🕓 Last Updated: June 23, 2025, 3:09 am (PH time)
San Juanico Bridge Isn’t Just Concrete—VP Sara Duterte Misses the Point
On June 23, 2025, Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her apparent irritation at a tourism ad promoting the San Juanico Bridge as a “tourist spot.” She said, “Compared to other bridges in the world, the said bridge in Tacloban should not be called a tourist spot.”
There must be complete silence; otherwise, this is a joke and must not come from a vice president of her very own republic uttering such a sheer denial.
When VP Sara Duterte publicly questioned the worthiness of San Juanico Bridge being called a “tourist spot,” she inadvertently opened a deeper wound—one that cuts through the country’s lingering imperial Manila mindset, regional neglect, and the often dismissive tone toward the histories and aspirations of the provinces. Let me call this an irresponsible statement dismissing outright such culturally recognized pride of Leyte.
Her remarks—uttered with an apparent characteristic bluntness—have been perceived by some as dismissive of local cultural pride, or perhaps a mere offhand observation. Or, in a more eloquent description to describe the feelings of others, especially those from Eastern Visayas and Leyte-Samar provinces, it appears like they are stung by cultural erasure and a lack of appreciation for the symbolic and economic significance of the Philippines’ longest bridge.
Meanwhile, a Facebook video posted on the same day confirms her reaction toward the Philippine Airlines tourism ad showcasing the San Juanico Bridge.
The Bridge as More Than Concrete and Steel
The San Juanico Bridge spans 2.16 kilometers over the San Juanico Strait, connecting the islands of Leyte and Samar. This spectacular “long and winding” steel girder bridge with an arch-shaped truss design projects an interesting capture. Built during the Marcos regime in 1973, its construction, which was started in 1969 and officially opened in 1973, has long been both criticized for political reasons and admired for its engineering marvel.
Today, it is not only an architectural feat but a cultural icon—one that physically and symbolically unites two historically underserved islands.
It’s important to note that infrastructure, when contextualized within the lived experiences of communities, can transcend its utilitarian purpose. As philosopher Gaston Bachelard once noted in his The Poetics of Space, a house is more than shelter—it is a “space of dreams.” In the same light, the San Juanico Bridge is more than a road. It is a landmark of identity.
To dismiss it as unworthy of being called a tourist spot reveals a narrow view of what tourism should be. It is not merely luxury resorts and high-end destinations. Sometimes, it is the quiet pride of standing over a bridge that connects not just land but people. Dismissing it as such in toto as unworthy is an act of sheer arrogantia to an unknown extent—a display of ignorance veiled in authority. As the Latin maxim puts it, “Arrogantia principis populum offendit”—the arrogance of a leader offends the people. This sentiment resonates deeply with the disbelief and disappointment stirred by VP Sara Duterte’s seemingly irresponsible remark.
The Economics of Local Tourism
According to DOT VIII and TIEZA officials, the lighting—and accompanying light and sound show—sparked a resurgence in tourism and economic activity in the region from late 2022 onward, with business owners reporting noticeable increases in foot traffic and sales. This kind of impact is not negligible, especially in a region often relegated to the peripheries of national development. Yet, VP Sara Duterte is seemingly akin to denying such a fact and the obvious observation.
To claim the bridge is not a “tourist spot” is to ignore the evolving character of tourism itself. Today’s tourists seek authenticity, history, and the kind of experience that cannot be replicated in malls or urban theme parks.
Moreover, according to industry analysts, the global heritage tourism market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate between 3.5% and 4.5% from the mid‑2020s to 2030, reaching approximately US$ 719–778 billion by that year, based on data from Grand View Research and Research & Markets. This may likely position landmarks like the San Juanico Bridge at the center of sustainable travel. Yet, VP Sara Duterte appears to be reluctant to accept this fact and rather believes in her seemingly irresponsible claims of illusionizing obvious illusions, dismissing the San Juanico Bridge’s undeniable worth.
A Dangerous Disconnect from the Provinces
VP Duterte’s statement against the San Juanico Bridge’s worth also signals a broader philosophical disconnect: the failure of national leaders to engage with the cultural landscapes of regions outside the capital. The danger in this is not only symbolic but also strategic. When public officials downplay the value of regional landmarks, they risk furthering the alienation already felt by many local communities from the national agenda. Frankly speaking, “This is a pain in the ass.”
Moreover, VP Sara Duterte’s disregard for the cultural and touristic value of the San Juanico Bridge or her apparent outright downplaying of the San Juanico Bridge’s significance subtly perpetuates a colonial logic: that what is grand must be Manila-based, and what is provincial must be peripheral. But if we are to decentralize both economic power and cultural valuation, then San Juanico and other such regional landmarks must be celebrated, not ridiculed. Yet, the vice president as such missed this point.
Toward a Philosophy of Place and People
Philosophically, the bridge represents what Martin Heidegger called “dwelling”—a way of being-in-the-world that connects space with meaning. For Eastern Visayans, the San Juanico Bridge is not just a landmark; it is a metaphor for resilience, unity, and hope in the face of economic hardship and political neglect. And here comes the saddest realization: one must ask, “How can the Vice President of the Republic seemingly overlook something so plainly and publicly significant?
Furthermore, critiquing its touristic value without understanding its symbolic meaning reduces infrastructure to utilitarian metrics alone—a mechanistic view that neglects the lived realities of Filipinos who find meaning in such spaces. It is troubling that VP Sara Duterte appears to fail to grasp what is, for many, common sense, as if her statement reveals a disconnection from the basic cultural and contextual understanding involved.
VP Sara Duterte may have intended to spark a conversation, but her remarks may reflect a deeper insensitivity to the dynamics of regional pride and tourism potential. The San Juanico Bridge is not just a structure—it is an emblem of history, identity, and development that Filipinos are, historically, so familiar with. To downplay its touristic value is to deny the cultural and economic agency of the very people leaders are sworn to serve. Perhaps, instead of dismissing, it’s time our leaders start listening. ▲
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References:
- Department of Tourism Region VIII & Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. (2022, October 19). San Juanico Bridge aesthetic lighting and sound show boosts local tourism and business [Press release]. Philippine News Agency.
- United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2023). Global Tourism Trends and Heritage Sites. UNWTO Publications.
- Heidegger, M. (1971). Poetry, Language, Thought (A. Hofstadter, Trans.). Harper & Row.
- Bachelard, G. (1994). The Poetics of Space (M. Jolas, Trans.). Beacon Press.
- Grand View Research. (2024). Heritage tourism market size, share & trends analysis report by type (natural, cultural, others), by region, and segment forecasts, 2025–2030. Retrieved from https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/heritage-tourism-market
- Research and Markets. (2024). Global Heritage Tourism Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis Report by Type, Application, Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2024–2030. Retrieved from https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5781464/global-heritage-tourism-market-report-2024-2030
Regel Javines is the founder/editor-publisher of The Philippine Pundit. Born in Leyte and raised by struggle, he writes truth from the margins. His work explores the intersections of politics, spirituality, and life’s deeper questions. Blogging since 2011, Regel has contributed incisive political analysis to global citizen journalism platforms, giving voice to stories often left unheard. Currently, he works as a consultant for the Congressional Assistance, Response, and Education (CARE) Program of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.