Angeles Tourism Office discourages the use of Kapampangan

In a battle of the bands sponsored by the Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO), the rule makers required the Grand Finalists to make and play an original jingle which can be used by the said office as Tourism theme (aside from the other song, which is supposed to be a San Miguel Beer jingle).

The rule they strictly enforced regarding language in the Angeles tourism theme song is that only English, Tagalog, and a pidgin of the two ('Taglish') are allowed.

When I asked them via phone, "Kapampangan is not allowed?"

"No."

Why?

"That's our rule."

If you ask the ACTO people now that the issue is becoming highlighted, they would say that the prohibition of Kapampangan jingles for Angeles tourism is because of the San Miguel sponsorship -- something which I find very unbelievable because:

1) The event is also by ACTO, not only by San Miguel. SMB The Battle of the Bands usually requires the finalists to perform one original composition, one SMB jingle, and one remake. But this year, probably due to ACTO, the remake was replaced with an Angeles Tourism jingle.

2) It's the Angeles Tourism jingle; what does San Miguel Beer care about that (unless they're too imperialistically pesky)?

3) That's not the reason ACTO initially gave me when I asked them on telephone. They just said blankly that it's their rule. Not SMB's, but their rule.

When I informed them about the Kapampangan tourism jingle of Pampanga ('Malaus Ka Pampanga') and the Tagalog-Kapampangan jingle of San Fernando City ('San Fernando, Kaluguran Da Ka'), they just said, "Ours is different."

Yeah, theirs is an imperialized type, no trace of love for Kapampangan.

The issue here is not about the presence of Tagalog and English. But the questionable and heart-grinding fact is that they prohibited the use of Kapampangan in the Kuliat jingle. It is sad because I have musician friends who could have spurred out Kapampangan songs, titles such as "Indung Kapampangan (Mother Kapampangan)," "Tumaila Ding Angeles (Angels' Lullaby)," and "Tagulele Para King Kuliat (Serenade For Kuliat)." But no, they had to be in English and/or Tagalog.

So once again, Kapampangan has been treated a stranger in its own land. And the agent of this is none other than ACTO. Great job.

Should you want to give them a call: (045) 322 0507. Pamela "Pie" Flores is the Chairperson.

[*Kuliat is the former name of Angeles. It's a tree/plant.]