Sunday, December 26, 2021

357. MIRINDA ORANGE, THE SUNSHINE DRINK, 1978

MIRINDA 'SUNSHINE DRINK' LAUNCH PRINT AD, 1978


PEPSI COLA in the Philippines has been around for over 70 years, and in the mid-1960s, launched its own orange soda brand, MIRINDA. Meant to compete against the more established Royal Tru-Orange, MIRINDA was launched with its own campaign and promotional support, starting with the “More Fun” print series in 1966.

Its early TV ads were canned commercials from the U.S., notably the “Orange Avalanche” , which featured thousands of oranges magically appearing, dropping  and bouncing everywhere---to dramatize the “natural orangy-ness” of the soda.

WATCH MIRINDA'S 'SUNSHINE DRINK' TVC HERE:
(c/o Jojo Bailon, Voice on the 3rd)

It was only in 1978 that the brand had a local campaign hit with the “SUNSHINE DRINK” campaign, which reinforced the product’s 100% natural orange taste. This was visualized by  “slicing” a MIRINDA bottle and squeezing that half of the bottle on an orange squeezer—as if it were a real orange. The voice-over announcer goes: “If you can slice it like an orange, squeeze it like an orange, then you’ll discover the 100% natural orange taste of MIRINDA”. 

Conceived and produced by J.Walter Thompson Phils., MIRINDA’s “SUNSHINE DRINK” campaign endured through the early 1980s.

SOURCES:

Mirinda Orange 1980 TVC, Jojo Bailon, View on the Third (VOT III), via Dateline Anime, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0smIinktsiQ

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

356. MAYA BIBINGKA MIX for Christmas 1962-1965

MAYA BIBINGKA FOR CHRISTMAS 1962

What is Christmas without the ubiquitous “Bibingka”? Those round rice cakes cooked on banana leaf-lined clay pans covered with a sheet of tin topped with live coals to “bake” the dough completely. 

Original native “bibingkas’ were made from “galapong” or ground gelatinous rice, coconut milk, milk, sugar, butter or margarine, and eggs. Special ones have embedded slices of red eggs and cheese. In more modern times, some baking powder was used. Nothing evokes nostalgic Christmas memories better than a slice of “bibingka”, sprinkled with grated coconut, and slathered with more butter.

MAYA BIBINGKA, Omnibus Christmas Ad, 1965

In 1961, MAYA, one of the more successful flour mix products from Liberty Flour Mills, attempted to make the cooking of the native “bibingka” more convenient, while retaining the genuine deliciousness of the native treat. Beginning in 1961, MAYA came out with print ads touting its MAYA BIBINGKA MIX SPECIAL  as perfect for the holidays, that’s “full of tasty, old fashioned-goodness”.

While it was not intended to replace the original homecooked goodness of native bibingkas, MAYA BIBINGKA MIX SPECIAL  found a considerable following among Filipino housewives in the 60s and 70s, who wanted a break from the drudgery of cooking. With MAYA BIBINGKA MIX SPECIAL, there’s no more soaking of malakit rice in water overnight, no more milling with the hand-turned gilingan, and no more long waiting for the bibingka dough to cook as it lay sandwiched between fire and coal.

 Competitor White King, of Republic Flour Mills eventually took over the market due to its marketing strength, and MAYA’s bibingka mix was phased out, and was left to concentrate on hotcake and cake mixes. Meanwhile, White King Bibingka continues to be available in the market today.

Thursday, December 16, 2021

355. EDWARDSON Top Star ATHLETIC SHOES, Print Ads, 1962

BOB SOLER "Mr. Basketball", for EDWARDSON 1962

Edwardson Manufacturing Corp. (founded in Nov. 20, 1959) was the maker of EDWARDSON Athletic Shoes, which became one of the more popular sports shoe brand din the Philippines from the 1950s thru the 60s. One of their bestsellers is the EDWARDSON TOP STAR, which were recommended for the basketball hardcourt. 

