180. Battle of the Noodle Stars: Jun “Mr. ShooLi” Urbano's QUICKCHOW vs. Gary Lising's NISSIN’S RAMEN

Before, preparing noodle soups and dishes was a chore: one had to get fresh noodles or dry bihon from the market, cooked at home, garnished with vegetables and flavor-enriched with spices and condiments. You can also buy Royal Continental chicken noodles in packs (Royco), but they take awhile to cook. The other option was to buy from a suking mamihan or  panciteria.

The creation of the world’s first instant noodles in 1958 by Taiwanese-Japanese Momofuku Ando in Japan changed all that. His company, Nissin, invented a process of flash-frying noodles after they have been made, giving birth to the “instant noodles”. His first product was Chicken Ramen.

In many countries, including the Philippines, instant noodles in individual packs have become basic food items for almost all households—tasty, easy to prepare, and so affordable. But it would take decades before Japan’s best-selling noodles would be introduced to the Philippines.

At first, NISSIN’S RAMEN was imported from Japan, and then distributed in outlets –groceries and supermarkets—packed in their distinctive red (chicken) and blue (beef)  pouches with Japanese scripts. The flavorful NISSIN’S RAMEN became an instant hit among Filipinos, and by the 1980s, the brand was actively advertising in newspaers and magazine.

GARY LISING & NISSIN'S RAMEN, print ad, 1990.

The first NISSIN’S RAMEN ads that featured a celebrity were launched in 1987, starring the irrepressible Gary Lising, the “Bob Hope” of the Philippines, who helped popularized the American stand-up comedy style of entertainment. The Ateneo graduate wrote and performed his own (green) material in zany comedy show “Champoy” aired on Channel 9. Pretty soon, he was appearing in scores of movies (‘Wander Woman si Ako”, “Erpats Kung Forgets”, “Run Barbi Run”, etc.). Lising appeared as the main presenter of NISSIN'S RAMEN under the "Busog ka sa Sarap" campaign theme.

WATCH GARY LISING BACK ON STAGE HERE IN SHANG-RILA HERE:

uploaded by Herminio Mendiola

 The windfall success of NISSIN’S RAMEN prompted other companies to branch out to noodle production after realizing the potential of the noodle market. Lucky Me! was introduced in 1989 by biscuit company, Monde, and would give NISSIN’S RAMEN stiff competition. The next year, Semexco Marketing Corp., which already had a winner with its beverage, Zest-O Juice Drink,  joined the noodle bandwagon in 1990 with the launch of QUICKCHOW.

QUICKCHOW laid claim to being  “the first brand to introduce rice noodles”,  and made headway in the market, capturing the Southern Philippine market that propelled it to third place nationally.

QUICK CHOW & MR. SHOOLI, print ad, 1990

Helping push QUICKCHOW was the versatile JUN URBANO, who used his very popular “Mr. Shooli” character in the launch ads for the noodle brand in 1990. Urbano, the son of actor-director Manuel Conde, had his start in advertising as a hugely successful commercial director, megging many classic San Miguel Beer ads in the 80s.

WATCH MR. SHOOLI' s PERFORMANCE HERE:

Source: GMA Network

In 1985, he created and portrayed the character “Mr. Shoo-li” who first appeared  in “Not So Late Night with Edu”. His satirical political commentaries delivered in his signature Chinese accent became a certified TV hit. This led to his own talk show, “Mongolian Babecue”. In 1991, he even starred in a film, “Juan Tamad at Mr. Shooli: Mongolian Barbecue”.

Today, the noodle brands that Gary Lising and Jun Urbano endorsed are still going on strong. NISSIN’S partnered with URC in 1996  to form Nissin Universal Robina Corp. in the Philippines which now produces local NISSIN’S noodles, including cup noodles, yakisoba, and Payless. QUICKCHOW can still be enjoyed in these delicious varieties: palabok, pancit canton, toyomansi, guisado, La Paz batchoy. However, Lucky Me! ! is the undisputed no. 1 instant noodle brand in the country, which incidentally has also tied up with NISSIN to become Monde Nissin Corp.

