THE DUO first appeared on TV only 4 months ago. It’s been called a phenomenon, the way they have almost instantly captivated the minds and hearts of young adults and older. The degree of near fanaticism among their fans cannot be denied, as dramatized on television, magazines, and social media.
Within that period, one after the other, top advertisers have gotten Alden Richards and Yaya Dub (Maine Mendoza) to endorse their products — playing their exact TV roles, a fictional couple courting each other and in love.
Two of the six commercials that have been produced and telecast as of this writing have delighted me in their simplicity and connection to the advertised brands. Of course, both of the stories of Bear Brand Adult Plus TVC and McDonald’s TVC revolve around the duo’s loving relationship. These two advertisers have most successfully exploited the AlDub hype.
Nestlé’s Bear Brand Adult Plus material is more expansive as advertising agency Publicis Manila revolves around the message that Bear Brand Adult Plus visibly strengthens you for all sorts of work.
Hence, we see Alden Richards acting in various work settings as foreman, supermarket bagger, elegant limousine driver, and barber. Yaya Dub, on the other side of the split screen, acts her own roles as compassionate caregiver, mag-gugulay (vegetable vendor), makeup artist, and comedian.
This commercial makes use of the TV program Eat Bulaga’s unique presentation device, the split screen. This, of course, titillates the fans into an instant identification of what is now their favorite noontime TV program, carrying the Kalyeserye (street series) segment of Alden and Yaya Dub.
Publicis Manila is able somehow to subtly bring the value of working energetically and well for the family’s daily sustenance into the consciousness of the viewers.
This is akin to the said Eat Bulaga segment where, every day, values of respect, obedience, and traditional caring and love in courtship are laudably projected, while retaining the segment’s comedic and entertainment values.
McDonald’s as of this writing has produced two commercials that successfully heighten the kilig (thrill) factor of AlDub fans while the duo separately enjoy McDonald’s varied offerings.
Both Leo Burnett’s McDo 30-seconders make use of romantic songs, while Yaya Dub fondly opens the heart-shaped locket around her neck and views her beloved Alden on one side and herself on the other side.
Alden, in parallel, opens his wallet and rolls out numerous photos of Yaya Dub. He heartily sings to her in the photos.
Leo Burnett’s writers remain faithful to the program’s episodes where the two at first do not meet or have direct personal interchanges.
The second McDo TVC brings in the three lolas towards the end of the commercial, a great stinger, you might say. I like the gloss of both of the McDo materials, and the slow singing and pacing add to the viewers’ immense thrill.
In the forthcoming weeks and months, I am sure there will be a slew of other commercial productions starring the same endorsers and similar springboards to other brands of other product categories. Both Bear Brand Plus and McDonald’s commercials, however, have merited a hard-to-achieve memorability, not only for their creativity, but also for their on-their-toes speed in production. Take a bow, Publicis Manila and Leo Burnett.
Credits: Bear Brand Plus. Agency: Publicis Manila. Matec Villanueva, chairwoman; Alistair Wood, chief creative officer. Creatives — Paolo Fabregas, creative director; Angela Mendoza, senior copywriter; Rei Santos, senior art director; Josef Olaybal, Art Director. Accounts — Marlen Del Rosario, division head; Meg Racho, account director; Christina Melchor-Toledo, senior account manager. Strategic Planning — Malou Betco, strategic planning director; Mark Dehesa, strategic planner.
Production: Just Add Water. Mavic Martin and Danise Talaba, producers; Carlo Directo, director; Jun King Austria, assistant director; Ade Leung, production design.
Production House: Pabrika.
“Locket”. Client: Golden Arches Development Corp. Brand: McDonald’s Chicken Savers. Kenneth Yang, president and CEO; Margot Torres, executive vice-president for marketing / deputy managing director; Kring Lao, marketing director; Ada Almendras, senior product manager; Roan Tanafranca, brand assistant.
Agency: Leo Burnett Manila. Raoul Panes, Carl Urgino, Noel San Juan, Toby Amigo, Momon Villanueva, and Ryan Giron, creative team; Donny Dingcong, Judy Buenviaje, Maik Alturas,and Mary Pahati, accounts team.
