Alright, enough! Let me get into the bottom line.
How much money are we going to spend to publish this slogan, printing of posters, paying online ads, etc? We are going to spend millions for something that isn't true. I am a Filipino and I am proud to be one. But when it comes to this new ad campaign of DOT, for God's sake, can we at least make it more truthful? How can I promote my country with so many social and political issues that I can't deny?
Were we that successful in bringing tourists in our country? We've been trying to draw people many times and I appreciate the efforts of our public officials. However there is something missing. We lack honesty and transparency. Paul Jobs (Steve Jobs dad) once told his son to make sure that what the customer sees from the outside should also what the customer should see from the inside. We need to tailor something that would truly represent us in and out.
Another thing, tourists are driven away to Singapore, Hongkong, and Thailand because we were not able to fix internal issues. Philippines looks like a battle ground for most people. Tourist needs to be secured and should be free from possible kidnapping and life threatening situations. Remember the hostage crisis in 2010. There were eight (8) Chinese tourists confirmed killed. How did our local authorities responded? How did we set up the negotiation? We missed a lot of precautionary safety measures that should have been used to avoid casualties. Is this what we would claim as "more fun in the Philippines"? And how can we positively draw and convince tourist to have 'fun' in Mindanao? How many times that a negative travel advisory was given by foreign agencies the other year? The threat of local terrorism is a huge issue that has to be resolved in order for us to compete our neighboring countries.
To our DOT officials, please be creative, be honest, and be transparent in setting up campaign ads. Again, I don't care if we are going to copy a slogan from other countries as long as it clearly defines the truth behind our rich culture and tradition. We need a slogan that would bond us in spirit.
1 From vxn -
you know what's funny? Pinoys like you who claim "I will always be proud to be a true Filipino!" yet broadcast to the world why the Philippines is one place tourists should avoid with articles like these posted in the net. I guess there are people who like to air their dirty laundry in public. Did you ever stop and think that tourism creates more jobs? The truth is, most Filipinos need jobs and leave the country not because they want to but because they have to. But because of 'funny' people like you, the chances of creating more jobs thru tourism diminish every time someone broadcasts the negative and make the tourists stay away. You are not at all FUN. True Filipinos are #1forfun.
2 From android_18 -
and ur just one of those who always wanted things to be sugar-coated, right? coz u can't accept the fact and the reality going on around u. u should have read the article once more and see what it was actually saying. Being a Filipino is something that we should be proud of. It's our blood. thing is there are people who stains it, or are u not aware? it's not like airing the dirty laundry. what is happening in the philippines is something that is known globally, or are u still not aware of it? what things are u not aware of when it comes to the philippines? this is not broadcasting the negative, because even before this article has been released, the negativity stated had already happened. now are u still not aware of it? tsk tsk!! poor you!
and i quote u " True Filipinos are #1forfun"... try to fathom what uv written meant... Filipinos are #1 for fun? lol!! it gives a wrong connotation...
3 From vxn -
where is the sugar coating in that comment may I ask? I do accept the reality around me that there are bad things that happen in the Philippines -- it happens everywhere unless in your twisted mind that the Philippines has a monopoly of all the bad things that happen in the world. But there's no need to highlight all those negative things. Poor logic, just like your poorly written article. You don't get the point. It's not I who should be pitied but you. "Being a Filipino is something that we should be proud of. It's our blood. thing is there are people who stains it". Yeah. Like you.
If I were a foreigner and met a Filipino like you, I'd definitely stay away.
4 From DiversityHuman -
@vxn, Try to reconsider the following.
First off take it easy man/woman.
1. android_18 and I are not the same person as you thought.
2. I respect how violent your reactions are. That's already expected for 'SOME' readers but most of them they are getting my points.
3. "you know what's funny? Pinoys like you who claim "I will always be proud to be a true Filipino!" yet broadcast to the world". I don't think you find me funny though. It looks like you can't even put a little smile on your responses.
4. "Did you ever stop and think that tourism creates more jobs?" - common dude. Of course, I've done that. But have you read the article thoroughly? The premise is not all about jobs the tourism could bring. And I have arguments that you didn't bother to answer instead you created new sets of arguments.
5. "True Filipinos are #1forfun." So, are you one of them? Make a choice man/woman.
6. "I guess there are people who like to air their dirty laundry in public." - So are you always on a clean slate when it comes to issues impacting our country?
7. "the Philippines has a monopoly of all the bad things that happen in the world" - Where the hell in my article that I mentioned about monopoly of bad things in the Philippines?
8. Last thing, how many Filipino you personally helped? Give me 100 and I will provide you thousands of Filipino I personally helped.
5 From vxn -
1. android_18 and I are not the same person as you thought.- sure.
2. I respect how violent your reactions are. That's already expected for 'SOME' readers but most of them they are getting my points.- good for you. and them.
