553. Is that Who I Think He Is? VICTOR WOOD, in Angel Face Ad, 1967

 

Before he became sensationally famous in the 70s as the undisputed “Jukebox King”, singer Victor Wood was a struggling showbiz aspirant looking for his own place in the sun. By 1967, diminutive singer Nora Aunor was starting to blaze trails, breaking barriers for small, brown, Filipino looking talents, who had been bypassed for fairer mestizos and mestizas. She paved the way for the rise of more-Filipino looking singing stars like Tirso Cruz, Edgar Mortiz, Manny de Leon, Perla Adea, Espie Fabon, and many more.

Refusing to be tagged as just another American mestizo singer-actor, Victor Wood joined the showbiz bandwagon, and took every available job he could find that would elevate his visibility. He started joining casting calls for advertising models and in 1967, actually bagged a supporting role for an ANGEL FACE print ad.

ANGEL FACE was a major brand of cosmetic products introduced successfully in the late 1950s in the Philippines. Its most popular brand was the ANGEL FACE Foundation Powder, and by the mid 60s, was one of the country’ best-selling brand, supported by bid advertising budget, and with advertising professionaly handled by leading ad agency J. Walter Thompson.

 “All set for an afternoon sail at the Yacht Club is Diane Berrier and friend Victor Wood on board the Trident”—so says the caption. The 21 years old Victor cut a lean, striking figure beside the American model—even if he seems fascinated more by the ocean view than the fresh natural look of her ANGEL FACE.

After this ad was launched, Victor Wood bagged a few small parts in 1968 films by Sampaguita pictures: “May Tampuhan Paminsan-Minsan”, “Magic Guitar”, “Donata”. In 1969, he did lightweight teenybopper films: Teenage Escapade, the Mad Generation, Born to be Wild, Paula.

But it was in his recordings that Victor Wood gained notice. In 1970, he launched his Vicor album “I’m Sorry My Love”, which became a hit. This was followed by “Mr. Loney” ,  “In Despair”, “Fraulein”, “Eternally”, “Lonely Teardrops’, “Vaya con Dios”, “Crying Time”—all certified monster hits. Suddenly, Victor Wood became a hot star, and soon he was ding movied in starring roles with his hit songs as titles: “Malaguena, (1972), “Innamorata”, and “You Are My Destiny” (1973).

He appeared in big movies like “Annie Batungbakal”, and he was in the title role in “Victor Wood, Disco King” (1979), and covered Freddie Aguilar’s international hit, “Anak” in Indonesian. When his career cooled off, he migrated to the U.S. with his family (he was married thrice). He made news again when Wood ran for the Senate of the Philippines in  2007 under the KBL, but lost. He died due to COVID-19 complications on 23 April 2021.

 SOURCES:

Victor Wood, wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Wood

Victor Wood, Filmography: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1047421/

The Victor Wood Playlist: https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2021/05/12/2097497/victor-wood-playlist

 

552. Where Is She Now? JOYCE SAULOG-MANALO, The Face of OIL of OLAY, 1990

JOYCE SAULOG-MANALO, The Face of Oil of Olay, 1990 Ad

As the 1990s decade rolled in, Procter & Gamble Philippines’ OIL OF OLAY was nearing its 10^th year of successful existence in the Philippine market. It continued to be supported with advertising, nd, following the U.S. model, campaigns have to used real-life older, beautiful women with smoother, younger-looking complexion. Critical to the campaign then was casting the models who fit into this mould.

A fresh young face at Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi Casting Dept. 

The first model had been Myra Mendoza, the fresh-face teen known known for her appearances in the popular JINGLE Music Chordbook Magazine, and who had a flourishing career as a talent caster for the multinational ad agency, Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi. When P&G Clients saw Myra, they got her for Oil of Olay instead of the talents she was recommending!

At about the same time that Myra Mendoza was at Ace, a young newly-married JOYCE SAULOG-MANALO, just a few years out of college from U.S.T,  joined Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi. 

Joyce Saulog-Manalo  in an agency company outing.

The A.B. Communications graduate had quite an unorthodox career as she was recruited by talent manager Junn Guevara to be a member of the New Minstrels, 4^th Generation. The musical group attained a large measure of success in the recording and entertainment industry in the 70s. Joyce, an accomplished singer, joined the group and performed with them,

AS MEMBER OF THE NEW MINSTRELS, 4th Generation

“I left after one year dahil sa tawag ng pag-ibig”, Joyce laughingly recalled, “I got married!" The lucky man turned out to be Vicente “Boe” Manalo, whom Joyce met through her friend and college classmate Chola Manalo--Boe’s sister—who set them up for a blind date.

