Love the Philippines Video Ads Controversy
A veteran blogger, a concerned netizen, is now making the waves online for her controversial post exposing alleged dishonesty with the latest video ads from the Department of Tourism (DOT) dubbed “Love the Philippines.”
According to Sass Rogando Sasot, an international relations expert and well-known social media personality, the latest DOT ads allegedly use some stock video footage from Storyblocks.com.
Sass Sasot said, “Part of the footage of the Department of Tourism – the Philippines launch video of #loveThePhilippines is from RedCupStudio, Thailand. The fisherman throwing a net there was shot in THAILAND. Gawang mandarambong at mandurugas.”
To prove her point, Sasot shared a link to the video from Storyblocks, which can be accessed below.
The veteran blogger and social media influencer also called the attention of the DOT and the general public or her followers to bring back the old slogan of the Philippines “Bring back #itsmorefuninthephilippines.”
Aside from the proof already presented by Sass Rogando Sasot regarding the stock video footage of the fisherman and the fact that it was shot in Thailand and not the Philippines, has already alleged dishonesty on the DOT’s part, Sasot also shared other evidence in the said controversial video.
Sass Sasot revealed that “the rice terraces in 0:16 of the #LoveThePhilippines launch video of the Department of Tourism – Philippines is NOT from the Philippines. It is Rice Terraces in Tegallalang Ubud Bali, Indonesia.”
The veteran blogger then showed some evidence and added a link to the Stock Footage, which can be accessed here.
Sass Sasot also added another controversy to the issue by revealing that at around 0:37 scene of the video, the desert footage was not shot in the Philippines but in a desert near Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Here’s the link to the original footage from Storyblocks.com
Netizens reacted quickly to the controversial expose made by Sass Rogando Sasot as they called on the Department of Tourism to explain the expose made on social media.
In the past four hours since it was posted online by Sass Sasot, her expose has already generated more than 9.3K Likes, 689 comments, and shared by at least 5.7K Facebook users and still counting.
As of posting time, the Department of Tourism in the Philippines did not post an announcement or clarify the issue.
Watch the Official Love The Philippines Video Ad:
Netizens are now angry with the controversies surrounding the recently released promo video of the Department of Tourism to promote the Philippines worldwide.
What is your reaction to this controversy? Add your comments in the comment section below to engage with the community.
Source: Sass Rogando Sasot FB Page