3. "you know what's funny? Pinoys like you who claim "I will always be proud to be a true Filipino!" yet broadcast to the world". I don't think you find me funny though. It looks like you can't even put a little smile on your responses.- smileys would definitely sugarcoat :)
4. "Did you ever stop and think that tourism creates more jobs?" - common dude. Of course, I've done that. But have you read the article thoroughly? The premise is not all about jobs the tourism could bring. And I have arguments that you didn't bother to answer instead you created new sets of arguments.-- so what's your premise then? a slogan that will bond us in spirit? What is that then?
5. "True Filipinos are #1forfun." So, are you one of them? Make a choice man/woman.- yes i am and I have made my choice.
6. "I guess there are people who like to air their dirty laundry in public." - So are you always on a clean slate when it comes to issues impacting our country?- what bothers you? that prostitution, racism, typhoons and crime in the Philippines? What country doesn't? You seriously think that Singapore, Thailand and Honk Kong don't have these things? It bothers me that people like you would highlight these things instead of things that a Filipino can be proud of. We lack 'honesty and transparency' as mentioned in your article-- so you are being honest and transparent by showing the worst? Wow.
7. "the Philippines has a monopoly of all the bad things that happen in the world" - Where the hell in my article that I mentioned about monopoly of bad things in the Philippines?- duh. I seriously think YOU need to read your article again man/woman.
8. Last thing, how many Filipino you personally helped? Give me 100 and I will provide you thousands of Filipino I personally helped.- again good for you. But this article definitely didn't help those millions of Filipinos who could benefit from jobs that can be created from tourism.
So tell me, what is the truth about our country?
6 From DiversityHuman -
"So tell me, what is the truth about our country?"
Full of mess and crap. That's what we are. Read my article again? You do that mister/miss for you to grasp that I was needing fixes and resolutions to these social issues which are big eye sores in our tourism industry.
People like you always miss vital points because it's either you don't read or have read but didn't have the right comprehension.
Look what I've written above "I don't care if we are going to copy a slogan from other countries as long as it clearly defines the truth". Does it speak for fixes? Am I not longing for resolution?
7 From vxn -
Uh-huh, so there we have it-- a country full of mess and crap. And you expect the government to fix everything? Why don't you start with yourself you 'very proud true Filipino'. How can fixes and resolutions happen when you shoot first? Puro problema, wala ka naman solusyon.
And because of these 'social issues' that haven't been resolved, you want them fixed before we invite people to the country? Your suggestion is until these things get fixed, we should just roll over and die?
Again the flawed logic.
Oh well.
8 From blacklizted -
@vxn
That's what the government is for. We pay taxes and in turn they should create programs that would help the people and keep them safe.
Can you really blame the author if he's not satisfied with the government's performance? Just imagine if no one would complain against these:
- increasing prices of basic needs/commodities (food, fuel, toll fees, water, electricity)
- economy is down
- our country keep on borrowing money, but don't know what to do with it
- RH Bill, a solution, really? They need to feed their mind than provide rubber for the head below
- CCT? Which is a failure and would only benefit BPI and Globe which they own
- impeachment of Gloria-appointed officials (waste of time and money. won't help our economy whether they are successful or not)
- improper allocation of budget for natural calamities (they need to respond faster)
- increased pork barrel (tax money spent on useless programs and elections)
Can you support a president who:
- blames others than take responsibility
- focuses on how Arroyo contributed to the problem than think of a solution
- major project is remove wang-wang from the streets (SONA lacks substance)
- needs to ride an exotic car in able to think clearly
Do you suggest we just work, pay our taxes, be happy for the government, then as you said, rollover and die? Kung gusto mong dumaan sa "Daang Matuwid", then go ahead. But beware of cliffs, mountains and walls cause it might be a dead end.
9 From vxn -
Politics has no place in this argument.
As citizens of this country each of us need to do our part. Be part of the solution not the problem. When you propagate the worst you do not do your part. You critique, complain and bash, then what else? Sit back and let someone else fix it? If that floats your boat, go ahead. It's a free country. Kaya nga healthy ang discussions dito sa mga forum e.
The Philippines is not the government. It is us Filipinos. "Proud and true" Filipinos have their oath (which I hope none of us have forgotten).
Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas
Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan
Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi
Ako ay kanyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan
Upang maging malakas, maligaya at kapakipakinabang
Bilang ganti, diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang
Susundin ko ang mga tuntunin ng aking paaralan
Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng isang mamamayang makabayan at masunurin sa batas
Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan nang walang pag-iimbot at nang buong katapatan
Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.
I rest my case.
10 From Rayburn -
Proud and true Pinoys?
Proud to brag that you are a Filipino whenever Pacman beats his oponent to a pulp?
Proud to be a Filipino when a good samaritan returns a suitcase with cash in it?
Only proud to brag that you're a true Pinoy when something good happens?
What if something crappy happens?
Are you still proud to say that you're a true Pinoy?
Quit being a hypocrite, it wont do you any good sir/ma'am.