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The NMI’s mascot
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Posted on Dec 13 2000
The Issue: The use of a panda as a mascot promoting the NMI in Japan by an advertising agency.
Our View: We respectfully disagree given that a panda is non-indigenous to these isles.
The use of a panda as a mascot to promote these isles in Japan would depict that these isles are tucked away in some cold region near Asia. It is far removed from the tropical isles that these isles are famous for among visitors who have come to the Northern Marianas especially during the winter months.
Perhaps the advertising agency has a reason for using a panda, but it should have dawned on the company that such an animal isn’t indigenous to these isles. A bird, fish, tropical flowers or a colorful picture of our blue waters would be the better option all the way around.
What if visitors actually ask to see pandas or buy toys of this creature in duty free shops here because we have advertised it across Japan in our promos? The whole idea is wrong no matter the good intentions of the advertising agency. It is a wrongful depiction or reflection of the essence of these isles and its natural ambiance.
We hope the Marianas Visitors Authority has shot down the use of the panda. It is non-indigenous to these isles and, mind you, it is in fact a complete package of false advertising altogether. We can understand the efforts to lure more visitors to these isles, but certainly not at the expense of false representation.
Since time immemorial, we have no knowledge that a panda was ever brought to these isles and have become an adopted part of indigenous animals. And if the advertising agency can’t figure out an indigenous mascot for the CNMI, the least it could have done is seek the advice of the MVA before proceeding with its false reflection of these tropical isles.
We hope a lesson is learned in promoting the real essence of the CNMI in Japan and elsewhere. False advertising isn’t going to do the job, in fact, it could become more of a problem than anything else. Si Yuus Maase`!
