163. Creative Guild Print Ad of the Year 1990: PAMPERS “Wet Page”

Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi Creative Director Jimmy F. Santiago recalls the birth of the 1990 Print Ad of the Year, “Wet Page”, as substantially a bloody process. The client was,once again. Old friend procter & Gamble, and the product was PAMPERS, a disposable diaper. Since PAMPERS spent more money on television, the print ad was meant to be no more than a sustaining effort.

As I turned out,the oncept took forever to be born. The selling was simple enough, that PAMPERS kept babies drier, and TV had consistently followed the formula of showing smiling, contentedly dry babies. For print, however, client had already trashed dozens of ideas; moving the account to a different account group only resulted in more casualties.

One day, Santiago found himself sifting through piles of disapproved print ads when he came across a study of a bleeding page by art director Mario Monteagudo. “It was the same idea as drinking scotch while writing a love letter”, Santiago explains. “The more drunk you get, mas pumapangit ang writing mo---and the page would even get wet”.

Santiago wrote some copy with a pentel pn, wet it with water and his won saliva, and matched that “problem” page with a complementary “solution” ay-out minus the water damage but beaing the product logp and a few lines of descriptive copy. That became the ad that was presented  and eventualy approved by client. “We just recycled an old idea that had been missed by everybody.”

The “wet page” itself is a strikingly sloppy image. “A baby wearing cloth diaper sat on this page.’ Reads the copy, printed in grey text with the letters precariously dissolving. The word “baby” suffers the biggest damage, an almost indecipherable blob of smeared , “and he still didn’t like it”.ink. Which better ord to victimize indeed, than the ne closest to the target consumer mommy’s heart!

The ad appeared as a half-spread in newpapers, award-winning proof that it doesn’t pay to second-guess clients. “That’s what took us so long”, Santiago explains. “Everyone was expecting to be approved when they were disapproved.” Still, “Wet Page” did not quite win the battle; when the Procetr & Gamble general manager saw the ad, he instantly disliked it. “After it won a Clio citation, we brought the ad back to him”, Santiago recalls

CREDITS:

ADVERTISER: Procter & Gamble Philippines

PRODUCT: Pampers Disposable Diapers

AGENCY: Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jimmy F. Santiago

COPYWRITERS: Finina Gatchalian/  Bingo Bautista

ART DIRECTORS: Bingo Bautista/ Mario Monteagudo

PRINT PRODUCER: Pirio Tatlongmaria

PRINT SUPPLIER: Micrographics, Inc.

STUDIO MANAGER: Ray del Rosario

ILLUSTRATOR: Elaine Lopez

Source:

Hnasa, Alya, ed. Uy, Butch. Perfect 10: A Decade of Creativity in Philippine Advertising, Published bt the Executive Committee of the Creative Guild of the Philippines. 1995.

162. Filipino Matinee Idols in THREE FLOWERS POMADE Print Ads, 1956-57

One of the most enduring  brands of brilliantine pomade was THREE FLOWERS, made by Richard Alexander Hudnut way back in 1915, an American perfumer and cosmetics maker based in New York, with a European office in Paris, France.

It was distributed locally in the Philippines by Edward A. Keller & Co. sometime in 1950 to capitalize on the growing hairstyle trend of the midcentury--pompadour, side parts, slick-backs and cowlicks—popularized by screen legends as Cary Grant, Elvis Presley, James Dean, and later, Sean Connery. THREE FLOWERS Brilliantine Pomade became a favorite grooming aid  to style hair and give it a good sheen and, subtle masculine scent.

The most handsome matinee idols of the 50s were tapped to become celebrity endorsers for THREE FLOWERS’ 1956-1957 print campaign that primarily ran in leading magazines.  Four print ads from this series are shown on this page, each with a testimonial from a chosen actor-model.

LUIS GONZALES, for THREE FLOWERS,1956

Luis Gonzales,  (b. 8 Aug. 1928/d. 15 Mar. 2012) was born Luis Mercado, and grew up I  Tondo.  The prolific actor made over 100 films with Sampaguita Pictures and he is bets known for his portrayal of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in two propaganda-cum-drama films:  “Iginuhit ng Tadhana” and a“Pinagbuklod ng Langit” ("Heaven was Gathered", 1965). He was often paired with actress Gloria Romero. Of THREE FLOWERS, Gonzales says: “ Women love the masculine fragrance of THREE FLOWERS…so do I!”.