Perfect for the hardcourt, thy won’t skid or slide,  while giving you speed and comfort. With the shoes’ double binding, they are guaranteed for strength and endurance. As their ads claim—“with EDWARDSON you’re ready to win!”.

EDWARDSON TOP STAR was launch using an unnamed but a rising personality—Bob Soler (Robert Ycsiar Gutierrez)—who happened to be an ace player of the sport himself, He was an NCAA basketball player from San Beda College when he was discovered for the movies.

BOB SOLER, "Mr. Basketball", Source: Video48

In 1958, he was tapped to appear in the film, “Mr. Basketball”, along with Olympian basketballer, Carlos Badion. No wonder, 4 years later, he signed a contract to appear in EDWARDSON Top Star Ads. In 1966 he would find greater fame in the film “Captain Barbell” in the title role. 

EDWARDSON athletic shoes became so popular that main competitor  Jacinto Rubber & Plastics Co., came out with a similarly-designed pair. In 1966, Edwardson Manufacturing Corp, and Converse Rubber  Corp., (maker of Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Rubber Shoes), sued Jacinto for unfair business practice. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the defendants, restraining Jacinto from making shoes with confusingly similar features as EDWARDSON and Converse’s.

 Edwardson Manufacturing Corp. closed down its business in 1983.

PHOTO SOURCE:  VIDEO 48, for the ad of the film, "Mr. Basketball', starring Bob Soler.


Monday, December 6, 2021

354. Brand Stories: LA PACITA BISCUITS, 1921

LA PACITA QUALITY BISCUITS, 1964 AD

In the 70s and 80s, people joked that the German term for biscuits was “Ski-Flacks” (from Skyflakes, pronounced with German accent), while the Japanese term was “Hai-Ro” (from M.Y. San’s “Hiro” biscuits).  In Spanish, they say, the word for biscuit was “LA PACITA”.   Indeed, all though the 60s “LA PACITA” brand became a generic term for Pinoy favorite treats like biscocho, mamon tosatado and crackers.

The brand name began in the Fabrica de Biscochos Y Dulces Biscuits Especiales, established in 1921 by Luis Martinez at Progreso St. (now J. Eustaquio) in San Juan. In this bakery were baked assorted biscuits, that were branded “LA PACITA”, named after Don Luis’s  wife Pacita.

TASTY...CRISPY...LA PACITA. 1960 PRINT AD

Luis Martinez & Co. produced 5 kinds of LA PACITA biscuits that included Cream Filled Cookies, Club Crackers, Chees-Et,  Tostados (Prima) and Camachile (baby finger cookies), which became favorite in-between meal snacks, pasalubong treats and baon for schools and offices. L. Martinez and Co. also produced Vitamin Bread.

LA PACITA Biscuits were heavily advertised in the 50s and 60s. In 1970, son Felicisimo took over the management and the company was rechristened F. Martinez and Co., Inc. The product line expanded with the addition of  Paciencia, Butter Cookies, Raisin Cookies, and new product launches for Snax and Supreme Flakes. Its assorted Famous Five—all 5 biscuit varieties contained in one big canister—is consistently a pasalubong favorite.

FAMOUS FIVE, 5-IN-1 Pasalubong Favorite

Luis Martinez & Co. was acquired by San Miguel-Purefoods in 2014. Its factory is based in Antipolo City and continues to operate to this day, churning out classic Pinoy snack goodies with the LA PACITA brand, made flavorful by 100 years of outstanding biscuit-making experience.

 SOURCES & NOTES:

Alex R. Castro, originally written for FilipiKnow, under the title “14 Classic Philippine Brands And Their Surprising Origins”, https://filipiknow.net/classic-filipino-brand-name-origin/

Reposted on spot.ph.

