30secondCANNES: TXTBKS

This is something to holla about. My dream ad agency, DM9 JaymeSyFu, has just won a Grand Prix for Mobile in this year's Cannes Lions Festival. Congratulations to Mad'am Merlee Jayme and company.
#AnimoPilipino

AD TITLE:                TXTBKS
AD AGENCY:          DM9JAYMESYFU
CLIENT:                   SMART COMMUNICATIONS

Mad Men and Manila

"The capital of the Philippines is Manila. Its president is Ferdinand Marcos. Its national language is Tagalog but many of its inhabitants speak Spanish due to its colonial past. And their national product is..." - Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka), Mad Men

30secondTHOUGHTS: Moving Wi-Fi

It's a barking wi-fi spot, literally.

AD TITLE:           "MOVING WI-FI"
AD AGENCY:      Creative Juice Thailand
CLIENT:              DTAC

The First Magic of June

Only the two of us know what happened. You are there, in a distant island where I previously resided. I, here in an unforgiving metro, brutal in its honestly, shameless in its lonesomeness despite the everyday sounds it wishes to control.

I observe in awe how you controlled my laptop, the mouse clicking its way through unknown panels and shortcuts. My hands were away from the keyboard; the desktop screen was moving in its pace, like having an invisible force manipulating its movement. It was like magic.

I would have thought the first of June would hold no greatness; the ten of the night disapproved my notion. I am much, as always, grateful.

30SENATORIABLEthoughts (Part Three of Three)

Let's complete the senatorial slate with the third batch of political ads.


MAGSAYSAY, JUN

Tagline:                      Magsaysay is Still Our Guy
myTHOUGHTS:       Can a son of a former president win without lurking behind his father's shadows and depend on his credentials alone? That question is the common denominator for other senatorial candidates belonging to infamous political dynasties.



MAGSAYSAY, MITOS

Tagline:                     Kasi Kay Mitos, Kayo ang Una
myTHOUGHTS:      Lacks practice in her delivery, although one feels her attempt to be heart-warming, approachable.



PENSON, RICARDO

Tagline:                      Krusada Kontra Dynasty        
myTHOUGHTS:       His is an interesting proposition - for the public not to vote for candidates belonging to political dynasties. The problem is that his message is bordering advocacy rather than a concrete platform. He does not have ownership for such crusade, as some of the candidates do not belong to political families.


PIMENTEL, KOKO

Tagline:                     Use your Kokote
myTHOUGHTS:      That's what you call using your coconut. The over-all campaign is focused on the practical - the advocacy towards voting to the issue of double dead meat, for example. The tone not hard-sell and the candidate appears to be genuine with his concern of the public's well-being. Or is he.



POE, GRACE

Tagline:                    Ipagpapatuloy Ko
myTHOUGHTS:      Mad'am Poe, the race is not a grade school contest where your victory will validate the love of your mother for you. Do it for the sake of service but there's obviously nothing wrong with using your father's star to shine light to the voting masses.



TRILLANES, SONNY

Tagline:                
myTHOUGHTS:      His sticking to his no-nonsense approach of politicking. His message his clean and straight to the point. Maintaining the "military discipline" as part of his packaging is an effective strategy for Trillanes. His not Antonio anymore; call him Sonny.



VILLANUEVA, EDDIE

Tagline:                    Walang Iwanan sa Umaangat na Bayan
myTHOUGHTS:      He never gets tired of running. Is his race to victory increased with Pacquiao's endorsement? Let's see if he will be among those cheerful when he crosses the finish line.



VILLAR, CYNTHIA

Tagline:                     Misis Hanepbuhay
myTHOUGHTS:      It would be a miracle if she gets one vote from the community of registered nurses. Nuff said.



ZUBIRI, MIGZ

Tagline:                    MIGZ-Mo
myTHOUGHTS:     The runner-up for best use of hand language goes to Zubiri. He stepped down from his Senate seat as a display of integrity. Will the voting public give him another chance at redemption?



And with that, we end our special edition of 30secondTHOUGHTS.
Twelve slots. One date to vote. One country. Vote wisely!

