Every time I get introduced as a blogger, one of the first things people ask is, “HOW MANY FOLLOWERS DO YOU HAVE?”
“I don’t have much” compared to the typical standards. Then I get mixed reactions of ahhhs and ohhhs. As if there’s pressure to have big numbers.
When I started BOYDUBAI.COM the main idea was just to ‘document’ my life abroad – the struggles, the pain, and the small and big wins. It was a bonus when people started to discover my blog through Google.
During the early years, the thought of exerting bigger efforts to gain more followers crossed my mind. Because, why not? I think most bloggers delight in that too.
But the thing is, blogging is not the only thing I do. I have a different day job. Blogging is just an outlet for me to vent out my thoughts and my emotions on things around me. It also disrupts me positively from an otherwise stagnant home-work-home routine. Not to mention, I also have a growing family. And to build up a blog means I’ll have to take a chunk of time from my remaining personal time. I don’t want to do that.
So I committed to work on BOYDUBAI only when I get “extra spare time” – that’s the time left outside the family and rest time.
(Although I must admit, there were instances that this hobby tried to snatch more time than what I allotted on it.)
Long story short, I managed my expectations. I accepted the fact that my followers won’t grow to extreme highs because it is not my top priority. Though I love blogging so much, my hustle happens at work. And I spend more time with the family outside work. I basically learned to handle my priorities with intentionality. By the grace of God, my blog is getting by. And I appreciate ALL OF YOU, for staying with me kahit hindi ako consistent.
My blog may not be good enough in terms of number of followers, and that’s fine. What
I’m proud of is the healthy conversation under every story I share. Because of your intimate engagement, we continue to grow from an “anything-under-the-sun” blog into a platform for fearless yet responsible storytelling.
Darren Hardy says, “Success is something you attract by the person you become.”
It’s about how you grow through the journey, not through the numbers. Even if my blog is moving slow, my heart is contented. As they say, slow progress is still progress.
I initially didn’t want to do this, but I think being an advocate of responsible content creation, I need to share this.
Tita Krissy Achino used the lyrics I wrote in a parody video with Ninong Ry and Ben&Ben without giving any form of a credit to me.
When I first saw the video, in all honesty, I enjoyed it. I was thrilled that something I wrote became part of viral and fun-filled content, much more with Ben&Ben on it, a group we all admire and look up to. As of this time, it has already 3M views on Facebook, 58K on Youtube)
But I was questioning why there was no credit at all to the source of the lyrics.
I want to believe it is an honest mistake.
I posted the lyrics as a comment to a Facebook post of Ben&Ben, on August 8th – when they hinted to do this collaboration. They surely picked it up from there. That comment is not hard to notice because it was the most popular comment with 317 engagements.
To be fair, they did not ask anyone to submit lyrics. It’s all just for fun for me. I wrote the parody more than a year ago already and I wanted to share it with whoever could produce or perform a parody. (I even sent it to Michael V.)
If they ignore, fine. If they use it, great. And the least I’m expecting is just a mention of who wrote the lyrics – out of courtesy, and ethics. I’m not asking for any ‘legal’ recognition. I’m just requesting a little courtesy, so you could also set an example for people who follow you.
But there was none. Their audience must be thinking how genius their idea of a parody is.
I was adamant to call this out, because “it was just a parody” I thought. It’s all derived from the original works of Ben&Ben. But then again, it still involves a thought process, time, and effort. Hindi namin niluluwa ang bawat salita. Pinaghihirapan yun.
Imagine, I was inspired writing it, felt ecstatic it when I first heard they used it, but felt shattered when I found that not even a simple recognition was given.
I reach out
I saw the video yesterday – more than 24 hours already as of this writing. I thought of contacting them first, and let’s see if they respond.
So I reached out to my friends in the media for advice. I sent Ben&Ben a message to their Instagram, but as expected, they did not reply. I also sent Ninong Ry a message. He was the only one who replied and had a really good conversation with me.
He replied, “Paps actually kay Tita Krissy ko nalaman ung lyrics. Sorry brader. Imemention ko to kay chino paps salamat and pasensya na.”
“Minessage ko si Tita Krissy. I suggest message mo din siya.”
I did sent a message to Krissy, and got no reply. Twice.
Ninong Ry, asked me to send a message again, “Message mo lang ulit paps para umangat.”
“Pasensya na ulit. Di ko naman alam na may ganto pala. Nung nilatag nila sakin yung balak sa vlog, nag go lang ako not knowing na may ganto palang complication.”
“Kung alam ko lang paps sinabihan ko sana sila agad.”
He ended our chat with, “Sana mag reply siya. Ayoko din naman siyang kulitin about this kasi nasabihan ko na naman siya.”
Thank you Ninong Ry, and I appreciate a lot how you help me reach Tita Krissy.
Why am I sharing this?
I’m aware this might look like me trying to ride on, but the main reason I’m writing this is to prevent this from becoming another precedent – that people of big influence could comfortably walk away from these – and poor bloggers/writers like us are ignored. Whether the video has raked million views or 10 views, I would still do the same.
This is not about me, because this could happen to you.
This is a call to be more responsible about our content. As a content creator myself, I’m very particular about giving credit where credit is due. As a writer, I’ve been a victim of plagiarism many times in the past. I called out and settled well with a few of them. This has to stop. People of positive influence should lead the voice on this and not connive with the practice.