Sunday, December 5, 2021

353. JAY ILAGAN for COLGATE DENTAL CREAM, "Mouth Specialist" , 1986

JAY ILAGAN for COLGATE "The Mouth Specialist", 1986

In mid-1985, COLGATE Dental Cream unveiled a new campaign theme for the popular toothpaste brand—“The Mouth Specialist”—which further underlined Colgate’s role in oral hygiene and dental science vis-à-vis the many “lifestyle” brands that promised social confidence. Instead of dental authorities to drive the message home, COLGATE relied on a young, appealing movie personality to tell his COLGATE experience—JAY ILAGAN,

Julius Abad Ilagan ( b. 20 Jan. 1953/d. 3 Feb. 1992) belonged to an illustrious showbiz family, the son of Sampaguita star Corazon Noble and director Angel Esmeralda. He started acting early in films, using “Angel” as his screen name. At age 9, he appeared in “Batang Maynila”.  It was in “Maruja” that Jay—still just 14 years old—shows his mettle as a young matinee idol, capped by a sterling performance in “Tubog sa Ginto”, and “Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa”, where he starred in one episode of the trilogy as a juvenile drug addict. 

WATCH JAY ILAGAN'S COLGATE TVC HERE:

He made a successful transition to adult roles like “Kisapmata” (a 1982 Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actor), and Sister Stella L. (1985 Gawad Urian Best Actor). Jay was riding high on the crest of victory when COLGATE called to offer him the plum role in the testimonial commercial. He was already a well-known face on TV by that time, as he was one of the “Bad Bananas’ (along with Edgar Mortiz, Johnny Delgado and Christopher de Leon), whose “Goin Bananas” comedy program was a certified TV hit.

Jay was formerly married to actress Hilda Koronel and then, after their separation, lived in with Amy Austria. Jay died in a terrible accident on 3 Feb. 1992, when his motorcycle skidded, throwing the actor to death. He was only 39.

SOURCES:

Jay Ilagan, uploaded by juniorsky52,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQu717_Eb0I

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Ilagan






Saturday, November 27, 2021

352. Pitoy Moreno, "Asia's Fashion Czar" for BAN ANTI-PERSPIRANT, 1974

JOSE 'PITOY' MORENO FOR BAN ANTIPERSPIRANTS, 1974


BAN ROLL-ON DEODORANT was a deodorant brand developed by Bristol Myers Co., that was launched with a revolutionary packaging—a rol-on dispense. Bristol-Myers had acquired the makers of Mum deodorant--Mum Manufacturing Co.—and had wanted to add an antiperspirant brand to its product line.

The result was an effective antiperspirant packaged in a dispenser modeled on the ball-point pen mechanism that was earier desined by employee Helen Leah Diserens (1919-2008). It came out under the name Mum Rolette in 1952, but problems with the applicator caused it to be removed from the market. 

After extensive product and packaging improvement, the anti-perspirant was reintroduced in the U.S. as BAN ROLL-ON in 1955, with massive advertising and marketing support for its national roll-out.

It would take almost 2 decades before BAN ROLL-ON was introduced in the Philippines, and the fashionable ads made use of the “fashion czar of Asia”—Jose “Pitoy” Moreno as an endorser, supported by the appearance of top models Ping Valencia and Eva Reyes, also Miss Republic of the Philippines-World 1972.

The connection between body odor and fashion was explained in the copy:“Perspiration marks can ruin even the most fashionable look…BAN stops perspiration effectively---no sweat to ruin your style”.

PITOY MORENO / PING VALENCIA, BAN ROLL-ON AD, 1974

The uppity-looking ads complemented the premium price of BAN, which, aside from the Roll-On, included  a Dry BAN Cream. To underscore the importance of its flagship product, the campaign ended with the tagline “BAN. America’s No. 1 Roll-On Antiperspirant”, to appeal to the target’s sense of colonial mentality.