30SENATORIABLEthoughts (Part Two of Three)

Let's continue with our second round of politically-induced television commercials.


ESCUDERO, CHIZ

Tagline:                             Say Chiz
myTHOUGHTS:              Ah, the power of associating your name with a grocery item. I just hope the voting nation gets to buy the fresh variety rather than the rotten one. The use of cheese has been used during his first senatorial bid. Escudero should find fresh ideas for his next campaign period. His Pagbabago spot provides us with a ray of light.


GORDON, RICHARD

Tagline:                          Aksyon Gordon, Ligtas ang Pinas
myTHOUGHTS:           Ang paggamit ng tula at bata upang ipahayag ang plataporma. It's cute, endearing and I get to have a gist of what Gordon is as an action man. Not much of what Gordon can do; but what he has done pre-Senate candidacy. I thank you. Bow.


HAGEDORN, ED

Tagline:                         Kampeon ng Kalikasan
myTHOUGHTS:           Sir Hagedorn, we appreciate that you, being the Son of Palawan, champion the cause of protecting Mother Earth. But please fire your image consultant. You don't need to wear a campaign cap and jacket for your commercials and during PR appearances. Wear it during rallies. Don't oversell.  People want  to see the humanity, not the politician, in you. And please give us a hint of your smile next time.


HONASAN, GRINGO

Tagline:                        Gringo Rock
myTHOUGHTS:         The tone breeds of heroism, his contribution to Filipino democracy. But the subliminal speaks of otherwise. Honasan implies begging for a seat in the Senate, justifying that he is still "alive" and with other missions to accomplish.


HONTIVEROS, RISA

Tagline:                       Ipaglalaban Ka
myTHOUGHTS:        I don't know why some people don't get her. Maybe because she's an epitome of an empowered woman and there is a perceived threat or intimidation in such character. Her signature purple scarf is given a more active role, this time as a weapon to metaphorically exterminate things oppressive and corrupt in the political system. It even has a powerful name - "Ang Palabang Alampay." Wattah.


LEGARDA, LOREN

Tagline:                     Paboritong Senador
myTHOUGHTS:       She proclaims herself as the favorite senator, which  is a rather strategic move. With her positioning, Legarda is perceived to be the bet of all classes of the Filipino population (read: voting public) - from the ordinary worker to the household wife, from the hardworking teacher to the most-admired  celebrity, and so on. They say that perception is reality. With this spot, Legarda might have re-wired some of her non-voters' candidate list.


MACEDA, ERNESTO

Tagline:                    Kay Manong Ernie, Una Ka Sa Senado
myTHOUGHTS:     The word "Manong" is a term of respect. But given that majority of the voters are young, the term "manong" would scream rather old and unrelatable. But commendations should be given for the Glee-esque feel of his political spot.


MADRIGAL, JAMBY

Tagline:                    Mahal ang Mahirap. Galit sa Corrupt.
myTHOUGHTS:     Nasaan ka na Judy Ann?

30SENATORIABLEthoughts (Part One of Three)

The date is set for the midterm elections. Come Monday, registered voters will flock to their respective precincts to practice their right to suffrage. And by now, you might have heard your bets, local and national alike, pronounce their platforms in various communications channels - in stages, motorcades, radio spots, and more notably, the television screen.

And in the spirit of the campaign season, a special three-part series of 30secondTHOUGHTS shall summarize the television spots aired for this year's official candidates vying for a Senate seat. Let's name this special, 30SENATORIABLEthoughts, shall we?

ANGARA, SONNY

Tagline:                       Ang Gara ng Pinoy, Angara Sa Senado
myTHOUGHTS:         In his commercial, Sonny Angara is positioned to champion two main causes - education and opportunity to work, a platform similar to fellow candidate JV Ejercito. What separates Angara from Ejercito is that the former does not heavily rely on the recommendation coming from the father - Senator Ed Angara - to further his credibility, albeit the younger Angara gets endorsements from other notable celebrities. A son who can stand without the father's help. Quite strategic.