Tita Krissy, how can the public trust that all you put out there were originally made by you wherein you cannot do a simple attribute to the source?
To Ben&Ben and Ninong Ry, please, on your next collab, check on the ethics of whoever you are collaborating with. I’m sure you don’t want to be associated with someone who plagiarises.
Again, it could be an honest mistake. But at least have accountability. It’s been 24 hours since Tita Krissy has been made aware, and he acknowledged it, yet still, no action done.
My friend summarized it rightly, “The downside of being a blogger is that… anyone, in a matter of minutes, can copy your work and use it as their own content and the world has no idea that it was yours…”
UPDATE 1
As of December 7, 2021 5am, Miguel of Ben&Ben reached out to me to humbly apologize, and I really appreciate the humble gesture.
With his permission, I’m sharing his message here:
Magandang umaga po, Boy Dubai!Napag-alaman namin kagabi ang sitwasyon tungkol sa paggamit nang walang paalam sa pinaghirapan mong lyrics ng “pagtikim”, na lumabas sa content namin with tita krissy at ninong ry..
You are right, it was an honest mistake and as artists, we should always make sure na laging tama ang credits ng mga content namin. Kahit pa collab content yun, nais naming maging accountable rin dahil dapat inalam muna namin kung saan galing ang lyrics bago namin tinuloy ang pagshoot at pagpost ng content. Kaya lubos kaming humihingi ng tawad. Walang excuse sa pag-miss out nito at dapat naming itama ang mali na ito.
Pasensya na rin kung hindi namin agad nakita ang message mo sa Instagram.
To make things right, we will edit all the description and captions to the posts and tag you as well. Nasabihan na rin namin si Tita Krissy. Pero kung nais mong ipa-take down ang videos, we’ll gladly do so.
Muli, pasensya na at nakaligtaan namin ito.
Maraming salamat,Ben&Ben
I believe you must know what transpired on our conversation. Here it is:
I ended our chat saying… “I don’t think I said it in my previous message, but yes of course I forgive you.” He replied, “Salamat bro. Padayon, magpatuloy tayo sa paglikha. God bless!!”
UPDATE 2
As of Tuesday, Tita Krissy Achino has reached out to me and apologized for indeed the honest mistake. We were able to close things out yesterday.
To quote him, “During the shoot, for transparency, I have already mentioned to credit the owner of the comment where the said lyrics were posted. But my team couldn’t find it anymore. So we decided to push through with uploading it, since (1) we didn’t claim that it was our work, (2) we’re hesitant to credit the wrong person, and (3) we’re confident to perform it because the composers & original singers of the song were present during our shoot. Yun na lang ang iniisip ko that time. And I hope you understand.”
“TKV Team does not have any intention to grab the credits to the parody lyrics. In fact, while preparing for the collab shoot, I told Ninong Ry, Miguel, Paolo, and Ben&Ben of how/where i got the lyrics.
It was an honest mistake that we didn’t put a disclaimer, regardless if we have found the owner of the parody lyrics or not. But, i have instructed to include it in present & future videos across all socmed. Again, apologies & thank you for your kind understanding! Have a nice day! Love, love, love!”
My reply:
Thank you Chino for the apology! I just don’t understand how you or your team cannot find the comment. One, there’s only one post about you on Ben&Ben page at that time. I’m sure it’s not hard to find. Two, my comment became the top comment with 300+ engagements – by default it is the first comment to show up in a post. Even strangers could find the comment easily. Three, pag gusto may paraan – you could’ve asked Ben&Ben kung hindi mo man ma-locate yung comment. Or you could’ve not given up until mahanap nyo yung comment. I also could not remember when was the exact date I posted that, or what the post is. But it took me only less than 10 minutes to scroll through the page and find it. Kapag gusto may paraan, pag ayaw may dahilan. Kasi it’s a content e – and you know that it’s not you who made that. I’ve been in this industry for a long time and is also working in the digital field and I know how these things work. So saying na hindi mahanap is not a valid excuse.
His reply:
Thanks for airing your side!
I acknowledge these points and apologies again for this matter. At that time, it was me who shot last during our Ben&Ben x Ninong Ry x Tita Krissy collab. If i’m not mistaken, it was around 9pm when we did the vlog. I told Gee (yes, she’s my videographer/editor) to look for the comment so we could mention it on tape and credit it on the caption/description of our videos. But she couldn’t find it. I remember Ben&Ben helping us locate, too, where the said comment is, but we ran out of time, not finding it, and resumed rolling. Yes, it may not be a valid excuse, but safe to say, we didn’t mention that it was our work nor did we put on any description that it was written by me or someone from the team. But then again, this has happened and i know this has troubled you and/or made u feel unnoticed. I deeply empathize.
Also, with regards to the time Ninong Ry & I had a conversation about this, which was way past my bedtime, I told him that i’ll make sure to look out for the message you’ll be sending. I know he has sent me a screenshot, but I wasn’t able to see your name and username. I got preoccupied with work the next day & had family matters to attend to. I only was informed the next day, when Ben&Ben texted me about the post on Facebook. That’s when I replied, shortly after i woke up yesterday.