PITOY MORENO / EVA REYES, BAN ROLL-ON AD, 1974

BAN slipped into obscurity towards the end of the 70s decade, and the BAN products available in the market today are made by Kao Brands Co. As for Pitoy Moreno, he was accorded a National Artist Award by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, only to be revoked by the Supreme Court in 2013 after finding that it had been given without due process as stipulated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

PITOY MORENO / EVA REYES, BAN ROLL-ON AD, 1975

SOURCES: 

Ban website: https://www.bandeodorant.com/en-us/

Deodorant History and its invention: http://omenter.com/deodorant-history/#:~:text=The%20small%20company%20was%20bought,the%20name%20Ban%20Roll%2DOn.

Pitoy Moreno, Wikimedia.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitoy_Moreno

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

351. On Top for Taste: RAMA PREMIUM MARGARINE, 1965

RAMA PREMIUM MARGARINE, Launch Ad,1965

RAMA PREMIUM MARGARINE was launched in 1965, and it was meant to be a more affordable alternative to butter. It was meant to compete against the market leaders, P&G’s Dari-Crème and Star Margarine. RAMA is a blended margarine product made of selected vegetable oils and buttermilk that performs, tastes just like dairy butter, with a long history that goes back to 1870 when butter trader Jans Jurgens van Goch acquired the patent for developing margarine.

Deutsche Jurgenswerke AG took over the marketing and it was only in 1924 that the margarine brand was called “Rahma”, further simplified into RAMA. It was one of the first brands to be advertised nationwide in Germany, and the product history is an important part of the legayc of the country's industries. Unfortunately, the war wiped out the business, only for RAMA to resurface in the 1950s.

RAMA "55% OF HOUSEWIVES SAY..", 1965

In 1965, RAMA was launched in the Philippine market with a full complement of marketing, promotions and advertising programs. Unfortunately, the print ads, as well as the product packaging does not identify the Philippine distributor or manufacturing affiliate, if any. (It may have been Phiippine Refining Co., as in later years, Unilever Bestfoods developed RAMA into a mega brand).

'MRS. DE LEON" TESTIMONIAL AD FOR RAMA, 1966

It ran head-on with Dari-Crème, and it was apparent even in the way it bannered its taste and superior packaging: “Even without seeing, you can always tell the tempting taste of fresh, new RAMA…that melt-in-the-mouth goodness. Foil-wrapped, with a Fresh Flavor Seal , your guarantee that no other spread is fresher.

"MRS. REYES" TESTIMONIAL AD FOR RAMA, 1966

Indeed, RAMA PREMIUM MARGARINE, caused a bit of worry for P&G PMC, as the advertising even aped their own—using testimonials culled from housewives who have tried RAMA. Of these, 55% preferred its fresh, new taste—and this taste superiority was played up on TV and print ads presented by radio and TV personality Cris de Vera. Such formats were typical of P&G advertising.

RAMA RELAUNCH AD, 1968

In 1968, RAMA was relaunched, naming itself as “the spread with a Golden Taste”, whatever that means. Its popularity sputtered  towards the end of the 60s decade, until the product vanished altogether in the Philippine market in the 1970s.


The brand RAMA is being used today by a line of butter, dairy blends, whipping and cooking products,  sold widely in Germany. This innovative umbrella brand was developed under Unilever Bestfoods Germany with products made from high-quality vegetable oils for cold and warm kitchens. The Dutch-German Margarinewerke Van den Bergh manufactured the RAMA line. On July 2, 2018, the Unilever Group sold its spreads division to the financial investor KKR. In South Africa, this line of business was transferred from Unilever to Remgro. Since then, the new Upfield Holdings group has been operating the plants in Kleve and Wittenberg. Becel, Lätta and RAMA are Upfield's best-known brands.

SOURCES:

The Story of RAMA: https://www.rama.com/en-sa/about-rama/the-story-of-rama

RAMA Branding Source: http://brandingsource.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-logo-rama-blue-band-and-planta.html

Van Den Bergh Margarines: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarinewerke_Van_den_Bergh.