AQUINO, BAM

Tagline:                      Bida Ang Mamamayan (BAM)
myTHOUGHTS:       The use of the candidate's name for his tagline - Bida Ang Mamamayan or BAM - is witty. Quite expected, Aquino associates himself with the integrity of his heritage - Ninoy, Cory, and President Noynoy. Quite surprise there's no mention of Kris in this political ad.


BINAY, NANCY

Tagline:                    Nanay de Pamilya
myTHOUGHTS:      If you're more than your father's daughter, why still use him in your political ad. Nuff said.


CASINO, TEDDY

Tagline:                      Boses ng Karaniwang Tao sa Senado
myTHOUGHTS:        The spot is honest, delivered in the slums where "karaniwang tao" lives. It is much appreciated that his platforms - "lupa, trabaho, sahod, abot-kayang presyo" are delivered without need of any musical jingle, although the viewing public might not remember all these causes after the spot ends because Casino speaks quite fast of them.


CAYETANO, ALAN

Tagline:                       Presyo. Trabaho. Kita
myTHOUGHTS:        Cayetano shares similar platforms with Casino. The major difference is the use of PiTiK or PTK to summarize his agenda. Presyo. Trabaho. Kita. Memorable words, post-commercial.


COJUANGO, TINGTING

Tagline:                      Be Safe Lagi
myTHOUGHTS:       She uses her noble involvement during the EDSA revolution, as expected. Her tagline sounds like the famous Biogesic catchphrase. And the use of the broom, the walis "tingting", with matching yellow ribbon is a disconnect to her personality. The broom is a common household item and I bet Cojuanco has not made use of them in her regular life as an affluent haciendera. Poor use of association. There's not much trace of honesty, even sincerity. She still sounds rich.


EJERCITO, JV

Tagline:                     Ginhawa ng Bayan
myTHOUGHTS:      Award for best use of hand language to spell out his initial goes to JV Ejercito. He speaks of his achievements as the Mayor of San Juan in one spot but uses his bloodline as his father's son in the other. Which tactic will make him win? My instincts say it will be the latter. Or Sam Pinto.


ENRILE, JACK

Tagline:                    Oks na Oks Ka Kay Jack Enrile
myTHOUGHTS:     He is Mr. Anti-Bad. The commercial jingle, a rip-off of Willie Revillame's "Giling-Giling", will sure command the attention of the common tao. It's jolly but obviously staged. The continuous use of the pointing finger brings back haunting childhood memories of "Hala, isusumbong kita kay teacher!"

30secondTHOUGHTS: SLENDER VENDER

It's engineering wit. A vending machine that literally translates the benefit of the beverage that it stores - a beverage, with no sugar and calories addes, that doesn't make you fat and will maintain your slimmer weight. No guilt added.

A vender as slim as the drinker. Or are you?

AD TITLE:                  "THE SLENDER VENDER"
AD AGENCY:            OGILVY & MATHER PARIS
CLIENT:                     COCA-COLA

30secondTHOUGHTS: ONLY FOR CHILDREN

Two messages - one directed to adults, the other to kids - in one brilliant execution against child abuse.

AD TITLE:            ONLY FOR CHILDREN
AD AGENCY:      GREY (SPAIN)
CLIENT:               FUNDACION ANAR.

FIRST MAGIC OF MAY

Talk about a dream come true. Going to Thailand tonight. Thank You for the blessing. Muang Thai, Laew Phop Gan. Phom Sanuk Cing Cing Krap (Thailand, see you later. I am very excited.)

TERM 3, ACADEMIC YEAR 2012-2013 SIGN-OFF

Another term has ended. It was indeed a term. I am most grateful I survived it. Thank You, Friend Lord, for everything.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Dove Men + Care

A simple reminder why men should not use women's shampoo.

         

Ad Agency:          Ogilvy and Mather Brazil
Client:                  Dove Men + Care

The First Magic of April

Advertiser:          Hobby Lobby

30secondTHOUGHTS: Rosa Parks

Ad Title:           ROSA PARKS

Ad Agency:      Lowe Cape Town

Client:               Cape Times

The copy celebrates the empowerment of women today. Copy reads, "Wednesday, 30 November 1955, Women can change the world in a day." 

