30secondTHOUGHTS: MONSTER

Copy reads Does Internet reveal all our perversions?

Ad Title:          MONSTER
Ad Agency:     DraftFCB Paris
Client:              Chronic Art Magazine

30secondTHOUGHTS: Raffles Place Ghost

Truth or hoax? An old lady's ghost was spotted in an elevator in Singapore!!! Here's the clip!

Was the ghost real? Well, let this man do the talking.

Ad Title:        RAFFLES PLACE GHOST
Ad Agency:   McCann Erickson Singapore
Client:           GMP Recruitment Services


Clever, how even our fascination with the supernatural can be used to deliver an unexpected marketing stunt.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Zombie Outbreak / Halloween Grocery Store Lady

Because it's that season again, where the scary is normal and being normal is scary.

Ad Title:         ZOMBIE OUTBREAK
Ad Agency:    BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines
Client:             FedEx

Ad Title:         Halloween Grocery Store Lady
Ad Agency:    BBDO New York
Client:            Snickers

30secondTHOUGHTS: Vodacom / Chronic Art Magazine

Students, it is completely normal to transform into creatures of the night once in a while - particularly when you have a daunting midterms the following morning. Burning the midnight oil last Friday night was mandatory. After all, you've been dying to have that resurrection, out from the graveyards of the previous gut-wrenching quizzes.

So you howl your frustrations aloud. You suck your every energy and spill blood for every problem solved. All these things, yes all things, just to keep yourself alive.

Or else you, in your zombie-like state, will pronounce in a deep, haunting manner - "KILL ME NOW!!!"

Ad  Series:   NIGHT CREATURES
Ad Agency:  Draftfcb Johannesburg
Client:          Vodacom

I hope that after the moon escapes your given magic, the midterm grade will spell not the tragedies of the night, but a pleasant surprise of the much-needed morning. A pleasant surprise, I tell you. A pleasant surprise, I wish.

And I wish that you are not this after that morning...

Copy reads Everything you ever wanted to know about zombies.

Ad Title:            ZOMBIE
Ad Agency:       Draftfcb Paris
Client:                Chronic Art Magazine

Well done, creepy monsterzzzz.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Bangon

Umagang kay ganda.

Maaga akong gumising, alas singko pa lang, mulat na aking mga mata sa bagong araw. Kahit ang tanawin man sa labas ay makulimlim, batid ko na ang mga madidilm na ulap ay may tinatagong sinag ni Inang Araw - mga sinag ng pag-asa, ng mga pangako.

Kaya bumabangon ako para sa aking mga pangarap, para matupad ang mga ito, para mabuhay ito mula sa isang panaginip. Bumabangon ako dahil may mga taong naniniwala sa akin at alam kong hindi ako nila pababayaan.

At habang sinusulat ko ang mga salitang ito, unti-unting lumiliwanag ang tanawin sa labas, masasabing isang simpleng himala sa loob lamang ng sampung minuto.

Ikaw, para kanino ka bumabangon?

Ad Series: BANGON
Ad Agency: Publicis Manila
Client: Nescafe

30secondTHOUGHTS: UNLOCK THE 007 IN YOU

My name is Bond, James Bond.

Advertising agency Duval Guillame devised a clever way to promote the latest Bond flick, "Skyfall." In this execution, random train passengers win exclusive tickets to the Skyfall premiere - if they successfully unlock their inner James Bond in a matter of 70 seconds, planted obstacles and heart-thumping soundtrack considered. 

Ad Title: UNLOCK THE 007 IN YOU

Ad Agency: Duval Guillame, USA

Client: Coke Zero

 

30secondTHOUGHTS: Wake Up

Yawn! Yawn again!

I spent all night making the midterm exams (still halfway done, though). So, energy level is quite down this morning. I definitely need to recharge after proctoring for this quiz the students are taking as of this writing.

Or yeah. How about some coffee. Because every moment in life deserves a 30secondTHOUGHTS. Oh, hhmmm... Coffee. I'm not making any sense now. Here's the print adzzzz.

Ad Series: WAKE UP
Ad Agency: Impact BBDO Saudi Arabia
Client: Aroma Coffee

(*___*)

30secondTHOUGHTS: The Real Bears / Sugar is Killing Us

SUGAR.

Oh, such sweet word. The name has been immortalized in many ways - as a beautiful encounter, a momentous experience, an affectionate counterpart.

Well, almost.

In these recent ads, the excessive intake of our favorite confectionery is portrayed as a villain or a threat to our everyday lives - to our health in particular.

In "The Real Bears" for Center for Science in the Public Interest, animated polar bears suffer the consequences of drinking too much carbonated drinks. The spot indirectly hits Coca-Cola and its iconic polar bears, as implied symbols (i.e. the white polar bears, "Live Happy", "Be happy dammit" - obviously referring to the "happiness" branding Coke is known for ) are shown during the clip while Jason Mraz' "Sugar" is played on the background.