Thursday, November 11, 2021

350. Pop from the Past: GOODY ROOT BEER

GOODY PRINT AD, ca. 1960
GOODY ROOT BEER was produced by the U.S.-based Goody Company Minneapolis. F.F. Halili Enterprises in Balintawak acquired the license to bottle this vintage soda favorite, It is interesting to note that F.F. Halili Enterprises was owned and founded by Fortunato F. Halili, the governor of Bulacan.  Its Balintawak brewery produced the short-lived Halili Beer which was looked at as a first real threat to San Miguel Beer.

Pic: pinterest

Halili had also entered into an agreement with Mission Beverages, a U.S. company established in 1956 which was in the business of the wholesale distribution of beer, ale, porter, and other malt beverages.

GOODY ROOT BEER was manufactured in the late 1940s, but it only arrived on Philippine shores in the late 1950s, after F.F. Halili became one of its international bottlers. It came in clear bottles with the Goody Boy trade character on the neck, as well as on the crown.

 The back of the bottle reads: "Wholesome and Refreshing, Contains-carbonated water, sugar, flavor derived from natural roots, herbs and barks, colored with caramel color. Bottled under authority The Goody Company Minneapolis, Minn. Bottled by F.F. Halili, Balintawak, Quezon City Exclusive Distributor for the Philippines."

GOODY ROOT BEER was promoted in B&W and colored ads in magazines. This 1960 ad describes GOODY as “the softdrink with a SNAP!”, with a promise to give drinkers drinkers “the full feel of refreshment…tingling all the way down!”

GOODY ROOTBEER MERCHANDISING. Pix: worthpoint.com

Today there is a GOODY root beer brand in the Philippines mande to order from Intercor Food Products (IFP) Manufacturing Corporation, but which has nothing to do with the original American brand.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

349. JULIO DIAZ, Creative Guild's 1987 Best Actor in a TVC, GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL “Homecoming”, 1987

During the Creative Guild of the Philippines Ad of the Year Awards Night held at the Metropolitan theater in Manila on 30 August 1988, the first ‘Models of the Year’ awards were given. Ten best commercial models were cited for their effective portrayal of distinctive characters who showed skillfull acting that “captured the drama between product and consumer”.

Creative Guild Ad of the Year 1988 program

Acting awards were also given and that year’s winner for BEST ACTOR IN A TV COMMERCIAL for 1987 -88 went to the rising young star JULIO DIAZ, a film and stage actor. He had received a Best Actor Gawad Urian Award nomination for his performance in Takaw Tukso (1986).

 The commercial in which he starred was for GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL, produced by Philippine Advertising Counsellors/BBDO. Entitled “Homecoming”, the TV ad was part of the brand’s  then-thematic campaign “Ikaw at Ginebra…Magkasangga!”.

 WATCH GSM "Homecoming TVC" with Julio Diaz

The ad is a story about  a  prodigal son, who may have worked for years in a big city like Manila or even abroad, returning to his small town. There, familiar faces and memories welcome him, capped by a reconciliation with his family and a reunion with his barkada—over GSM of course.

GSM "Homecoming", screengrab from commercial

Diaz had no dialogues in the TVC and the moving commercial relied on his emotive skills. For his Best Actor award, he was cited “for sympathetically essaying the role of a modern man rreturning to the fold of family and friends” and “for a deeply internalized characterization, proving that the human face, even in the absence of speech, is the eloquent instrument of emotion”.

JULIO DIAZ, in later years, Julio Diaz FB page

Diaz went on to become an accomplished film actor receiving prestigious more nominations from FAMAS (Best Actor, Sakay (1993) and Bayani (1992), Gawad Urion and Young Critics Circle. Diaz was well known for such films as: Sinner or Saint (1984), Paano Tatakasan ang Bukas? (1988), Kailan Ka Magiging Akin? (1990), Bayani (1992), Sakay (199),The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), Segurista (1996), Batanes (2007), Serbis (2008), Kinatay (2009), and Biyaheng Lupa (2009).He was also seen in popular TV series like ABS-CBN  “Asintado” (2018) and “Ang Probinsyano” (2016).

