GINEBRA San Miguel’s new Calendar Girl — actress, dancer, reality star, and model Chie Filomeno – not only graces five new calendars from the spirits brand, she comes to life through an online interface.
Each one-page calendar features the full year and Ms. Filomeno in one of five poses: on roller skates, with a surfboard, at a photoshoot, working out, and in a car.
This year’s edition goes beyond just a calendar to tack on a wall: each of the Ginebra San Miguel calendars features a QR code which can be scanned with a smartphone. This leads to behind-the-scenes videos of the calendar girl photoshoots and message from Ms. Filomeno.
During an online launch on Dec. 1, Allan Mercado, Sales and Marketing Manager for Ginebra San Miguel said, “Every year, we have consistently chosen the exemplary Filipina: not just for her beauty and her excellent physique, but more importantly, for her character, which personifies Ginebra San Miguel’s brand values of matapang (brave), ganado (energized), and ‘never-say-die’.”
Ms. Filomeno, who has 16 credits to her name on her IMDB page (this includes her stint on Pinoy Big Brother just this year, her stint on noontime TV show It’s Showtime, and acting credits on films such as Crazy Beautiful You) joins a roster of Ginebra’s calendar girls that includes former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and actress Anne Curtis. “This calendar girl is a long-held tradition in Ginebra San Miguel, and an important part of our history. Since its inception in 1988, beauty queens, actresses, and models who have made their mark in their respective industries have graced our calendars,” said Mr. Mercado.
Upon being announced as next year’s Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl, Ms. Filomeno appeared onscreen in a red spaghetti-strap crop top and a sequinned skirt. She danced while behind-the-scenes clips of her posing for the calendar played in the background. “Very overwhelmed ako (I’m very overwhelmed),” she said. “Lahat ng paghihirap namin, from the staff of Ginebra, as in, thank you po from our hearts. (All of our trials, from the staff of Ginebra, thank you from our hearts). We love you all.”
Asked how she started out in showbiz (her earliest credits were from 2012), she admitted that, “It started with me trending on social media at some point.” This was possibly when she was with a dancing girl group called Girl Trends, which became famous for a performance on noontime TV show It’s Showtime, which featured her and her co-dancers not dancing in sync.
Asked how she prepared for her calendar shoot, she said that she worked out every day and contacting her trainer when she found out she was chosen for the role.
“It’s more than just being sexy. I want to be strong,” she said. “I’m hoping that our new strength paves the way for new wins and successes in the coming year,” she said.
“Ngayong pandemya, higit na mahalaga ang papel ng ating Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl (In this pandemic, the role of our Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl is more important),” said Mr. Mercado. “Iyon ay para magsilbing inspirasyon sa nakakarami; bilang simbolo ng pag-asa, katatagan at ang bagong tapang (That is to serve as inspiration for many; as a symbol of hope, strength, and new bravery).” — JLG
