Love or loathe? Netizens weigh in on the 'Love the Philippines' tourism campaign

The country’s new tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines,” launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT), has sparked a wave of discussions among netizens, resulting in contrasting views. While some have embraced the campaign and praised its potential to promote the country's beauty and culture, others have expressed reservations and concerns.  
A group of netizens sees the “Love the Philippines” campaign as an excellent opportunity to showcase the country's unparalleled natural wonders, vibrant heritage, and warm hospitality. They find the slogan simple yet memorable, with one netizen commenting, "Simple lang… madaling matandaan… maraming pwedeng idugtong... proud to be Filipino...#lovethepeople." "It's wonderful, fantastic, marvelous. The new campaign slogan ‘Love the Philippines’ of the Department of Tourism invites all to join the fun, see the smiles, and feel the excitement," expressed another netizen. Another Facebook user has a similar reaction: "Very straightforward messaging coupled with astonishing vistas of both natural and manmade wonders. Kudos! First, you’ve been WOWed, then comes the FUN and excitement. The Philippines, for what it’s worth, you gonna LOVE it here."  Supporters highlight that the new slogan has the potential to significantly boost tourism, strengthen local economies, and create job opportunities. They consider “Love the Philippines” to be the apt slogan for the current times. However, amid the campaign's aim to promote the country's beauty and allure, some netizens have expressed discontentment and raised concerns. They found the slogan “desperate” and believed that our country has the creative well to develop a catchier yet elegant slogan. A netizen wrote on Twitter: "It sounds like we’re begging to be loved. Wala na bang makuhang mas creative minds para gumawa ng better na slogan?" Many netizens agree that the previous tourism slogan, "It's More Fun in the Philippines," was better compared to the new one. They feel that the previous slogan had a fun edge, enticing travelers and promising them a guaranteed good time. It evoked a sense of pride in promoting tourism, as one Twitter user highlighted, "For me, iyong ‘It's More Fun in the Philippines’ entices a traveler/ tourist to come to our country and they are guaranteed to have fun. Mararamdaman iyong pride sa pag promote ng tourism." "Walang dating. Puwedeng ma-misinterpret na pinipilit natin sa turista na mahalin ang Pilipinas. Anong naisip at pinalitan? Anong data ang pinagbasehan sa desisyon na palitan? Ang pinalitan na slogan ay isa nang brand. Sa marketing, hindi ka basta nagpapalit ng pangalan ng produktong kilala na at may brand. Other countries don’t change their tourism slogans since it can confuse tourists.” "The new slogan is lukewarm. It isn’t even catchy, nor does it elicit recall," argued another online critic. Although it may be too late to change this slogan at this time (especially as the President praised it during its launch last June 27, 2023), it’s not futile to voice your opinion. So, what are your thoughts on “Love the Philippines”? Do you love it or loathe it?