Christmas is over but the huge Christmas banners emblazoned with larger than life heads of local politicians will be hanging around for at least a few more days if not weeks or months. One of these caught my attention and how could it not? The execrable thing is about 20 feet tall. Impossible to miss.
Aside from the fact that there are two faces on this banner do you notice anything conspicuous? Let's zoom in.
That is the smiling mug of Councillor Claudio "Kalaw" Puenetevella. Being the son of former Mayor Monico Puentevella, Kalaw is a dynasty politician. Back in September he briefly made national headlines when he punched a fellow councillor in the face during a regular session of the City Council.
Councilor Claudio “Kalaw” Puentevella was expelled at the regular session Wednesday, September 12, after he boxed his colleague, Councilor Dindo Ramos, during the regular session at City Council.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1764113
See how Kalaw contrasts with the other man on this banner who also happens to be his Father? His father, by the way, faced plunder raps back in 2009 being accused by the sports commission for failing to liquidate money he did not use to host the Southeast Asian Games. In 2015 he was suspended for 90 days by the Sandiganbayan for anomalous IT purchases. He is also not a Congressman anymore and has not been one since 2010. But that has never stopped a Philippine politician from continuing to use the titles they won during an election. Once a Congressman, Senator, President, or Mayor, always a Congressman, Senator, President, or Mayor.
Let's zoom in on Kalaw's face.
A faux hawk and hipster "problem glasses." A big toothy grin too. He's so happy. Compare that to his father who is squinting into the distance with a hard look on his face. He has spent most of his life devoted to public service. He has done his job as best he could. He has seen the years go by and the city and country grow under his leadership but there is so much work left which remains to be done. He is a serious man. His son, however, looks like Dopey.
Now take a look at what Kalaw is wearing.
If you were going to have your picture blown up larger than life and put on a sign that all can see and is meant to convey your Christmas Greetings what would you wear? A polo shirt? A barong? A suit? Maybe an ugly Christmas sweater? How about a blue sports t-shirt!
Not just any blue sports t-shirt but one bearing a corporate logo! Puma thanks Kalaw for the free advertising. The blue colour does not match the tone of the rest of the banner which is yellow, green, and red. Was this photo taken specifically for use in this banner or did someone just fish out an old photo and say, "This looks good"? Did Kalaw have any hand in making this banner? Did he and his father look it over and think this was a good picture to use for a Christmas banner?
His father, on the other hand, is wearing a barong. You can barely see it but that is because his whole body is not visible.
Why didn't father and son pose together for a Christmas photo to use for this banner? Why use two separate photos? Did they really think the father's giant head positioned next to the son's tiny body would look good? This photoshop is so ugly and thoughtless it's rather unbelievable. Why is the top half of Kalaw's body even being used? With his hands shoved in his pockets, the blue sports t-shirt, and the big dopey grin on his face he looks like he stumbled in from a sports clothing catalogue. Nothing about his posture, his demeanour, or his clothing says Christmas. Nothing.
And what's with the banner's message?
"Christmas Greetings"???
What is that? How hard would it have been to write out Merry Christmas. Christmas Greetings is nothing. Nobody says that. People say Merry Christmas. This generic Christmas message is offensive and condescending. Clearly the Puentevellas don't care about this banner or the people who will be reading it. For them this is all just a routine tradition that they have to go through and they left it to someone else.
Everything about this banner screams "LAZY!" This is the worst Christmas banner I have seen this year. It looks like a parody of a real Christmas banner with a generic "Christmas Greetings" and a Father and Son political duo who are not even proportioned to each other. Perhaps it's fitting this banner is right outside a cemetery.
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