Philippines - Anti-Tobacco advocates push popular Philippine band to reject tobacco sponsorship

Manila, Philippines - The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FACP) urge the popular Eraserheads band to reject sponsorship from Philip Morris.  In an appeal entitled "Don't start 'em young", tobacco control advocates ask the Filipino band to be exemplary models to the youth. 

According to Pinoypress.net, the FCAP, together with the international group Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, issued the appeal with the confirmation from Philip Morris International Inc. that it is supporting the much-awaited Eraserheads reunion concert, slated on August 30, through its Marlboro brand.

Republic Act 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act) prohibits companies from "sponsoring any sports, concert, cultural or art event, as well as individual and tea mathletes, artists or pferomers where such sponsorship shall require or involve the advertisment of promotion of any cigarette or tobacco company, tobacco product or tobacco use, name, logo or trademarks and other words, symbols, designs, colors ot other depictions commonly associated with or likely to identify a tobacco product."

In a July 29 article, Carlos H. Conde writes that the mere mention of ********'s (sic) name in relation to the reunion conert would constitute an "advertisement" of the company and its product and could, therefore, be illegal.

President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Matthew L. Myers, stated that musician Alicia Keys has set a positive example by demanding the withdrawal of tobacco industry sponsorship of her July 31 concert in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"We applaud Ms. Keys for taking quick action to disassociate herself from the tobacco industry and to prevent her name, image and talent from continuing to be used to market cigarettes to children," Myers said.

Read more about of statement here.

The Eraserheads rose to fame in the 90s, gathering a following that spanned demographies. They disbanded in 2002.

How tobacco is advertised to me (and the youth in general)

(Opinion) Regardless that I have significantly lessened tobacco use, I still am a smoker.  Regardless that I never really am a cigarette-addict, I am still a smoker.  And I wish I never have started smoking, regardless that I only smoke when I drink...and I drink only two times a week, weeknights and weekends.

Minus the traditional media ads, the following is how I see tobacco is advertised to me nowadays.

It all started when I signed my name and provided my contact information on that one sheet of cardboard brochure, back in 2006.  Since then, I only missed a couple of these M-parties. 

It did help that I have a friend who works for the cigarette company but the e-mail brochures and direct mails I started receiving provided information and the convenience of signing up to these dance parties.

They have everything: good music, free-flowing booze, women, and of course, my friends--a night of pure entertainment for the price of none in monetary terms....millions in health costs.

Everyone could get in as long as he/she had been included on the guest list.  But over the years, stringent measures have been put in place to ensure that minors (below 18) do not get access to these extant revelries.

Once you get to the venue, you notice a theme consistent with the product's branding.  From the onset, you have already been marketed to.

Entrance booths line up the main door, usually numbering to three or four to accommodate the flow of guests.  The interior is set up so that people can groove and walk freely.  Bars are set up on four corners for easy access to your favorite alcohol--usually mix drinks or beer.

I deem it an effective marketing ploy--keep people drinking, dancing and excited...all for free...and sell your wares to them while doing so.

A pack of cigarettes sold in these parties are about 10 to 15 percent more expensive than the same pack sold outside.  But you would not care, right?  You saved up for not paying a door fee anyway.