As to Gary Lising and Jun Urbano, there is no competition beyond their product endorsements. They are, in fact, good friends,  who first met as Ateneo students in 1961. They worked together in films like “M.O.N.A.Y. (Misteyks obda neyson adres Yata) ni Mr. Shooli” (1991), and most recently in “Ibong Adarna” (2014), which Urbano directed. Lising had a health setback in 2009, but recovered and bounced with help from his colleagues in the industry,

SOURCES:

Nissin’s Food group website: https://www.nissin.com/en_jp/about/history/

Mr. Shooli: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/145792/mr-shooli-back-in-business

Gary Lising: Wikipedia.com

Minde Nissin website: https://www.mondenissin.com/

Uncovering Jun Urbano, by Euden Valdez, 14 Jun. 2014:

https://www.manilatimes.net/uncovering-jun-urbano/104108/
VIDEOS:

MR. SHOOLI IS BACK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP3ZP3TOktU, uploaded by GMA Network, Oct. 7, 2014.

GARY LISING BACK ON STAGE AT SHANGRILA EDSA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMEb1jsNuic&t=13s,

posted by Herminio Mendiola, Published on Oct 24, 2012,

179. Bad Hair, Behave! TANCHO TIQUE of Tancho Corp., 1962-1972

THE FIRST TANCHO ADS WERE FOR WOMEN! May 1962

When TANCHO CORPORATION barged into the hair grooming scene with its TANCHO TIQUE POMADE—little did it know that the “hair control stick” would make waves for its unique, convenient packaging. For decades, it would rule the men’s grooming products market, and its marketing highlights in the Philippines could fill a book with stories about how to develop a superior product, and back it with out-of-the box advertising and promotions.

SOURCE: amazon.com

The company itself began as Kintsuru Perfume Corporation, founded in 1927 by Shinpachiro Nishimura. Six years into its successful operations in Japan, it developed a line of hair grooming products under the brand name, TANCHO TIQUE.

From this line came the company’s first success—the TANCHO TIQUE Hair Control Stick, introduced in 1933. It proved to be a major hit among Japanese men, as it came in a tube with a cylindrical-shape pomade stick that you can directly apply like a gluestick,  to keep unruly hair in place.

The company undertook an ambitious international expansion, when in 1958 it reached a technical alliance with a Philippine partner to manufacture its TANCHO TIQUE products in the Philippines. 

TANCHO OMNIBUS AD, 1964

In 1959, the company changed its name to TANCHO CORPORATION, a name derived from ‘tancho’, the Japanese red-crowned crane, which became the brand icon. Surprisingly, the first TANCHO print ad that came out on Philippine publications was a 1962 color ad of TANCHO TIQUE Liquefied, for women.

WATCH TANCHO POMADE HAIR DRESSING PRODUCT HERE

At that time, liquid hair grooming products in liquid form were in vogue, like Vitalis, and Glo-Co Tonix. TANCHO TIQUE drew on its distinctive T-7 ingredient, a new botanical extract that gives unmatched vitality to hair.

TANCHO COLOR AD, with Soap. Note  Japanese models. 1966

The men’s line would be advertised some two years later in a TANCHO TIQUE omnibus ad which featured the TANCHO TIQUE Liquefied, TANCHO TIQUE (Soft Tique) pomade cream in a milk glass jar, and the TANCHO TIQUE (Solid Tique)  hair stick.  A soap would come in 1966. The print ad featured Japanese models.

VIC VARGAS, EARLY FILIPINO MODEL FOR TANCHO, 1968

It became apparent that the TANCHO TIQUE Hair Stick and the medicated TANCHO TIQUE soft tique in white jars would emerge as the sales drivers for the brand.

TANCHO CHRISTMAS AD, 1969

It was no wonder  that the 60s were a period of robust growth for TANCHO. There was an attempt to Filipinize the advertising in 1968 with the inclusion of Filipino male models—like the hunky Vic Vargas—in the print ad mix.

TANCHO TIQUE AD, 1969

By 1969, there were two variants of the Hair Stick (Medicated Tique, Vegetable Tique), while the TANCHO in jars had 4: Soft Tique, Lavender, Medicated and myCream. As hair grew longer, so did TANCHO sales.

There were cheap TANCHO TIQUE copycat brands like Toho Tique and Sinsu Tique which similar forms and packaging. But by then the advertising budget of the brand was increased to ward of potential TANCHO wannabes.

MEDICATED TANCHO GEL. 1970.

In the Martial Law years, TANCHO TIQUE  rode the “gel” hair product bandwagon that included the rising Dep styling gel, that projected a more youthful, Western image. TANCHO not only poured money for ad dedicated to TANCHO GEL in 1970, but also thought of ways to reach the younger segment of the market.

It employed two dancing sister who created signature dance moves that showed their vibrant, charming personalities—the nimble-footed Aldeguer Sisters.

