Filipina Soul

The smoking giant, Philip Morris International, is in hot waters. The tobacco company has sponsored the Eraserheads Reunion Concert on August 30, when laws explicitly prohibit cigarette firms from sponsoring events that would advertise anything related to a tobacco product.

The loophole that Philip Morris is using? “The concert is by invitation only, and can not be purchased or transferred“, according to Philip Morris chief executive officer Louis C. Camilleri. Actually, you get free tickets to the concert by going to the Marlboro Red List website and signing up. Once in the Red List, you get invited to special events that give away cigarettes and drinks to guests.

So really, the concert is for smokers only. Or for those wanting free drinks and smokes.

Oh, the concert is limited to those above age 18, and you have to present a valid ID as proof of age. C’mon! Are you kidding me?! Who checks IDs in the Philippines? Someone thinks Filipinos are so easy to fool.

Now reportedly, Philip Morris paid each Eraserheads band member a staggering P10M each to do a full 45-minute set. That’s P40M or more paid out to blatantly advertise Marlboro.

Everything about this smells like pot to me.