406. Miss Universe 1969 GLORIA DIAZ: Universal Beauty Calendar Insert, from SEIKO, 1970

GLORIA DIAZ , IN A SEIKO CALENDAR GIVEAWAY, 1970

One of the favorite giveaways of companies during Christmas and the New Year are calendars—chosen for their practical use, and for decorative purpose. Indeed, SEIKO WATCHES made sure their premium calendar—given free as an insert in magazines---will be most appreciated, as the company tapped the year’s reigning Miss Universe 1969, 18 year old  Gloria Aspillera Diaz, to grace the one-sheet calendar. Diaz was hailed as the very first Filipina Miss Universe, and went on to become a successful actress and showbiz personality.

SEIKO, the Japanese company that made quality  watches, clocks, and timepieces, was founded in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo.  SEIKO  has distinguished itself as the most dependable, innovative (the company was one of those that launched the first quartz watches in the world)  and durable brand of timepieces in the market.

 SEIKO WATCHES were already available in the Philippines in the late 1960s, with many service centers nationwide. Today, they are sold by Seiko Philippines is a Filipino-owned corporation designated as the  authorized seller and service center of Seiko Watch Corporation in the country.

405. HAVE A SANYO CHRISTMAS! Corporate Ad, 1975

SANYO CHRISTMAS PRINT AD, 1975

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., is a Japanese electronics company founded in 1949 by Toshio Iue, who grew it to become a Fortune 500 Japanese Electronics Company. SANYO means “three oceans”- referring to the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, as it was Iue’s ambition to make his business global.

In 1971, SANYO established international operations in the Philippines , thus SANYO Philippines Inc. came to be. It manufactured home appliances and consumer electronics—from air conditioners, refrigerators, radios, televisions, gas ranges, electric fans, and washing machines, that were marketed worldwide.

SANYO LOGO, 1976. Source: wikimediacommons

SANYO became a very popular brand in the Philippines in the mid 70s thru the 80s, as it was considered more affordable than the established Japanese brands like Toshiba, Panasonic and Mitsubishi, that is until Sharp Phils.came along.

With a booming business in 1975, SANYO greeted its growing legion of customers by putting out ots Christmas corporate ad, wishing them a happier life, that could only happen if one start buying their products now.

In 2011, the Haier Group acquired SANYO Electric Co.’s white goods business (refrigerator, washing machine, and consumer electric appliances) in select Asian markets like  Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. These are what SANYO Philippines Inc. continue to market, promote and advertise  today, online and in-store.

SOURCES:

Sanyo logo: wikimediacommons.

Sanyo website: https://www.sanyo-av.com/us/

Haier  completes acquisition of Sanyo brands in Southeast Asia:  https://www.haier.com/ph/about-haier/news/20190912_105720.shtml

404. Is That Who I Think She Is? LULETTE MORAN for BON-AMI Polishing Cleaner, 1974

LULETTE MORAN FOR BON AMI CLEANSER, 1974 Print Ad

Not all eyes were on Maria Margarita Moran when she reigned as 1973 Miss Universe; TV viewers were also transfixed with the sight of the pert and pretty model of a new HALO Shampoo TV commercial, a Colgate-Palmolive product that aired just later in the year.

THE MORAN SISTERS, MARGIE & LULETTE

The model was LULETTE MORAN, the equally beautiful younger sister of Margie, who charmed us when she playfully transformed her hair—and her character-- using shampoo suds. “I’m a wabbit!” Lulette purred in the shower, with rabbit ears made from HALO foam, sticking out from her head. That shot of her would give her wide recognition, paving the way for more commercial projects and career opportunities. Unfortunately, no print of this TV ad exists.

MORAN, model of  HALO SHAMPOO

In this rare 1974 print ad, MORAN is the lovely endorser for BON AMI Polishing Cleaner,  an iconic cleaning brand manufactured back in the 1880s in Connecticut. In 1971, Bon Ami was purchased by the Faultless Starch Company, and found its way to the Philippines. BON AMI, was recommended for appliances, and kitchen cookware because it cleans without scratching.

Despite MORAN’s endorsement, BON AMI floundered because Ajax and Dutch Cleanser were unshakeable in their dominance.  With all her advertising exposure, it is the HALO Shampoo commercial that remains identified with her.

MORAN put her U.P. education to good use by joining Bancom, and later Jardine Davis. It was in one company social in Hong Kong that she met French-English Philip Monbiot, an Oxford graduate. She wed Monbiot and settled in Singapore, where her husband ran a cocoa trading business. They have 3 children Natalie, Charles and Edward, and are settled in  Kensington, London.

 SOURCES:

Bon Ami: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Ami / Halo Shampoo photo: ebay.com

Woman’s Home Companion Magazine

Butch Francisco, Lulette Moran after her halo days. https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2002/09/05/174755/lulette-moran-after-her-145halo-days146

 

 

403. SUN GOLD POMADE, by Peter & Co., 1962-1972 Ads

SUN GOLD PRODUCTS Omnibus Ad, 1962

During the 1960s, local cosmetic and perfumery companies began making their presence felt in the market, alongside foreign companies, mostly from Japan. One such company was Peter & Co., in Quezon City, which started out making cosmetics, perfumes and toiletry products.

AN OLD GLASS JAR OF SUN GOLD POMADE

Apparently, Peter & Co, enjoyed a measure of success in that period with their SUN GOLD brand of pomade, brilliantine, and perfume. The company regularly adevryised its SUN GOLD products in magazines from the 1960s-thru the 70s.

SUN GOLD POMADE AD, 1972

SUN GOLD Medicated Pomade turned out to be their flagship brand. Packaged in attractive  wide-mouth clear glass jars with signature ridges, the medicated pomade was known for its pleasing fragrance. In fact, SUN GOLD Medicated Pomade enjoyed a long stay in the market, adding irresistible sparkle to personalities” for decades. It allowed the company to stay in operations to this day

SUN GOLD POMADE, Then (1972) and Now (2022)

SUN GOLD Medicated Pomade is available on online sites today, like Lazada and Shopee Philippines in 25 g. plastic jars. It is described in the selling sites as “a perfumed pomade for our lolos”, that  is still used by loyal customers for their hair grooming needs.

PICTURE SOURCE: Sun Gold in plastic jar: Shopee Phils. 

402. MAGGI SEASONING: Wakes Up the Taste of Food!, 1980

MAGGI is an old brand named after Julius Maggi, who, in 1872  took over his father's mill in Switzerland, and introduced product innovations for the kitchen. Before Filipro became Nestlé Philippines in 1986, it had already acquired the MAGGI brand. 

Its early products were meant to compete against the more established KNORR products, hence the launch in 1980 of MAGGI Bouillon Cube and MAGGI Liquid Seasoning.

MAGGI Liquid Seasoning may look like soy sauce, as they are made in the similar way and are rich in umami. But Maggi is made from hydrolyzed wheat protein with a flavor that is deeper and more complex than soy sauce.

The all-out launch of MAGGI Liquid Seasoning in 1980 included a TV commercial with a mother as presentor, and these series of print ads visualizing the theme “Wakes up the flavor of…”.  Familiar dishes like Macaroni, Pork Chop and Siomai were featured in quarter-size color magazine ads, that appeared in pairs,  in leading magazines.

MAGGI Liquid Seasoning slowly made a dent on Knorr’s seasoning business, and would be rebranded in the 1990s as MAGGI Savor. It continues to be produced today with many variants; other than the Classic Flavor, it is available in Garlic, Calamansi, Hot Chili and ChiliMansi flavors,