449. Beauty Queens as Ad Models: 1960 Miss Press Photography EDITA VITAL, for PINES CIGARETTES

MISS P-P-P IS A P-P-PINES CIGARETTE FAN, 1960 Ad

“Fresh as a breath of mountain air”---that’s how PINES CIGARETTES was described when it was launched in the Philippines in the late 1950s, a product of the Associated Anglo-American Tobacco Corporation. Established in 1949 in Pasay City, it is one of the oldest cigarette manufacturers in the country. PINES CIGARETTES has an exclusive “air softened”,  snow-white filter, promising a satisfying mild, refreshingly mentholated smoking experience. 

Edita Vital as Miss Philippines, courtesy of Mr. Tony Paat

Newly-elected Miss Press Photography EDITA RESURRECCION VITAL  was recruited to promote the merit of PINES CIGARETTES in this two-color print ad from 1960. The daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Domingo Vital of Quezon City, Vital was a student of the University of Santo Tomas when she was voted by the country’s association of press photographers as their muse.

“My ideal man should be a PINES smoker, because a PINES Smoker knows his own mind”, so what she claims in the print ad. “ He knows what he wants in a cigarette—full-flavor, light menthol coolness, and a mildness that can only be his, with PINES”.

PINES CIGARETTE AD, late 1950s. Courtesy of the Pinoy Kollektor

Later in the year, Vital went on to win the Miss Philippines title and got to represent the country in the 1^st ever Miss International Beauty Pageant in Long Beach, California. She reached the semifinals in the contest won by Colombia’s Stella Marquez. Lured by showbiz upon her return, she made period movies like Noli Me Tangere (1961)  and El Filibusterismo (1962), which earned her a FAMAS nomination. Vital is married to lawyer Angel Castaño, Jr. 

The company that manufactures PINES CIGARETTES continues to be in operation even after 70 years. Currently, it produces American-style cigarettes using a blend of the finest locally sourced and imported tobaccos. Its current brands include: Winnsboro, Casino, Freedom, Dallas, Navy Club, Spotlight, and Asia Boston.

SOURCES:

Associated Anglo-American Tobacco Corporation WEBSITE

Photo of Edita Vital as Miss PH: Tony Paat Collection, Veestarz

Special thanks to Edward delos Reyes of Pinoy Kollektor, for the use of his Pines Cigarette print ad clipping.

448. Beauty Queens as Ad Models: MYRNA PANLILIO, 1st Bb. Pilipinas-Universe for 1964 MISS UNIVERSE

1ST BINIBINI-UNIVERSE 1964, MYRNA PANLILIO IN HER 1ST AD

The honor of becoming the first ever Binibining Pilipinas belongs to then-21 year old Ma. MYRNA SESE PANLILIO of San Fernando, eldest of 4 children of Enrique M. Panlilio and Jaina Sese. Though she graced magazine covers after her victory, the only known ad she modeled in was for a beauty & fashion house called  Chantilly Gowns and Beauty Suite, located in Echague, Quiapo, and owned by Vicky San Diego. Carlos “Carling” Mercado was the lead make-up and hair artist, sought after by high society girls.

MYRNA AND OTHER MISSES. Below Myrna Panlilio is runner-up Elvie Gonzales,

Panlilio was crowned on 5 July 1964 at the Araneta Coliseum. The event was originally scheduled on 3 July, but had to be postponed due to Typhoon Dading. Myrna, a St. Scholastica  and Maryknoll graduate, was already working as a teller for Merchants Bank when she joined and won the crown over 15 candidates, trimmed from an original 28.

PAGEANT NIGHT IN MIAMI

 

Two nights before the binibini finals, she had also participated in the 1964 Maid of Cotton search, won by Bettina Herrero. She had better luck in the pioneer pageant, succeeding Lalaine Bennett, 4th placer to Miss Universe 1963. Myrna’s runners-up included Bb. Waling-waling, Milagros Cataag and Bb. Ilang-ilang, Elvira Gonzales (mother of another future binibini, Charlene Gonzales). One other candidate was Milagros Sumayao, a former Miss Press Photography winner like Elvira, who would later be known in showbiz as Mila Ocampo (mother of Snooky Serna). 

ARRIVAL AT MIAMI, Miss Philippins (rightmost) with other Miss U contestants 

Her prizes included a cash prize of P2,000, gold trophy from the Lions Club, a complete wardrobe from the Philippine Couturiers’ Association, Helene Curtis beauty products and a Regal sewing machine. Panlilio also won the right to represent the country in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Miami, Florida with the title going to Miss Greece, corinna Tsopei. Married to Dr. Ramon Borromeo (+), whose mother is Amparo Noel, herself a Carnival beauty winner (Visayan Queen 1912) from Cebu. Children: Ramon Jose, Patricia (+) , Mitzi. Durng Pres. Estrada's term, Panlilio was named Executive Director of Nayong Pilipino. Sadly, Myrna passed away at the age of 65 on 16 July 2009, from a gall bladder disease.

 SOURCES:

Screengrab of Miss U 1964, SMU Jones Film- G. William Jones Film and Video Archives

Alex Castro, Aro Katimyas Da, A Memory Album of Titled Kapampangan beauties 1908-2016.

447. MAGNOLIA CARNIVAL Frozen Creem, 1976

ANYTIME IS CARNIVAL TIME. MAGNOLIA CARNIVAL FROZEN CREEM

By the mid 70s, Magnolia, the dominant name in fine ice cream, found itself vulnerable with the rise of new ice cream brands, most specially from Presto Ice Cream, which even had a copycat “Flavorite of the Month” line, and even earlier, Silver Bell. In 1976, a Magnolia introduced a flanker brand, MAGNOLIA CARNIVAL FROZEN CREEM.The price brand consisted of 8 star flavor attractions: Super Strawberry, Jolly Orange, Merry Mocha, Vanilla Fling, Nangka Fantasy, Mango A-Go-Go, Groovee Ube and Chocolate Fiesta. It came in gallons, half-gallons and cups. 

In the 1980s, Coney Island Scooping Stations were successfully introduced in which one can enjoy even more affordable ice cream scoops in cones, with a merry variety of flavors. Magnolia had to change its position, by introducing its own scooped ice cream flavors thru its new line “Ice Cream Internationale”, to go against Coney Island. The CARNIVAL brand was discontinued, its flavors folded into Magnolia’s new scoop brand.