Branding the Philippines: Smile Philippines

Several bloggers sent this white paper and I read some pages and decided it's a waste of my precious time. For one, the person who wrote the stuff does not really know what he's talking about and second, the topic is tooo stupid to even spend time about. Why?

This country has been here for the last 45,000 years and you're born here, and you still don't know this country? You finished college, read voluminous books about the history of this country and now, you're asking several people what this country is or is about?

Branding is all about perceptions. Perceptions, most of them, are based on reality. Reality is perceived based on someone's values. Values are ingrained. They are shaped by someone or the society that you're in.

Society, therefore, shapes a country’s branding.

How will a foreign PR FIRM know about the Filipino brand when it thinks along Western lines? Branding is someone's best foot forward and the only people who know this country's best front are those who lived here, not some blond haired stupid guy from Missouri.

Branding is the soul of a product. If someone has to sell this country, one must sell the most important value or asset this country has---its people. 

I have gone to different parts of the world and the reason why I always, always go back here is simply I miss the love of my fellow Filipinos.

The Pinoy is the USP of our country. Pilipinas Kay Ganda project is simply not "it”, because that’s not what we are selling here. We are not selling the beauty of our place. We are selling the beauty of our souls as a People.

Talk about beaches, and we are not the only ones who have them. Talk about resorts, islands, rivers, streams, etc and someone will say Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand all have them.

What these countries don’t have is a freedom-loving race of people, who, despite their poverty, still smiles and tells you to “live long”. Talk about Pinoy—a warm, human being who endures long struggles, who strives for the best always, and looks at life in a totally different way.

Brand the Philippines? Use the words “Smile Pinoy”. We are the only race in Asia that always smiles even in times of great personal tragedy and difficulty. We smile and love our fellow human beings. Those smiles always warm some foreigners' heart.

Air pollution in Metro Manila worsening

Do you know that air pollution in Metro Manila has now reached an average of 163-200 micrograms per normal cubic meters? This is about 48% above normal standard of around 90 micrograms per normal cubic meters.


What does this mean? Well, very simple--the air you breathe in Metro Manila contains hazardous substances that will either cause you sickness or probably will make your skin dull. Carbon monoxide and toxic fumes from jeepneys and motor vehicles account to much of the increase in air toxicity levels in the metro.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources through Secretary Ramon Paje issued administrative order 2010-0023 specifically to address this issue of worsening air pollution. The DENR will partner up with the Land Transportation Office to minimalize the number of motor vehicles spewing these toxic fumes in the streets. 


Yet, I hope that the DENR will expand its coverage to include factories here in Makati which pollute our air every single afternoon. I am talking about this company at the corner of Pasong Tamo and this road which spews thick, black smoke every single afternoon. I will be getting some pictures and send it to the DENR so that they will be able to file charges against owners of this factory.


Manila's air is just a tad worse lower than New Delhi, Shanghai and Mexico City. How then will we be able to attract more foreigners into our lovely city if the air quality is so bad, breathing will kill you?