SOURCES:

Youtube Video: Ginebra, uploaded by fiastatah, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXB8CUdBNhY

Youtube video: ANG KWENTO NG NAGING BUHAY NI JULIO DIAZ, uploaded by SikatTV, Jan. 5, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxsyiBHKzqY

Photo: Lifted from Chisms

philnews.ph: Julio Diaz Breaks Silence Following Arrest During Drug Operation

Julio Diaz FB Page

Monday, October 25, 2021

348. Prestokolate from CFC: PRESTO CHOCOLATE, Print Ads 1968-1978

PRESTO CHOCOLATES OMNIBUS AD, 1971

The Consolidated Food Corporation (CFC) was founded in 1961 by John Gokongwei Jr., and, after surveying the local coffee landscape, decided that there was room more for new coffee brands. The market leader then was the post-war brand Café Puro of Commonwealth Foods Inc., which, by 1951, had become the no.1 selling coffee brand, a position it kept till the 1960s. 

PRESTO CHOCOLATE DRINK, Print Ad, 1969

CFC was ready to expand its business into new lines, and, after the Coffee, it  set its sights on the Chocolate market. SERG’s at that time, was the indomitable presence in that category, and CFC was now poised to challenge the iconic leader.

PRESTO, LUSCIOUS BITES O'FUN, Print Ad, 1970

In the late 60s, under the PRESTO brand name, CFC launched its first offerings—PRESTO Chocolate Drink, PRESTO Cocoa and PRESTO Chocolate Bar. The brands were supported by an aggressive marketing campaign that was heavy on advertising and point-of-sale materials.

HA-HA-HAPPY PRESTO CHOCOLATE BARS, Print Ad, 1971

As expected, the new PRESTO Chocolate line were favorably received, but what chocolate lovers really went for were the classic chocolate bars. It was but a matter of time that PRESTO developed this bar line and unleashed a multitude of versions and flavors that came to include such variants as Marzipan, Chocolate Peanuts, Almonds, Cashew, Raisins, Orange, Milk Chocolate, Apollo, Milky Bar, Manor House, Krispy Bars, and Wafrets.

PRESTO Manor House, Milky Bar, Apollo, Print Ad, 1978

The intent to create an images for PRESTO as a “Chocolate Master Maker” succeeded as the chocolate products enjoyed varying levels of success. The chocolate drink and cocoa were later dropped, as focus shifted to the chocolate confections. The decision proved to be wise as PRESTO Chocolates--made more appealing with a more polished, trendier, fun-filled advertising-- continued to slay the market, with some products becoming bywords among the younger set.  PRESTO Chocolates thrived all the way to the 1970s decade. PRESTO became a mother brand or its ice  cream line which also enjoyed some success.  

While today, the chocolate bars are long gone from store shelves, the PRESTO name continues to be  carried by the filled snack biscuits and sweets of Universal Robina Corp. (URC),, the new corporate name of CFC today.

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

347. Brand Stories: TENTAY PATIS, 1949

RUPERTA "Tentay" JAVIER and her famous Tentay Patis, 1960s vintage bottle

Aling “Tentay” was the nickname of Ruperta Javier, the enterprising mother from Navotas who, in 1949, gave us the popular dipping sauce, TENTAY PATIS.  Aling Tentay, who learned patis-making by accident, was looking for a home business to supplement her family income. She came from a fishing family, so she saved the unsold catch, fermented the fish and bottled the fish sauce, which were a hit to friends and neighbors.  

TENTAY PATIS is still being enjoyed on Filipino tables, manufactured by Tentay Food Sauces, Inc. Aling Tentay would be proud to know that the fisch sauce brand that bears her name is sold not only here, but also distributed around the world--from the Middle East, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia to Guam, Hawaii, New Zealand and mainland U.S.A.

