The blunder that is DOT: Philippines' tourism department promoting sex tourism?

Really now, this?! Netizens claim that the new tagline reminds them of beauty parlors and Ricky Reyes's beauty program. I can't help but recall Vice Ganda instead. Very ABS-CBN!

Or they really mean this?!

Amongst the many blunders committed by the administration of Benigno Aquino III, the most shameful so far, that's beside the botched Chinese hostage crisis, is the changing of the tagline of the Philippines in its tourism marketing strategies. I've read somewhere that it is part of a 100 million peso budget.

From Arroyo's Wow Philippines they changed it to Pilipinas Kay Ganda since Aquino's administration has this penchant repulsion of anything that came from Arroyo's administration. Yes, I hate Arroyo, too, but not as much as the present administration does.

If you are a netizen, I am sure you have seen or read the uproar brought about by this changing of tagline. I agree with most of the critics were saying: If we want tourists to come, why use an unknown language to entice them? We are not teaching them Tagalog. We want them to come and spend their money here. Unless if they are Koreans.

Or if we want to be patriotic, why use a tourism promotion? There are more venues for that. Is that right?

Even the new website they have created [www.beautifulpilipinas.com] to prove how ganda is the Pilipinas was taken down as of this writing for "editing." Remember the recall of Aquino's first presidential order? I can see they always abused the words "not yet final" and "still a work in progress" to justify their errors.

What makes this website interesting is that a mere misspelling of Pilipinas to Filipinas would bring you to a porno site full of women in various forms of fornication. Yes. Well, since time immemorial, prostitution is known to earn money. Might this be the hidden agenda after all? The Catholic Church has yet to react on this as I am also sure they have already seen the porno site.

What did the tourism industry players do on this matter? I am not sure if they are excited about this since I haven't heard anything from them except from Noynoy's appointed DOT secretary Alberto Lim who assured that "the brand ... extols the innermost beauty not just of our destinations but also of our people and everything else that we do.”  That, including buying our women.

James Cordova, from Asian Correspondent wrote: How many more faux pas would these amateurs commit before the president realizes how dumb the idea was to appoint people to key government positions just because they joined in the campaign against Arroyo? There’s Ricky Carandang and Edwin Lacierda. Then there’s Mai Mislang. Now this.


Read more here:

• Sun or sex: Philippines botched tourism campaign
• Pure imagination
• From 'Wow' to 'Pilipinas Kay Ganda'
• Bothered and bewildered: Sex tourism in the Philippines?
• PH yanks much-maligned new tourism campaign off net
• No 'wow' factor in tourism's new slogan 

After several searches, here is the Pilipinas Kay Ganda logo and some:

Bothered and Bewildered: Sex Tourism in the Philippines?

WARNING: I HAVE UPLOADED HERE A PICTURE CIRCULATING AT FACEBOOK THAT MAY OFFEND SOME SECTORS.

I have no problem with people luring tourists to this country, the Philippines. I am even glad we have been recognized by entities like National Geographic for our diverse culture and unique tourist spots.

What I don't like is the way some people "promote" this country as a sex-tourism destination. One proof is the circulation of this picture in Facebook and I am offended by it. (I actually saw two, this one is tamer and the other more XXX.)

I wonder what the Filipinos and other concerned groups like Gabriela were doing on this matter. (Gabriela is a group promoting the rights of women and children and has been recognized by the Philippine government as a partylist, so they now have a seat in Philippine Congress.)  In this time when you can access the internet from the remotest islands, I don't believe they have not seen this pic and some others, I assume. Unless of course, if they have remained blind and deaf on matters like these.

I visited the website printed on the picture GO2PHIL.COM A GENTLEMEN'S GUIDE TO THE PHILIPPINES and was shocked that the site is supported (or owned?) by the Angeles Clarkfield Tourist Association or ACTA. (As of this writing, those links are still accessible.) They claimed the group is registered with SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission?) and recognized by City Hall officials (wherever this city hall is. Pampanga?).

ACTA's vision for Angeles Clarkfield is "a mini-Las Vegas scenario." Whatever that means. Furthermore, their website claims a very noble deed, mostly beautification of that place. Indeed. But visit their website and all you see are butts and boobs and a nearly nude Filipinas holding a pole but not for a healthier pole-dance.

The [ACTA's] objectives... will lay the groundwork but the development of the entertainment belt will take years, not months. We are looking at beautification, cleaning up, upgrading the image, lifting the level of entertainment, upscale gaming, more restaurants, and a crime free environment. There will be increased prosperity for the City Government, investors and all business owners in the entertainment belt. We will develop individual pride in all participants, from the flower ladies, tricycle drivers, vendors to each and every business owner. It will take hard work, it will take money, it will need 100% membership in ACTA and it will take 100% support from the City and barrio administrations.

But still, enticing foreigners (I believe they cater foreign clients mostly) with nearly naked women posing in rivers is truly disgusting and questionable. Even if you are promoting a river. 


I once approached a politician on this matter but he said it's way beyond his means because of territorial local government units (LGUs). Now the question is in the hands of our social welfare and concerned groups of national stature. 


What have happened to women's rights? What have happened to gender equality? What have become of the Family Code of the Philippines? What have been done by the DSWD? 


What have we done?

AY BAHALA NA ANG PURI NG MGA FILIPINA BASTA MAY PERA TAYO PARA SA IKAGAGANDA NG ANGELES AT CLARK! Very noble indeed.

Am I a hypocrite?



It's more fun in the Philippines?

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On the other hand, Researchers have discovered that women who bare 40% of their body are the most effective at attracting males. 

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