From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
Have More Fun in the Philippines!
Who doesn't want to have more fun? Outside of Lance the Canadian, one of my faithful supporters who has more fun than he probably can already handle, I don't think most of us would object to enjoying life more. I personally wouldn't. So when I read the news about the new tourism campaign for the Philippines, I was impressed. The Department of Tourism (DOT) last Friday unveiled the country’s new slogan—“It’s more fun in the Philippines.” Sure beats the last campaign rolled out: "Pilipinas Kay Ganda” in 2010. How many potential tourists knew that meant "Philippines So Beautiful?" I suspect that the former effort, which resulted in a new tourism secretary, may have been hatched after way too many Red Horse sessions. 
The new ad campaign, according to a report in the Inquirer News, states that by summer, a billboard over a busy parking lot in New York could say: “Parking. It’s more fun in the Philippines.” The ad would have a beautiful snapshot of several bancas lined up on the white shores of Puerto Galera.
Somewhere else in the world, maybe in a busy subway, another billboard that boasts of the country’s world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces, would say, “Going upstairs. More fun in the Philippines.”
The slogan attracted quite a favorable response on Twitter and other social media sites unlike the "Kay Ganda" disaster. I'm hoping that it will help the Philippines meet their tourism goal for this year, 4.2 million visitors. 3.7 million was last year's figure.
So can you have more fun in the Philippines? Absolutely! Great beaches. Friendly people. Beautiful Filipinas (like my own asawa and my niece April posing as one of Santa's helpers in the photo above) and no snow to shovel during the winter. Come on over and join the fun! What are you waiting for?
A definite improvement over the last campaign.
Thanks Dave. Sounds like you’ve been looking at my Facebook photos again, LOL.
New mssion statement but… still the same taxi driver BS, Manila especially, which is usually the first bad experence for most who come here. Sad but true!
And the ground radar is broken down at Manila airport. They hope to have it fixed by Tuesday. Sounds like fun to me.
Finally, we’re back after a 13.5 hours ‘brown out’ here in Iloilo. I think that new Tourism Department is a winner. Seriously! It sure beats the last two and hopefully the accompanying will help boost traffic…
Sorry. That should read: …that new tourism Department Slogan is a winner….
Same here, Senor Frog, we just got power restored, too. Just saw an email from the “Crazy Cano” Jeff that was trying to contact us for a birthday party, but I’m afraid we got the messages too late due to the brownout.
Amen to that, Tony!
I sneak a peek at Melinda’s Facebook to see your latest status, Lance. I’m sure it’s tough being the best-looking guy in Canada. I don’t know how you do it.
Good point, Jeff, and how true. That and the general condition of the airport itself.
Remind me not to fly, Gary, in the next few days. As long as the jeepney’s horns work, I’ll be safe traveling around Iloilo.
No problem, Senor Frog. We’re both recovering from that long brownout.
So some VIP’s incompetant nephew lost his job as tourism director? haha! It sounds like they got someone a bit more qualified now. If it were me I would put up a billboard with attractive people in a beautiful natural setting and proclaim “We speak your language!” The Philippines has an advantage over many destinations because of being English speaking so they should promote that. Since you are probably pretty well connected being a reknown author maybe you could pass that along.
Good idea, Tom, never thought of that angle but it’s a good one. Many times I’m asked why I don’t learn the local Hilgaynon language. My answer is direct and honest: “I’m too lazy. People here know enough English that I don’t need to learn it.” I’ll pass your idea on. I am friends with our local garbage pick-up guys and security guards, maybe they can facilitate this for me.
Hi Dave,
I agree the latest tourism slogan is simpler and easier for the rest of the world to understand. But there’s a growing concern whether what kind of other “fun” to enjoy in the PH. Well, one idea that struck me while reading your post is why not make a billboard with retired expats living in the PH, with a caption…”Retirement? Live here, it’s more fun the Philippines!”
You’re correct about the “other” fun, Jonathan. US Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry Thomas Jr., made a remark concerning that issue last September and caught a lot of flak for his comment that 40% of male visitors visit the PH for that other kind of “fun.” He later apologized, but quite frankly, his estimate was unfortunately probably too low.
But I like your billboard idea. It’s a good one.