After Gil Puyat Avenue was changed to ‘Gil Tulog,’ Mayor Abby Binay apologizes
ABBY BINAY – Mayor Abby Binay has apologized for the confusion caused by a marketing stunt that altered the street signs on Gil Puyat Avenue.
A recent Facebook post by netizen “Tom Berenguer” drew attention after he shared a photo of a street sign in Makati, claiming it had been changed from “Gil Puyat Avenue” to “Gil Tulog.” Berenguer expressed surprise and sought confirmation from others, questioning whether any new law or ordinance had altered the street name.
A commenter suggested the sign might have been digitally altered due to inconsistencies in the image, but Berenguer insisted he took the photo himself while driving. He and his companions found the situation amusing and planned to revisit the location to verify the sign. Berenguer confirmed that the street is in Makati, at the intersection with Paseo de Roxas and near Bel Air Village, and explained that turning right from Paseo de Roxas onto Gil Puyat leads to the Kalayaan flyover.
Apparently, the signs were changed from “Gil Puyat” to “Gil Tulog” as part of a campaign for a company selling sleeping aids. This stunt led to significant criticism from netizens, and the altered signs were reverted to their original form on July 26.
In her statement, Mayor Binay explained that her office was not informed about the marketing campaign. She expressed regret over the incident and apologized to the family of the late Senate President Gil Puyat. Binay emphasized that if the campaign had reached her office, it would have been rejected immediately.
She criticized the city officials responsible for issuing the permit, stating that they should have exercised more caution and considered the potential disruption to motorists and commuters, as well as the respect due to Puyat’s memory. Binay has reprimanded the officials for this oversight. Gil Puyat, who served as a senator from 1951 to 1973 and was Senate President for six years, passed away on March 23, 1980.
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