Using the hashtags #NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH, netizens filled Twitter with outcries of foul and discrimination in connection to Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s removal of UNTV in the TV listing of the hotel.
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| #NotoSofitel ranked #1 while #BoycottSofitelPH ranked #3 on Twitter Philippine Trends, 2 p.m. of Monday (7/14/14). |
During the early morning show Good Morning Kuya, the move by Sofitel was revealed by host Daniel Razon. He also called on to the supporters of UNTV to counter boycott Sofitel Hotel.
Netizens took to Twitter to express their disappointment with the hotel, which just recently was used as a venue for “Isang Araw” movie showing, a project launched by UNTV to support the various public services that it sustaines.
Part of the proceeds of the event was also for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
Merely hours after Razon disclosed the move by Sofitel, #NotoSofitel hashtag ranked 1st on Twitter Philippine Trending topics. Both #NotoSofitel (1st) and #BoycottSofitelPH (3rd) ranked on Philippine Trend, 2 p.m. of July 14, 2014.
The protest by supporters denounce the discrimination in media suffered by the public service oriented channel, UNTV.
A Massive But Peaceful Protest
A massive but peaceful protest was launched by supporters of UNTV on different platforms of social media. The campaign, which was very popular on Twitter, also received a huge support on Facebook and Instagram.
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| A Facebook user posted this image on his account in support of the campaign. (Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152337078954858&set=o.320029076567&type=1) |
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| This photo taken from Instagram was posted in support of the boycott camapaign against Sofitel Manila. (Link: http://instagram.com/p/qdD-2ZAsoq/) |
Bro. Eli Soriano, host of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), a program aired everyday at UNTV, also denounced Sofitel’s move by Tweeting on his account @BroEliSoriano encouraging followers to sustain the campaign for sake of justice.
The preacher tweeted “Let the power of feelings offended be known unto all the world! The pen of Dr. Jose Rizal was proven to be more potent than a thousand bolos.”
let the power of feelings offended be known unto all the world! the pen of dr. jose rizal was proven to be more potent than a thousand bolos
— Brother Eli Soriano (@BroEliSoriano) July 15, 2014
let us sustain the trend that was established yesterday boycott those that ban untv! the public service channel in the phil.
— Brother Eli Soriano (@BroEliSoriano) July 15, 2014
According to netizens’ posts, the campaign (#NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH) for boycott will continue on the web for days to come.