Production House: Filmex. Jenny Lao-Pastor, director; Steve Vesagas and Tria Sordan (Slingshot Manila), producers; Gino Cruz (Loudbox), music; Rico Gonzalez (Hit Productions), audio production.
Post-Production: Post Manila.
NANETTE FRANCO-DIYCO ended her 15th year advertising career as Vice-President of JWT, segueing into the world of academe, currently teaching communications at the Ateneo de Manila University. nanettediyco131@gmail.com
TONY WHEELER famously started the Lonely Planet series of travel guides in 1973 after embarking from London in a minivan, driving through the “hippie backpacker trail” in Asia and finally arriving in Sydney, where he and his wife Maureen had 27 cents between them.
After selling the Lonely Planet enterprise for $133 million in 2007 to the BBC, Mr. Wheeler, 66, no longer needs to travel on the cheap.
Nevertheless, there he was taking 22 different budget airline flights earlier this year from London to Melbourne, Australia, in a month-long reprise of his first epic journey.
It wasn’t nearly as romantic — the cramped airplanes seats, tedious airport security and delays — “but I enjoyed it, I really did,” Mr. Wheeler said in an interview on the sidelines of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival on the Indonesian island of Bali at the weekend.
His new book, which is not yet published, also looks back at the history of air travel in the region, and chronicles the startling growth of budget airline and the characters who started them.
‘BOOKS CHANGED WITH US’
Tony and Maureen started the guidebooks based on the diaries of his original trip. The books, originally pitched toward the young baby boomer backpack generation that was discovering Asia, changed over time.
“The early books we wrote for ourselves. And then as we got older and wealthier and had kids, the books changed with us. It wasn’t a deliberate policy. We changed and the books changed, too.”
Mr. Wheeler said he was bitterly disappointed with how BBC handled Lonely Planet, which sold the franchise to Kentucky tobacco billionaire Brad Kelley in 2013 at a steep loss.
“It was a total disaster. They bought the Lonely Planet car. They should have put some fuel in the tank, and put it flat to the floor. Instead they got in the car, and said ‘what do we do?’ Let’s drive slowly.’”
In any case, the travel guide industry has matured, he said.
“No one’s going to do what we did all those years ago. If you’re going to be doing something now, it will be entirely different, something nobody’s foreseen yet. I don’t know what that is. If I did, I’d do it myself.”
What he continues to do is travel and write. When Mr. Wheeler first heard US President George W. Bush speak of the “axis of evil,” his first thought was “I’ve got to go there!”
The result was a 2010 book called Bad Lands, which took him to the three “axis” countries of Iran, Iraq and North Korea, and another half-dozen countries with unsavory reputations
He followed that with a book called Dark Lands, in which he visited an array of dysfunctional countries.
The common criteria for these places: “It’s got to be edgy,” a challenge to get into and risky to be in, he said. — Reuters
NOBODY did it better than actor Daniel Craig, director Sam Mendes and screenwriters John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade with 2012’s Skyfall, a strong contender for the best James Bond film ever made.
Shasta (played by Reb Atadero) and Bree (voiced by Joel Trinidad) in Trumpets’ staging of C.S. Lewis’ The Horse and His Boy
EVENTS
The online shopping discovery platform Takatack kicks off the holiday shopping season with its E-Deals Carnival, which will give consumers up to 80% off from purchases on over 40 different lifestyle brands, until Nov. 15. The shopping carnival on Takatak.com features items ranging from clothes and shoes to fragrances and bicycles. Consumers can find discounted products from a variety of merchants, including Zalora. Zalora shoppers can also use the discount code “ZCARNIVAL” to get an 18% discount on a purchase of P1,000 or more during the promo period. Other lifestyle brands include Tern Bicycles, Scent Swatch, Hickok Leather, Del Mundo Body Jewelry, Style Compass, Fashion Hub, Angeline Shoes, OMF Literature, Chaser Action Sports, Fledge Clothing, and Sophia Love Fragrances. All merchants participating in Takatack’s E-Deals Carnival can be found in the special promo page www.takatack.com/pages/e-deals.
