I was at the Manila Ocean Park on July 17, 2008. It was my second visit. I can see more and more locals and foreign tourists will visit this latest attraction. Why? Because it is nicer and bigger than the Sentosa Underwater World in Singapore.

I have been corning to Manila at least twice a year. The Department of Tourism advertises in Singapore to attract tourists to visit Cebu, Bohol and Boracay. It is in the right direction, because tourism creates many jobs and is a very powerful money-earner.

But in order to attract more international tourists, the country has to do much more. The key area is infrastructure.

Certainly Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad thinks in the right direction. This is an extract of what he had said last month: “Because if you have massive infrastructure, you get employment. You won’t have poverty. And when you have good housing, you won’t have slums.”

Trinidad is 75. Filipinos should be proud of him.

I have been to Baguio City. When I was in Tagaytay City, the owner of the inn told me that many years ago the Philippines was a rich country. I hope the country succeeds in making a comeback to create a better future for the Filipino people.

DAVID TAN, Singapore