Makati City takes down 'Gil Tulog' signs

The Makati City government has taken down “Gil Tulog Avenue” signs that replaced street signs along Gil Puyat Avenue for a supposed advertising campaign. 

In a statement Friday, Mayor Abby Binay apologized to the family of late Senate president Gil Puyat and said she had already reprimanded the city officials who greenlighted the said campaign. 

“It is unfortunate that the request for a permit for the so-called advertising campaign to change the street signs of Gil Puyat Avenue did not reach my office. Kung dumaan sa akin yan, rejected yan agad,” the mayor said. 

(It is unfortunate that the request for a permit for the so-called advertising campaign to change the street signs of Gil Puyat Avenue did not reach my office. I would’ve rejected it if it did.)

Binay said the city officials “who issued the permit should have exercised prudence” and “should have been more thorough”. 

“Dapat inisip ang kaguluhan na maaaring idulot sa mga motorista at komyuter. At dapat ay binigyang halaga ang respeto sa pamilya at sa alaala ni dating Senate President Gil Puyat. I have already reprimanded these officials for this glaring oversight,” she said. 

(They should have thought of the confusion to motorists and commuters. They should’ve also respected late SP Gil Puyat.  I have already reprimanded these officials for this glaring oversight.)

“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan at sa pamilya ni dating Senate President Puyat. These signs have been taken down on my instruction,” Binay added. 

(I apologize to the public and to the kin of late SP Gil Puyat. These signs have been taken down on my instruction.

Videos of signages along Gil Puyat Avenue being replaced with “Gil Tulog” recently circulated on social media.

Erika Puyat Lontok — the granddaughter of the late Senate president — slammed the advertising campaign. 

“Besmirching my late great grandfather’s name to sell freaking melatonin is so disrespectful!” said Puyat Lontok on a Facebook post. 

'Wordplay'

Meanwhile, the company behind the controversial advertising campaign apologized for its “insensitivity.” 

“It was never our intention to offend anyone in our marketing execution which used wordplay to draw attention to the importance of sleep and how it contributes to one’s overall health,” said Wellspring in a statement.

“We deeply apologize to the family of the late Sen. Gil Puyat for the harm and offense that the campaign has caused them. Rest assured that there was no intent to besmirch and disrespect his legacy.” 

The brand also apologized to Binay for the "misstep.''

''As we learn from this experience, Wellspring is committed to [practicing] better sensitivity in our campaigns moving forward.''

Gil Puyat was elected senator in 1951. He was Senate president from 1967 until 1972 when former President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law and shut down Congress.

He passed away on March 23, 1980. —Sundy Locus and Vince Angelo Ferreras/AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News