The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (OPACC) on Saturday said the government is embarking on promoting the talents and skills of Filipinos working abroad.

In a two-page statement, OPACC Secretary Paul Soriano said that they are rolling out “a country branding campaign” to uplift the spirit of Filipinos doing well overseas.

“We Give the World Our Best – The Philippines” is meant to promote and focus on the Filipino achievers abroad, Soriano said.

Soriano’s statement came after an ad on a London bus, featuring Filipina-British nurse May Parsons was misconstrued as part of the country’s tourism campaign. The London ad came out during King Charles III’s coronation where a large of international crowd attended the historical global event,

Parson was featured holding up a syringe, and described her as the nurse who gave the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine along with the tagline “A Filipina. We Give the World Our Best. The Philippines.”

“OPACC wants to clear the confusion and clarify that it was not meant, in any way, to promote the country’s tourist destinations,” Soriano stressed.

According to Soriano, the OPACC released simultaneously some video commercials featuring true stories of successful Filipinos in different countries, including an ad that tells the story of Charm, a Filipina caregiver in the UK, and DJ, a barista in Italy.

“Through this country branding campaign, we want to uplift the spirit of our Overseas Filipinos, and honor them particularly for their values that make Filipinos known to do their best at whatever chosen field, wherever they go and whatever it is they do,” Soriano pointed out.

“They truly deserve this,” he stressed.

Soriano emphasized the project was intended “to let the whole world know how good, compassionate and competent Filipinos are” as they bring their best through daily actions that touch lives all over the world.

Soriano added he is now in discussion with other government agencies, particularly the Department of Tourism (DOT) to launch their own versions of the “best branding.” (PND)