Brand behind viral ‘Gil Tulog’ street signs issues apology

MANILA, Philippines — The brand behind the viral advertising campaign that changed “Gil Puyat Avenue” street signs to “Gil Tulog Avenue” issued a public apology on Friday.

In a statement posted on Facebook, supplement brand Wellspring apologized to the family of the late Senate president Gil Puyat, noting that it never intended to offend anyone.

“It was never our intention to offend anyone in our marketing execution which used wordplay to draw attention to the importance of sleep and how it contributes to one’s overall health,” the statement read.

“We deeply apologize to the family of the late senator Gil Puyat for the harm and offense that the campaign has caused them. Rest assured that there was no intent to besmirch and disrespect his legacy,” it added.

The brand also apologized to Makati Mayor Abby Binay for its “misstep.”

“As we learn from this experience, Wellspring is committed to practice better sensitivity in our campaigns moving forward,” it added.

In an earlier Facebook post, the late Senate president’s great-granddaughter, Erika Puyat Lontok, slammed the advertising campaign.

“Besmirching my late great-grandfather’s name to sell freaking melatonin is so disrespectful!” her post read.

In a separate statement on Friday, Binay said she ordered the immediate removal of the “Gil Tulog Avenue” street signs, noting that the request for a permit to change them did not reach her office.

“If the (request for a permit) went through me, it would have been immediately rejected,” she added.

Binay also apologized to the public and the family of the late Senate president, adding that she had reprimanded the city officials who issued the permit for the “glaring oversight.”

Puyat, who died in 1980, served as a senator from 1951 to 1972. He was the last Senate president before the elder Ferdinand Marcos shut down Congress and declared martial law.