420. An Explosion of Branded MAYON Products, 1930-1964

THE NAME IS MAYON!

The majestic MAYON Volcano is, without a doubt, the Philippines’ most beautiful natural wonder, dubbed as the world’s perfect cone volcano. For centuries, since historical accounts noted its first eruption in 1616, MAYON has inspired poets, artists and writers to sing praises to its name, and to the legendary beauty, ‘daragang magayon’ , who gave the volcano its name.

It comes as no surprise then, that when manufacturers came out with new products, they branded them with the name “MAYON”, perhaps to stand for the perfection of the qualities their products embody.

1935 MAYON STOVE AD

In 1930,  C. Tuason and Sons produced the famous MAYON STOVE, in an attempt to market an elegant contemporary stove that nevertheless continued to use firewood. It had a tiled top (which the company also produced separately), and was known to be smokeless, economical and inexpensive—you bring one home for a Php10.00 down payment!

1935 MAYON EVAPORATED MILK AD

Another MAYON-branded product came out in 1935, this time for children’s nutrition—MAYON EVAPORATED MILK.  The nourishing milk was produced by the overseas Japanese trading company, Daido Boeki Kaisha Ltd., which had an office in Manila by 1935. The can label bears the illustration of the steaming volcano—as if to suggest to mothers to serve the milk hot for their kids! Daido Boeki Kashia Ltd., still exists as the Marubeni Corp. today.

1957 MAYON COOKING OIL AD

In the mid 1950s, Philippine Manufactirng Company (PMC)—and the future Procter & Gamble Philippines, launched its MAYON VEGETABLE COOKING OIL. The procuts, as claimed, is pure and clear, to bring out the natural flavor of food, without imparting the unpleasant taste of solidified fats. As such, MAYON Cooking Oil stayed in the market for quite some time till the next decade, until another cooking oil “erupted” on the scene to become its competitor—Taal.

1964 MAYON WRITING PADS AD

In 1964, MAYON WRITING PADS “for all grades” were advertised in the market as the  fine quality brand of pads and notebooks well-known by Filipinos everywhere—“like our famous Mayon Volcano”.   The writing pads , identified by the volcano graphic, were distributed locally by Joc Trading Co.

To this day, MAYON, as a brand name, continues to be favored by a few companies for their products. A quick check of the Philipine marketplace yielded  such current products as: MAYON Lacquer Thinner, MAYON Cream Style Corn, MAYON Dry Peas, MAYON Bread Flour, MAYON Brushes, and even MAYON Coal Tar. Hopfully, with a name like MAYON,  more “explosive” sales await in their  future!

262. TAAL and MAYON COOKING OIL: For Food that “Erupts” with Flavor!

HAVE A BLAST COOKING WITH TAAL & MAYON!!

One of the more common ways to brand new products is to name them after places, whether these are places of their origins or not --like Baguio Oil,  Manila Beer, Pampanga’s Best.  Two of the more interesting brand names for  cooking oils are TAAL and MAYON, especially in light of what is happening with the 2 active volcanoes today.

 

EARLY MAYON PRINT AD, 1957

In the 1950s, shortening— hydrogenated vegetable oils in solid form like Purico---were the most widely used products for cooking. That is, until liquid cooking oils were introduced in the market and slowly gained popular acceptance in the same decade.  

 

MAYON, THE LIQUID SHORTENING, Print Ad 1959

MAYON of Philippine Manufacturing Co. is one such cooking oil that positioned itself as “the liquid shortening”. Named after the world’s perfect cone—MAYON Volcano--the marketers felt no need to use the image of the famed volcano for the product packaging. They, perhaps, believed that the name MAYON was well-known enough.

 

MAYON LIQUID MANTECA, Print Ad, 1960

Since MAYON was a liquid shortening,  it does not solidify (sebo) fast, so  “you taste the food, not the shortening”.  MAYON Cooking Oil was also a money-saving product for cooking, sautéing, baking and frying, a pint of the product can cook up to 100 meals for the family. MAYON Cooking Oil was available in the market for over a decade since its launch in 1956.

 

TAAL COCONUT COOKING OIL, surrent product packages.

A newer product is TAAL Coconut Cooking Oil, made in the 1970s by Malabon Soap and Oil Industrial  Co., It was a family-owned enterprise headed by 2-time Olympian shooter, Mariano “Tom” Ong, the same company that made Spring Cooking Oil, Puro, Vista and Freeto.

The inspiration of the name—TAAL Volcano—appears as a graphic image on the front panel of the packaging. The price brand also is available in bottles. The product is still in the market today, in the company’s Malabon plant, now managed by Ong’s son, Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, a multi SEA Games medallist.in shooting, after his father’s demise in 2016.

 

MAYON COOKING OIL, Print Ad 1965

Though launched in different decades and generations, these 2 cooking oil products share a similar brand history—that of being named after 2 restive volcanoes that are making news to this day. For the makers of TAAL and MAYON though, it is their hope that their products deliver only best to your family’s table—food bursting with bombastic flavor!

SOURCE:

TAAL COOKING OIL PHOTO: Malabon Soap and Oil Industrial  Co., FB Page