Ad Title: THE REAL BEARS
Ad Agency:  Common; The Butler Brothers
Client: Center for Science in the Public Interest

On the other hand, "Sugar is Killing Us" by bottled water company Fred discusses the dangers of sugar in an animated, infomercial approach. The in-house ad advocates that consumers can control the amount of sugar manufacturers use in their products - that by changing eating habits and purchasing more nutritious food, the mass market can "force the food industry to produce healthier food and stop adding sugar."

  

Ad Title: SUGAR IS KILLING US
Ad Agency: in-house
Client: Fred


Now, that's the not-so-sweet truth about sugar.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Doggelganger

After three consecutive 30secondTHOUGHTS about the feline kind, man's best friend started to bark, howl, and complain. So to address that remark, here's something for the dog lovers this time.

Based on the insight that dog owners share similar characteristics with their canine companions, Colenso BBDO developed a "Doggelganger" App for The Pedigree Adoption Drive. With the app, interested individuals can adopt his very doppelganger in the canine kind - a dog that actually looks like his future owner!

Ad Title: DOGGELGANGER*
Ad Agency: Colenso BBDO
Client: The Pedigree Adoption Drive

P.S.

I tried the actual app at doggelganger.co.nz and met my "doggelganger", with 63% accuracy. So if ever I'm going to New Zealand, I'll drop by The Pedigree Adoption Drive to meet Kylie, a Medium Cross Breed with such irresistible stare. Oh, isn't she adorable.

* video grabbed from vimeo.com

EVENTS: "The Animals" Special Screening

A special two-day screening of the 2012 Cinemalaya entry The Animals will be held on October 24 and October 31 at the Natividad Fajardo-Rosario Gonzales Auditorium, De La Salle University. Ticket prices at Php 150. Kindly contact Chelsea Olaya at 09179405553.

P.S.

I watched the indie film during its Cinemalaya run. The Animals is a commendable movie, providing great insights on how teenagers behave today.

Hashtag: #ConyoProblems

30secondTHOUGHTS: Cats With Thumbs / Cat Herders

Let's continue our affair with cats. This time, we have two feline-themed television commercials - "Cats with thumbs" by Wieden + Kennedy London for milk brand Cravendale, and "Cat Herders" by Fallon Worldwide for tech company EDS (Electronic Data Systems).

Ad Title: CATS WITH THUMBS
Ad Agency: Wieden + Kennedy London
Client: Cravendale

Ad Title: CAT HERDERS
Ad Agency: Fallon Worldwie
Client: Electronic Data Systems

So, meow. meow. Meow? Meow!

30secondTHOUGHTS: Sleeping Cat

Copy reads: No Workout. Healthy Cats.

Ad Series: SLEEPING CAT
Ad Agency: BBDO Argentina
Client: Whiskas

Meow says the sleeping cat. The print series is actually an optical illusion. If you zoom in more carefully, the cats are sleeping, without any signs of mobility. The magic is with the strategic placement of the boxes, logs, the background elements and the lighting, shadows - creating a three dimensional illusion for the print ad.

With Whiskas, the cats remain healthy even without need of workout or physical activity.

30secondTHOUGHTS: The Pledge Campaign

I've always been a cat lover. I love black cats in particular. Their snobbish remarks adds a hypnotizing charm to their ever-present mysterious persona. The way they stare in particular, with their eyes catching the secrets of the pale moonlight, is almost a spell made to captivate those who dare appreciate the feline nature.

I was buying dinner at the local carenderia last Sunday when I chanced upon a kitten named Khobe (apparently, the cuddly kitten was wearing a name tag). Khobe was playful, sneaky, rambunctious in his feline innocence. He reminded me of my kittens back in Dipolog - the cat named Bonito in particular.

Bonito is the friendly type, a rarity in the line of our adopted cats. He would approach any random person and would cuddle the person's feet as if his fur of black, grey, and white stripes were making a rhythmic dance of contact, a friendly engagement between feline fur and human skin. He is now slowly growing into the domesticated king, his instincts are growing into the apt maturity of his kind. Nonetheless, I can't wait to play with him this term break.

So, to celebrate my love for the feline kind, here is the "Pledge Campaign" by BD Network Australia for Whiskas.

Declare your love for cats! Enjoy and meow.

Ad Title: PLEDGE CAMPAIGN
Ad Agency: BD Network Australia
Client: Whiskas

CREATIVE SPEAK

CREATIVE SPEAK

30secondTHOUGHTS: First World Problem Anthem

A poignant note from the citizens of Haiti, a message that your so-called #FirstWorldProblems are not really problems. The Haitians in the DDB New York spot for Water is Life remind us of our everday blessings - our capacity to fulfill our necessities of food, water, and shelter among others - because back in Haiti, these resources, especially safe drinking water, are scarce and fleeting.

Ad Title: FIRST WORLD PROBLEM ANTHEM
Ad Agency: DDB New York
Client: Water is Life

My personal favorite: "I hate it when my neighbors block their WiFi."

30secondTHOUGHTS: The Love of Tan Hong Min

Something adorable for a Sunday. A love story that crosses the boundaries of race and age. Well, sort of.
Enjoy your weekend. : )

Ad Title: THE LOVE OF TAN HONG MIN
Ad Agency: Leo Burnett Malaysia
Client: Petronas Merdeka

30secondTHOUGHTS: The Things That Connect Us

Let's continue with today's theme: CHAIRS. In this advertisement for Facebook, these seats, among other everyday objects, are used as a metaphor for connecting people, as agents for our endless conversations.