There will be a Kundalini Yoga retreat in Palawan from Nov. 20 to 22. The three-day/two-night retreat will be held at Bahay Kalipay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Rosan Cruz directs this retreat that is open to first timers, beginners, and regular yoga practitioners. Ms. Cruz, who is also a theta healer, also teaches Hot Yoga and Yin Yoga. Aside from building flexibility, balance, strength and other physical health benefits, “the ancient technology of Kundalini Yoga awakens practitioners spiritually,” says Ms. Cruz. To reserve a slot, call 0927-547-7871 or e-mail bahaykalipayretreats@gmail.com.
The Proud Pinoy Stitchers (PPS) in cooperation with Christ the King Parish Church, Greenmeadows, Libis, QC, will be staging an exhibit/sale entitled Karayom Masterpieces II: Relihiyon at Amorsolo featuring religious images and paintings of Fernando Amorsolo done in cross stitch on Nov. 21-22 and 28-29 at the CTK Formation Center in the parish church. The event is slated to raise funds for the parish’s various community services.
EXHIBITS
On Nov. 16, the nation celebrates the 125th Birth Anniversary of Elpidio Quirino, the 6th President of the Philippines, who rebuilt a Philippines devastated by war. To celebrate the man, a commemorative exhibit will run from Nov. 7 to 28 at the Ayala Museum, Makati City. Largely drawn from the Filipinas Heritage Library and the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation’s rich collection of papers and memorabilia, Defining Quirino highlights stories of one statesman’s journey from teacher to president, his vision and achievements, and his deep sense of humanity. Designed to resemble a dictionary, the exhibit features words associated with Quirino and gives their meaning through vignettes of his life and legacy. It will also feature a tribute wall of 125 portraits of the President, contributed by 125 artists, friends, and family in honor of Quirino. A series of events will also be held on all Saturdays of November: A lecture by Manuel Quezon III during the exhibit opening on Nov. 7; a talk by former White Russian refugee Natalie Sabelnik, and a concert featuring Russian Folk Singer and former refugee Nikolai Massenkoff with the Manila Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 14; a lecture by historian Ambeth Ocampo on Nov. 21; and the book launch of Elpidio and Alicia: The Love Letters on Nov. 28. This exhibition at the 2nd floor of Ayala Museum is free and open to the public. Group tours to the exhibit are also available upon request. For inquiries and group tour reservations, e-mail asklibrarian@filipinaslibrary.org.ph, or call 759-8288 local 36.
Art Informal gallery presents several art exhibits that will run until Nov. 21: The Wit of the Staircase by Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, a collection of works that imaginatively re-purpose what is abandoned; Pam Yan- Santos’ Filling Up the Big Room, a series of paintings and installation; and, Violent Noon by Kitty Kaburo, who uses time lapse video and mixed media pieces. Art Informal gallery is located at 277 Connecticut St., Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City. For details, call 725-8518, or 0918-899-2698, or visit www.artinformal.com.
Pablo The Fort presents Juni Salvador’s Artshistory until Nov. 28. The gallery is located at C-11 South of Market, 11th and 24th Sts., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. For details, call 400-7905, 0927-454-8442, or e-mail fort@pablogalleries.com.
In celebration of a recently launched book on the life and art of Roberto Chabet, considered the father of Philippine conceptual art, an exhibit of his works are on display at MO_Space, MOS Design, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The exhibit runs until Nov. 22. For details, call 856-7915, 0917-572-7975, e-mail mospaceph@gmail.com, or visit www.mo-space.net.
Samsung Electronics Philippines and the Yuchengco Museum present a tribute exhibition to National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera who is is marking 50 years as an artist. The interactive exhibit, dubbed BenCab in Two Movements, is on view at the museum until Jan. 16. The exhibition highlights handpicked works he created to capture the dance movements of London-based Chinese dancer San Lee, and Polish dancer and choreographer Paulina Wycichowska. Through Samsung’s SUHD and UHD TV technologies, BenCab in Two Movements hopes to provide museum visitors immersive experiences at the same time curatorial information on shared art experiences between a painter and a dancer. Yuchengco Museum is located at the RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avess., Makati City. For details e-mail info@yuchengcomuseum.org or visit http://yuchengcomuseum.org.
