Batangas Governor Vilma Santos

Tells critics of plan to stop over-reacting

MANILA, Philippines - Star for All Seasons and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto is getting flak over the province's plan to erect a landmark on Taal Volcano similar to the iconic "Hollywood" sign in Los Angeles, California.

Pinoy netizens turned to microblogging sites Facebook and Twitter to express their disapproval.

"I say NO to Taal Volcano sign too! Let's be unique for once and don't mess with nature, it's a GOD given beauty," Rosefiña tweeted.

"It was something only a movie star could have conceived." Um, no. So tacky. :(( bit.ly/q8O44C," Patricia Valerio said.

"says #NOtoBATANGAS sign. Vilma? Anovah? Ang tanga tanga ng idea na 'to. Seriously," Carlos Celdran also tweeted.

On Facebook, a "No To Hollywood-inspired "Batangas" SIGN in TAAL Volcano" account was also created to protest the plan.

Source: technogra.ph

"actually Laoag City has the same hollywood-ish sign but it's set on top of a hill which you can overlook to the right when crossing the bridge to Laoag. not on some national landmark! sheez batanguenos should boycott this abomination!,' Victoria Cordero Rudio said on Facebook.

"Paano pag sumabog ang bulkan, e di sira na rin yan agad. Sayang ang pondo ng gobyerno, mas marami pa sanang mas kapakipakinabang na proyektong puedeng paggamitan," Theresa Enriquez- De Asis said.

'An eyesore'

Johans Lucena said: "The Hollywood sign was put up to add character to an utterly boring hill....the taal volcano by itself has its own character, no need to put up a sign coz everyone knows right away that it is The Taal Volcano.

"Why doesn't ms Santos use the money in improving the environment in that area instead of adding an eyesore that not only will cost so much money but will also ruin the look of the place.

The millions she'll use for that sign can be used in planting more trees, plants, improving road works, etc. That would leave a better mark than something she merely copied from somewhere."

On Friday morning, the hashtag #Taal Volcano ranked sixth on Twitter's list of top 10 trending topics in the Philippines on Wednesday morning.

Vice Governor Mark Leviste II earlier confirmed that the Batangas provincial council has approved a resolution to erect a “hard-to-miss landmark and potential tourism draw,” which allegedly is an idea of Governor Vilma Santos-Recto.

The report said the resolution was approved on October 5.

Leviste said the proposed landmark will be erected on Taal Volcano and will be positioned following the contours of the volcano.

'Stop over-reacting'

Santos-Recto, meanwhile, said the proposals are still under review. She added that the local government has yet to allocate a budget for the project.

In a statement to ABS-CBN News, Santos-Recto asked the public to stop "over-reacting."

"Sana malinaw lang, hindi ako ang ininterview .For study pa yan. No budget yet, hope they will stop over reacting," Santos said.