To Rosa Parks and all the great women of the world, Happy International Women's Day!

30secondTHOUGHTS: Worst Harlem Shake Ever

I knew it! Sooner or later, a creative agency will eventually drink their version of Harlem Shake. But unlike the online videos where people voluntarily lose themselves to the music's hypnotic tune just for fun (and increase in online views), Ace Saatchi and Saatchi Netherland's version serves a deeper purpose - to convey the message that people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease lose control over their body movements.

Ad Title:                           WORST HARLEM SHAKE EVER
Ad Agency:                      Ace Saatchi and Saatchi Netherland
Client:                               Parkinson Vereniging


The main character is Parkinson Vereniging Chairman Eric Roos, himself a Parkinson's patient. Per ibelieveinadv.com, Roos did not act for his performance.  His "shaking out of control [is] a result of lack of his medication."

EVENTS: adobo Design Awards Media Launch

adobo magazine celebrates purpose-driven design and the highlights of the great Manila as it formally opened the fourth installment of its adobo Design Awards in a media launch at at the Aubergine Restaurant Patisserie held last March 5. Angel Guerrero, adobo magazine's Editor-in-Chief, stated that this year's show seeks "to champion the country's best in design and to award creative work with a purpose. For design moves people; it moves a country."

The fourth adobo Design Awards comprises of two categories: the Professional Category and the Open Theme.

For the Professional Category, this year's entries should serve a specific end - either be a Design for Purpose (a showcase of design that endorses a given brand, whether a personality, product, or corporate identity) or a Design for Good (design works that complement an advocacy-related objective). Works of creative professional released between February 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013 can vie for gold, silver, and bronze in thirteen categories ranging from Press and Poster, Corporate Brand Identity, Typography, and Packaging to name a few.

On the other hand, the brief for the Open Theme category is "to promote the imagery of Manila's popular culture for the purpose of defining [Manila's] identity to its internal and external audience." The category is open to professional, freelancers, and students who are interested to show their interpretation of Manila in either poster or video format of up to seven minutes. Janelle Barretto Squires, adobo's Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, encouraged students to submit their entries as the Design Awards will  be another feather in their cap, with their contest piece becoming part of their creative resume.

                                                                            adobo EIC Guerrero and Vice-President Squires (center) with the adobo Design Awards Jury.

This year's entries will be judged by an esteemed roster of jury headed by Thomas Yang, Deputy Executive Creative Director and Head of Art and Design of DDB Singapore. Completing the jury are Eneri Abillar (Vapor Studio Asia), Rex Advincula and Jois Tai (Inksurge), Jowee Alviar and Mon Punzalan (Team Manila), Gary Amante (BBDO Guerrero), Aram Beheshti (Graphika Manila), AJ Dimarucot (Freelance Graphic Designer and Illustrator), Merlee Jayme (DM9JaymeSyfu), Pedring Lopez (Welovepost), Dan Matutina (Twisted Fork), Andrew Petch (Ace Saatchi and Saatchi), Budgette Tan (MRM Worldwide), Brian Tenorio (Design for Development), and Jose Maria Yupangco (De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde).

So what exactly are the judges looking for in the entries for the design annual?

Jowee Alviar wants typography to be an essential part of the design, while Brian Tenorio is looking for a "good design that sells but also moves and inspires." On the other hand, AJ Dimarucot wants to see more non-commercial work with a personal touch. "Create your own voice; tell something." quipped the freelance graphic designer during the media launch.

Design for Purpose. Design for Good. Design for Manila.

Submit your entries now! Log-on to adobodesignawards.com for entry mechanics. For further inquiries, email designawards@adobomagazine.com or contact (02) 845 - 0218.

......
On a rather personal note, writing for this media launch is one aspiring creative's dream come true. For someone who religiously reads the magazine from cover to cover, meeting the faces I've only encountered from the magazine's pages makes one memorable experience. It was a pleasure meeting Mad'am Angel Guerrero, Sir Gary Amante, and even the great David Guerrero was there after the media launch. And all the creatives gather in one venue - it was my little version of advertising Hollywood.