Terry and Lally Aldeguer were already familiar to the TV audience in the late 60s and early 70s, but initially they were known for their Hawaiian and Tahitian dances.

TANCHO TIQUE contacted them to appear in their product commercials, introducing  a giant TANCHO TIQUE jar and stick,  via an energetic dance routine as the TANCHO jingle played, complete with their trademark  high kicks,  head flips, and dramatic expressions—mouth always agape with wide smiles.

The entertaining promotional spot was such a hit that they were soon being called “TANCHO TIQUE Girls”, paving the way for more guest spots on TV programs, corporate and dinners shows (they also learned to sing). Eventually, they would move to the U.S. to open a dance school where they would teach and stage shows for Filipinos abroad.

TANCHO MY CREAM WAS MEANT TO APPEAL TO A YOUNGER SET. 1971.

The year 1970 was also significant as TANCHO CORP.,  launched a new line of men’s products after realizing the untapped potential of the men’s hairdressing business. The product was “Mandom”, which was endorsed by the rugged Hollywood star, Charles Bronson. The successful launch  inspired TANCHO to change its name again, to Mandom Corporation, in 1971, in an effort to internationalize the products.

By the late 70s, it was apparent that the rise of the young, upwardly mobile market that would rule the 80s decade would result in a shift of taste for products more attuned to their lifestyle—cool, hip, modern. The marketing landscape had changed. The company launched Gatsby and Spalding brands, but these didn’t catch on. It tried direct sales, then reverted back to distributorship in the 80s
.

THE TANCHO MAN, 1972.

In 1992, Mandom Philippines Corp. was formed as a subsidiary of Mandom Corp. (Japan). It was tasked to work jointly with the mother company to develop localized marketing promotions, and to introduce the Philippines to the concept of distribution,  proven successful in many  countries. But by 1987, the subsidiary became wholly 100% Japanese owned. That put an end to the magnificent run of TANCHO TIQUE, and the image of a TANCHO Man—a winner, without a bad hair day every day!

TANCHO TIQUE products today are sold in giant retail store chains like SM, Cosmos Bazar, Watson’s, and are  also available via online orders. Perhaps, with the return of pompadours, flat top, crew cut, bouffant hairstyle among men these days, TANCHO TIQUE will rise again.

SOURCES:

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/46/Mandom-Corporation.html#ixzz5NokeH960

ALDEGUER SISTERS, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8X1A-c7Bqc, uploaded by galdeguer, 14 Oct. 2009.
TANCHO PRODUCT SHOT: amazon.com

178. Brand Names that Became Everyday Pinoy Words #5: KLEENEX TISSUES

KLEENEX IS TISSUE, TISSUE IS KLEENEX. Early Philippine ad. 1953.

To many Filipinos growing up in the 1960s and 70s, facial tissue was KLEENEX and KLEENEX was facial tissue. But the soft, gentle tissue actually began as crepe paper that was developed by Kimberly-Clark as a filter for gas masks during the first World War. This absorbent paper was refined for use in the company’s first consumer product—Kotex feminine napkins in 1920.

VINTAGE KLEENEX,www.kleenex.co.uk/history

Next, the paper was made thinner, more supple and softer, and introduced a new tissue product called KLEENEX in 1924, because it was meant to remove cold cream on a woman’s face, leaving it clean. The –EX was appended so that the brand name will be aligned to the Kimberly-Clark family of products that already includes Kotex. In fact, the early ads of KLEENEX showed movie stars wiping off theatrical make up with the tissue.

But by 1926, consumers were finding new usage for KLEENEX Tissue—as alternative disposable handkerchiefs for blowing noses, and even some, as wipes for the toilet. Thus Kimberly-Clark had to address this larger market, introducing innovations through the years such as multi-ply, printed tissues, packaging novelties, scented/ unscented versions, quilted, large sizes.

SOFT..STRONG..KLEENEX. 1962

KLEENEX was introduced in the  country in the 1950s, and the first print ads appeared in local magazines in 1953. Kimberly-Clark Philippines Inc., which began its Philippine operations in 1964, took over the manufacture and manufacturing of its consumer products that include KLEENEX.  

MAN-SIZE KLEENEX TISSUES. 1966

By then, KLEENEX had gained top-of-mind awareness in the local market, just like in other countries where it was marketed. You would hear Filipinos asking for “KLEENEX!”at stores,  when they need tissues. Today, KLEENEX still enjoys a high brand awareness, even if cheaper, lower quality tissues abound in the market. Though not a market leader , KLEENEX is one of the top leading professional brands of Kimberly-Clark for enhancing health, hygiene and well-being.

