Resigned tourism exec says he can still help Aquino outside govt

After resigning over the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda" tourism brand mess, former Tourism Undersecretary Vicente Romano III said he is not inclined to seek another government post, at least for now. But while Romano said he plans to spend the next few days resting and reflecting on what to next, he hinted he can still “help" President Benigno Aquino III from outside government. “Magpapahinga muna ako, it’s a very stressful week for me. Halos kaunting tulog lang ang nagawa ko. Pagkatapos siguro reflection what to do next, he said in an interview on dzBB radio Wednesday. (I plan to rest. It’s been a very stressful week for me. I have had very little sleep in my post. Perhaps after resting I will reflect on what to do next.) When asked if he plans to get another government post soon, he said he was not. “Wala sa isip ko yan ngayon (It is not on my mind for now)," he said. “Puwede tayo tumulong sa pamahalaan ni P-Noy out of government (We can still help Aquino from outside government)," he added. Romano said his resignation was a “matter of conscience," as he had to weigh the consequences of leaving and staying in government. “It takes reflection to make that decision," he said. On Tuesday, Romano announced his resignation from his post as Tourism undersecretary, after he owned up to the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda" branding mess. The “Pilipinas Kay Ganda" branding had been heavily criticized for its use of a Filipino phrase relatively unfamiliar to foreigners, and a logo similar to Poland’s “Polska" branding. Even President Benigno Aquino III rejected the branding last weekend, saying stakeholders were not happy with it. On the other hand, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said in a separate radio interview Wednesday he had warned Romano against rushing to promote the new slogan but Romano pushed through with it. Before getting his government post, Romano was a blogger and civil society member who worked in then presidential candidate Aquino’s campaign. Romano said he had initially offered to resign much earlier, when the controversy over the slogan first erupted. At the time, he said he was in the United States doing promotions work. He said he sent a text message to Secretary Lim apologizing and offering to resign. “Nag-text ako kay Sec. Lim at humingi ng paumanhin sa gulong nangyari at sabi ko sa kanya I am offering my resignation. Sabi niya, 'let’s see how it develops' (I sent a text message to Lim apologizing for the issue and I offered to resign. He said, 'let’s see how it develops')," he said. But he said Lim then asked him to return home as the controversy was getting uglier. Romano said it was at the time he reiterated his offer to resign. He said his only “condition" was that he be given the chance to announce his resignation. Romano described his 140-day stint in government as “exhausting, exasperating, and exhilarating." He said it was exhausting because he had to be at his office from 7 a.m. onwards, signing documents and attending meetings. Also, he said it was exasperating because bureaucratic requirements held him back from pushing through with his programs. But he said it was also exhilarating because he would be a focus of attention and can get things done quickly. — LBG, GMANews.TV