The attitude of gratitude

MANILA, Philippines – Well-known author and life coach Zig Ziglar said: “Of all the ‘attitudes’ we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.”

When Toblerone first launched National Thank You Day in 2007, it was as a response to The Great Reader’s Digest Global Courtesy Test in which Manila ranked number 22. But more than that, it became a call to arms for Filipinos to revive the lost art of saying thank you.

This year’s National Thank You Day festivities couldn’t be more apt as an expression of gratitude for all Filipinos that participated in 2007. It has paved the  way for the country to be recognized as the Most Courteous Asian Country among recent surveys.

 “We think that the positive result of this recent survey is because Filipinos have already realized the value of expressing their gratitude,” says Carlo Licuanan, senior brand manager, Kraft Foods (Philippines) Inc., at their recently held launch at Fiamma. “Because if you think about it there are a lot of ways to say thank you, and it’s actually easier than most people think it is.”

Toblerone has made it even easier by setting up different booths where people can say their sincerest thank yous in different ways. Some of the guests chose to do it the old school way by sending out handwritten letters on specially designed postcards through the Thank You Day Post Office, which was sent via snail mail to the address specified. For the less shy, there was also a video booth where one could record a thank you message to their loved ones and play it during the event.

 For more tech-savvy guests, they were able to register, nominate and vote for candidates at the computer booths with the National Thank You Day website (http://thankyoudayphilippines.com/) which were set up at the launch.

The National Thank You Day Awards is giving everyone a chance to say their sincerest thank yous by nominating or voting for the person they think embodies the National Thank You Day spirit.

Among the nominees are Filipino fashion designer known internationally for her world-class bridal gown designs Monique Lhuillier, recipient of Best Director Award at Cannes International Film Festival Brilliante Mendoza for his film Kinatay and one of the greatest leaders of all time for her fight for freedom and democracy, former President Cory Aquino.

 “For this year’s National Thank You Day we want to go a step further than just encouraging Filipinos to say ‘Thank you’ more often, so by giving them freedom to express what’s important for them, through the voting and nomination process, we are encouraging them to say more meaningful thank yous which is what National Thank You Day is all about,” says Licuanan.

Toblerone has also started a petition to make National Thank You Day an official holiday with Congresswoman Cynthia Villar of Las Piñas at the helm, encouraging Filipinos to join this worthy cause. Just as what incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim has done in 2007 when he passed a city ordinance declaring Oct. 20 as the city’s official Thank You Day, Representative Villar has also passed House Bill No.5466 to recommend that, because of its merits, National Thank You Day be recognized as a national holiday.

“Once again let’s prove to the world on Oct. 20 at The National Thank You Day celebration that by simply saying a meaningful Thank You, we as a country can become the most grateful nation of all,” says Licuanan.