If you’ve felt this was taken for granted, or we, together with my team, ignored you intentionally, again, we apologize. We cannot force you to believe this, but we’ve delivered what we’re expected to do so—to reply, acknowledge our shortcomings, credit the rightful owners, and explain our side.
Hope you have a great day!
I replied: “I’ll have to give you the benefit of the doubt. I accept the apology and who am I not to forgive Chino. After all, we live and we learn. I also had to learn some things the hard way in this journey…” And please tell Gee, I do not appreciate her reacting with a ‘Laughing’ emoji to my wife’s post about this issue. It doesn’t reflect the values you are showing in this conversation. That laughing emoji says otherwise.
He closed it saying:
“Thank you for your understanding! What’s good is that we have all learned in this incident. Sometimes, we need to go through circumstances like these.
Anyway, will give a word to Gee regarding that. I have no knowledge about that, but apologies on her behalf. I just instructed my team to credit you & update all of our captions and descriptions. I told them not to comment nor give statements, since I informed them that will be reaching out to you personally.
I had a lot of discouragements in the last few weeks. I was discouraged because I couldn’t write blogs more consistently. The last month has been one of those really stressful periods. My new project at work requires extra time and effort (and patience), leaving only a little spare time for me to do my blog. But that little time remaining would rather go to the family. Blogging has to take a back seat.
I tried to sit and attempt to write, but because of fatigue, I cannot find the right state of mind to write. My ‘to-do’ list just keeps growing longer. I am stressed. Distracted. Mentally blocked. Never been this kind of drained in years. But… instead of pushing myself to come up with anything, I thought I needed some rest.
So in the last 3 weeks, I took more sleep, went out a lot, did fun activities with the fam, and watched more Netflix series than ever – things I don’t do much in the past because they were counter-productive for me.
Hiatus
As I took a break from writing, I was reminded how rest and slowing down are very spiritual too. My daily reading reminded me that I don’t need to push myself more if I’m growing tired. I just need to rest. In one Bible story in Nehemiah, it says, “The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.”
It’s an affirmation that indeed all of us go through wear and tear. We burn out. We get discouraged. And contrary to what some people say to push ourselves, we are told to take a break. There might be too much “rubble” on us that we need to clean up first to get going. We can’t avoid frustrations, disappointments, and the lack of motivation – these are the rubble in our lives. But we can recognize them and learn how to dispose them so we can continue navigating towards our goal.
Just like in the story of Nehemiah, there was a cloud of negative thoughts trying to settle in my head. I just thank God for developing in me the habit of praying that every time I feel down, I can pray to “help me not focus on the problems and keep my eyes on You instead”.
The way out
Sometimes I ask why I am stuck in a bad situation – not because I am questioning God – but I want to understand how it happened and probably help me figure out a way out of it.
So here I am writing again. I eventually became bored of being discouraged. It’s not an easy switch though. This article I’m writing now started with “bla bla bla” literally, until it discovered a flow.
Thank God, I can rest in the fact that He is in control. If you are into something similar, take it easy, lilipas din yan – but you have to give it to Him!Have a blessed Sunday!
Did you know that the initial name of the Philippines Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai is BAHURA?
I first heard of it 3 years ago in a media event, and I was reminded about it during my meeting with DTI.
Apparently, “bahura” is the Filipino word for reef.
Imagine the backlash if that pushed through? #IAmBahura 🤔
The Meeting 👋
Saturday, October 23, 10:25am – My wife and I sat with DTI Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos in the office of Bangkota for 50 minutes.
She thanked me for the open letter and appreciated how it was written in a constructive manner. Even before we get started, she assured me that a few of the points we raised were already being addressed – like the improvement of dim lighting inside the pavilion and the sound system.
UPDATE: Additional facade spotlights will be installed the first week of November.
After a short intro, she started by sharing with us the background of the project – the complex process it has gone through – from the bidding to the winning architect, up to how the theme was conceptualized and the procurement. She emphasized that the role of DTI in Expo is purely on marketing (which makes her wonder why there is only a marketing rep in our pavilion).
I shared with her how high our hopes were before the Expo, and how that excitement transformed into disappointment after experiencing the actual Bangkota, in which I found no inspiring words to put together.
Instead, I gathered words of tough love hoping they would translate into actions.
The bright and beautiful prototype design that set high hopes among Filipinos
The actual finished product that looks far from the prototype.
Sharing my suggestions
The purpose of our meeting is not for me to say something about what’s seen on the outside. I believe the architect has a good rationale behind the architecture. Besides, it’s too late anyway to talk about any modifications to it.
Our primary concern is what people experience on the inside. “Sayang po,” I said. I think we’re missing big time. We’re not conveying a clear message. Our pavilion does not educate the visitors about what the Philippines is about – be it in trade, investments, tourism, or aspirations as a country.
Then I went on to elaborate my open letter further. Here are 7 key questions and ideas I brought up to detail that morning:
1. Can we add elements of tourism in the featured video in the big screen?
“The focus is not tourism,” she said.
I understand that our participation in Expo is not around tourism. But that doesn’t mean we have to neglect it completely.
If we aim to develop trade and investment relations with the world, we need to show visitors what we got, and what we are capable of. And that means working collectively with other sectors in the government.
A good emotional video showing the beauty of our country would have been a perfect entry point to more in-depth talks about investment opportunities in the Philippines.
