336. MINA ARAGON for CASHMERE BOUQUET, 1961

CASHMERE BOUQUET is a line of toiletry and personal care products with a long history that stretches back to the 19^th century. It is a product of Colgate (later, Colgate-Palmolive)  which introduced the first milled perfumed toilet soap in 1872. The Palmolive Co. in the Philippines was set up in 1926 in a small Binondo office, becoming Colgate-Palmolive after merging with Colgate in 1928.

 As Colgate-Palmolive, the merged company launched Colgate Dental Cream, and CASHMERE BOUQUET products. The first products under this brand were all introduced in the mid 50s, that included CASHMERE BOUQUET Pomade, Beauty Soap and Talcum Powder.

 One of the earliest celebrity endorsers employed by CASHMERE BOUQUET was the young actress MINA ARAGON, who was contracted to appear in prints ads for CASHMERE BOUQUET Soap and Talcum Powder.

MINA ARAGON in CASHMERE BOUQUET SOAP AD, 1961

MINA ARAGON was a teen actress in the early 60s, with a hallowed showbiz pedigree. She was the daughter of Luis (Lou) Salvador Sr., the progeny of other celebrities like Lou Jr., Leroy Salvador, Philip Salvador, Alona Alegre, Ross Rival, among others. Mina was launched as “the discovery of the year” of People's Pictures Inc, in the 1961 Zaldy Zshornack starrer, “I Believe”.

 That same year, she was teamed up with rising superstar Fernando Poe Jr., in at least 5 movies: “Sakristan Mayor”, “Apollo Robles”,  “Hinahamon Kita”,  “Masikip ang Daigdig” (1962) and “Mandong Mandurukot” (1963). She would be partnered with a host of other leading men thereafter, from Romeo Vasquez, Bernard Bonnin and Bob Soler. But it was to another Poe that Mina eventually fell for and married in real life—Andy Poe, FPJ’s brother, but their relationship was short-lived.

MINA ARAGON in CASHMERE BOUQUET TALCUM POWDER AD, 1961

She would eventually marry Vicente del Rosario, who would go on to found the giant Philippine media and entertainment company, Viva Entertainment Inc. in 1981. Mina had a direct hand in the success if Sharon Cuneta and Vina Morales.Tragedy befell,MINA ARAGON when 6 people, including Mina's family members, died in an arson that  was started by Dolphy Jr. in 1981. She passed away in 1996.

 But way back in 1961, MINA ARAGON was at the cusp of national fame, with a stellar film career that had just started to peak, wanted by fans, producers, and advertisers alike—including the makers of CASHMERE BOUQUET, which she graciously, and effectively pushed as a commercial model on national print ads.

SOURCES:

Mina Aragon, geni,com: https://www.geni.com/people/Mina-Aragon/6000000015984865124

Mina Aragon, imdb, movie list

10 Most Shocking Showbz Crimes, on spot.ph: https://www.spot.ph/entertainment/44500/10-most-shocking-showbiz-crimes