                                                                                   Yours truly with Corky Garcia and Andrew Sarmiento, adobo Marketing and Events Coordinator.

Thank you to my former student and current adobo magazine intern Corky Garcia for the invite. God speed on your marketing endeavors!
----

Photo courtesy of adobo Design Award's Facebook fanpage.

EVENTS: OZ The Great and Powerful

Here ye! Here ye! Welcome to greatest circus show this side of the incentives world!

ENGLICOM presents special block screenings of Sam Raimi's "Oz The Great and Powerful." on March 8 and 9. Ye proceeds will be used to fund the organization's scholarship program with a current scholar base of seven. 

For details, magical critters should contact Melody at 09064458768 or like the event's Facebook fanpage.

 

See you then, critters!

30secondTHOUGHTS: Tayo'y Mga Pinoy

The highly-viewed "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy" commercial by DM9 JaymeSyFu for Smart Communications finally has its full version launched.

The two-minute video features rockstar personalities Ely Buendia (Eraserhead, Pupil), Raimund Marasigan (Eraserhead, Sandwich), Rico Blanco (Rivermaya), and Barbie Almalbis (Barbie's Cradle) singing to Heber Bartolome's "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy" while in different Philippine local spots - Buendia in Intramuros; Marasigan, Mount Mayon; Blanco and Almalbis in Chocolate Hills and Zamboanga respectively. The singers continuously play their homage to the Filipino classic without interruption, with the help of Smart Bro's fiber optic technology.

As such, Smart Technical Services Division senior manager Jay Bacoy confirms the validity in the service proposition of the latest Smart Bro spot. In a related Lana Chan article, Bacoy assures that with "54,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable compared to competition, [Smart offers] powerful delivery of services [including] on-time texts, no interruptions of calls, no buffering [with] high-quality streaming videos.

"Lahat dumadali," quips Sandwich frontman Marasigan in the Lana Chan article, when asked about the benefits of having the new Smart Bro technology at hand.

Ad Title:                 TAYO'Y MGA PINOY
Ad Agency:            DM9 JaymeSyFu
Client:                    Smart Communications

The First Magic of March

I am a big Survivor loyalist. I have been following the show officially since second year high school - that is a cumulative of eleven years! So on the first day of March, I allowed my Survivor fanboy alter ego to spell some magic on the year's third month.

I sent tweets to Dawn Meehan (Survivor: South Pacific; Survivor: Caramoan) and Rob Cesternino (Survivor: The Amazon), two castaways whom I admire for two completely different reasons.

Dawn played an endearing social game, acting the role of the substitute mother to her tribemates, particularly to John Cochran who eventually betrayed her in favor of a strategic position which eventually did not play in Cochran's favor. I wish both characters the best of luck as they are battling it out again in the second installment of Survivor Fans vis-a-vis Favorites, Survivor: Caramoan. As of current episode, both Dawn and Cochran are in a tight six-pack "Stealth R Us" alliance headed by the always-unpredictable Phillip Sheppard of Survivor: Redemption Island fame.

On the other hand, Rob Cesternino is one of my early Survivor heroes. While watching Survivor: The Amazon, I was completely attentive on how he made those well-thought strategies, making mental notes of "How to play the game like Rob." Although he lost to Jenna Morasca and placed third, Rob Cesternino will always be one of my Survivor favorites. In fact, I bought a Magic-8-Ball (Rob's luxury item) because I was such a fan of his game.

Well, what exactly happened with the tweets? Dawn replied to my tweets; Rob favorited them. They are now following me on twitter!

A great Survivor fan boy moment! A dream come true. #FirstMagic

30secondTHOUGHTS: Tailor

Anything Thai is of personal interest. Anything Filipino is subject of homegrown pride. When these nationalities are merged to make one commercial of humour, rainbows and connection abound. You'll know why. A not so recent Skittles ad, but worth the dig.

Ad Title:                  TAILOR

Ad Agency:             TBWA\Chiat\Day

Client:                     Skittles

P.S.