I mean, how else would you introduce the Philippines?
When you say trade, wouldn’t the investors be interested to see what life is like in the Philippines? Wouldn’t they care about the landscape and the culture and the vision? Wouldn’t they want to see what sells to the people?
We have produced tons of inspiring tourism videos over the years. Why can’t we produce one for Expo (perhaps reuse some of them)?
I believe this is the most viable solution we can quickly do.
But she responded by saying, “UAE is not a tourism market for the Philippines.” I asked how did she say so – because when you say UAE, it’s not about the Arabs alone but the hundreds of other nationalities who live here as well. In contrary, UAE could be a lucrative target market.
She didn’t give further reasons why UAE is not on the radar for tourism.
Then I went on to say that tourism doesn’t really have to be within the boundaries of hospitality & travel all the time. There is medical tourism, educational tourism; there’s also business tourism, and so on.
I believe the Expo participation could have been shaped using a more holistic and empathetic approach.
She recognized the suggestions as being nice, but…
“Akala ko ikaw ang gagawa…”
They don’t have materials. It was hard to believe they don’t have these kinds of videos. She added, “I thought you would work on your suggestions for us?”😩
I was surprised by that response, to be honest. But I don’t mind – if only I have the time. The least I could do is to connect the right people who can deliver the work. She reminded me though they have no budget anymore.
Well, creativity doesn’t have to be expensive I believe.
I asked if they even considered looking for these skills locally, knowing we have so much talent here. In fact, many videographers and artists are working in Expo itself.
Fair enough, they initially planned to hire people in UAE, but because of the pandemic, they had to cancel that plan. Makes me wonder why it has to be shelved off knowing it’s not difficult to find them online.
Then she emphasized that Bangkota is about “cultural sustainability.”
I looked up what cultural sustainability means: It has to do with the maintaining of cultural beliefs, practices, heritage conservation, and attempts to answer the question of whether or not any given cultures will exist in the context of the future.
It’s not just about what we have done in the past, but what we are capable of doing in the future.
As with investors, you want to walk them through a journey, an experience, and a vision across sectors. Sadly, we are lacking on these three. 😒
2. Have you considered creating AR/VR experiences?
Augmented Reality is not really new. It’s been here for a decade already so I wonder if we had thought of featuring something like that.
Imagine, with a scan of QR code, we could have featured the many facets of our wonderful country in an entertaining, emotional and educational way.
Sadly, she commented “peke naman yun” – referring to other pavilions using AR and VR technologies to showcase what their country can offer.
For someone like me who designs experiences for AR and VR, I had to educate her about the technology. They are not fake. They are conceptual, mostly useful to present information in a multi-sensory fashion – an experience that visitors would remember.
We could have showcased our ability to use these emerging technologies.
Sino ang gagawa ng ideas?
In the middle of my words, she said I should have had worked with them from the beginning when they were conceptualizing.
“Sana noon mo pa sinabi. Bakit ngayon (ka) lang… We could have worked collaboratively.”
My ideas are not really out of this world. In fact, I share the same observations with many who have visited already. Even kids can tell.
About why I wasn’t involved… I don’t know. I used to get those press releases back in 2019, but suddenly I stopped receiving them. I have no idea what happened. Funny how I am an accredited blogger at Expo and other country pavilions, and not with our own.
3. Can we feature the interactive game on a screen?
I told her, we have a good trivia game on a mobile app, but it’s nowhere to be found in the pavilion. I don’t understand why it is not a multi-platform experience. Why not set up a touch screen where guests can interact with it? Show the score leaderboard with it. It would bring a fun element.
She likes the idea. But she asked me back, “can you suggest where we can find the screens to use for it?”
I can ask around, but I am too busy at work to dedicate ample time to it.
(UPDATE: As of the first week of November, they are installing the game app in iPads for the interior, including additional info on the exhibits.)
4. The DNA could have been better
It would have been better if we feature the outstanding works of OFWs instead of just random names that are only ornamental and not really educating.
There are many OFWs who are working typical jobs during the day but are outstanding in their crafts outside their 9-5. We have excellent artists across the UAE – their works are often recognized in the open. It’s not rocket science to find them.
She repeated that they had planned to connect to these people, but “pandemic” prevented them from engaging more with the local Filipino community.
I asked why many other country pavilions were able to mobilize people and things they needed for Expo despite the pandemic. She said the procurement process in the Philippines is very complicated.
To be fair, we all know that the logistics back home is a problem throughout the pandemic. They had to always comply with IATF’s ever-changing protocols and policies.
She asked me (yet again), to “share with us these stories or where to find these excellent OFWs and their work.”
(Nagkaroon pa ako ng assignment.)
Again, I said, I can look, but I have a very demanding job that I won’t have enough time to do this. Maybe you can ask your partner agencies for some work.
People remember talents, skills, and results – not random names. If we are indeed honoring our people, random names won’t do the trick. It’s a beautiful work of art, but it could have been more useful had it been complemented with the work of those people whose names were there.
When a company is hiring, they don’t hire only by looking at the name and their nationality. When they hire, they look at competency. Hope we could show more of that – show what our people have done and what they can do.
We here in Dubai want to tell the world that we have global talent and skills. We have hoped for Bangkota to tell that story.