“No spark for me  at first”, Joyce remembers,  “but then I got to know him better. Ang bait niya…gentleman pa, maalaga. And, he adored my mama.. parang papa ko . Ayun na in🩷 na ako.” The two got married on 10 Dec. 1983.

Boe, at that time, was managing a thriving family fishpond for his cousin in Laguna. He was also into selling real estate and education plans. Then the first baby by came along, Miko. 

THE MAN SHE WOULD MARRY. Vicente Victor Jesus Manalo,
at the time of their engagement.

Hoping to help and looking for more something stable to do, Joyce joined the agency’s Casting Dept., where she learned the ropes quickly and impressed her boss, production dept. head Jack Dumaup.  But she also captivated her colleagues for her charm and beauty—plus factors in securing client approvals.

JOYCE SAULOG-MANALO, with fellow Talent Caster Flor Salanga (+),
also a well-known theater actress and occasional commercial model.

When it was time for the agency’s blue-chip Client P&G to do the 1990 campaign of Oil of Olay, the casting of the print ad model fell on Joyce’s lap.

 “Yes, I was assigned to do casting for Olay, kami ni Myra, and  we were having difficulty finding women in their 30s and 40s who looked younger, Then, someone suggested na magpa-test shot din ako. I actually agreed para lang mag ka souvenir photos”, she related with amusement.

Next thing she knew, the 30 year old Joyce was approved by the P&G Clients as the model for Oil of Olay’s 1990 print campaign. There was no need anymore to look for other models…she was it She was hustled off to the studio of topnotch photographer Bien Bautista, where her face was made up, and her pixie hair cut styled.  After which, she posed for her  head shots under the watchful direction of the professional photographer.

In her 30s, Joyce was the perfect Face for Oil of Olay .

Her stunning portrait, with her bare back and her face in profile showed off her soft, supple, smooth skin perfectly, belying her age. “I left time behind”, says the headline, and Joyce’s picture provided the irrefutable proof.

With Mr. Ramon R. Jimenez, then Executive Creative Director
of Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi where Joyce worked as a Caster . Jimenez 
would go on to become the Secretary of Tourism 2011-2016

The Oil of Olay ad was the first and only major modelling assignment Joyce took, as she considered  talent-casting her more serious profession. She would stay with Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi for a few more years, often bringing her oldest son Miko to the office. From Saatchi, she moved over to Basic FCB, this time to head the casting department as Casting Director. But when 4 more babies came—all boys—she decided to resign and work as a free-lance Casting Director instead, where she would have the convenience of working flexible hours.

THEN & NOW. Joyce has managed to retain her facial charms she has always been knonw for.

Junn Guevara tried to lure Joyce back by offering her a place in a girl band he was forming, with an option to go solo.. “But I decided not to push through with it”, she said, “By then, nag-e-enjoy na ako sa motherhood”

Now blessed with 5 five boys and 2 grandsons, Joyce, with her husband of 43 years Boe, lives a life fulfilled: family-centered, God-fearing and purposeful. Miko, the eldest son, is a general manager of Starcom, an international media company. Paolo works for Tiger 22 Radio Network. Carlo is with HSBC, Jio works a marketing job based in Scotland. Youngest Anton is a managing partner of Brand Republic ad agency. 

THE WINNING MANALOS! (L-R): Carlo, Anton, Papa Boe,
Mama Joyce, Anton (behind Joyce), Jio and Miko

Though everyone is well-settled, Joyce remains busy as ever—but this time doing things she loves the best, at her own pace and time. Nowadays, you would find her caught up in a whirl of mundane affairs such as baby-sitting her apos, going out on dinner dates with her hubby, attending school reunions, to traveling with family travels abroad. It is now these simpler things that give her the most joy. It would seem that the Oil of Olay girl had, indeed, left time behind---because time could not keep up with her!

SOURCES:

All photos and additional information, courtesy of Joyce Saulog-Manalo

551. Scenic Spots in Philippine Ads: MAYON VOLCANO, various ads 1935-67

 

1965 TANDUAY RHUM, "Mayon, Splendor in the Clouds" Ad"

Majestic MAYON VOLCANO has been hugging headlines lately with its continuous eruptive phase that has been going on for over 180 days, as of today, June 12, 2026. Dubbed as “world’s perfect cone”, it sits  in a national park in Albay, and is geographically shared by 8 cities and towns (Legazpi, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Tabaco, Malilipot).

