Wellspring apologizes to Puyat family for 'Gil Tulog' campaign

The company behind the controversial advertising campaign for a sleep supplement that replaced Gil Puyat Avenue signs in Makati City with “Gil Tulog” has issued an apology.

“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 on Friday.

“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 company also apologized to Makati City Mayor Abby Binay for its “misstep.”

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

Earlier, Erika Puyat Lontok, the granddaughter of the late Senate president Gil Puyat, criticized the advertising campaign.

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

Meanwhile, Binay reprimanded the city officials who approved the ad campaign, noting that they “should have been more thorough.”

“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 in a statement.

(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.)

The Makati City government has already taken down the signage.

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

He passed away on March 23, 1980 at 72 years old. —VBL, GMA Integrated News