DESIGNER KLEENEX, 1968

SOURCES:

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

The Kleenex Story: https://www.kleenex.co.uk/history/

177. Brand Stories: DARIGOLD MILK (1953-1976)

“Gusto ko ng gatas na DARIGOLD,

DARIGOLD, DARIGOLD!

Gusto ko ng gatas nA DARIGOLD,

DARIGOLD ang inyong bilhin!”

The most preferred and the largest-selling milk in the late 1950s was DARIGOLD Evaporated Filled Milk.  It was a staple milk product that one could readily find in Filipino homes, used in almost everything—for drinking, creaming, cooking and enriching halo-halo, leche flan and other dreamy desserts.

It became available in the Philippines through Consolidated Dairy Products Co. Inc., a giant and established dairy company based in Seattle, Washington. The DARIGOLD brand was appended to their milk products, including homogenized and pasteurized milk in bottles, milk powder and ice cream.

The first DARIGOLD ads appeared in the Philippines 1953, small black and white illustrated ads  featured in weekly magazines. In 1956, the Consolidated Dairy Products Co. formed a joint venture with Santiago Syjuco, Inc. to manufacture and  sell DARIGOLD in the country, hence the Consolidated Philippines, Inc. was established in Parañaque.

SO RICH AND SO GOOD. DARIGOLD, 1953

The Philippine company thus began producing the local tinned milk—DARIGOLD Evaporated Filled Milk—with the familiar 2 red-banded label with a blue diamond in the center representing the “seal of Darigold quality”.

LET YOUR CHILD DRINK DARIGOLD EVERY DAY, 1957

DARIGOLD Evaporated Milk was positioned as a family milk drink, enriched with usual Vitamins A&D and essential fats. Its marketing and promotions were uniquely engaging and distinctive.

MISS UNIVERSE, ARMI KUUSELA WITH CHILD, Darigold  Endorser from 1958-1961

DARIGOLD also had a long-running campaign that ran for over  3 years, thanks to to the pulling power of the celebrity mother the brand chose as its endorser-ambassador—Armi Kuusela-Hilario, Miss Universe of 1953, no less! She appeared along with her family, in a series of colored ads that saw print in leading publications from 1958 to 1961.

PHOTO ://www.pressreader.com/philippines/the-philippine-star

The brand’s most successful media initiative was the sponsorship of  "Jamboree", a segment within Student Canteen on Channel 9. The variety program,  hosted by Leila Benitez, Eddie Ilarde, and Bobby Ledesma, was already a certified hit when DARIGOLD sponsored the 30 minute game-and-contest segment that aired at 1:00 A.M., on weekdays. DARIGOLD JAMBOREE, as it was now known,  became a nationwide  sensation among the the growing TV audience beginning in 1961.

ACTRESS SHIRLEY GOROSPE for Darigold, 1959

DARIGOLD JAMBOREE went on a road tour, staging musical contests.  An alumnus of one such show in Naga produced a winner in the person of  future superstar Nora Aunor, with her rendition of “You and The Night and The Music”, a Sinatra standard. These provincial shows were also aired on local radio, thus expanding the reach of the popularity of the milk brand.

MOST PREFERRED...LARGEST SELLING...DARIGOLD. 1960

MORE, MORE, MORE..DARIGOLD GIVES YOU MORE! A popular jingle in the 60s

 Field promotions was also key to drive DARIGOLD growth. There were school promotions that were offered to students like wrapper redemptions, where one could exchange 5 paper labels of DARIGOLD for one specially-marked pencil. DARIGOLD’s arch rival, Liberty Milk, would spur the leading brand to further increase consumer satisfaction.

DARIGOLD CONDENSADA LAUNCH PRINT AD, 1966

In 1966, Dairy Export Company (Dexco), a subsidiary of Consolidated Dairy Products Co. Inc. of Seattle, got a license to do business in the country. It was from Dexco that  Consolidated Phils. purchased its sweetened condensed milk that was belatedly introduced in 1967 as DARIGOLD CONDENSADA. It was meant to fight off the advances made by Liberty Milk which had cornered the sweetened milk market category with their Liberty Condensed Milk brand.