 WATCH THE TENTAY PATIS VIDEO
FROM "BUSINESS & LEISURE", uploaded 9 Mar. 2016

SOURCES:

The Beginnings of a a Mother’s Legacy, http://www.tentaysauces.com/2011/03/tentay-patis-a-mother%E2%80%99s-legacy/

Video credits: Proud Pinoy-Tentay Patis. by Business and Leisure, uploaded 9 March 2016. 

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

346. Pop From The Past: Canada Dry HI-SPOT

CANADA DRY HI-SPOT, 1962 Print Ad

Canada Dry Beverages, which was founded in 1923 by P.D. Saylor and Associates, reached the country in the 1950s when the Canada Dry Bottling Co.  of the Philippines was put up in Parañaque, Rizal, by authority of the Canada International Corp. New York, U.S.A. 

One of its short-lived products that was launched here was HI-SPOT Lemon Soda, a bubbly, sparkling lemon-y soft drink introduced in 1965. Hi-Spot was overshadowed by more popular Canada Dry products like Uva, Tru-Fruit Orange, Kola Champagne, so production was discontinued.

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

345. THE GIRLS OF ESKINOL, 1965-1990

ESKINOL, perhaps the most well-known facial lotion brand in the Philippines—was the creation of Dr. Esperanza Castro-Palting, a pharmacist, who concocted the solution back in 1945. She launched her ESKINOL MEDICATED FACIAL SOLUTION  with 200 bottles, which sold out quickly and would be one of the most successful anti-pimple products  in the history of the Philippine skin care industry. ESKINOL started to advertise at the beginning of the 50s decade, with small, black and White illustrated ads. It was only in 1964 that it began featuring photographs of real models, but these lovely ladies of mixed nationalities were never identified.

1965 ESKINOL ADS featuring unnamed models.

It was only in 1968 that they started featuring models with celebrity status, beginning with the mestiza beauty from Liloan, Cebu, PILAR DELILAH PILAPIL, who was Bb. Pilipinas-Universe of that year. She appeared in at least 2 ads. After her Miss Universe journey, Pilapil set on a successful showbiz career that continues to this day.

PILAR PILAPIL, 1st ESKINOL GIRL, 1968

In 1970, ESKINOL featured AURORA PIJUAN, another Bb. Pilipinas beauty who went on to win our 2nd Miss International crown in Osaka, Japan. She has 2 children with Tommy Manotoc, Mavis and TJ manotoc, a sportscaster.

AURORA PIJUAN, 1970 AD,

The next year, MARICAR ZALDARRIAGA, Miss Young Pilipinas, became the ESKINOL model. She had been voted Miss Photogenic at the 1971 Miss Young International. She has a son, Paolo, with former Sen. Mar Roxas, and heads her own interior design firm.

MARICAR ZALDARRIAGA, 1971 AD

It was TINA REVILLA’s turn to be the face of ESKINOL in 1975. The popular TV teen personality and singer was one of the lovely daughters of Armando Goyena and Paquita Revilla, famed for her legendary beauty. Her mother and 2 sisters were Camay Girls themselves.  At her peak, Tina had her own TV shows (“Turn on with Tina”, “Ariel con Tina”) and also made a few movies. She is now Mrs. Sergio Valencia.

TINA REVILLA, 1975 AD

MARIANNE DELA RIVA, one of Manila’s 5 Prettiest for 1971-72 was tapped by ESKINOL for their 1978-79 campaign. This led to a career in showbiz via “Love Song” opposite Victor Laurel. She became a household name when she played Luisa in the hit soap Gulong ng Palad opposite with Ronald Corveau (as Carding) whom she married in 1979. She has since separated from Corveau, and is now the wife of Dr. Oscar Ortiz of Toms River, New Jersey.

MARIANNE DELA RIVA, 1978 AD

The Star for All Season, VILMA SANTOS, became the most popular ESKINOL girl, when she was signed up in the 1980s to do a full tri-media campaign for the brand. She was also the most effective celebrity endorser, and the model most associated with ESKINOL. Her most popular TVC was the “Cherished Possession” commercial.