5. Can we let visitors use the elevator?
I couldn’t believe that there is an elevator but it is restricted from guest use.
“Hindi naman kakayanin ang dami ng tao.“
I told her how other pavilions are very hospitable for providing lifts and escalators to their guests, and, we reserve it only for staff?
Definitely, it’s not going to accommodate everyone. But it would be very helpful for PWDs.
We urge her to let the visitors use it.
6. Can we add cooling fans on the way up?
“But this is DUBAI!” “We don’t need fans.” I was shocked to hear those words when I asked if we can have some cooling fans on the way to the roof deck.
Her point was, this is the weather here and we cannot do anything about it. That’s precisely my point. We are in Dubai and that is enough reason to consider showing a bit of care.
Clearly, the design of the pavilion lacks empathy.
UK Pavilion has these fans on the long pathway to the top. We need this robot.
7. Can we have guided tour and better tour guides?
I shared how other pavilions are excellently doing it.
According to her, at the time of our meeting, they only have 4 ushers. With the volume of visitors, 4 ushers might not be efficient. They’d be exhausted by the peak hours.
Other points we raised
We also shared quite briefly the following points, some of which were suggestions from those who commented on my open letter:
OUR PEOPLE AS ENABLERS OF INNOVATION
Why not show the works of our scientists who have brought honor to the country (solar power champs, robotics, AI, medical science, etc)?
Our winners from the global sporting world, or even the beautiful causes our Miss Universe beauty queens are into?
Her response: We don’t have the materials.
MORE MEANINGFUL VIDEO CONTENT
If we cannot replace the dancing video, can we at least show more videos on rotation like our enticing and compelling cultural videos (featuring the likes of Apo Whang-od)?
Can we produce a timelapse video showing the country in a holistic fashion?
Her response: Who will make the videos?
MORE PHILIPPINE-THEMED
Can we at least enhance the outdoors and roofdeck to have a ‘fiesta’ feel?
Can we show a jeepney at the entrance?
Can we have piñata or palosebo for kids?
Can we showcase live traditional dances like Tinikling?
Maybe the sound of a soaring Philippine eagle in surround would be good.
Her response: No. I’m not keen on having tourism. It’s hard to bring in materials anymore because of the stringent procurement processes.
MORE INTERACTIVE
Can we have a corner with green screen wherein visitors can choose from beautiful Philippine landscape as their background, and take their photos or videos in it.
Can we feature the amazing Philippine sceneries as a gallery? Add a QR code on them and let visitors download and use them as Zoom virtual backgrounds.
How about a virtual reality experience?
Can we have a visually powerful collage on the way up to the roofdeck – probably showing the history and heritage in a more visual way?
Her response: Who will do it? In which part of the pavilion can we set these up?
(UPDATE [as of Nov 1]: Before the end of this month, the team hopes to have all these additional features in place. Everything is a work in progress, and Bangkota is one of many pavilions (if not all) that constantly work on actionable improvements as the Expo goes along.)
You may have noticed I keep mentioning “other pavilions” repeatedly. It’s not just merely to compare. It’s more like benchmarking or landscape assessment.
I suggested that the Bangkota team get out of their office quite more often, roam around the Expo to benchmark what other pavilions are doing. There is always something we can build up on.
“Akala ko ikaw ang gagawa?”
After hearing these words from her multiple times, I told her that my purpose when I wrote the open letter was not to offer my services for a fee. Just like any esteemed organization, I expect that the PH Pavilion team can mobilize to find the right people who could provide the services I mentioned above. Between them and myself, they have the better means.
I’d be honest, it took me a while to write this blog because I felt a bit discouraged with these words. This “naisip mo, gawin mo” mentality is one of the reasons why we do not progress well as a nation. It kills ideation even before it starts. It’s anticlimactic, anti-productive, and anti-progressive.
“Good things” are coming, though
After we talked about the issues, she shared the “good things” in the pipeline that people can look forward to, like:
They’re thinking of an open mic type of performances at the Imaginarium (the pathway towards the roof deck)
President Duterte is visiting in February
Pinoy food festival is on the calendar
More activities being planned for the Philippine National Day celebration in February
How the meeting ended
From “…tingnan MO kung ano magagawa MO,” the conversation changed into “…tingnan NATIN kung ano magagawa NATIN” towards the end.
She ended our meeting by saying her team will look at those actionable items and those that won’t have to go through a complicated procurement. “But no promises.“
She’s also counting on me to bring the people who could help with the video content at least.
Doing my part, I said I will try to find people within my small network. (So, if you are a videographer or an artist, send me a message.)
I asked her though… if I fail to find people because of my very limited time, would you take the initiative to move?
She said, they couldn’t do much, and they don’t have the budget anymore.
We thanked her again for inviting us to a dialog. She was listening attentively to every word we say. She did not stop us from saying anything. It was very open. Even though we were not bearers of pleasant feedback, she was gentle in talking to us.
She offered us Halo-halo on our way out but we had to decline politely because we already have set our lunch plans.
Why I make a big fuss about the pavilion?
Expo is dubbed as the world’s greatest show. Each and every local and expat is talking about their home country’s participation in it. Expats pride themselves on the quality of pavilions put up.