Mayon is also the most active volcano of the Philippines, erupting over 52 times in the past 500 years, with its first eruption recorded in 1616. Its most destructive eruption happened on 1 Feb. 1814, when it buried the town of Cagsawa. To this day, the ruins of the Cagsawa church belltower still stand.

1930s MAYON VOLCANO, colored postcard

Mount Mayon figures prominently in local legends and lore, the most well-known of which is the story of Daragang Magayon (meaning, beautiful maiden), a tragic heroine who gave her name to the volcano. It was said that  she fell in love with a brave warrior, Panganoron (or Ulap). Their forbidden romance culminates in a fierce battle against a jealous suitor, Pagtuga, resulting in the deaths of both lovers.

For ages, the image of Mount Mayon has haunted and  inspired many a people’s imagination—poets paid homage by way of poems, songs and stories have been written about it, and picture of the scenic volcano have been reproduced in countless books, postcards, calendars, and stamps.

1965 MAYON COOKING OIL AD.

Even marketers and advertisers took note of Mount Mayon’s popular appeal. There are products named after the famous mountain---like the MAYON Cooking Oil of P&G in the 1950s. A MAYON Turbo Stove was developed in the early 2000s, was developed as a “poor man’s stove” as it used the byproduct rice hull as fuel.

MAYON MILK "FOR CHRISTMAS", Print Ad 1935

Even earlier was MAYON MILK , made available in the Philippines by the Japanese trading company Daido Boeki Kaisha Ltd. in the mid 1930s that had offices in Manila and Iloilo. The doctor-recommended milk claimed to be good for “delicate stomachs”.

In 1951, Philippine Airlines featured Mayon—Bicol’s landmark—in the their travel destination ads for Legaspi City. The strip ads featured an illustration of the symmetrically-perfect coned volcano.

Likewise, Philips Lights, in 1960 created cleverly-written headlines, drawing parallel between the popularity of its brand name and what it stands for, with the name Bicol, which stands for Mayon.

Images of the mountain was used throughout the 60s by Tanduay in 1965, and the cigarette brand, Chesterfield, in 1967, to localize it.

1967  CHESTERFIELD "THEY SATISFY, Print Ad 

Mayon Volcano continues to be an enduring symbol of the country, a tourist crowd-drawer --for as long as one can remember. Its eruptions that have been going onnon-stop for days and months throughout these decades serve to remind us that it is here to stay for quite a while. For companies cashing in on the Mayon name, that can only mean more welcome (c)ashfall!!!

 

550. Scenic Spots in Philippine Ads: BANAWE RICE TERRACES, various ads 1962-65

TANDUAY RHUM "Banaue, World's 8th Wonder" Ad, 1965

Creating an eye-catching print ad doesn’t just entail casting the most attractive models, writing the most grabbing headline, and designing the most pleasing lay-out—it sometimes involves finding the right setting for the print ad narrative.  These three products—TANDUAY Rhum, FILPRIDE Gasoline and MARLBORO Cigarettes used the picturesque, age-old Banaue Rice Terraces as relevant backdrop for their product messages.

The first ad for TANDUAY Rhum immediately makes a strong association with the “8^th wonder of the world” with the “matchless quality” of the product. Just as the Banaue Rice Terraces stand in the forefront of the country’s scenic wonders, so does the TANDUAY standard of quality which leads all others wherever rhum drinks are served. 

FILPRIDE Gasoline "GO PLACES' AD, 1962

The FILPRIDE GASOLINE ad of Fil-Oil, reminds the readers of the scenic wonders of the country, like the Banaue Rice Terraces, 351 kms. from Manila, then gently urges them to use power-packed Filpride gasoline when motoring to these places. If you are going to see the Philippine pride that is Banaue, wouldn’t it be fitting if you fill up your car with Filpride gasoline? That’s one smart connection!

MARLBORO COUNTRY "Banaue Country" Ad, 1965.

The last ad for MARLBORO Cigarettes went one step further by describing  the famed Banaue Rice Terraces as evoking the same Marlboro Country imagery-- rugged independence, adventure, self-reliance—an untamed place where men find flavor. Thus, the iconic, "Marlboro Man" cowboy scanning the vast grandness of the terraces—that seem to invite men of the same spirit to “Come to where the flavor is. Come to Marlboro Country”.

Today though, when one refers to the Marlboro Country of the Philippines—two sites are top-of-mind recalls: the Racuh Apayaman on Batan Island, Batanes which features rolling green hills, grazing cattle, and dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean; and the Marlboro Hills in Sagada, Mountain Province, famous for its pine-clad mountain trails , "sea of clouds" during sunrise and grand vistas of limestone peaks.

