The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) was roasted on social media by netizens who noticed a letter from a PCOO assistant secretary asking for “female” students “only” with “pleasing personality” and filled with grammatical errors.
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Facebook user Jun Austria posted a screenshot of the letter in question bearing PCOO Asec. Kissinger Reyes’ name and signature and addressed to the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). The letter requested for “at least 40 student volunteers” for the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the ASEAN, of which the Philippines is the host country, from August 2 to 8 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
In his Facebook post, Austria pointed out how the PCOO official does not seem to know how to communicate, which is ironic given his government position.
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“Ganun. You can be assistant secretary in a government communication office without knowing how to communicate?” he said.
“Tagalugin na lang Kasi,” he suggested.
Other netizens weighed in on what they thought was wrong with the PCOO letter.
@MrFrankBaraan pointed the grammatical errors as well as a journalist friend’s observation about the letter specifying that they need “female applicants only.”
Apart from noticing the glaring grammatical errors, a journalist friend also pointed out that PCOO’s looking for female applicants only.🤔😉 pic.twitter.com/25zi5BkEHS
— Francis B. Baraan (@MrFrankBaraan) July 13, 2017
@krizzy_kalerqui also noticed the same problems, rating them bad, worse, and worst, with the worst being that it is an “official document by the PCOO.”
Bad: grammar problem
Worse: it’s like hiring women for prostitution
Worst: THIS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT BY THE PCOO#bestandthebrightest 🙃 pic.twitter.com/J1C4M1CqNF— Miss Krizzy (@krizzy_kalerqui) July 13, 2017
Another Twitter user scored those who defended the letter saying that it is only human to err.
“Actually saw tweets trying to defend that PCOO memo. “Tao lang nagkakamali” is a shit defense if you consider BASIC requirements of the job,” she tweeted.
Actually saw tweets trying to defend that PCOO memo. “Tao lang nagkakamali” is a shit defense if you consider BASIC requirements of the job.
— HazelNut (@1nutty_hazel) July 13, 2017
@mrsunlawyer hit the PCOO’s incompetence.
“That letter from a COMMUNICATIONS office encapsulates incompetence. If you can’t demand proper grammar & coherence from PCOO, who else pa?” she said.
That letter from a COMMUNICATIONS office encapsulates incompetence. If you can’t demand proper grammar & coherence from PCOO, who else pa? https://t.co/d4KLhAJJO3
— Demontita Of Manila (@mrsunlawyer) July 13, 2017
Another netizen slammed how the letter’s salutation said “to whom it may concern” instead of properly addressing the highest official of the university.
Someone scored the “discriminatory” qualifications of the volunteers that the PCOO is looking for, too.
Blogger Pinoy Ako Blog called PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar’s attention and urged him to teach his Communications officials and staff proper English, considering his office’s large budget. He also slammed the PCOO’s volunteer qualifications. He even corrected the letter.
Ma. Leonora V. de Jesus
President,
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Dear Dr. de Jesus,
Greetings from the Presidential Communications Operations Office!
The Philippines, which currently holds the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be organizing a conference on August 2-8, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
With the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” the event aims to push the region’s economic growth, social progress, and cultural development through dialogue and open communications among member nations.
Our office is one of the organizing committees and in the spirit of collaboration, we would like to invite 40 student volunteers from your prestigious university to assist the local and international media who will cover the conference.
Students who will take part in this event will receive a generous meal allowance, and practical event organizing lessons, which we hope they can use to advance their academic goals.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Tsuwariwariwap Chuvachuchu.
Looking forward to our fruitful partnership for change.
‘Unauthorized’ letter
PCOO Asec. Kissinger Reyes said on July 14 that the controversial letter is “unauthorized.” He said he did not see the letter himself before it went viral online.
In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Reyes said, “I did not see that letter and my staff in her overeagerness to serve, basically used my digital signature. I was not able to get that letter.”
Reyes added that the staffer responsible for the letter has been reprimanded.
“We’ve already taken the proper steps, right steps, reprimanding the staff,” he said.
An Inquirer Opinion article on July 16, journalist and columnist Rina Jimenez-David enumerated the errors in the PCOO letter and criticized Reyes’ defense that it was his staffer’s fault for attaching his digital signature on the letter without asking him for permission.
“One wonders what the folks over at the PCOO, paid by our taxes, are smoking on the job. If a lowly staff member is able to send out a letter in behalf of her boss and to attach his “digital signature” without the official’s knowledge, what else have they been able to do in the name of the government?,” David wrote.
Sources: ( pinoyakoblog.com , gmanetwork.com , inquirer.net )
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