So grab your favorite chair, sit, and enjoy.

Ad Title: THE THINGS THAT CONNECT US
Ad Agency: Wieden + Kennedy Portland
Client: Facebook

30secondTHOUGHTS: Center of Attention

Ad Series: CENTER OF ATTENTION
Ad Agency: DM9JaymeSyFu
Client: Pharex Cough Syrup

I've been hearing a lot of sniffs and coughs lately. And we all know how a dreadful sound it makes, particularly when crammed inside a room crowded with eager listeners.

One of my favorite print ads, with only the product label as the copy. The print gives the reader a sense of reward after deciphering the wit of the illustration.  The reader gets it and realizes the chairs are actual representation of people in a room, with the coughing "chair" bringing unwanted attention. That chair needs to take a relief; the chair needs Pharex Cough Syrup.

Coughs. Excuse me. Sniff. Excuse. Excuse again.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Kon Punn Din

To all our teachers who made our lives both a miserable and exciting world to live in,
To all our professors who engaged us in lessons both theoretical and practical,
To all our maestros, our Sir and Ma'am, who have dedicated their lives to a noble profession,

HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS' DAY!

And I mean it with all sincerity knowing that your former student is now your colleague.

As a way of paying gratitude, I dedicate my 30secondTHOUGHTS for today to all my teachers, both past and present, who have contributed in molding the Professor Mohawk that I am now. Here is a touching commercial by 7-Eleven Thailand entitled "Kon Punn Din (Teacher)."

Ad Title: KON PUNN DIN
Client: 7-Eleven


While viewing the ad, one doesn't need any English translation to understand the impact a teacher can make in a student's life. But for the curious few, the translation is transcribed below:

"Today is the last day that our teacher will teach us.

  I once jokingly asked if she remembered what each of her students looked like.

 She said that she could.

 But I didn't believe her then, it was forty years! How could she remember that all.

 I don't have an answer if she could remember all of her students. 

 But from what I saw today, every single one of her students remembers her.

Students, bow."

Once again, Happy World Teachers' Day!

#SalamatMa'am #SalamatSir

adobo magazine: The Ben Chan Cover

The big Ben behind one of our country's success retail stories claims his throne as cover man for adobo magazine's September-October 2012 issue. Grab your copies now!

30secondTHOUGHTS: Curators of Sweden

I'm reposting this campaign because I believe it portrays the complete opposite of what we Filipinos are currently experiencing in terms of our basic right to freedom of cyber expression.

In "Curators of Sweden", a regular Swedish citizen becomes the cyber ambassador of his country's official twitter account, @sweden. The representative tweets in complete democracy - narrating his likes, opinions, and everyday Swedish lives as he personifies Sweden for the given week.

Ad Title: CURATORS OF SWEDEN
Ad Agency: Volontaire Sweden
Client: Swedish Institute/VisitSweden

The initiative was immediately noticed by the online community. To quote: "@Sweden trended on Twitter worldwide, sparking discussions on transparency on social media and how technology can be used for democracy."

Transparency. Democracy. Social media. Apparently in our country today, these three words cannot be jammed in one sentence without creating the unnecessary brouhaha.

In that, I hope the "higher powers" above would not wait until the online Filipino community will have to migrate to Sweden just for us to tweet in 140 characters or update our Facebook status without fear of being reprimanded for expressing our thoughts online (Seems exaggerated, but makes sense).


#YesToFreedomOfCyberExpression

BACK TO BLACK: THE ANTI-CYBERCRIME LAW

Suppress those who intend to control our freedom of cyber-expression. Change your Facebook profile pictures and cover photos into a black canvass to signify your support against the Cyber Crime Law! Do it now or forever hold your viral silence!

Read the entire Republic Act No. 10175 here.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Subservient Chicken

All because my hair looks like a chicken's crown.

And because this blog would not be validated unless one of the early proponents of viral marketing, back when Facebook and Twitter were not homepage regulars, will be included in the list of 30secondTHOUGHTS.

Here's "Subservient Chicken" by Crispin Porter + Bogusky for Burger King.

Ad Title: SUBSERVIENT CHICKEN
Ad Agency: Crispin Porter + Bogusky
Client: Burger King

In case you're wondering, the Subservient Chicken still lives in his space and still responds to your commands. And yes, it does look like a low-cost "for adults only" voyeur film. Check it out yourself.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Silence of Love

Ad Title: SILENCE OF LOVE
Ad Agency: Ogilvy & Mather Thailand
Client: Thai Insurance

This is just one of the reasons why I love Thai commercials. Ogilvy & Mather Thailand's "Silence of Love" for Thai Insurance portrays a father's unconditional love for his daughter in a movie-like execution placed with haunting honesty. The scenes are riveting, with both audio and visual elements driving the audience into a roller coaster of both human and universal emotions. It is, thus, brilliant in its honesty.