WOW, DARIGOLD! 1964

But in January 1972, the Consolidated Dairy Products Co. Inc. of Seattle, informed Consolidated Phils. that Dexco, its subsidiary, would now be in charge of the control and licensing of the DARIGOLD trademark in Asia. Two years later, the American mother company offered Syjuco, Inc. to sell to them the interest of Consolidated Dairy products, Inc. in Consolidated Philippines. At that time, DARIGOLD was being run by 3 companies—Consolidated Phils., Standard Can Co., and Dexco—a set-up that the mother company alleged,  could jeopardize the Philippine business. The Syjucos refused the offer.

FOR DRINKING, FOR CREAMING, FOR COOKING & BAKING. 1966

Later in the year, Dexco pressured Syjuco Inc. by canceling its license to the use of  the DARIGOLD name, which was met with protest.  With bankruptcy imminent, Syjuco, Inc. chose to sell its 49% equity in Consolidated Phils. to the mother company in Seattle. Dexco took over the marketing of DARIGOLD even before Consolidated Phils. could be dissolved.

DARIGOLD IS BETTER FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, 1966

However, the problem did not end there. The 1959 contract with Standard Can Co.--which stipulated that it would supply Consolidated Phils. with cans until 1981 – was cancelled in 1976. This prompted Standard  to demand reimbursement from Dexco and Consolidated Phils. for the separation pay of its employees affected due to the operation stoppage.

THE MILK TO RECOMMEND IS DARIGOLD, 1967

 Dexco said that it was not a party to the contract, while Consolidated Phils. claimed that its dissolution eliminated its obligation under the can supply contract. After claims and counterclaims, the Court of Appeals ruled and ordered Consolidated Dairy Products Company of Seattle and/or its alter ego Dexco, as well as Consolidated Philippines. Inc. to pay Standard. The decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court only in 1992.

After a long, and bitter legal battle, DARIGOLD's golden run came to a halt. Production was discontinued permanently in 1976, and Liberty filled the gap it created. Today, the once-favorite brand is but a footnote in the country’s dairy industry, remembered mostly because of its jingle that once rang loud and clear in all four corners of the Philippines—“Gusto ang gatas na DARIGOLD…DARIGOLD..DARIGOLD!”

SOURCES:

Pe, Roger. “What Happened To  Some Favorite Milk Brands?”, retrieved Oct. 20, 2011. http://business.inquirer.net/25973/what-happened-to-some-favorite-milk-brands

CONSOLIDATED DAIRY PRODUCTS CO., JESUS B. BITO and FEDERICO B. GUILAS, as Acting Trustees of CONSOLIDATED PHILIPPINES, INC. and DAIRY EXPORT CO., INC., petitioners, vs. THE COURT OF APPEALS and STANDARD INVESTMENT CORPORATION,

https://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1992/aug1992/gr_100401_1992.html

THE 1ST MISS UNIVERSE, ARMI KUUSELA- HILARIO, for DARIGOLD MILK, http://isamunangpatalastas.blogspot.com/2017/01/93-1st-miss-universe-armi-kuusela.html

176. Is That Who I Think She Is?: CECILLE “Dabiana” IÑIGO for SIERRATONE, FOLD-A-WAY BED & SHARP

The first-plus size actress to become a box-office sensation was CECILLE IÑIGO She burst into Philippine showbiz via a 1977 talent search for a woman to play the role of “Dabiana”, a pleasingly plump but pretty lady based on a comics character on Hiwaga Komiks,  by Ed Plaza and Romy Gamboa.

 

DABIANA IN COMICS: IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/305048574743417338/

The “Dabiana” talent cum beauty search was seen on TV, and when the med-tech graduate from Mandaluyong appeared on screen to introduce herself, many were surprised at her uncanny resemblance to heavyweight serial comics character. Iñigo won the contest hands down and was quickly signed up by Stars Production, so filming could start.

 

CECILLE INIGO, Fold-A-Way Bed Print Ad, 1978.

The pre-publicity for “Dabiana”, and the charming performance of Iñigo captivated audiences nationwide, and the film became a certified box-office hit. Iñigo, who had never dreamt of being a screen star because of her figure, instantly became a national name. 

LISTEN TO THE THEME SONG OF "DABIANA" MOVIE HERE:

She not only went on to do “Dabiana” sequels (Wonder Dabiana, Familia ni Dabiano,  and Dabiana and Barok, all in 1978), but also was wanted for commercials by advertisers who saw her ample-size potential as an effective product endorser.

WATCH SIERRATONE "DABIANA' TVC 30s HERE:

She did SHARP Supersized Refrigerators that were perfect for her, and at least two beds—one for SIERRATONE, and another for FOLD-A-WAY Classic Furniture, a line of light, but durable folding beds, trays, mini-shelf, carts and bookcases.

