Contrasting tourism slogan: Love the Philippines vs It’s More Fun in the Philippines

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has unveiled its new tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines,” which replaces the decade-old slogan, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” launched during the Aquino administration. This change has generated surprise and raised questions about the appropriateness of the new slogan, particularly in light of recent events that have cast a shadow over the country’s rule of law and governance. Let’s explore the contrasting perspectives surrounding these two slogans and their underlying implications.

“It’s More Fun in the Philippines”

The previous tourism slogan, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” was introduced during the Aquino administration and gained significant popularity. It highlighted the country’s vibrant culture, natural beauty, and warm hospitality, showcasing the Philippines as a destination where visitors could experience joy and excitement. Many attribute the success of this slogan to President Aquino’s reputation for integrity and honesty, which fostered a positive perception of the country among both domestic and international tourists.

“Love the Philippines”

The new tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines,” introduced by the DOT, aims to evoke an emotional connection and deeper appreciation for the country. While the intention behind the slogan may be to emphasize the beauty, diversity, and potential of the Philippines, critics argue that it disregards the current challenges the country faces, such as the alleged lack of rule of law, ongoing investigations, and cases of corruption involving highranking officials.

The Contrasting Realities

Some individuals express surprise and skepticism about the new slogan. They point to President Marcos Jr.’s alleged multi billion tax evasion and the ongoing Duterte’s investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as factors that undermine the idea of loving the Philippines unconditionally. Other concerns include allegations of drug trafficking involvement by Philippine National Police officials, the persecution of former Senator Leila de Lima, the presence of convicted felons in elected positions, nepotism in government, and lavish presidential trips.

Aquino’s Administration: Integrity and Honesty

The contrasting views on the tourism slogans highlight the perceived differences between the Aquino administration and the current political landscape. President Aquino was widely regarded for his integrity and honesty, which influenced the perception of the Philippines as a safe, transparent, and accountable destination. The slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” resonated with the positive sentiments associated with his leadership.

Conclusion

What’s “Putin’s Chef” cooking?

Is he after the Defense Ministry position or President Vladimir Putin’s?

If there’s one person who can challenge Putin, observers say, it’s Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a paramilitary force or group of mercenaries that waged the short-lived rebellion in Russia lately.

Unknown to many, Prigozhin was a close friend of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. So, the latter considered the former’s action as a “stab at the back.”

Also, not many know it, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Wagner Group was part of the Russian forces (although the group was operating on its own… its leader was in command of the group and not the Russian generals in the field.) Did Wagner’s crucial participation in the Russia-Ukraine impact the on-going war? Ukraine president Vladimir Zelensky said the rebellion in Russia staged by the Wagner group “weakened” Putin as a leader.

Prigozhin, however, never acknowledged that he was the leader of the group until last year after Russia began its fullfledged invasion of Ukraine.

Under his command, the group has been instrumental in several of Russia’s victories, securing victory in the battle for Bakhmut and the capture of the salt mine town of Soledar.

Starting as a small group, its ranks swelled due to a tactic of recruitment from Russian prisons as well as from ultranationalists. The mercenary group was part of the Russian military that invaded Ukraine (although the group is operating as an independent group under Russian forces), fighting side by side with the Russian military forces in the ground.

At the very start, however, there was tension between Russia’s defense ministry and Wagner which became apparent when Prigozhin alleged that Russian forces had attacked Wagner camps in Eastern Ukraine, killing dozens of his men.

Prigozhin’s Wagner forces left Ukraine and marched into Russia seizing control of the Russian military headquarters for the southern region in Rostov-on-Don, which oversees the fighting in Ukraine.

That started the rebellion, i.e. on June 23, 2023! The Wagner Group… went against the government of Russia amidst escalating tensions between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner. (Wikipedia)

Following negotiations with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin agreed to stand down and, late on 24 June, began withdrawing from Rostov-on-Don. He, however, remains to be a force to reckon with ready to strike any time depending on his temperament.

After denouncing Wagner’s actions as treason, Putin offered not to press charges against members of the Wagner Group who participated in the rebellion, after they withdrew their forces in compliance with the negotiation made by Belarus president Lukashenko. While the group ended the rebellion, up to now there is no knowledge of where the leader of Wagner is. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on “Face the Nation” that he couldn’t get into where Prigozhin currently is located, but said it’s something they are “tracking” through intelligence.

Leading a group of mercenaries is expensive and maintaining it is even more lavish. How can a former hot dog seller do it? Well, after becoming a close friend of Putin, he set up a catering business which handed numerous Russian government contracts – leading to him being dubbed as “Putin’s chef”. That’s how he started getting rich as an ally of Putin.

Analysts say that Putin’s image as a tough leader was badly tarnished by the Ukraine war, now on its 16 months. Saturday’s march toward Moscow by forces under the command of his onetime protege, Prigozhin, exposed further weaknesses, analysts added. The crack in Putin’s leadership is becoming bigger and bigger and being exposed to the whole world.

It also meant some of the best forces fighting for Russia in Ukraine were pulled from that battlefield: Prigozhin’s own Wagner troops and Chechen ones sent to stop them.

Very clearly, being at the helm of the DOT is a tough job, one that requires an executive

The change in the tourism slogan from “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” to “Love the Philippines” has sparked a debate regarding the country’s current realities and the appropriateness of the new messaging. While the former slogan captured the joyful spirit and positive image of the country, the latter slogan aims to evoke a deeper emotional connection. However, critics argue that the challenges facing the country, such as alleged corruption and lack of rule of law, should not be overlooked. The contrasting perspectives between these two slogans highlight the evolving nature of the Philippines’ tourism branding and the ongoing dialogue surrounding the country’s governance.

(Continue on page 27)

While traffic returned to normal in Moscow, still the population are scared that Wagner Group might come back and re-stage another rebellion. The intentions of its leader Prigozhin were still being guessed and still hanging on the air, although many say he is after the (Continue on page 27)