VILMA SANTOS, 1984 AD

SANTOS’s relationship with the brand extended all the way to the 1990s, and went beyond the usual testimonial approach. She became a constant presence in TVCs, supporting newer, younger models. She also became  an ambassador  for the brand, showing other girls how ESKINOL can give them a fairer, fresher face—as in this print ad which shows another future award-winning actress, CHERRY PIE PICACHE.

VILMA SANTOS WITH CHERRY PIE PICACHE (R), 1990 AD

 In 1987, a contest was launched in a noontime show that featured the search for the ESKINOL CAMPUS GIRL. The winner was RAQUEL ANA BUNAG of Caayan de Oro, who had been a Mutya ng Pilipinas contestant that same year. She appeared at least once in an ESKINOL spread ad.

RAQUEL ANA BUNAG, ESKINOL CAMPUS GIRL, 1987

To be an ESKINOL GIRL was a dream role that every talent wanted to win, as it was an iconic role, just a shade behind a Lux or Camay Girl. Unfortunately, ESKINOL advertising after the 1990s decade were few and far between. The “ESKINOL GIRL” campaign was revived in 2016 when the company announced that MAINE MENDOZA, of the hit TV portion “Aldub” of Eat Bulaga, had been selected as an ESKINOL GIRL. She starred in a “Linis-Kinis” commercial that was seen on national TV that same year.

WATCH ESKINOL's "MAINE MENDOZA" 2016 TVC HERE:

 SOURCES:
Eskinol Philippines: youtube, Eskinol with Maine Mendoza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03oKX7GooaQ


Wednesday, September 29, 2021

344. Brand Stories: DANGWA TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, 1928

BADO DANGWA, Gounder of Dangwa Tranco

DANGWA has become synonymous with blooms and flowers, so that when one needs them for special occasions, one is directed not to Dimasalang St. but to—“Dangwa”, where the buses that drop these flowers all the way from Baguio have their terminal. The bus line owes its name to Igorot maverick Bado Dangwa, a La Trinidad Agricultural School graduate.

DANGWA, 1960, screengrab from igorotna youtube post

DANGWA BUS, 1970. from the blog 'Home Court'

His ambition to be a teacher was put on hold when his school principal James Wright, convinced him that there was a better future in the transportation business. To get him started, Wright provided the cash-strapped Dangwa 5 Chevrolet cars discarded by the North Garage transport service. Dangwa was suddenly in business, using these cars to ply the La Trinidad-Baguio route.  Thus the DANGWA TRANSPORTATION COMPANY was born.

DANGWA TRANCO, Fleet no: 578,Bus Manufacturer:Santarosa
Motor Works Inc., Model: SR SDX,Taken: East Ave., Quezon City,
 posted by markstopover on flickr.com

Eventually, he would grow his fleet from just 3 cars in 1928 to 173 vehicles at the onset of World War II. After the war where he served as a guerrilla leader, he put the Dangwa Transportation back on its feet, and which continues in business today with its modern fleet of  air-conditioned buses. Dangwa would later become the governor of the Mountain  Province.

 WATCH "DANGWA TRANSCO"
The Beginning and Early Years,  uploaded by igorotna
20 Sep. 2020

SOURCES: Dangwa Tranco, The Beginning and Early Years, youtube, uploaded by igorotna, 20 Sep. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofy4l4lW2pA

Home Court, https://rusa4.wordpress.com/tag/dangwa-tranco-bus-1970/

Dangwa Terminal FB Page

Flickr.net: Posted by markstopover, DANGWA TRANCO, Fleet no: 578, Bus Manufacturer: Santarosa Motor Works Inc. (Philippines), Model: SR SDX, Shot Taken: East Ave., Quezon City

Gutierrez, Lazaro, Memoirs of Baguio 1901-1960, Summer Capital Publishing House, p. 215.

Fry, Howard T., A History of the Mountain Province, New Day Publishers, Quezon City, Philippines, © 1983