SHARP REF AD. IMAGE SOURCE:
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/344947652683076066/?lp=true

Little did people know that Cecille actually came from a showbiz family that includes stepdad Lauro Delgado, Victor Laurel, Tessie Agana and Charlie Davao, a brother in law. But she never had to go through the process of being and extra or supporting actress first—she was launched instantly in a starring role—and she delivered.

LISTEN TO DABIANA, sung by IKE LOZADA

Iñigo continued to be active in showbiz and made films from the 80s thru the 2000s. She also was seen frequently on TV. Her last movie was “Tusong Twosome”(2001). The roly-poly actress who was much loved for her Dabiana-signature role passed away on March 17, 2005.

SOURCES:

CECILLE INIGO MOVIES: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1435879/

SIERRATONE BED ( dabiana Version), uploaded by MonBC, publihsed n Oct. 16, 2007. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4mUFtfWm4Q

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_692e9d600100k1yi.html

DABIANA, by Big 3 Sullivans, uploaded by limva 123, published Aug. 9, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJGFgvLHhsw
DABIANA-Ike Lozada. uploaded by limva123, published on Oct 10, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJw3Z4L2vTs, 

175. Who’s The Fairest of them All? LY-NA vs. SAN-ING (1981-1990)

LY-NA and SAN-ING set the standards for Asian whiteness in the Philippines, 1981, 1990 ads.

Before the glutathiones and metathiones of this world took over the face and body whitening market at the start of the new millennium, there were two products that found favor among Filipinas in the 1980s and 90s and which set standards insofar as superior whitening of complexion was concerned: LY-NA and SAN-ING.

Filipinos have been obsessed with white skin  and the advantage of having fairer complexion became more evident when Caucasians—the Spaniards and Americans—came over.  The mestizo society enjoyed more advantages than brown-skinned Pinoys, as can be gleaned even in the country’s showbiz scene where mestizos and mestizas ruled the silver screen, that is before Nora Aunor burst into the scene in the 60s.

LY-NA Product Line-Up Ad, 1990.

LY-NA was the older of the two brands, introduced in 1980. In fact, a whole line was introduced—LY-NA Medicated Pearl Paste for whitening, Medicated Cream for reducing blemishes and wrinkles, and Nourishing Cream for livelier skin. Woei Meei Hih Chemical Industrial Co. (Wei Mai Li Chemical Mfg. Col. Ltd.in later ads) of Taipei, Taiwan, imported by LY-NA (Philippines) and distributed by Pagoda Philippines.

Chinese of old have always upheld the beauty of white skin, a quality associated with  royalty and elegance. This Oriental kind of whiteness became aspirational for Filipinas when they discovered LY-NA.

LY-NA Ad, 1990

Initially, the LY-NA line promised a generic benefit—the user will be rewarded with a “fresh, petal-smooth complexion”. To the company‘s surprise, Filipinas gravitated to the LY-NA Medicated Pearl Paste for its whitening power, and the promotion thus shifted to this one product which became LY-NA’s flagship brand.

The Oriental whiteness was dimensionalized as “Pearl Skin”, but it was the “Kutis-LY-NA” descriptor that took off. At its peak, LY-NA had a successful contest on the top-rating Channel 7 program, “Eat Bulaga”--“Mag-Inang Kutis LY-NA”, a mother-daughter beauty contest.

SAN-ING featured well-known beauty celebrities likeMonina Tan. 1990

Meanwhile, Summerville General Merchandising And Co belatedly introduced SAN-ING Skin products in 1990. By then, LY-NA’s core skin-whitening market was well-established. Although SAN-ING also had its own SAN-ING Medicated Pearl Cream, the company opted not to fight LY-NA head-on and positioned itself as a a total skincare line—“for stunningly soft, smooth skin”. Perhaps, it was also SAN-ING’s  hope  that like with LY-NA, Pinays will also discover  their own SAN-ING pearl cream and its whitening merits.

Actress-singer CRISTINA GONZALES pushed San-Ing Soap. 1990.

Today, of course, LY-NA and SAN-ING are still in the market but are not as aggressively marketed and promoted.  Advanced whitening technology has spawned newer, more effective whitening and bleaching products in many forms (tablets, capsules, serums ) and for specific body parts (armpits, knees and elbows), manufactured by established major beauty and cosmetics companies.

RITA AVILA, was discovered for the movies thru this San-Ing ad. 1990.