Annoyance is an understatement because I am more than annoyed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) fiasco in its P49-million branding attempt to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination—the ho-hum “Love the Philippines” slogan being pitched and the use of filched stock video clips that belonged to other countries while excluding our own Mayon Volcano whose ongoing eruption draws tourists. Behold Daragang Magayon wearing a gown of angry red.
That this shameful matter made the news here and elsewhere is something that will be difficult to live down. What an embarrassment. Even a comma, as some have suggested (“Love, the Philippines”), to make it sound less imperative but more declarative cannot fix the snafu. The damage has been done, never mind that DDB Group Philippines, the creative agency involved, says it has not received payment. Oh, how much did the launching cost?
To ease my annoyance, I coined catchy slogans only to find myself wickedly bashing each one, either for its silliness or because it could conjure up some unpleasant, shocking malady so true of the Philippines. “Stunning Philippines”? Yes, stunning in the plunder department. “Discover the Philippines”? Cliché, but discover how corruption thrives especially in government agencies. “The heart (icon) of the Pacific”? Sorry, but it reminds me of the way Cebu Pacific has made air travel a via punitiva for both Filipinos and foreigners. No to “Resilient Philippines” though it might ring well with bleeding-heart foreign aid agencies. What about a question mark (“Love? The Philippines”), as in looking for love? That would sound like pimping for mail-order brides. Ah, discombobulating Philippines.
I leave it to the punsters to coin more hilarious slogans and catchphrases that might entice local tourists and leave foreigners scratching their heads.
Suddenly, I remembered “Fiesta Islands Philippines” (which I liked) during the time of former tourism secretary Mina Gabor. Alas, in the present context, it’s all over but the feasting of China on our resources and territories. As in, pinagpi-fiestahan tayo.But there is one that I will keep to myself for now. Who knows, it might work. Channeling the late tourism secretary Mon Jimenez whose “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” catchphrase worked well under two presidents but which, when we woke up last week, was being changed to “Love the Philippines” that bombed. To borrow a line from Tina Turner’s hit, “What’s love,” with comma or no comma after it, “got to do with it?” And with filched video clips from other countries and the mea culpas, “love” here is certainly “second-hand,” again, to borrow words from the Tina.
Another source of annoyance is the “lato-lato” toy that, no offense meant, could take the place of matraca or wooden rattle used for Holy Week rites. An irreverent suggestion but when compared with matraca, lato-lato is milder on the ears although not when the clacking is nonstop. I watched a video clip of kids in a lato-lato barangay contest where the three who held on the longest received cash prizes. There have been mixed reactions to the proliferation of the cheap toy. The positive says the lato-lato takes the kids away from gadgets and video games and into human company. Those against it say it adds to the noise pollution and could be used to harm one who gets in the way. This toy, now banned in schools, was in an Inquirer banner photo (June 28, 2023).
I wish the childhood gadgets and games of yesteryears would make a comeback. I was good with jackstones, the hula hoop, and the bike. I remember the yo-yo of yesteryears that took the country by storm when a soda drink company held contests and regaled audiences with numerous ways of spinning it, from “walking the dog” to “rock the baby.”
I googled and found a lot of information on the yo-yo, how a Filipino in the United States popularized it (he did not invent it, contrary to popular belief), that it had been used in ancient times as a tool and as a toy. I think the yo-yo involves skill, manual dexterity, concentration, and mindfulness (that word). I leave it to the physics department to explain how the two discs, the axle, and the string make the spinning possible, how the spinning and the up-and-down motions move in concert and how the yo-yo spinner becomes one with the spin. As when a dancer becomes the dance.
… my spinning thoughts today while awaiting some important events and revelations that might unfold in the days to come.
—————-
Send feedback to cerespd@gmail.com