Department of Tourism Love the Philippines logo (Photo by tourism.gov.ph on June 29, 20243)
MANILA, Philippines — Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda has called out the creators of the country’s newest tourism promotional ad again after it was revealed that stock footage was used to create the video.
In a statement, Salceda, who initially complained about the exclusion of the Mayon volcano from the campaign, said it was a “trabahong tamad” or lazy job done by the ad’s creators.
“The whole mess with the contractor who used stock footage in the promotional video proves my first point about the DOT (Department of Tourism) either apologizing to Albay or firing the consultant,” Salceda said Sunday.
“Clearly, the exclusion of Mayon and other tourist attractions intrinsic to the Philippine brand was just a symptom of ‘trabahong tamad’ that is now evident to all,” he added.
Salceda responds to Lagman’s scathing letter
Salceda apparently retaliated against fellow provincial legislator, Albay 1st District representative Edcel Lagman, who disparagingly commented in a letter to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco that the former’s complaints regarding Mayon were just a “fragment political”.
READ: Not including Mayon in the new DOT campaign infuriates Salceda: You failed Albay
Lagman also called Salceda’s concerns parochial, noting that there are other ways DOT can show its dedication to promoting Mayon Volcano.
According to Salceda, legitimate concerns should not be easily brushed aside and labeled as politicizing.
“A lesson here is not to dismiss legitimate concerns as ‘political shards’, but to listen, consult and discuss. The country brand reflects our identity and aspirations as a people: what is wrong with wanting to be well represented in that? Salceda asked.
“I hope that all these problems can be rectified before the budget hearings. If not, I have a duty to ask questions,” he added.
After Salceda criticized the ad for not including the Mayón volcano, Frasco assured him that the new campaign is just the beginning, a video that creates atmosphere, and that Albay itself will appear in other tourism promotions.
READ: Tourism announcement has just started the campaign; Albay will be the center of attention – Frasco a Salceda
However, Salceda said that “plagiarizing” is not how to start a new tourism campaign.
“Since the DOT won’t apologize (because the video is supposedly just a first installment), the way forward seems clear. The first video was supposedly a “humor video,” according to the contractor. For something as critical as the image of an entire country, you don’t ‘set the mood’ with plagiarism,” he said.
“As for the brand itself, the tagline is a creative decision best left to the experts, and its usefulness will ultimately prove itself in the number of tourists. We will soon know if it works. Therefore, I do not want to comment on it. But the way this contractor launched the catchphrase, oh my gosh,” he added.
Over the weekend, political blogger Sass Rogando Sasot pointed out that DDB Philippines, the ad agency that created a one-minute, 45-second promotional video for the new tourism campaign, Love the Philippines, used footage from foreign areas.
Clips from the said video, which is purportedly intended to show Philippine tourist attractions, were allegedly stock footage from Thailand, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, all accessible on Storyblocks, a rapid video creation platform.
DDB Philippines has apologized to the DOT. Meanwhile, the department assured the public that an investigation is underway.
RELATED STORIES
Ad Agency Apologizes To DOT; admits to using stock footage in ‘Love the Philippines’ video
DOT Investigates Alleged Use of Stock Footage in ‘Love the Philippines’ Video
JMS/abc
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