We’ve recently read one blog by a Korean national who has been in the Philippines for quite sometime and shared his opinion about the current state of the country. “It’s not the corruption is the problem with the Philippines. The reason is the Filipinos don’t have love for their country,” the author said.
Truth hurts as he compared that many years ago, South Korea envied the Philippines because the country was very rich compared to them. But the South Korean government made an all-out effort to work hard and instill love for their country as they aim to be a well-off nation in the future. The government put up more factories and encouraged the people to buy only thier own products.
Fast-forward to today, South Korea has produced great and giant companies like Samsung, Hyundai, LG Electronics, and a lot more with products imported to different countries and are making billions of dollars in business earnings and contribute to the growth of South Korea.
The Philippines is no different with South Korea. The country was once a rich nation and aspired by neighboring Asian countries. The country is still part of the world’s largest economy, ranking at 34th, by nominal GDP, according to the 2017 estimate of the International Monetary Fund’s statistics. The Philippines is the 13th largest economy in Asia, and the 3rd largest economy in the ASEAN after Indonesia and Thailand.
Those are reflected in researches and statistics, but in the ground, we can still feel and see poverty in every corners of the metro, as well in low-class provinces across the country.
Many Filipinos are still unemployed. Regions with lowest employment rates were National Capital Region (92%), Ilocos Region (93.3%), and CALABARZON (93.3%), according to Labor Force Survey 2018.
The country has opened its port and land to big companies offering employment to Filipinos but the country is still far behind when it comes to promote own brands and companies that are Filipino-owned.
This is the agenda of top Filipino brands and organization to come together to launch a movement that hopes to propel the single most important brand for all Filipinos – Brand Pilipinas.
Thr launch, held at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City, gathered more than a hubdred top local brands who signed up to be partners in the Brand Pilipinas advocacy which aims ti valorize local brands, locally made products and homegrown artisans.
The full day event featured inspiring talks on Why Local B2B Btands Are Slaying It; The Search For Origins – The Quest For Relevance In Food; Emerging Social Enterprise; Local Is The New Premium Brand Pilipinas – The Arts, and finally; Why The Philippines Is Poised To Be The Next Tech Hub.
“The challenge for most Filipino brands is how to conquer that long-standing perception among that products made in the Philippines are sub-par. It’s time we haf a paradigm-shift because this kind of mentality not only hurts local businesses, but the economic reputation of the Philippines as a whole,” Brad Geiser, co-inventor of the Brand Pilipinas movement said.
“Ang nakikita kong dahilan kung bakit dapat nating suportahan ang Brand Pilipinas ay dahil simula’t-sapul pa noong panahon ng Kastila ay mayroon na tayong colonial mentality na nagpapahirap sa ating bayan,” Brand Pilipinas Movement Co-Covenor, actor, and Founder of Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation Robin Padilla mentioned during the launch of tue movement. “Ngayon ang oras para ipakita natin sa buong mundo ang atung dangal bilang Pilipino. Matapang, magaling, malikhain, mapagmahal sa bayan. Yan ang tatak ng tunay na Pilipino na kinakatawan ng Brand Pilipinas.”
Aside from local brands, the movement also saw the participatiin of individuals and private businesses from various industries.
David Lim, Founder of Brown & Proud Movement stressed that it is high time for Filipino brands to take center stage. “Be brown and proud! Let’s show our love for local products by supporting local enterprises,” he said.
Hopefully, the Brand Pilipinas movement will be successful in bringing uo the issue on loving own products and local brands, as well as the love for the country.
The Brand Pilipinas Conference is organized and supported by the following partners: Brown & Proud Movement, GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications, Group of Five Creative Concepts, IPG Mediabrands, Liwang ng Kapayapaan Foundation, Robin Padilla, United Neon Advertising, and Vidanes Celebrity Management.