230. Is That Who I Think They Are? MARICEL SORIANO & MATUTINA for Libby’s, 1974

 By 1974, the TV sitcom “John en Marsha”, was RPN’s prized jewel, achieving consistently high TV ratings, and raking in big advertising revenues for the channel. It had started just a year before, in May 1973,  and its popularity was largely due to the talented ensemble, led by veterans Dolphy (John) and Nida Blanca(Marsha) as the mismatched Puruntong couple (in terms of status), whose relationship is plagued by meddling mother-in-law, Dely Atay-Atayan (Dña. Delilah).

Supporting the leads were two newcomers—MARICEL SORIANO (Shirley), who played the youngest of the Puruntong family, and Dña. Delilah’s always-shrieking serving maid, MATUTINA.

MATUTINA aka Evelyn Bontogon, started as a radio voice talent. The versatile Evelyn had an ‘elastic’ voice that she used to voice radio soaps—using it to sound like a child, an adult or any other character. She was discovered for TV when she was cast as a househelp named “Matutina”  in a TIDE commercial where she used a a high-pitched, shriek voice that made an impression on TV viewers, as well as talent casters.

On the other hand, MARICEL SORIANO (b. 25 Feb. 1965)  started her acting career at age 6 in the 1971 Sampaguita Pictures’ “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” with Tirso Cruz III and another kiddie star,  Snooky.  Her grandmother had brought her to the studio where Maricel charmed the producers with her acting and singing talent. She attributes her comic skills to her on-screen father, Dolphy, who guided her early in her career.

 

MATUTINA AND SHIRLEY, for Libby's Pork & Beans, 1974

Just like the other “John en Marsha” characters, MATUTINA and MARICEL had their own following and fo this reason, the two were cast in a LIBBY’S PORK & BEANS campaign that was launched in 1974.

In the Philippines, LIBBY’S PORK & BEANS was manufactured under Libby’s license by RFM Corporation, Pasig, Rizal. Its main competitor was HUNT’s, the market leader. The Maricel-Matutina campaign was notable for a catchphrase –“LIBBY’s! It’s DI BIS!”

The LIBBY’s brand passed on to a succession of owners—Libby, McNeill & Libby was acquired by Nestlé in 1970. In 1998, Libby's canned meat business was sold by Nestlé to International Home Foods, and became  International Home Foods. In 2000, it was acquired by ConAgra. Today only LIBBY’s Vienna sausage and Corned Beef are available in the Philippines.

SOURCES:

Maricel Soriano photo: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/01/25/maricel-soriano-returns-to-tv/

Matutina: https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/11/12/matutina-weeps-dolphy