549. VESPA SCOOTERS IN THE PHILIPPINES, 1964 ads

Vespa, the classic line of mopeds and scooters that skyrocketed to worldwide fame when Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck rode one in the 1953 film “Roman Holiday”, were first launched by Piaggio in 1946. Vespa, which meant “wasp” in Italian, were first known for their painted, pressed steel “monoque” body and a step-through design that allowed riders, including women in skirts, to ride cleanly and comfortably without getting dirty from rough, dusty roads.

The first Vespa had a top speed of 60 kph. and can cover 45 kilometers with just a liter of gas. They were also affordably priced, which was why they appealed to Filipinos when introduced here in the 1960s. Dubbed as “the little car with two wheels”, Vespa Scooters were exclusively distributed by Olympia International, Inc., and solely imported by The East Asiatic Co., Ltd., along Buendia Ave., Makati.

The Vespa scooters available here were the 160 G.S. and 150 models and were carried by dealers nationwide in the cities of Angeles, Baguio, Bacolod Davao, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. Vespa scooters were snapped up by young Filipinos who considered them hip and trendy. They were so popular that there were even organized Vesta riders’ clubs that held leisure rides to different parts of the country.

VESPA RIDERS in Arayat, Photo CTTO: Alvin Koh

Indeed, whether to the office, market or school, on the highway or on the roughest roads, Vespa was the smartest way to places!

SOURCE:

Vespa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespa

548. Soft as a Pillow: SCOTTISSUE Toilet Paper, Ads 1960s-80s

Soft, Gentle SCOTTISUE Print Ad, 1967

SCOTT PAPER CO. was the first to put toilet paper on a roll, devised by 2 brothers, Clarence and E. Irvin Scott in 1890. The product outsold Gayetty’s medicated sheets, and the brothers—upon seeing the success of their toilet paper—cast aside their initial shame about the nature of their business—and began branding their toilet tissue with their name in 1913. 

Good as your Imagination, SCOTTISSUE Print Ad, 1974

By 1925, Scott Paper Co. became the leading toilet paper company in the world. In the 1960s, it operated in the Philippines and marketed the SCOTTISSUE brand. Kimberly-Clark Corporation acquired the company in 1995.

Pillow Softness, SCOTTISSUE Print Ad, 1980

547. Dutch Treats: FRUIT-TELLA by Van Melle of Holland, 1978

One of the most successful confectionary companies in the world today is Perfetti Van Melle, the 6^th largest in the world which produces some of the most popular candy brands known to Filipino kids like Mentos and Chupa Chups.

Van Melle made its presence in the Philippines in 1978 with the launch of FRUIT-TELLA CHEWS, soft, chewy candies that were made with real fruit juice, natural flavors, and natural colorings. The flavor varieties included Lemon, Apple, Pineapple, Banana, Orange and Stawberry. The individually-wrapped chewy candies were a hit—with sales boosted by colorfully-illustrated ads that appealed to kids.“The more you chew, the more flavor comes through”, says this FRUIT-TELLA ad, and indeed, the high quality candies earned quite a following for many years.

Their success prompted local candy makers to make their own versions, in particular, Columbia International Food Products, a longtime candy factory in the Philippines founded in 1937. It launched a similar brand of soft, chewy candies with strikingly similar shape, flavors, and even packaging called Frutos. (Note: In 2006, Columbia got into trouble with the packaging of its Chocquick milk that resembled Nestle’s MILO).

With a more established distribution system, cheaper price, and production volume capacities, Fruitos quickly gained local following. It was available in practically all outlets—from the smallest sari-sari stores to the biggest supermarkets. Never mind that it FRUIT-TELLA had a truer, more authentic fruity taste—consumers were willing to compromise.

FRUIT-TELLA eventually decreased its local flavor offerings to two: Orange and Strawberry flavors, while Columbia’s flavor range expanded to include Tropical Fruits, Milk and Shake, Milk Tea and Jelly-Filled.

 In 2001,  Italy's Perfetti SpA merged with Van Melle of Netherlands to form Perfetti Van Melle, infusing new strength in the company operations worldwide. Perfetti Van Melle would focus its energies on its other renown brands like Mentos and Chupa Chups which continue to have solid market base. For Perfetti Van Melle, the Philippines will always be an important and significant turf, for it has been in the country for over 40 years, providing good chews to one and all!