Thank you for that ten-week Thai lessons. I was able to validate that the tailor's nationality is indeed Thai. In one of his fast-speaking sentences, the tailor pronounced "tham-ngan", which means "to work" or "occupation" in Thai. Khob Khun Krap, Kruu. 

30secondTHOUGHTS: Palong

Brotherhood of the Mohawk Society, behold the origins of our hair, our lifestyle. It is quite ironic that the creature behind our inspiration has been used as an idiomatic expression of cowardice - i.e., you chickened out again. Society must acknowledge that it takes a lot of bravery to sport the chicken's crown. Those judgmental stares from the pedestrians we meet everyday are swords that immediately typecast our Brotherhood as one of deviance and rebellion. They obviously do not even know the story behind such radical choice. So, hail to all the roosters and the chickens! Hail, Brotherhood of the Mohawk Society

VISUAL PEG:

ACTUAL ADVERTISEMENT:

Ad Title:               PALONG
Ad Agency:          Campaigns & Grey
Client:                  Andok's

30secondTHOUGHTS: STATUE

Ad Title:          STATUE
Ad Agency:     McCann Istanbul
Client:             Turkish Airlines

EVENTS: Indie Un-Film 2013

Marvel as promising student filmmakers showcase their magic in the INDIE UN-FILM 2013: The 10th Annual Interschool Digital Film Competition. The three-day event will feature various short films under the Documentary, Feature, Experimental, and Music Video categories. Click this link to for a complete playlist of this year's finalist.

Ticket prices are at Php 150 per screening day. For inquiries, kindly contact Leah Sy at (0917)6439139 or visit the Indie Un-Film 2013 Facebook fanpage.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Whole Again

My apologies. I should have counted GlobalHue's "Whole Again" campaign for Jeep as one of my personal Super Bowl 2013 favorites. The ad was not yet included in  the official list of Super Bowl commercials in an advertising website when I did my research.

Poignant with Oprah Winfrey voice-over, "Whole Again" creates a patriotic narration that gives due credit to the value of American troops to the American flag and more so, their respective families. A solemn ad with a tone similar to The Richard Group's "The Farmer" spot for The Ram.

Ad Title:                      WHOLE AGAIN
Ad Agency:                 GlobalHue
Client:                          Jeep

30secondTHOUGHTS: 2013 Super Bowl Personal Best

Here's a rundown on my top three favorite Super Bowl ads for the season.


III. "VIVA YOUNG", DEUTSCH FOR TACO BELL

Given that this is a personal list, Deutsch spot for Taco Bell rings in number three. The music of FUN. is a personal favorite and the ad comforts the young that we can still be cool, rambunctious, and free-spirited fifty years from now.



II. "BROTHERHOOD" ANOMALY FOR BUDWEISER

It's quite ironic that a liquor brand can give you a rather emotional narrative. But in "Brotherhood", Budweiser continues its use of its Cydesdale horses and presents a warming perspective on the bond between caretakers and animals. A great tale meant to be shared over and over again. No wonder, it's the most shared Super Bowl ad of the season by far.



I. "FARMER", THE RICHARDS GROUP FOR RAM TRUCKS

The commercial starts with an excerpt from a speech delivered by veteran radio personality Paul Harvey "And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, I need a caretaker. So God made a farmer." The two-minute commercial continues with the icon's speech, with each line transitioning with beautiful images of the farmer life. The visual experience ends with a landscape shot of a barn with Chrysler's Ram Truck. The spot is simple, well-crafted without need of extravagant techniques. Here, the idea - the association of Ram Trucks with the farmer life - is king. 

On the side note, Ram Truck will make a donation to the National FFA Organization up to $1,000,000 for every on Twitter or Facebook of the " Farmers" spot.

30secondTHOUGHTS: #SuperBowlAds Showreel

Here's another rundown of Super Bowl ads released pre-event - commercials from a former wrestling superstar, an action car chase, a futuristic display show, and what probably is a dream sequence from an all-time geek. Enjoy.

