MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE TRIP AT A TIME

Oh My Secret Escape to Paradise in Northern Mariana Islands

8/13/2016

I've been to more than a dozen countries but I've never been to "America". This 2016, I really hope I can finally cross it from my #travelgoals so here I am, sharing my insightful experience as a tourism advocate and marketer in order to come up with a creative slogan for my next workcation destination. Finger-crossed!

Blogapalooza in partnership with Marianas Visitors Authority is celebrating its 5th year anniversary with this super exciting getaway and I can't stop myself from taking this shot to finally Get Wonderfully Lost in the Northern Marianas Islands.

via GIPHY

It will be like living my own secret American dream and escape in paradise... Iyon tipong mapapa "OH MY MARIANAS!!!" talaga ako sa sobrang saya because finally, I'll have #MySecretEscapeToParadise after a break-up.

TAAP IDEA: Just the "OH MY!" expression is very organic and feels natural. If you combine it with "MY MARIANAS", it leads our imagination to anticipate with excitement what we can see or experience in these islands which can trigger us to take action.

Writing this post, I'm not only wearing my traveller hat but also my marketing thinkhat. Whenever I think of a campaign, I start by playing with words based on relevant meaning I want to associate with it especially when it comes to engaging tourism campaign like what I did for Date in Daet when I first started this sole searching soul blog.

Oh is that the Bird island? Oh My Marianas!
Did you know that there are atleast 103 bird species found in Northern Marianas Islands which attracts many bird enthusiasts and tourists.

OH MY MARIANAS! is inspired by the daily expression "Oh my!", the word "oh" which sounds like "awe" (to be completely amazed after experiencing this secret paradise in the Pacific) and the fact that MVA have already invested and used "My Marianas" in their branding.

While some people may question its "creativity" or "originality", I can confidently say that this OH MY MARIANAS! TAAP idea is backed by my insightful experience and I believe it has the potential to become a full viral campaign given the right execution.

Applying the principles I've recently adapted from Neuroscience and it's effect in branding and advertising, I can say that this TAAP concept has a big potential based on following 5 insights:

1. We're interrupting the "OMG" pattern as a daily expression by giving it a new breath of life and storyline. We make common uncommon.
2. Shift in feelings means unlimited creative execution! Can you imagine someone saying "Oh My Marianas!" in different mood? Someone shouting Oh My Marianas! before going for a cliff dive? How about children chanting Oh My Marianas! while playing in the beach? Or a couple on a honeymoon who looked so inlove with each who looked so charmed by the postcard perfect scenery and can't helped but lovingly whisper "Oh My Marianas!"

3. More than just being a tourism slogan, it is actually a battle cry, an expression that is "ownable by people". Imagine how residents can proudly declare "Oh My Marianas!" when they share its beauty to visitors and tourists who will find themselves saying "Oh My Marianas!" every single time because they've been mesmerized!
4. It's empowering! We give everyone that sense of pride and ownership, especially Filipinos who loves to travel outside the Philippines... Pride that they've been to "America" and have that paradise experience just 4 hours away from comforts of our home... And best of all, anyone can create their own OH MY MARIANAS! meme to share their discoveries and experiences.

5. Simple. Easy to Remember. And for me, it's really catchy! Okay, I'm really biased here but that's the thing with our brain and advertising. Sometimes, we just don't have to overthink and go for what's natural...

Now, I do hope that the Marianas Visitors Authority will seriously consider this OH MY MARIANAS! concept and who knows, tap me to discover and experience their best kept secrets! I'll be very much willing stay in their islands while documenting and sharing Oh My Marianas moments to the rest of the world! Northern Marianas Islands, you're in my workcation dream destination!

DID YOU KNOW that in 1914, to keep the peace in Asia during the war, Japan took possession of the islands under a secret agreement with the British?! Today, it is considered as “America’s best kept secret” and the perfect getaway for visitors from East and West!

NOT ALL WHO WONDER ARE LOST.
SOME JUST WANT TO ESCAPE TO PARADISE.
As someone who likes to wonder while wandering, I really think that sometimes, someone just need an escape so they go the road less travelled and go off grid. We keep our coordinates for ourselves and keep it a secret especially if we unexpectedly found ourselves in paradise.

Now, this #MySecretEscapeToParadise can actually complement #GetWonderfullyLost. I noticed that the common words used in different write-ups about Northern Marianas Islands where Secret, Paradise, and Escape so I played with it came up with Secret Escape to Paradise as my first suggestion for the slogan before I eventually thought that kiss it goodbye.

Let's keep it short and simple but insightful --- OH MY MARIANAS!

Sun-kissed and rejuvinated, people will definitely be asking "Where she have been?" Well, that's a secret I'll always tell and whisper Oh My Marianas!

OH MY MARIANAS!!! BUCKET LIST

Imagine yourself up in the air, enjoying the cool breeze and looking at the vast pacific from a different perspective?! I bet you'll be screaming OH MY MARIANAS!!! out of bliss!

I love flying and to be honest, Parasailing is one of the top items in my adventure bucket list together with SkyDiving! I remember last year, when I was in Boracay, I was really tempted to do it but I was alone so I just told myself that it will be fun to do it somewhere sometime with someone! So who knows, it might finally happen this year?

Cheesiness aside, I just really love the feeling of flying, that moment of being airborne and free! It's been years since the last time I was up in the air overlooking the vast sea when I was invited to try Paragliding in Daet.

Ohh who wouldn't love gazing at these diamonds in the sky?! Now imagine me saying OH MY MARIANAS! in a sweet dreamy voice... As a hopeless romantic and believer in wishing upon the stars, I'd like to spend a night of solitude while attracting the positive energy of the universe!

Oh My Marianas with Tres Marias?! Why not! For sure my sister Allaine, cousin Joanna Mae and bestfriend Doreen would like to get wonderfully lost in Northern Marianas Islands and enjoy these activities in my bucket list too.

I honestly felt that I've been through a lot this year so lately I've also been thinking about the idea of climbing a mountain for a soul searching exercise so going on a Hiking adventure in Northern Marianas would be a perfect reminder, (Oh My Marianas!) that no matter what happens, I should continue my TAAP journey, conquer the summit and never give up on my big dreams!

Oh My Marianas! Oh yes, oh yes! I'm ready to go! It feels like #MyMarianasPH knows what I'm feeling right now. I really love the video below which they shared on their Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/MyMarianasPH). I am already imagining myself doing my own Sole Searching Soul music video while enjoying this special sanctuary in Pacific!

Can't stop humming while writing this post... I'm ready to go! I'm ready to go!
I'm ready to run through the heat of the sun. I'm ready to fly, uncover the light. Impossible heights... Elevate my soul above. Said you'd always be my white blood. Circulate the right love. :-)