MARIO MONTENEGRO, for THREE FLOWERS, 1956

Mario Montenegro,  (b. 25 Jul. 1928/d. 27 Aug. 1988) aka Roger Collin Macalalag of Pagsanjan, Laguna, was a Fine Arts student of UP, and was discovered while helping build sets for films. In his teens, he also was a member of Hunters ROTC guerrilla unit that saw action in the war. He is best known for his period films that showed him as a swashbuckling hero. Montenegro, who married fellow actress Letty Alonso, says that he “prefers the finest to look my best: THREE FLOWERS”.

EDDIE ARENAS, for THREE FLOWERS, 1957

Eddie Arenas,  (b. 7 Jul. 1935/d. 31 Mar. 2003) was a featured actor of Sampaguita Pictures and made many films with actress Lolita Rodriguez, who eventually became his wife. Some of his notable films include “Ang Tangi kong Pag-ibig” (1955), Gilda (1956), “Busabos” (1957),”Tanikalang Apoy” (1959). Before his passig, he was last seen in the 2002 movie, “Mahal Kita: Final Answer”. Of the product, Arenas opines that “I always look my best with THREE FLOWERS”.

RIC RODRIGO, for THREE FLOWERS, 1956

Ric Rodrigo (b. 1931/d.?)  was born as Paul Albert Bregendahl, the son of a Filipina mother and a Danish father . He is  best-known for  his appearance in “Igorota” (1968), where he was hailed as Asia’s Best Actor. Other significant films include “Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak” (1967) and “Ina, Kapatid, Anak” (1979). A son from actress Rita Gomez, Ronald Bregandahl, also became an actor. “THREE FLOWERS gives my hair a healthy sheen that is admired by all my friends”, says the good-looking Rodrigo.

THREE FLOWERS was a consistent advertiser through the 60s, but fell out of favor with the rise of modern pomade sticks, gels and cream, and it was only in 1979 that the brand was resurrected with the memorable relaunche campaign conceived by Basic Advertising—‘Lalaking Disente’. Needless to say, all the actors that appeared in the print ads from way back 1956, all fitted that “lalaking disente” mold—thanks to THREE FLOWERS!

161. Casting Coup: J&J BABY FACE POWDER, “The Baby Is Now A Lady”, 1990

Johnson & Johnson has been a long-standing client of Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi (formerly Ace Compton) since 1959, with the Personal Products as well as the Feminine Care line as its key assignments. 1990 marked the year that J&J forayed into the Cosmetics field, targeting Teens as it’s point-of-market entry.

That year, J&J Philippines launched its JOHNSON’S FACE POWDER, which is actually a pressed powder version of one of its flagship products, Johnson’s Baby Powder. That became the take-off point to communicate the face powder’s merits and benefits to a new market. After all, Johnson’s Baby Powder had been in the Philippines for over 4 decades and had become a staple product for Filipino babies.

But, since the baby had grown older, shouldn’t there be a new product befitting her new stage in life? Thus—JOHNSON’S FACE POWDER.

The Saatchi creatives developed a campaign theme that would provide product continuity for Johnson’s powder products. This was articulated in the memorable campaign line—“because the Baby is now a Lady”.

The TV and Press campaign idea seemed simple enough—it starts with a close-up  of a Baby being splashed with  Johnson’s Baby Powder , followed by images of the baby growing older, in a series of smooth dissolves, literally growing before the viewer’s eyes. The last fade-in reveals the refreshingly beautiful  face of a teen-age girl, with the JOHNSON’S BABY POWDER product shot appearing beside her. As we follow the girl’s growing up process, the supers gently come in: “because the baby, is now a lady—JOHNSON’ FACE POWDER”.

It was a simple,  no-frills commercial, but with a powerful visual idea that relied on casting the right models. The search was on for 4 talents who would credibly portray different stages of growth—from a Baby, to a Moppet, a pre-Teen, and finally, to a Teen beauty. 

The exhaustive quest ended with the casting of four different models who appeared in a series of prints ads that ran on consecutive pages of a magazine. The same models also appeared in the launch TV commercial that would proved to be so successful, that it paved the way for the launch of a new, major teen line –JOHNSON’S TEEN ESSENTIALS.

But.. whatever happened to the 4 models in the commercial?  We wonder!

CREDITS:
ADVERTISER: Johnson & Johnson Phils. Inc.
PRODUCT: Johnson's Face Powder
AGENCY: Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jimmy F. Santiago
COPYWRITER: Merlee Jayme
ART DIRECTOR: Melvin M. Mangada
CASTER: Flor Salanga

160. THE MASCOTS OF JOLLIBEE, 1980-2008

Mascots have been part of the advertising world for over a century, like Mr. Peanut and Jolly Green Giant. They personify the character of the brand—and they may come in many forms such as super humans, fantastic creatures, animals—and in the case of JOLLIBEE—an insect!