#SuperBowlAds

Ad Title:                     MORNING RUN
Ad Agency:                Deutsch New York
Client:                         Milk

Ad Title:                     GASPOCALYPSE

Ad Agency:                Innocean Worldwide Canada
Client:                         Hyundai Canada

Ad Title:                     HOTBOTS
Ad Agency:                David&Goliath
Client:                        Kia Forte

Ad Title:                     SMART MEETS SEXY, PERFECT MATCH

Ad Agency:              
Client:                         Go Daddy

30secondTHOUGHTS: Party, Team, Space Babies

It's Super Bowl Sunday this February 3 (February 4, Manila Time). Super Bowl XLVII, to be set in New Orleans, Lousiana, will be the battleground between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

But why is a self-confessed sports apathetic excited for an annual athletic event? Well, Super Bowl is also an annual advertising festival, you know. During the halftime show, select advertisers will flood the screen with their talk-about commercials - this high-cost advertisements are highly-anticipated as the game itself.

And with the current trend where advertisers strategically showcase their Super Bowl ads online before the actual run - a one-minute exposure is not enough guarantee to warrant brand attention and awareness, advertising geeks and enthusiasts are treated to a minute-feast of the would-be feel of their favorite brand's Super Bowl moments. So here are some of the leaks so far - Pepsi Next's "Party", Hyundai Sante Fe's "Team", and Kia Soriente Limited's " Space Babies."

Ad Title:              PARTY
Ad Agency:         TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles
Client:                 Pepsi Next

Ad Title:              TEAM
Ad Agency:         Innocean
Client:                 Hyundai Santa Fe

Ad Title:              SPACE BABIES
Ad Agency:         David and Goliath
Client:                 Kia Soriente Limited



Expect more leaks to come.

#SuperBowlAds

The First Magic of February

Ah, what perfect timing. Disney decided to release their John Kahrs-directed animated short film, Paperman, just in time for this month. The animation had its premiere as a feature shorts prior to the screening proper of the blockbuster hit Wreck-It-Ralph.

Paperman narrates the would-be love story of George and Meg told over an army of flying paper planes maneuvering through New York skylines circa 1940s. The six-minute film is for the hopeless romantic, the once non-believers, and those trapped in the predictability of their routine office lives. It takes us into a reminder, a perspective that at the perfect timing, one dictated by the Great Storyteller, our own versions of paper planes will eventually lead us into our very Meg or George. Such hope, I tell you.

The film is nominated for Best Animated Short Film at this year's Academy Awards.

Ladies and gentlemen, click here to direct the heart into the short film online release.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Gangnam Style

Psy's "Oppa Gangnam Style" was so 2012. By now, the wonders of the would-be one-hit wonder is slowly depreciating as the song has been performed in countless Christmas parties and parodied over social video-sharing sites. Enough said. Enough.

Apparently, one more brand - an electronic cigarette, at that - is giving the dance craze one final shot of glory   through a dancing Gangnam baby. How else to give the rhythmic sensation a final exclamation point than to use a baby - cute, charming, (obviously) computer-generated. But the ad should have been released last year, if the advertiser wanted to be more effective in riding with the dance craze bandwagon.

So yeah, final hooray for Oppa Gangnam Sytle. It's about time to close the curtains.

Ad Title:                  GANGNAM STYLE
Ad Agency:             McCann Erickson (Birmingham)
Client:                      E-Lites

Did E-Lites miss something? Timing, perhaps?

adobomagazine: January - February 2013

It's time to serve the first advertising dish of the year. Design architecture demi-god Kenneth Cobonpue steps up as coverman of adobo magazine's January to February 2013 issue.

Grab you copies now.

30secondTHOUGHTS: Mondays Can Be Great

11:00 p.m.

Final hour of sanity.

For most of us, Mondays are a dread - it is the reminder of the routine, the inevitable reality of either study or work. Mondays are a drag, the momentary schedule when the feet are made of stones, making it harder for us to stride towards the office or school.

But AMV BBDO London's "Mondays Can Be Great" for coffee giant Starbucks is a reminder of the otherwise - that Monday is a great, momentous day, when historical highlights and interesting factoids are made. And yes, Monday is a discount day too.