It’s a big deal for us because millions of guests would visit and would take away an understanding of the country. Unfortunately, there’s not much value to take away from our pavilion.
Look at Hungary, Gabon, and even Yemen…
I may have felt discouraged but I want to stay hopeful. After all, it’s not how you started, it’s how you finish.
Thank you we have significant participation in this Expo, and to be fair, it’s a decent one.
But I have to say, I was disappointed with the content inside the pavilion. I visited it on two occasions to confirm what I really feel about it.
As a designer, I am the one to appreciate art first. As a UX designer, I am also someone to know if a design is useful or not.
Bangkota may look intriguingly beautiful on the outside, but lacking substance inside.
We missed a lot on the message. What takeaway do we expect people to bring with them after visiting?
We missed a lot on aesthetics and ergonomics when it comes to visitor experience. I’m sure we have gone through a thorough design thinking process. But have we empathized enough with a typical Expo visitor persona?
Let me share my thoughts based on my personal experience:
It was too dark. TOO DARK. There weren’t even a few dim lights to guide you and let you settle when you enter. For daytime visitors, the shift from a very bright sunny light into complete darkness is a pain in the eye. (It may be different in the evening. But we cannot say, come only at night to see its real beauty.)
The message is lost in the abstract. Yes, there were writings on each installation, but an audio-visual crowd won’t appreciate long reading, especially when the visuals are too overpowering for a conducive reading. You could have used better typography to emphasize keywords.
There were no tour guides on my 2 visits. The lady who opened the door for us just said, “Welcome to the Philippines,” nothing else. No one’s showing the visitors to the exit. Without a guide, everything feels just like abyss.
The elevator was not working. The guard told us it is only for staff and not for guests. That’s not very Filipino. While the other pavilions provided very creative designs of their elevators, walkalators and escalators for visitors to use, we opted to limit ours.
It was hot during daytime and there weren’t any outdoor cooling fans. I know weather gets better come December to February. But how about during the launching month? Not very hospitable.
To our dismay, we skipped the restaurant.
It felt like the pavilion was built only for a select audience.
You know, if Bangkota was in a museum or in an architectural show, I wouldn’t dare say a word. But we are in a world Expo – an experiential expo – more importantly, a futuristic one with a theme revolving around opportunity, sustainability, and mobility.
Our theme
Four thousand years ago, I’m sure we are not the only people on earth who traveled.
Our gift to the world is (still) our people? We’re already doing this for decades (okay, millenium). And guess what, Expo is in Dubai, the very home of about 200 nationalities having the same movement mindset. It’s not something unique to celebrate.
Okay, “people” is actually not a bad subject. But where is the content that would underscore that? Where are our solar power champions, the exemplary robotics students, the AR-VR enablers, the Filipino developing a ‘flying car’ prototype? Where are the innovators who aim to solve key societal problems like traffic, housing, energy, agriculture, and the environment? The startups advocating on diverse social enterprises?
We are looking for such relevance.
If you want a piece of history, you could have featured exemplary scientists and technologists we had in the past. Where’s the part for our national artists?
(I wouldn’t even go mention Baybayin, or perhaps a feature about our rich literature, because the theme was built around ‘movement using a coral concept.’)
These would have become good highlights of our people’s excellence. Abroad, Filipinos are hired not because we are Filipinos. Just like any other nationality, we get hired because of our talents and skills, and character being human, not for being Filipino.
You see, these are the things we, Filipinos working abroad, want to tell our international friends. Not that we need more justification for why we migrate.
Of all that’s on our DNA, we chose to showcase something that many OFWs today only do because they were left without a choice in the homeland.
I felt like the message was intended mainly for Filipinos because we would probably be the most curious about this unpopular part of our history dating 4,000 years back.
What is Expo 2020 Dubai again?
Expo 2020 is the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, hosted in a city of the future, in one of the world’s most inclusive, ambitious, and future-focused nations, in the year of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee.
In a spirit of optimism, Expo 2020 will gather more than 200 participants – including 191 countries, as well as multilateral organizations, businesses, and educational establishments – for a visually striking and emotionally inspiring 182 days.
Visitors from all over the planet are invited to join the making of a new world as they explore new frontiers, embrace the opportunities of tomorrow, and discover life-changing innovations that can have meaningful, positive impacts on our planet and its people.
The event’s theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ is about forging new connections and new partnerships across sectors and geographies, inspiring solutions, and ultimately shaping the future.
Though Expo is not a competition, visitors would still pick their best and worst experiences. No, I don’t suggest that we go to the same level with the grandest pavilions. We just need to make ours more meaningful.
There are 165 more days to go. There’s a lot more time left to make adjustments to the interior. Here are my suggestions, if I may:
Add more to the content. If you want to keep the theme about people, then do more content beyond the abstract. An iMax size screen to show a dance? It’s a good ambiance, but it doesn’t connect. At the end of the day, visitors would be interested to see what output our people has created. (Go back to my suggestions above.)
Or, why not consider a holistic theme? I’ve seen other pavilions who take a more inclusive approach when it comes to themes. We can still tell a linear story about our people while tapping on their excellence in many sectors of the society.
Heritage is absolutely important, and so is the future. Why not explore a theme around fusion of the past and the vision of the future?
