No love for Bicol? DOT snub decried

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT)’s rebranding campaign with the new slogan “Love the Philippines” drew mixed reactions from legislators and netizens.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda yesterday criticized the DOT for apparently demeaning Mayon Volcano in its “enhanced” tourism slogan logo.

In a Facebook post, Salceda asked Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco why the image of Mayon Volcano, known worldwide for its perfect cone, was pixelized.

Salceda said the whale shark in Oslob, Cebu was supposedly given more importance.

“Sino po ang may pakana nito? No love for Albay, no love for Bicol. Thank you nalang. Albay tourism will thrive without you. Love Albay,” he posted on Facebook.

Salceda said he is disappointed over the “exclusion” of Mayon Volcano in the new tourism video of the Philippines.

Frasco’s spouse, Cebu Rep. Vincent Frasco, answered Salceda on social media.

“Dear congressman Salceda, if you look closely Mayon is included in the 50 major volcanoes and mountains represented by a pixel in the official tourism logo and slogan,” the Cebu lawmaker said on Facebook.

Salceda, however, said Mayon Volcano deserves better than a pixel in the DOT logo.

In an interview on GMA News last night, Frasco assured Salceda, whom she called a friend, that the DOT “recognizes the contribution of the province (of Albay) to the tourism portfolio of our country.”

She explained the promotional video for the “Love the Philippines” campaign showing the country’s tourist attractions, which Salceda complained did not include Mayon Volcano, “is just the beginning and there is so much to love about our country.”

“I assure Congressman Joey Salceda na patuloy ang ating effort to promote equally our tourism destinations,” Frasco said.

Senators are willing to give the DOT’s new tourism slogan a chance.

Sen. Nancy Binay said she hoped that the country’s new tourism slogan would work out, although she questioned the timing of spending the public’s money for a rebrand.

“It’s nice to show the world that we are back on our feet and ready to welcome balikbayans and foreign guests. We appreciate the initiative of the DOT to enhance its marketing pitch to kick start tourism, with the slogan subjected to focused group discussions,” she said.

“But for me, there is a question of timing,” Binay, who chairs the Senate tourism committee, added.

With a huge sum of taxpayers’ money spent to come up with the slogan, Binay wondered if it was the right time to prioritize a tourism rebranding.

“But that is there already. Like what they say when it comes to love, one should just accept the shortcomings, and be willing to give it a chance, with the hope that it will work out,” she said in Filipino.

Sen. Francis Escudero said he is willing to give the new tourism slogan a chance even though its predecessor – “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” – was effective in drawing in tourists until the pandemic hit.

The previous slogan generated 4.47 million in tourist arrivals in 2013, a year after its conception in 2012, and 8.26 million in 2019, just before the COVID pandemic that adversely affected tourist arrivals, Escudero said.

“While I believe in the saying ‘if it ain’t broke, why fix it?’ I am willing to give it a chance,” he said.

Escudero described an effective tourism slogan as catchy, memorable and able to “convey a positive message that captures the essence of the destination.” – Ghio Ong, Marc Jayson Cayabyab