So cheer up. Mondays aren't all that bad, my friend.

Ad Title:                MONDAYS CAN BE GREAT
Ad Agency:           AMV BBDO London
Client:                   Starbucks

30secondTHOUGHTS: Radio Prank

I did not see that coming, Kareena.

Ad Title:              KAREENA (RADIO PRANK)
Ad Agency:         JWT Singapore
Client:                  Universal Global

30secondTHOUGHTS: No Wi-Fi Zone

This ambient ad by JWT Netherlands for KitKat is commendable. It is brave enough to acknowledge that people's anxiety to be online most of the time has somewhat disrupted the quality of face-to-face conversation - that even when friends hang-out, the rendezvous will always be somewhere with wireless fidelity installed. People chat but in between the intimate exchanges of sentences, a friend takes a picture of the food to be posted on Instagram, another bothers to tweet his other friend's quotable quote, the next chum checks-in on Foursquare, with the other updating their status on Facebook or searching for some random inquiry on Google.

Ad Title:                NO WI-FI ZONE
Ad Agency:           JWT Netherlands
Client:                   KitKat

True to its value proposition of "taking a break", KitKat offers its consumers an opportunity to take a break from their online lives when they sit on a No Wi-Fi Zone, "a five meter radius where [internet] signals are blocked so people could escape e-mails, udates, tags or like." Once in the zone, the seaters engage in more intimate talks, rekindle the priceless bond with their books, or admire their environment away from their online world.

Gold for brand messaging. Well done, KitKat and JWT.

Photo: adsoftheworld.com

30secondTHOUGHTS: Jogger

No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” - Socrates

Yesterday was a resurrection of sorts. After months in hiatus, I once again welcomed the self into regular cardiovascular exercise. Save for the weight lifting exercises I routinely did about eight months ago (back when I was trying to gain some weight and muscles - only to find out the metabolism was hyper enough to easily cut down any food intake without need of further exercise), this regular physical sessions will get back me into much-needed shape. 

The decision to get back into regular exercise was both planned (it was part of my new year's resolution) and an unexpected validation. A certain opportunity (which for now I cannot disclose) related to physical activity came my way - no folks, I'm not joining any weightlifting competition soon (not even remotely close). It is, in fact, a blessing. I want to get back to that point where getting to the third floor of the University was a breeze. Exhales heavily.

Yesterday's session was bordering brutal. For someone who used to exercise regularly, the minutes of jogging were like day one of gym sessions again. The three rounds of ten laps - each divided into slow, moderate, and fast paces,  felt like a physical and mental torture. 

Five more rounds. Three rounds less. Wait, guys. I can't cope up. Sayang, dalawang laps na lang. Sige, kaya yan. 

The words were an amateur's way of whining the torment. I wanted to give up at that. But then again, I just had to remind myself that if I survived six months of gym sessions, I can surpass this regular jogging sessions. I won't let myself, and these kids down. Defeat, after all, begins in doubt.

So, yeah. Cheers to the regular jogging sessions. From the skinny kid who used to go to the gym.  

Ad Title:             FIND YOUR GREATNESS (JOGGER)
Ad Agency:            Wieden + Kennedy Portland
Client:               Nike

30secondTHOUGHTS: The Power of Wind

THE WIND

By: Robert Louis Stevenson

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass

Oh wind, a blowing all day long,
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all

Oh wind, a blowing all day long!
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?

O wind, a blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

Ad Title:            The Power of Wind

Ad Agency:       Nordpol + Hamburg (Germany)

Client:                Epuron GmbH (with the German Ministry for the Environment)

30secondTHOUGHTS: Heineken My Passport

The task is to reach Bangkok from Mongolia without money nor a navigation map. What you have to depend on then are the kindness of the locals and your chosen currency - Heineken. In exchange for answering your queries, giving you transportation rides, and helping you in your tasks, you give the locals a free bottle of Heineken. Follow Justin as he traverses a journey to Bangkok with only Heineken carried inside his travel bag.

Ad Title:              HEINEKEN: MY PASSPORT

Ad Agency:         Iris Singapore

Client:                  Heineken