In 1951, it was 'more fun in Switzerland'
MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) - Apparently, the Philippines is not the only country that is "more fun."
A 1951 ad from the Swiss National Tourist Office, which is currently sold in vintage ad websites, is currently making the rounds on the Internet, particularly social networking sites.
It read: "It's more fun in Switzerland!"
"Soak up the sun -- whether you're drifting on palm-fringed lakes or exploring sunny Alpine trails. In four hours, Switzerland's fast electric trains will whisk you almost anywhere in this gay and friendly country.
"Enjoy Switzerland's magnificent spring ski season -- perfect snow conditions in the higher areas of the Alps until June!"
Earlier today, the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched the country's newest tourism campaign, "It's more fun in the Philippines."
"We need a line that is easily understood. Competitive. 'More fun in the Philippines' is true. Keri natin ito (Kaya natin ito)," Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said in a press conference.
The DOT decided to hold off on branding and marketing strategies last year after the "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" campaign was scrapped due to a major industry outcry. The "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" logo was said to be lifted from Poland's own tourism campaign, "Polska."
Before "Pilipinas Kay Ganda," the country had the more popular "WoW Philippines" catch phrase as its tourism slogan.
Coincidence?
Not surprisingly, netizens were quick to react on the issue.
On Twitter and Facebook, some accused DOT and advertising agency BBDO Guerrero of copying Switzerland's old tourism slogan. Others defended the campaign, saying: "It's definitely more fun in the Philippines."
A handful of them, meanwhile, posed this question: "Where is more fun? In Switzerland or in the Philippines?"
Jimenez, however, maintained that the similarity is just a "coincidence."
He made a series of tweets in reaction to the issue.
"No one can own the expression 'it's more fun' but it's very true for the #Philippines so it becomes ours. #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines.
"'FUN' is a fusion of place and people. A place is not fun if there is no fun people in it.
"This Switzerland coincidence only makes our line truer. Sun tanning IS more fun in the Philippines.
"The line isn't a manufactured slogan. It's simply the truth about our country. Don't be swayed by people who are trying to punch holes in it.
"If you look hard enough, you might even find an old ad that says 'it's more fun in Alcatraz!'"
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I think someone in switzerland got the idea of what fun is all about after vacationing in the philippines many, many years ago . . . when armi kausela was first crowned miss universe and married a filipino, must be.
load of crap
Those freakin idiots again.
It would have been more accurate if it was
"its more funnier in the Philippines".
Steve Jobs: We have always been shameless about stealing
Steve Jobs said in "Triumph of the Nerds" (1996): "Picasso had a saying he said good artists copy great artists steal. And we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas."
Indeed, Apple stole many of the ideas of Xerox for the Mac, including the mouse and the graphical user interface that everyone enjoys today. But what Steve stole from Xerox, Bill Gates stole from Apple and used it in Microsoft Windows.
Apple would continue its stealing and copying spree, stealing patents from Singaporeans like Creative Labs, Koreans like Samsung and Taiwanese like Proview and HTC. In fact, Proview's iPad tablet was registered in 2001, but Apple copied it and purchased it partly in 2009.
Most businesses copy and steal regularly, but many consumers are unaware of it, so DOT's slogan is not a big deal.
What makes it shocking is its sarcasm.
It's not fun to be kidnapped in the Philippines.
It's not fun to be robbed in the Philippines.
It's not fun to be held hostage in the Philippines.
It's not fun to drown in sinking ships in the Philippines.
It's not fun to die from flooding or landslides.
It's not fun to face police extortionists.
It's not fun to face squatters who steal your land.
It's not fun to face a judge who extorts money from you.
It's not fun to face officials who are extortionists.
It's not fun to see children begging for money.
It's not fun to take Philippine taxis or public vehicles.
Living in peace and order is much more fun.
In the end, what foreigners hear from the news about the Philippines is more important than a sarcastic slogan, and it's more important to fix the peace and order situation than to create so much exposure for a slogan.
Shallow minds are all over the place.
Claims of DOT copying the slogan from Switzerland are just pure ACCUSATIONS.
No one has proven that DOT actually intentionally copied the slogan.
Jimenez says it is purely coincidental.
The Swiss slogan is 61 years old. Its copyright has probably expired by now.
FYI, the people behind this new slogan "It's more fun in the Philippines" are the SAME people behind "WoW Philippines".
They are the people of BBDO Guerrero, a multiawarded advertising agency.
How many advertising awards have you won?
Great minds delve on the entire story. Shallow minds just read the title.
Second rate trying hard copycat
Jimenez should stepdown rightaway. He is no better than his predecessor. Both dont have originality, worse even, they seem to have been infected by justice del castillo plagiarism sickness. Shame on them.
NANGGAYA NA NAMAN?
Don't they do research? Ano ba kasing problema ng WOW Philippines? Why fix something that isn't broken? Dahil tatak Gloria/Gordon?
Those idiots again
holy crap, it sucks.
Those freakin idiots again.
It would have been more accurate if it was
"its more funnier in the Philippines".
Those morons just copied it from switzerland,
even the scenery with beaches.
The entire article plus people from abroad
are clamoring for another change
as posted in the international community
posted on
vvvvv, OFW, com, ph
palitan ang kama ng tuldok at add (/epicfailslogan)
may suggestion ako!
ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!
I swear applicable siya to anything Filipino. Assuming of course na wala pang "ONLY IN THE.." na slogan
ang pangit! yan na ba!
if i were a woman i would have sex with jimenez non stop for two days and show you fun. otherwise this slogan sucks!
let him climax in my ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bwisit ka!
Not acceptable copy cat ..
Disgusting. another epic fail. DOT- why dont you hold a nationwide contest where the citizenry can participate ?