JOLLIBEE IN 1983

It was only in the 1980s that the use of “live” mascots was fully exploited by Philippine advertisers, thanks to the JOLLIBEE MASCOTS.

Before that, Philippine brand characters from the 50s -70s like Nars Cafi (of Cafiaspirina), Shellane Girl (of Shellane LPG) and Pancho Pantera (of Pancho Pantera chocolate drink) all were one-dimensional figures that saw print on posters and ads, and animated on TV like cartoons.

The mascots of JOLLIBEE not only fed the fantasy of children, but because they were so life-like, they could interact with them in many fun moments.

In a special way, the JOLLIBEE mascot became role models too, for each one was created with different characteristics to reflect the various product qualities. But all were likeable and appealing.

JOLLIBEE in 1989

The lead mascot of JOLLIBEE Foods Corporation was , of course, JOLLIBEE, introduced in 1980. His name says it all—JOLLIBEE is a happy, loveable, active figure who flits from one place to another to spread merriment on everyday occasions.  

JFC Founding Chairman, Tony Tan Cak Tiong, has often likened the mascot's character to the Filipino working folk, noting that the bee "hops around and produces sweet things for life, and is happy even though it is busy".

Ms. CHICKEE, the brand mascot for Chickenjoy, was introduced in 1983.

That same year, the mini-skirted bovine beauty,  LADY MOO, was launched to represent the Milkshakes product.

She would be joined in 1985 by MICO, a kid in red short overalls wearing a milkshake cup for a cap. All three would later be discontinued.

The fastfoods’premium burger, CHAMP, also had a mascot with the same name, introduced in 1984. With a hamburger head, CHAMP was dressed as a boxer, complete with gloves and a robe, but, like a boxer, the mascot,  has also been retired.

JOLLIBEE MASCOTS FAN ART
https://sean-the-master.deviantart.com/art/vintage-jollibee-mascot-fanart-121636410

MR. YUM was the original name of the Yumburger mascot, created in 1989. Dressed in a dark suit, he wears a bowler hat in the shape of a Yumburger bun. In 2008, he was updated and became simply YUM, a younger, more funky boy in a raglan shirt and shades, but with the same, sesame seed-topped burger cap.

TWIRLIE was the name of the girl mascot who personified the very popular Twirly Sundaes that were launched way back in 1988. In mall shows, she performs her own special Twirly Dance.

JOLLIBEE MASCOTS, THEN AND NOW.
https://echo-marav.deviantart.com/art/JOLLIBEE-CHARACTER-MASCOTS-636409322

An unusual mascot was seen in 1984, who sported his stringy hair made from—spaghetti noodles. HETTY, the resident spaghetti mascot, was nonetheless, a consistent crowd favorite.

But if HETTY seemed unusual with her noodle ‘do, POPO looked awfully strange with his stringy hair made from—French Fries! The potato boy has since transformed into a less weird-looking dude, with the cardboard pocket holder taken off his head.

JOLLIBEE has successfully employed mascots as promotional vehicles, and they are always in demand not only for the Kiddie Parties, but also for corporate events. Christmas time is when their mascots are at their busiest, where they not only attend partie but also go on school tours, headline musical events, star in commercials, and make special TV appearances. Children would crowd around to touch them, talk to them, pinch them, pat them, adore them-to the point of hero worship.

WATCH THE JOLLIBEE MASCOTS HERE:

Jollibee (Apat na Dekada), posted by Glover Reselosa

They have been replicated as toys and dolls, featured on licensed merchandise from clocks to plates to pillows and lamps, clothing and school bags.

JOLLIBEE MASCOTS IN OPERETTAS THAT EDUCATE AND IMPART VALUES, 1987

As the characters are also used to promote various advocacies—from propagating Pilipino as a language, imparting local values,  to endorsing sanitation and cleanliness programs—the mascots have to conduct themselves in certain way, guided by a Jollibee Manual which has a mascot code of do’s and don’ts.

COLLECTBLE JOLLIBEE MASCOTS VINYL TOYS, credits to the owner of this photo

Today, the JOLLIBEE MASCOTS have all become part of the Philippine pop culture, and there is not a single kid who cannot, at once, identify him and his circle of friends.

JOLLIBEE MASCOTS AT A KIDDIE PARTY

 After all, they could always be counted on to spread fun,good times and great eats! As  one Jollibee fan astutely observed --“JOLLIBEE is not a bee..he is a FRIEND!”.