Until Nov. 21, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) presents The Vexed Contemporary featuring 16 Filipino artists whose practices lend themselves to a global compass. They are: Pio Abad, Poklong Anading, Victor Balanon, Yason Banal, Lena Cobangbang, Louie Cordero, Kiri Dalena, Leslie De Chavez, Kawayan De Guia, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Cocoy Lumbao, Gina Osterloh, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Ikoy Ricio, Maria Taniguchi, and The Weather Bureau. MCAD is at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, School of Design and Arts Campus, Vito Cruz, Malate, Manila. For details, e-mail mcad@benilde.edu.ph, call 230-5100 loc 3897, or visit www.mcadmanila.org.ph.
Galleria Duemila in partnership Greenbelt presents New Life, a public sculpture exhibition by Impy Pilapil. The exhibit runs until Feb. 28, 2016 at Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For details, call 831-9990, e-mail gduemila@gmail.com, or visit www.galleriaduemila.com.
PERFORMANCE
Red Turnip Theater presents Kenneth Lonergan’s comedy This is Our Youth, on Nov. 6 to 22, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays at 4 and 8 p.m., at A Space_Gallery, A Space, 110 Legazpi St., Makati City (opposite Greenbelt 5). Set in New York City in 1982, it follows two college dropouts whose lives are thrown in for a loop when they find $15,000 worth of stolen cash. It stars Nicco Manalo, Jef Flores and Cindy Lopez. Tickets cost P940.50 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
Trumpets presents C.S. Lewis’ The Horse and His Boy, adapted by Luna Griño from the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and a follow-up to the company’s much-acclaimed musical adaptation of C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. It is the tale of an orphan boy, Shasta, and a talking horse, Bree, as they journey from oppression and slavery to Narnia, the place the horse calls home, and where the boy hopes to find who he is and where he truly belongs. Directed by Jaime del Mundo. From Nov. 6 to 22, at the Meralco Theater, Meralco Bldg., Ortigas Ave., Meralco Center, Pasig City. Tickets range in price from P836 to P2,090 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila present Cookin’ Nanta, a non-verbal performance that guarantees plenty of laughs in the kitchen, from Nov. 10 to 15 at The Theatre at Solaire. For details, call TicketWorld 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Repertory Philippines presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a staging of Michael Valenti and Elsa Rael’s adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Directed by Joy Virata, the play stars Christine Flores, Alana Vicente, Becca Coates alternating as Snow White; Bituin Escalante, Ring Antonio, and Pam G alternating as the queen; and Hans Eckstein, Jos Jalbuena, Jeff Flores alternating as the prince/woodsman. The play is being staged until Dec. 10 at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City. Ticket prices range from P400 to P600. For details, call 843-3570, TicketWorld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.
The concert Sweet Sexy Diva featuring Danna Garcel, will be held on Nov. 11, 8 p.m., at the Music Museum, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Ave., San Juan City. Her guests will be Daryl Ong and Luke Mejares, among several other surprise guests. Tickets range in price from P824 to P2,060. For details, call TicketWorld 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Independent Philippine Art Ventures, Inc. and Alliance Française de Manille present Judicael Perroy – From Bach to Villa-Lobos featuring the young Frenchman who is a virtuoso classical guitarist. The concert will be held on Nov. 12, 7 p.m., Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP College of Music in Diliman, Quezon City. Tickets range in price from P522.50 to P1,045 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Technical Theater Program Batch 112 presents Paglayan Minamahal, a three-act sarswela about the love between a young barrio lass and a rich ilustrado set during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, written and directed by Palanca winner George de Jesus III and music by Jeffrey Hernandez. Performances will be on Nov. 12 to 15, 1 and 7 p.m., at the SDA Theater, School of Design and Arts Campus, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Pablo Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. For information, check facebook.com/PaglayaBENILDE. For ticket inquiries, contact Shema Lamiao at 0905-452-2858 or Franco Ramos at 0917-502-5909.
There will be an afternoon of site specific multi-genre performances through Dante’s Purgatory at De La Salle College of St. Benilde campuses in Malate, Manila. Love Gone Wrong/Love Redeemed is an artistic pilgrimage that involves immersive theater, dance, song, and cosplay from 1:30 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the College of St. Benilde’s Taft Campus, through the streets of Leon Guinto and Pablo Ocampo, and through Benilde’s School of Design and Arts on 950 Pablo Ocampo St. For details call 230-5100 loc. 3812.
