THE MAYOR of Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) expressed regret over the experience of Mr. Josh, an English travel vlogger.
In his YouTube vlog, Josh said a person was threatening to drown him for not speaking Visayan.
In a Facebook post, IGaCoS Mayor Toto Reyes called the attention of the person alluded to by the vlogger.
“Ug kinsa man nakaila aning tawhana, palihog paadtoa og opisina ayaw hulata nga ako magpapangita sa imoha,” the mayor in his Facebook post.
In the almost 49-minute long vlog, the vlogger was excited to explore Samal in his two-day trip. “Uhfortunately on Day 1, I learned sometimes you can’t always trust the people around you,” he narrated.
In the intro part of the video, Josh was in the water after jumping off a cliff, and was interrupted by a person swimming alongside him.
In the 19th minute of the vlog, the person kept interrupting the vlogger, and suggested that Josh should jump from the higher part of the cliff.
In the later part, the person said: “Kol, pagtoun og bisaya kol, naunsa man tawn ka oy. Niabot kag Samal di kabalo mo bisaya? Tanang Bisaya ay tanang taga Samal kol kabalo mo-bisaya kol, maong pagtuon lumsan taka. Di kahibaw mobisaya lumsan ko ni ron (What’s wrong with you bro. You’ve come to Samal, and you don’t know how to speak Bisaya? You don’t know how to speak Bisaya? I’ll drown you right now.)
“The city assures the public that this was an isolated incident and does not reflect the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Samaleños,” Samal Island Tourism Office in a press release on Monday.
“The individual involved has already been called to account, and appropriate actions will follow,” it added.
The local chief executive directed the City Investment and Tourism Office (CITO) personally to extend to Mr. Josh the City’s apology and expressed willingness to make amends.
“While Sabang is not part of the city’s official tourism circuit, the city government recognizes it as part of Samal’s identity and remains committed to promoting safe and positive experiences for all visitors,” a public statement added.