SOURCES:

De la Torre, Visitacion R. Advertising in the Philippines, Its Historical, Cultural and Social Dimensions, Tower Books Houe, © 1989, pp. 97-99

Vintage Jollibee Mascots: https://sean-the-master.deviantart.com/art/vintage-jollibee-mascot-fanart-121636410

Jollibee Mascots, then and now: https://echo-marav.deviantart.com/art/JOLLIBEE-CHARACTER-MASCOTS-636409322

Jollibee (Apat na Dekada), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szi468pAdCI, uploaded by Glover Reselosa, Jan. 11, 2018.
Superbrands, Vol. 1, 1999
Mendenhall, John. Character Trademarks, 1990
Jollibee, wikipedia

159. The Place to Be: CINDY’S BAKESHOP & RESTAURANT, 1984

CINDY'S TV commercial spawned one of the most memorable jingles in 1984.

CINDY’s—the place to be—was founded in 1971 by a group of businessmen in Tarlac who simply envisioned a restaurant that served “good food in a good place”. Thus was born the first CINDY’s store in Tarlac in 1972, a bakeshop and restaurant place that served a standard fare of baked breads, and merienda favorites.

The successful reception to the store prompted  them to open more branches and to offer new menu items like burgers, French fries and express meals. But it was the bakeshop that gave CINDY’s a competitive edge.

WATCH 'CINDY'S "The Place To Be" TVC Here:

At its peak, CINDY’s was promoted through national advertising, a no mean feat for a homegrown business. Its campaign "The Place To be", spawned a memorable jingle that is still remembered until now.

To focus on its uniqueness,  CINDY’s re-conceptualized its product in 1996, by opening a store that was first a bakery, and secondarily a restaurant. This gave it an edge above the rising number of fast food joints. Today, now on its 46^th year, CINDY’s has over 62 branches nationwide.

THE NEW CINDY'S LOGO

SOURCES:

Cindy's 1980s, TVC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1QuiI3lml8, uploaded by CindysBakeryRestaurant, uploaded Aug. 23 2012. 

Cindy's new logo: https://www.cindysbakery.com/

158. Miss No. 1: AMALIA FUENTES, Celebrity Endorser of the 1950s-60s-70s

AMALIA FUENTES AS LUX LADY, 1969

Along with Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes (b. 27 Aug. 1940) was one of the first true  superstars of the Philippine silver screen of the 60s decade. Naga-born Fuentes was the daughter of Alvaro Muhlach Sr., a Filipino of German-Spanish blood, and Concepcion Amador. Her father had died during the war, so when she came of age, Fuentes decided to find work to support the family.

 

MR. & MISS NO. 1: Juancho and Amalia

Adopting  her stepfather’s surname, she thus became Amalia Fuentes,and at  age 16, the teen beauty entered the search for Sampaguita Pictures’ talent search for Mr. & Miss Number One.

She topped the contest, along with male winner, Juancho Gutierrez, and their careers were launched via their debut film, “Movie Fan”.

It was an instant success and she went on to make more blockbuster hits with Juancho like “Sonata” (1957) and “Pakiusap” (1959). Eventually, she was paired with Romeo Vasquez (“Pretty Boy”, “Ako ang May Sala”), who would become her husband, and father of their daughter Liezl.

AMALIA FUENTES for Mantrade's Fairlane

But it was in the 1960s that her star shone the brightest, beginning with the “Ako ang May Sala” (1960), and the 1963 romantic comedy “Ang Senyorito at ang Atsay”. Her intense screen rivalry with Susan Roces further heightened her fame. They had appeared together in “Amy, Susie, Tessie” (1960). When Roces did the popular “Susanang Daldal”, Fuentes countered with “Amaliang Mali-Mali”, and the competition was on.

SLIM, SLEEK AND BEAUTIFUL AS THE CAR, Mantrade Ad, 1965

As a an actress of superstar status, Fuentes was squired by many companies to endorse their products. The largest Ford dealer in the country, manila Trading & Supply Co. or MANTRADE, signed her up in 1965 to appear in print ads for their latest car model—Fairlane 500.

FUENTES IN REVE D'OR Ads. 1965

She also became an endorser of REVE D’OR,  a premium line of cosmetics (Lotion, Face Powder, Perfume)  distributed by Oceanic Commercial Inc. in 1965.

Fuentes became the face of LUX Beauty Soap in 1969, a casting coup for the brand which had signed up Susan Roces earlier as one of their Lux ladies.  She did a TV commercial that showed her at her most beautiful.

She supported her daughter with Vasquez, Liezl Sumilang, when she,too, became a child star and a commercial model, most notably for SCOTT’S EMULSION in 1974.

