An ad on a London bus featuring a Filipina-British nurse, which came out during King Charles III's coronation last week, is part of the country's branding campaign showcasing the Filipinios' outstanding traits and talents, and was not intended to promote tourism, a Palace official said. Photo from May Parsons Twitter The Palace official explained that it is part of the country's campaign to promote the talents and skills of Filipinos working abroad. He said it will be “a country branding campaign” to uplift the spirit of Filipinos doing well overseas. “Through this country branding campaign, we want to uplift the spirit of our Overseas Filipinos, and honor them particularly for their values that make Filipinos known to do their best at whatever chosen field, wherever they go and whatever it is they do,” Soriano pointed out. “They truly deserve this,” he added. Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (OPACC) Secretary Paul Soriano said in a statement that the advertisement was "misconstrued as part of the country’s tourism campaign." “OPACC wants to clear the confusion and clarify that it was not meant, in any way, to promote the country’s tourist destinations,” Soriano said. The London bus ad featured Filipina-British nurse May Parsons holding up a syringe, and described her as the nurse who gave the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine along with the tagline “A Filipina. We Give the World Our Best. The Philippines.” Soriano said the slogan: We Give the World Our Best – The Philippines is meant to promote and focus on the Filipino achievers abroad.

I hope that by seeing this, my brothers & sisters, Filipino nurses, feel seen, not just in the UK but in the world.Let's get heard📢 Thank you @bongbongmarcos @govph @teddyboylocsin @philippinesinuk @filipinonurseuk @FSNA_UK @PNA_UKnurses @tinig_uk @LaureBeaufils @ukinphilippines pic.twitter.com/ux4q773dmn

— 💙💜💙May 💙💜💙 (@mayparsons) May 7, 2023

He further said that the OPACC simultaneously released some video commercials featuring true stories of successful Filipinos in different countries, including an ad that tells the story of Charm, a Filipina caregiver in the UK, and DJ, a barista in Italy. “Through this country branding campaign, we want to uplift the spirit of our Overseas Filipinos, and honor them particularly for their values that make Filipinos known to do their best at whatever chosen field, wherever they go and whatever it is they do,” Soriano pointed out. “They truly deserve this,” he added. Soriano emphasized the project was intended “to let the whole world know how good, compassionate and competent Filipinos are” as they bring their best through daily actions that touch lives all over the world. The OPACC, he said, is now in discussion with other government agencies, particularly the Department of Tourism (DOT), to launch their own versions of the “best branding."