Why not create smaller segments within the pavilion? After all, this 1,386 sqm on a 3,163.25 sqm lot is the biggest the Philippines has ever showcased in the Expo history. That’s a huge space design. Won’t you consider using this opportunity to entice the world to come visit or invest in the Philippines?
Install dim lights within the flooring, or spotlights upon entry, or sparkling lights to complement the coral theme. My daughter has trauma in complete darkness. And there was no warnings about it. So the experience was already ruined the moment she stepped in. We went to other dark exhibits and it wasn’t completely dark at the get go.
Be more inclusive with regards to aesthetics.
Design a short tour. Come on!
Hire competitive tour guide hosts. (I’m sorry to say, but the tour guides who were interviewed by a few media lack the right personality.) Watch this.
Please train the staff. I’ve been to other country pavilions with Filipino ushers and hosts and they do very well. They were given ample training, (and probably good pay too).
Let the guests use that elevator.
Use our Tagalog words in welcoming guests, “Mabuhay” or “Salamat po!”
These suggestions are not far-fetched. I mean, look at the smaller African pavilions. They don’t have much on the outside, but a lot of attractive content inside. It’s really the inside that matters.
If only a proper landscape assessment and user testing has been done, these issues could have been addressed earlier on.
Why am I writing this?
I am just a mere part of the Filipino community and I am not entitled to lobby an opinion. But you launch a campaign, #IAmBangkota, that encourages the public to express our support and be proud of Bangkota.
I would really love to, but how can I be proud, if my own experience doesn’t give me enough reasons to be proud?
I am writing to suggest that adjustments be made. 165 days more to go. That means 20+ million visitors can still have a better experience if we do the needed remedy. I believe we can do better. We don’t need to be top-notch, we just need to be more substantial.
Let’s maximize the opportunity of great global exposure within that huge space.
Critique is part of the design process. And I know what it’s like to be critiqued. So dear Bangkota team, please revisit the purpose. Please ask yourselves again, what is the primary call to action for this participation in Expo?
What experience would you want guests to have inside Bangkota? Enchanted? Educated? Or, disappointed?
What benefits are we giving the 700,000+ Filipinos in the UAE as far as reputation is concerned?
What value will people get when they exit the pavilion?
Many times, it’s not about being beautiful, it’s more about being useful.
I am hopeful that we can turn things around.
Sincerely,
Ion Gonzaga Digital Transformation Consultant | UX Architect | Blogger
Back story
I was ecstatic about our country pavilion prior to the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai. I love the prototype the first time I saw it. The series of introductory events I attended since 2019 has given me a lot of reasons to get excited.
I was curious about the concept of showcasing that untold part of our history; at the same time, I was also curious how it will blend into the overarching theme of the Expo.
I am not the guy who complains a lot. In fact, I like your campaigns towards the opening – the theme song, the vibrant Tiktok group, even the mobile app idea (for Filipinos) – put altogether, they’re a great way to build curiosity.
A visit to our pavilion is on top of my list. I even compiled and shared 11 things you need to know about the pavilion, few days before the opening. And I’ve written a few articles about it.
The press releases were very encouraging, yet they were lacking. I thought, maybe just didn’t give away everything in press releases. Otherwise, what else is there to surprise the guests?
Apparently, we’ve read and seen it all in the news and social media.
I was over-attaching myself to stress these days, I felt I needed a break. So I brought the family to Expo around 7pm because there’s a Disney Princess show happening. I thought my daughter would not want to miss it.
That short trip took me away from what’s stressing me lately. I enjoyed seeing the kids playing with the robots. I appreciate that stroll with my wife through the beautiful lights by the amazing pavilions.
These short breaks matter. Do not underestimate the value of it.
If you’re struggling to be productive, don’t push yourself. Take a break instead. Drop everything and let fun intervene. You’ll be amazed how it helps you regain that clear mind back.
A colleague laughed when she was addressed “ma’am” by someone on the phone. She asked me, “Why do Filipinos call me ma’am? I feel old.”
The ma’am/sir mentality exists in our subliminal culture, albeit not published in any social studies books.
To many of us, it is just being polite and respectful. But unlike the po and opo, this is a culture that was born in the workplace, and Robin Padilla blew it up by endearingly calling every actress “ma’am.”
Men, on the other hand, use ‘sir’ in two instances. One, when they really refer to someone higher in authority. Two, when they pronounce it “SER” to sound more masculine when they speak to a stranger or an acquaintance with respect.
Some Filipinos despise the first and see it as colonial mentality and inferiority.
Title consciousness also plays a role in it. I worked in Manila for a couple of years before moving to Dubai, and I’ve observed how some senior staff find it cool to hear junior employees call them sir or ma’am. It’s like an entitlement for some.
The Brits call everyone ‘mate’ regardless of position. In the Middle East, everybody is “my friend.” Within our community, calling someone ser is just like calling them bro, ‘tol, pare, pre, pards, tsong, bosing and ‘boss’ or beshie. Filipinos can be very colloquial (and showbiz) and we seem okay with it.
The McDonald’s ad below is very amusing and is a justification that indeed title-consciousness exists.
When we fill up forms, the options we see for ‘Title’ are only Mr., Miss, or Mrs.; or Dr., Engr., and Atty. There’s never been a sir or ma’am.