The checkered career of Fuentes included not just acting, but she also forayed into movie producing, screenplay writing and directing. But no doubt, it was the pulling power of her beauty that she will be remembered for, earning admiration from three generations of fans who have dubbed her as the Philippine answer to Elizabeth Taylor.

157. BIRCH TREE MILK POWDER: Pre-Chernobyl Years (1969-1979)

BIRCH TREE PRINT AD, 1979.

BIRCH TREE MILK POWDER was a milk brand manufactured by Veghel-Holland Dairy, and distributed in the Philippines beginning in the late 1960s. It came in attractive cans showing a Holstein-Friesian cow grazing in an idyllic field dotted with—what else?—birch trees.

The powdered milk slowly build up its market as it began advertising in 1969, with rather generic ads, but showing foreign talents. The fact that it was imported from Europe was a plus, but what made it even more attractive was its affordable price, lower than rising leader  Nido. 

BIRCH TREE early Print Ad, 1969

By the late 70s, BIRCH TREE gained over other powdered milk brands and became a market leader. Its once-generic advertising became sharper as it strategically capitalized on its affordability. Hence, it was a  tasty, healthy milk that everyone can drink. This became the basis of its mid 1980s campaign--BIRCH TREE “It's Everybody’s Milk".

WATCH BIRCH TREE"EVERYBODY'S MILK"

1985  TVC HERE:

 

Birch Tree TVC 1985 version 2: uploaded by alanchan80, 

Nov. 3, 2015, via Mr. Jojo Devera of JDTV/Magsine Tayo Channel.

BIRCH TREE TV ads, many produced on videotape, lorded over the airwaves in the 1980s, featuring foreign imagery from Europe, including windmills and talking Holstein-Friesian cows. The brand even utilized popular TV host and radio announcer Helen Vela, superimposed on moving pictures of Holland, “the milk capital of the world”.

WATCH BIRCH TREE "HELEN VELA" 

1985 TVC HERE:

Birch Tree TVC featuring Helen Vela: uploaded by alanchan80,

 Nov. 1, 2015 via Mr. Jojo Devera of JDTV/Magsne Tayo Channel.

But then, in April 1986, the catastrophic Chernobyl incident happened, in which a fire set ablaze a nuclear power plant, resulting in a radioactive fallout that drifted  drifted over large parts of Soviet Union—including Europe.  The accident severely affected the dairy business of Europe—Holland included---as the grazing lands of cows were contaminated with radioactive particles.

Two months later, 39 containers of BIRCH TREE powdered milk and 4,000 cartons of Dutch Lady milk arrived in the Philippines. Though they shipment came with  armed safety certificates, tests conducted by the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission show the milk products to have high levels of radioactive substances—5 times the level of allowable contamination.

Thus, Health Minister Alfredo Bengzon ordered the recall of BIRCH TREE Milk Powder from the market. That would signal the downfall of the milk brand, and for some time, people shied away from BIRCH TREE. The campaign that touted the Dutch origin of the milk brand only added salt to injury.

BIRCH TREE PRINT AD, 1974.

As years passed, and as the Chernobyl incident was becoming a distant memory, efforts to revive the brand began with a TV commercial that reminded people that “you can’t put a good milk down”. BIRCH TREE loyalists continued to patronize the brand after the dust had cleared and the ban was lifted.

It took Century Pacific Food Inc. (CPFI), the Filipino food conglomerate founded in 1978 by Ricardo S. Po Sr., to revive the milk brand in 2001. It is currently manufactured by its business unit, the Snow Mountain Dairy Corporation, a business unit belonging to the Century Pacific Group of Companies, which, by 2008 became the 2^nd largest liquid milk company in the country. It is hoped that BIRCH TREE will once again reclaim its place in the Philippine market as one of the leading players in the category, now that it is already manufactured locally.

SOURCES:.

Radioactive Dutch Milk Is Recalled - tribunedigital-chicagotribune,

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-09-06/news/8603060590_1_milk-products-radioactive-contamination

Chernobyl: Poisoning the Third World,

http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1987/09/updates.html

Century Pacific Foods, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_Pacific_Food

Birch Tree TVC 1985 version 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOU7ZWdlbI4, uploaded by alanchan80, Nov. 3, 2015, via Mr. Jojo Devera of JDTV/Magsine Tayo Channel.
Birch Tree TVC featuring Helen Vela: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-J6Wa1watE, uploaded by alanchan80, Nov. 1, 2015 via Mr. Jojo Devera of JDTV/Magsne Tayo Channel.