Lapid on tourism ad fiasco: 'Let's move on, make latest campaign successful' for PH
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid on Thursday, July 6 expressed his belief that whatever tourism campaign slogan is used by the Philippine government, it still delivers the same message and appeal.
Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid (Senate PRIB Photo)
“Whatever slogan is used, it is just one message. For me, we must join our hands and pursue a better tourism campaign to attract more foreign and local tourists which I dubbed as "Wow, It's more Fun! Love, the Philippines!" Lapid said in a statement. Likewise, Lapid also threw his support to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco whom he said is continuing with the legacy of promoting the Philippines as a wonderful country for tourism. “Like her predecessors, she came up with a cohesive campaign to guide our DOT activities for the succeeding years. Sec. (Richard) Dick Gordon had ‘Wow, Philippines!’, Sec. Ramon Jimenez and Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat had ‘It's More Fun in the Philippines’, and Sec. Frasco has ‘Love the Philippines’,” he pointed out. “But levity aside, one thing is clear, everyone is of one mind in working to push for a successful tourism industry that would not only help our economy but would also uplift the lives of many of our countrymen,” Lapid stressed. “Let us all move on from this matter and work together in making this campaign successful for our country,” he pointed out. Lapid said the recent misunderstanding as to the true purpose of what was labelled a “mood video” of the new tourism campaign made by the DDB Philippines, the advertising agency contracted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) should by no means disregard the months of hardwork Frasco and her team poured in for this undertaking. The senator pointed out the video in question was there to present the idea, the spirit behind the campaign. “And it did just that. There was no malice, no intent to mislead if we treat it as a video that was meant only for the DOT and the ‘internal stakeholders’ and not yet the public. Everyone ought to have understood that the actual advertisement videos are yet to be made,” he said. Nevertheless, Lapid said the DOT secretary did the right thing by immediately taking charge of the situation. Following the fiasco, the DOT has decided to cut ties with the advertising agency. The DDB Philippines, likewise, he said, did the right thing by taking responsibility for the release of video to the public when it was meant only for the “internal stakeholders.” “I understand that this campaign is a long process and the launch was but a small step forward from the starting point. But everyone who saw the launch knew that the journey was going in the right direction. Secretary Frasco and the DOT are on their way. We should all give them a chance to keep going,” Lapid said. “Secretary Frasco and the DOT has my full trust and confidence and I invite my countrymen join me in expressing our support for them. If the DOT succeeds in their job, our whole county wins,” the lawmaker reiterated.
Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid (Senate PRIB Photo)
“Whatever slogan is used, it is just one message. For me, we must join our hands and pursue a better tourism campaign to attract more foreign and local tourists which I dubbed as "Wow, It's more Fun! Love, the Philippines!" Lapid said in a statement. Likewise, Lapid also threw his support to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco whom he said is continuing with the legacy of promoting the Philippines as a wonderful country for tourism. “Like her predecessors, she came up with a cohesive campaign to guide our DOT activities for the succeeding years. Sec. (Richard) Dick Gordon had ‘Wow, Philippines!’, Sec. Ramon Jimenez and Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat had ‘It's More Fun in the Philippines’, and Sec. Frasco has ‘Love the Philippines’,” he pointed out. “But levity aside, one thing is clear, everyone is of one mind in working to push for a successful tourism industry that would not only help our economy but would also uplift the lives of many of our countrymen,” Lapid stressed. “Let us all move on from this matter and work together in making this campaign successful for our country,” he pointed out. Lapid said the recent misunderstanding as to the true purpose of what was labelled a “mood video” of the new tourism campaign made by the DDB Philippines, the advertising agency contracted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) should by no means disregard the months of hardwork Frasco and her team poured in for this undertaking. The senator pointed out the video in question was there to present the idea, the spirit behind the campaign. “And it did just that. There was no malice, no intent to mislead if we treat it as a video that was meant only for the DOT and the ‘internal stakeholders’ and not yet the public. Everyone ought to have understood that the actual advertisement videos are yet to be made,” he said. Nevertheless, Lapid said the DOT secretary did the right thing by immediately taking charge of the situation. Following the fiasco, the DOT has decided to cut ties with the advertising agency. The DDB Philippines, likewise, he said, did the right thing by taking responsibility for the release of video to the public when it was meant only for the “internal stakeholders.” “I understand that this campaign is a long process and the launch was but a small step forward from the starting point. But everyone who saw the launch knew that the journey was going in the right direction. Secretary Frasco and the DOT are on their way. We should all give them a chance to keep going,” Lapid said. “Secretary Frasco and the DOT has my full trust and confidence and I invite my countrymen join me in expressing our support for them. If the DOT succeeds in their job, our whole county wins,” the lawmaker reiterated.