicked off the “Pasyal Pamilya” program, running from May 25 to 31, which grants overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their companions free entry to Centro de Turismo Intramuros and Fort Santiago through guided tours.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the initiative was envisioned as more than a heritage tour, but also as a space for OFWs to spend meaningful time with loved ones after long periods of separation.
“Pasyal Pamilya is our way of honoring the sacrifices of our Overseas Filipino Workers and returning migrant workers by giving them and their families meaningful experiences in Intramuros,” she said in a statement Tuesday.
“Through these guided tours, we hope to create lasting memories, strengthen appreciation for our heritage, and remind our modern-day heroes that they are always valued and welcome home,” she added.
Maritess Holoyohoy, a resident of Baseco, who had worked as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia, was one of the OFWs who availed of the initiative on its first day—a trip she said was a good change of pace and a chance to relax after working overseas.
“Ang sarap ng pakiramdam, kasi kumbaga, ngayon lang ako nakalaya. Masarap pala magpasyal-pasyal (It feels so good because, in a way, this is the first time I have felt free. Strolling around is actually enjoyable),” she said.
Among the highlights of her visit, Holoyohoy said, was the guided tour inside Fort Santiago, where she gained a deeper appreciation of Philippine history through stories and historical accounts.
“Kaya kapag umuuwi ka talaga ng Pilipinas, ramdam mo na pamilya mo ‘to. Talagang sariling mong bayan ‘to. ‘Di ko ipagpapalit [ang Pinas] sa ibang bansa (Whenever you come home to the Philippines, you feel that you are with family. This is truly your own country. I would never trade [the Philippines] for another country),” she shared.
“Ang dami nilang pina-experience sa amin na masaya, na kahit papaano ‘yung mga pinagdaanan namin sa ibang bansa, feel free kami ngayon. Kasi sa loob ng dalawang taon mahigit, nandoon lang kami, nakakulong sa isang bahay na wala kaming freedom. Trabaho lang talaga. Ngayon talagang masaya kami (They gave us so many happy experiences that, somehow, after everything we went through abroad, we finally feel free to enjoy now. Because for more than two years, we were just there, confined in a house with no freedom. It was all just work. Now, we are really happy),” she added.
The same held true for Gaudencio “Mel” Aplaon III, a 35-year-old seaman, who arrived with his wife and three-year-old son after he came across the program on the DOT’s Facebook page.
Aplaon, who has worked as a seaman for 10 years, said he and his then-girlfriend used to stroll around Intramuros long before they started a family.
“Dati kasi pag pumupunta kami dito, picture-picture lang, tapos sabay uwi. Parang ‘yan lang. Ngayon, may mapupulot ka na kaalaman sa ating history. Napakahalaga po sa atin [malaman ang] mga kung anong nangyari dati sa kapanahunan. Parang na-reflect mo sa buhay mo kung anong klaseng halimbawa ‘yung [dapat] pahalagahan natin (Before, whenever we visited here, we would just take pictures then go home right after. Now, I have learned about history. It is very important for us to know what happened in the past. It’s like you get to reflect on lessons from the past that we should value),” he said.
The initiative is a collaboration among the DOT, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and Intramuros Administration (IA), and is part of the Philippines’ observance of National Migrant Workers’ Day every June 7.
Beyond leisure, the agency said the program aims to provide OFWs and their families an opportunity to reconnect with Philippine history and culture.
The Pasyal Pamilya is open to all OFWs and returning migrant workers.
Eligible participants may bring up to four companions and enjoy free entry and guided tours upon presentation of a valid Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) membership ID. (PNA)
