Maxene Magalona Defends Ako Mismo on Facebook

Ako Mismo Endorser Maxene Magalona spoke out on Facebook to defend the project after Jaime Garchitorena’s e-mail finally reached her when she read about it on Multiply. Initially, I was a bit offended with her note since it basically said that the people against the campaign made the country look bad. I agree with Juned’s comment on the FB thread saying that criticizing it does not make people less patriotic. In fact, we are just trying to make the program better by asking the organizers to address the questions raised by the general public with regards to the campaign. I had a brief exchange with Maxene on Facebook and she clarified her position. She was kind enough to edit the post a bit so as to make it less prone to misinterpretation.

Here’s her edited note, for those of you who don’t have Facebook accounts:

First of all, before I accepted this project, we made sure that this had nothing to do with political campaigns. And we were assured that it wasn’t. I am shocked that people actually see this advocacy as something negative and corrupt. Instead of people seeing it as an improved way of the Filipino life, they choose to find something wrong with it. Sayang yung project.

Regardless if you receive campaign emails or not, it is up to you to decide on what to do. In a way, this campaign is also encouraging people, especially the younger generation, to register and VOTE. Just like the “Don’t Vote” campaign in the US, the Ako Mismo org hopes to help in increasing the number of voters. We musn’t be apathetic.

I am utterly appalled with the people who, in seeing the ad for the very first time, immediately thought negative simply because it was done in THE PHILIPPINES. Because of their lack of hope for the country, they can’t get themselves to believe that WE actually made something like this. “Huh? Dito sa Pilipinas may ganyan? Imposible. May kapalit yan.” Kaagad ganun na mag-isip. And these kinds of people are actually what make the Philippines seem hopeless. I mean, here is this movement, actually trying to make a difference in the Filipinos (since change begins with oneself) and instead of believing in it, there are some people who choose to put it down. I know that our country hasn’t been improving much but come on, we can’t just give up. We HAVE to take a stand. As the commercial says, poverty, inadequate education and insufficient jobs are not the main problems we are currently experiencing. The biggest problem that the Philippines is suffering from is its people’s loss of hope. I thought that this ad would actually encourage the Filipinos to begin changing themselves by deciding not to give up. But now I can see that it isn’t enough. And honestly, I don’t think that anything will ever be good enough for the Filipinos. MASYADONG MARAMING REKLAMO. Nakakapagod na.

Oh well. I just really hope that you guys could give our country a chance. Wag tayo mawawalan ng pag-asa.

Like what I said in my comment, nothing is inherently wrong with the program. If the goal of this program is really to spur the youth into action, then that’s definitely a good campaign especially with the 2010 elections just around the corner. The only problem was that they launched the website without the FAQ up and running. If they did that at the launch then all the issues they faced in the past few days wouldn’t have snowballed. Anyway, if you support their cause and you don’t mind giving away your e-mail and mobile number, then you might want to sign up at their website.

On a side note, I feel so old. She called me “sir”. Hahaha. Me want Dog Tags.

PS: Thanks to Ako Mismo Endorsers Maxene Magalona and Efren Penaflorida Jr. for discussing the project with me over Facebook. The mere fact that you guys are passionately defending this shows that you really believe in it, and I admire that a lot.

Thanks for reading! Now check out these related blog entries:

• DDB Takes Ownership of Ako Mismo Campaign
• SMART Denies Ako Mismo Campaign
• Deconstructing the Ako Mismo Privacy Policy
• Ako Mismo Doubts and Concerns