At work, I call everyone by their first name (including the CEO), and I’ve never been regarded as disrespectful. Positive and happy people call people by name.
When someone calls me sir, I politely tell them I prefer to be called by my first name (Eto naman! Ion na lang!) unless I am in a store, restaurant, or hotel – where the context still seems acceptable.
Perspective Lens
Many people would tell you, myself included, to drop it – not that it sounds inferior, but it hinders global thinking. If you want to live with a broader, global mindset, you have to adapt to the global culture. What works for Asians might not work for Westerners. What’s sweet for Filipinos might be insulting for Canadians.
Politeness and respect are values. There are many other ways to show them. You can embrace the culture while keeping your personal values intact.
The game is changing. Even hotels like Radisson Blu Dubai have asked their staff to scrap formal greetings.
But if it’s a big deal for you because that’s really how you show respect, keep it. But do it with conviction and beaming confidence so it doesn’t look like a servitude. You don’t need to always copy what others do. Don’t let the world define your personal values.
When I was a kid, I remembered people say “Try and try until you die” more than “try and try until you succeed.” I know it’s a joke but I think that narrative has lead to many of us shaming people who are “trying hard.”
In writing and making videos, I get comments saying how “trying hard” I am.
“Nagpapaka-trying hard kasi!”
“TH masyado!”
“Trying hard sumikat!”)
At work, when my output wasn’t good enough, I would receive constructive feedback like, “Thanks for trying hard,” “Good thing you tried,” or “Keep trying!”
There are people who would recognize the effort, and there’s another who would call you out for trying hard because they don’t see failure as part of success.
People look at your mistakes. But mistakes are proof that you are trying. There is no shame in putting in the work. It’s better than do nothing at all.
Can we normalize trying hard?
Trying hard means making an effort. And making an effort is hard work. So, in effect, they could be similar.
“No human ever became interesting by not failing. The more you fail and recover and improve, the better you are as a person. Ever meet someone who’s always had everything work out for them with zero struggle? “
Does it happen to you sometimes when you’re brushing your teeth at night that you start asking yourself questions about oral hygiene practices and home remedies to whiten your teeth?
There are many questions that you should ask your dentist to learn more about your oral health and how you can keep your teeth in good shape.
Here are 6 common questions that you should ask your dentist at your next appointment:
How often should I get a dental check-up?
As a general rule of thumb, you should stop at your dentist for a dental check-up and cleaning twice a year, so every six months.
However, you should still confirm with your dental care provider that this applies to your situation because, as you know, every patient is different. So, depending on your specific oral health needs, your dentist will tell you how often you should pay a visit.
How can I improve my oral hygiene practices?
You know the drill when it comes to brushing and flossing. However, taking your dental care practices to the next level is easy-peasy, all you need to do is adjust some of your shopping habits.
When you’re at the store to buy your dental products, try to buy fluoridated toothpaste, mouth rinses, etc. but while you’re at it, stop yourself from rushing into the junk food section and don’t let the idea of buying snacks that are high in sugar even cross your mind.
Instead, walk towards the fruits and veggies aisle and try to plan a balanced diet.
While you’re at the checkout, avoid making eye contact with tobacco products, and here you have taken your dental care practices up a notch.
Veneers make a great choice for a variety of dental problems. So, if you suffer from significant, staining, cracks, chips, and/or wear and tear, veneers can be an all-in-one solution.
For extremely misaligned teeth, you should probably opt for another hardcore, orthodontic solution but for minor issues such as an irregular shape or unevenness, go for veneers.
Why are dental X-rays important?
Dental X-rays are considered a great diagnostic tool that your dentist must have early into the patient-dentist relationship as they can help them recognize any damage to the teeth in its early stages before it is even visible to the naked eye.
Your dentist will look at them every appointment to detect any changes that could be happening.
Bitewing X-rays are taken every year, and a full mouth series is taken every 4-5 years unless you have a risk for tooth decay, then it will be every 6-18 months.
What type of mouthwash should I use?
Choosing what type of mouthwash works best for you depends on your current oral health conditions, concerns, and goals.
If you have from including onions in your lunch, then you can use a cosmetic mouth rinse. But if this is a persistent problem then you will need a mouth rinse that cures the problems that could be causing your breath to smell bad, such as excessive bacteria, gingivitis, gum disease, etc. For these oral health issues, you should use an antibacterial mouthwash.
If you’re looking for a mouthwash that can help protect your teeth, strengthen your enamel, and prevent tooth decay, then use a mouthwash that contains fluoride.
Though, no matter how great your mouthwash is, remember that it is not a substitute for brushing and flossing. Instead, it supplements their benefits.
What is the best toothbrush bristle for me?
Whenever you head to the store to buy a new toothbrush, you will have the option to choose one with soft, medium, or hard nylon bristles.
The pressure you apply when brushing your teeth and the hardness of the brush bristles, if not chosen correctly, can have many negative effects on the health of your teeth.
Which option is best for you?
Most people have found that a soft-bristled toothbrush was the safest and most comfortable among all three.
Using a hard-bristled toothbrush without consulting your doctor thinking that it will “remove more plaque off your teeth” can lead to enamel erosion.
No matter how simple you think is the question that you have in mind, be sure that many people wonder the same thing, too. So, next time you are at your dental care provider, don’t shy away from sharing your inquiries!
