#NotoSofitel, #BoycottSofitelPH Outpour on Social Web: UNTV Supporters’ Campaign vs Sofitel Manila Bias

by Emmy Borromeo

Netizens, using the hashtags #NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH, filled every corner of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to support the UNTV’s boycott campaign against Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

#NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitel, the official hashtags of the boycott campaign of UNTV against Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, made it to the Philippine trends and peaked at the number 1 and 3 spots, respectively.
(Photo grabbed from UNTV’s Official Facebook Page)

During the July 14 episode of UNTV’s morning program, Good Morning Kuya (GMK), UNTV-BMPI Chairman and CEO Daniel Razon revealed that the hotel allegedly removed the station in its TV programming.

On the same episode, Razon called on the supporters of UNTV for a massive social media campaign that will echo their cry for justice against this media discrimination. Hence, the outpour of the hashtags, #NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH.

#NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH Trend, Campaign goes WorldWide

The #NotoSofitel debuted at the 6^th spot in the Philippine trends before 12 noon yesterday. At 2 p.m., it landed on the 1^st spot (Philippine time) and the hashtag #BoycottSofitelPH entered the list at the 5^th spot. #BoycottSofitelPH peaked at no. 3.

Here are some tweets posted by UNTV supporters:

Fighting for our rights!!! NO TO MEDIA DISCRIMINATION!!#NotoSofitel#BoycottSofitelPH#NotoSofitel#BoycottSofitelPH – ‏@hilarygale_17

We won’t fight for nothing. This is a battle against discrimination to nannies,elders and charitable station.#NOTOSOFITEL #BoycottSOFITELPH – @officiallyjenny

A big NO to discrimination! Everyone deserves equal access to opportunities for public service. #NotoSofitel #BoycottSofitelPH –@ryanjavier

The station, having a loyal audience around the world through its satellite monitoring centres and online streaming facilities, also gathered the support of its fans abroad. Below are a few tweets coming from UNTV supporters across the globe:

All the way from Queens, NY, I am outraged over the media discrimination of @SofitelManila towards Public Service channel UNTV. #NotoSofitel – @polarellano

From Montreal, Canada we support @UNTVweb @gmk_untv37 @BroEliSoriano Kuya@DanielRazon #NotoSofitel #BoycottSofitelPH – @marchcelebrant

No to Sofitel Movement, Sustained

Earlier this morning, on the recent GMK episode, Razon stressed out why he is sustaining this social media movement. He said,

“There are times when you need to speak up, you need to voice out your rights. You do not need to always let things go especially when there are people who are already being affected.”

UNTV-BMPI Chairman and CEO Daniel Razon stresses out the need to speak up for your rights, especially when there are people who are already being affected.
(Photo grabbed from Good Morning Kuya’s Official Facebook Page)

In support to this statement, netizens eye to prolong this outcry against media discrimination for at least a week. The boycott campaign is making a huge impact on the social web for two days now.

Two days in a row: #NoToSofitel hashtag trending. Black Monday and Gloomy Tuesday for @SofitelManila . We are gunning for a week! – @verybradryan

Let us sustain the trend of #NoToSofitel #BoycottSofitelPH for at least 1 week so that they’ll know how supporters of UNTV unite for good – @kasangbahay

Bro. Eli’s Bible-based Reason for the Campaign

Through his official Twitter account (@BroEliSoriano), host of Ang Dating Daan, Bro. Eli Soriano, expressed his straightforward sentiments about the removal of UNTV from Sofitel Manila’s hotel program listing, the root of the on-going #NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH campaign.

On July 14, the same day the movement was launched, he posted a Bible-based reason why the followers of UNTV should not keep mum about the issue.

Bro. Eli shares a biblical perspective about the recent social media campaign of UNTV supporters against Sofitel Manila’s bias move.

Ang Dating Daan, the longest-running religious show in the country, is one of the flagship programs of UNTV.

The International Evangelist’s posts encouraged more people to join the online movement. He is also one with the sustained campaign against Sofitel Manila.