An Evening with Chiang Chihfeng and Lee E-jun will be held on Nov. 13, 7 p.m., at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Newport Mall, Newport Blvd., Newport City, Cybertourism Zone, Pasay City. Tickets range in price from P3,125 to P7,500 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
Philippine Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker – A Full Length Classical Ballet on Nov. 13 to 15 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. It features Joseph Phillips, principal dancer of the State Primorsky Opera & Ballet Theater as the Nutcracker Prince, who will partner with PBT’s ballerinas, Lobreza Pimentel and Regina Magbitang, who will take on the roles of Clara and Sugar Plum Fairy. Tickets range in price from P51.50 to P2,060 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
EZ Events Productions presents Mel Soriano Inspiration: Nat King Cole Unforgettable Hit Songs with guests Dulce, Hannah Nolasco, Rozette Miguel Aguila, Gion Gounet, Douglas Masuda and Señoritos. The concert will be on Nov. 14, 7 p.m, at the Music Museum, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. Part of the proceeds of the concert will go to the Philippine National School for the Blind. Tickets range in price from P1,030 to P2,575 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
The Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation presents a concert by Carmencita Sipin Aspiras on Nov. 17, 7 p.m. The Filipino piano master returns to Manila to perform and launched her book at the Ayala Museum, Makati Ave. cor. De La Rosa St., Makati City. She will be performing the works of Mozart, Chopin and the epic Schumann’s Fantasy in C. Tickets cost P1,030 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
The Daloy dance company presentsMga Sayaw ng PAGHILOM, a fundraising show that focuses on healing through dance with a look to the past and a nod at the future. As a non-profit, independent company, the revenue of this fund-raising show will be allocated to support Daloy’s studio rental, travel expenses for upcoming tours and full mounting of Unearthing in 2016. Mga Sayaw ng PAGHILOM will have performances on Nov. 19 and 20 at the PETA Theater Center’s 3rd Floor Studio A and B. Tickets are P1,500 and are inclusive of one free contact improvisation class held every Saturday at noon at the Erehwon Arts Center. For tickets contact 0939-926-9232 (Sarah) or 0998-985-9185 (Carla).
Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group presents the first international production of the Tony Award winning musical The Bridges of Madison County from Nov. 20 to Dec. 6, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. cor. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, The Bridges of Madison County tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. Directed by Bobby Garcia, it stars Joanna Ampil and Mig Ayesa. Tickets range in price from P940.50 to P3,135 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
The Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation presents Viva Voce’s production of La Boheme (the chamber opera) on Nov. 26, 7 p.m., at the Ayala Museum, Makati Ave. cor. De La Rosa St., Makati City. Viva Voce is an ensemble of young classically trained vocal artists led by soprano-teacher Camille Lopez Molina and Pablo Molina. Tickets cost P1,545 and P1,030 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
Douglas Nierras directs HIGHER with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, choirmaster Mark Anthony A. Carpio, The Nightingales, andDouglas Nierras’ Powerdance. The show will be on Nov. 29, 8 p.m., at The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resort & Casino, Entertainment City, Parañaque City. Ticket range in price from P522.50 to P5,225 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).
Ballet Manila presents Osias Barroso’sPinocchio(Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. and on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.), Martin Lawrance’s Rebel(Feb. 19, 20, 26, 27 at 8 p.m. and on Feb. 21 and 28 at 3 p.m.) and Alan Hineline’s Hansel and Gretel (Jan. 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.). All performances are at Aliw Theater except for Hansel and Gretel, which will be at the Star Theater. For details, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999.
NEOGAN, a tiny village in Tagaytay city, is home to the Philippines’ only world-class restaurant (Antonio’s is the only restaurant in the country to have made it to the Miele Guide to Asia’s top 50 restaurants), and the weekend retreat of Senator Loren Legarda. It is also home to many poor residents, whose houses are little more than hovels.
TALK about synergy. Back in the 1980s, Hasbro hired an advertising agency to create an animated TV series centering on its line of rock star dolls, aimed at tween girls. The plot revolved around a young music company owner named Jerrica Benton who, through an advanced machine nicknamed Synergy, created a holographic image over herself to create a rock band frontwoman named Jem. The band, known as the Holograms, was comprised of her younger biological sister Kimber and a pair foster sisters, Aja and Shana.
