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 2^nd 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

208. Celebrity Endorser: AURORA MCKENNEY PIJUAN, Miss International 1970

MISS INTERNATIONAL 1970 AURORA PIJUAN

Just as Gloria Diaz was winding her reign as Miss Universe of 1969, Aurora McKenny Pijuan of Bacolod extended the winning streak of ur beauty queens when she won the 1970 Miss International title in Osaka, Japan on 16 May 1970.

IBA NA'NG MATANGKAD. Pijuan starred in a tar margarine commercial tha highlighted her height
advantage. "Magaganda sila..matatangkad...buti, ako rin..." so went the establishing opening copy.

The southern belle (b. 11 Nov. 1949)  daughter of Marcelo Pijuan and Lucielle McKenney. was a St. Scholastica student when she joined her first contest-- Miss Teen Philippines 1966 contest. She placed second behind Mary Jane Madamba.  Four years later, she joined the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant and bagged the Bb. Pilipinas-International title, alongside Simonette delos Reyes who won Bb.Pilipinas-Universe.

PAL INTERNATIONAL AD WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL QUEEN. 1970.

Au-au, as her friends called her, was sent to Osaka, Japan for the international contest, as a side event of the Expo ’70 of Osaka. She was singled out from among 47 beauties to succeed Valerie Susan Holmes of United Kingdom. Her runners up included Argentina (Margarita Briese), Australia (Karen Papworth), Toshie Suda (Japan) and New Zealand (Susan Greaves).  The initials of the countries that placed coincidentally spelled out J-A- P-A-N.

WATCH AURORA PIJUAN'S CROWNING MOMENT

AS MISS INTERNATIONAL 1970 HERE:

The tall Filipina beauty stood out for her regal bearing, and stunning mixed American-Irish-Native American-Filipino and Spanish features, scoring the first double win for the Philippines  in the popular pageant (Gemma Cruz had won the crown 6 years before).

ESKINOL GIRL AURORA, 1970

It is also interesting to note that when crowned at the Exposition Hall Fairgrounds,  Au-Au was wearing a beaded midi-dress (a mid-calf dress worn with a pair of pants) instead of a gown—a non-traditional outfit for a royal crowning. While in Japan, she graced the Philippine Pavilion in Osaka and created a sensation.

PIJUAN DOES PEPSI. ca. 1970. Her Miss Universe counterpart modelled for Coke. 

She received a welcome fit for a queen, with beau Tommy Manotoc, in attendance. She was greeted by the First Lady, Imelda Marcos, whose daughter, Imee, would be involved controversially with Tommy, a few years after her marriage to the top golfer and basketball coach. As Au-au refused to grant a divorce, Imee’s status was that of a mistress.

Her Miss International reign was so hectic that she lost weight and often fell sick due to lack of sleep. Still, she was the toast of her proud country, and appeared in a number of high-profile ads long after her queenly duties were over. She had actually dabbled in commercial modeling even before she became a national beauty figure, doing ads for Eskinol.

MR. & MRS.MANOTOC FOR LOYOLA LIFE PLAN, 1974.

Au-au went to Long beach to crown the new Miss International 1971, Cheryl Jane Hansen of New Zealand. Her Bb. Pilipinas successor, Evelyn Camus, placed 3rd in the finals. 

Au-au had two children with Tommy Manotoc—Mavis (now Fuentebella) and sportscaster TJ Manotoc. An activist who supports many political and social advocacies, the former beauty icon is a member of  Gawad Kalinga, that works for the upliftment of people’s lives in rural Philippines.

PITCHING FOR FILSYN. Pijuan in a Christian Cordero outfit, 1979 

SOURCES: 

Miss International 1970 Aurora Pijuan from the Philippines, via Manny Tonogbanua, posted Oct.  22, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeoBAh7lQzc