Philippine Bashing Ad from Malaysia AEGIS

**Monseratto** · September 22nd, 2014 07:33 PM

Alreaady picked up by mainstream media...

BAKIT NANINIRA? Embassy asks Malaysia-based BPO Aegis why it trashes PH in video ad
By: InterAksyon.com
September 22, 2014 3:32 PM

MANILA - The Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur has sought an explanation from Aegis Malaysia on a video advertisement that places the Philippines in unfavorable light.

The video is circulating in social media and has raised alarm among netizens.

Based on reports, Aegis Malaysia has pulled out the video and only rogue copies are circulating.

In a news release, the embassy said it sent Aegis Malaysia a letter conveying its deep concern about this matter, as it considers Malaysian companies as friendly and active partners in furthering bilateral and regional trade and investment.

The embassy also sought an explanation or clarification from the Aegis Malaysia management on the release of the video, and on the steps they plan to undertake to address the issue.

According to preliminary reports, the company is based in Malaysia, but is run by third-country nationals.

The embassy assured potential investors that the business environment in the Philippines has remarkably improved, and that the Philippine Government is working tirelessly to further enhance the ease of doing business for each and every investor.

A number of netizens, both Filipinos and foreigners, have taken the cudgels and stood up for the country through various posts and comments in social media.

The embassy said that it is heartening that many foreign companies and investors are coming to the Philippines in big numbers, particularly in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, which is now one of the leaders in the world. It considers them the country’s brand ambassadors in promoting “doing business” in the Philippines.

**iceblueyes** · September 22nd, 2014 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by leodawesome

Totoo naman lahat ng sinabing negative. Yun nga lang below the belt, hindi dapat sinasabi lalo na sa marketing ad. Desperation. PAL should make one too. :rofl01:

PAL: Ok lang Delayed, at least Arrived~
haha, am going to hell for that

Like most have said, totoo naman pero they could have done it differently. Like how A is better at X than B and not B is bad at X.

Importante naman lahat talaga.
Infrastructure.. $$$ electricity; Bad line = slow net; inadequate public transpo = late employees; etc...
Climate.. well ilan beses lubog ang MM. makes it harder for your people to get to work. This concern is also related to infra din
Security. Ha! do you honestly feel safe even with all those police and guards?
Govnt Support... Red tape and "fees" and "taxes"

**KERSMcRae** · September 22nd, 2014 11:41 PM

Paano kung sumagot si aegis malaysia at sabihin pinoy din pala gumawa ng concept nung ad?

**Monseratto** · September 23rd, 2014 11:12 AM

Nag sorry na...

Aegis sorry for Malaysia marketing ad

Aegis sorry for Malaysia marketing ad
The BPO firm says the video was outsourced to another agency

Mick Basa
Published 8:49 PM, Sep 22, 2014
Updated 7:15 AM, Sep 23, 2014

REGRETFUL. Aegis apologizes over the video promoting Malaysia at the expense of the Philippines. Image from Aegis Global's Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines – Business process outsourcing (BPO) company Aegis Limited apologized for an advertisement that caught the ire of netizens because of its tone which promoted Malaysia as an investment destination at the expense of the Philippines.

Aegis (formerly People Support), the BPO arm of Indian multinational company Essar, said the video was outsourced to another agency whose output was not approved by Aegis.

“The video was developed locally by an agency and uploaded in error and the contents were not approved by Aegis Corporate,” the company said in a Facebook post.

The advertisement, which runs less than 3 minutes, promoted Malaysia as a “preferred alternate to the Philippines and is fast emerging as the ultimate investment destination for multinationals.”

It also alluded to the Philippines as an economy with inadequate infrastructure, a difficult bureaucracy and costly business processes – in contrast to Malaysia which the video says “is investor-friendly owing to flexible policies of the government.”

“We apologize and regret any communication that may have inadvertently hurt any sentiments,” the post said.

Rappler tried to ask Aegis Limited vice president for marketing Vinod Kumar M to elaborate, but he did not reply to our email.

A source from Aegis Philippines who refused to be named disapproved of the advertisement, saying the Philippines remains to be the leading provider of voice support globally.

“In fact in 2005, we only had 100,000 workers [in the Philippines]. In 2014, we already have close to 1 million workers,” the source said.

Although the video could no longer be found on Aegis’ Youtube account, the controversy caught the attention of the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

It said the advertisement “has [cast] the Philippines in an unfavorable light.”

The call center firm began operating in the Philippines in 2000 as PeopleSupport (Philippines) Inc prior to its acquisition by the Essar group in 2008. – Rappler.com

**falken** · September 23rd, 2014 11:31 AM

This should serve as a wake up call for us. The ad was offensive. Yet, everything mentioned in it was true. Either we do something about it or we lose out on investments.

**kinyo** · September 23rd, 2014 12:28 PM

i-re-run lang yung mga "It's More Fun in the Philippines!" ads ... talbog agad yang aegis na yan

o kaya ugaling davao lang .. i-declare persona non-grata ang aegis at ipasara na yung kumpanya, lumipat na sila sa malaysia tutal mas gusto naman pala nila dun

**Altis6453** · September 23rd, 2014 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by falken

This should serve as a wake up call for us. The ad was offensive. Yet, everything mentioned in it was true. Either we do something about it or we lose out on investments.

Yes, we could bitch about the insulting statements by the Malaysian company, but if we don't do anything about it, it will only prove them correct.

**170kphlang** · September 23rd, 2014 01:09 PM

totoo mga ads nila about us but they don't see us use unfortunate events like the missing malaysian airline as an advertisement to tell investors na mas ok dito diba?

**leonleon** · September 23rd, 2014 03:28 PM

Ninakaw na nga nila SABAH sa atin, gusto pa nila nakawin lumalagong BPO industry natin. Tsk. Tsk. Mga kawatan. Ibalki niyo muna ang Sabah sa Pilipinas.