Tag: Philippines

Singapore – Iris Singapore secured the contract to serve as GoTyme Bank‘s agency of record (AOR) for all creative and customer relationship management (CRM) duties. GoTyme Bank seeks to transform the banking experience for Filipinos by placing an emphasis on customer service and accessibility.

Iris Singapore will introduce the brand positioning in the coming months, brand, and then the bank’s initial multi-touchpoint integrated campaign in Philippine Islands.

GoTyme Bank started a multi-agency pitch earlier this year to recruit potential partners. Amongst the competitors, Iris Singapore demonstrated its dedication to assisting GoTyme Bank in maximising Filipinos’ financial potential. In order to define and actualize the bank’s brand positioning and bring it to life in a compelling way, Iris Singapore has been given this task.

Priya Kalidas, head of growth at Iris Singapore, commented, “We are thrilled by this new partnership. It was great chemistry from the get-go. We are really looking forward to helping the bank unlock its enormous potential and charting the next chapter of success for GoTyme. Full credit to the Iris Singapore team who worked on this pitch with so much passion and conviction.”

According to Cristina ‘Tin’ Sanchez, executive creative director at Iris Singapore, “In a growing digital landscape, what can set a brand apart? Sometimes, it’s the fundamentals, such as true human centeredness. A brand that seeks to uplift the lives of people is deeply inspiring to work on. We are delighted to be the new partners of GoTyme Bank in the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, Raymund Villanueva, chief marketing officer at GoTyme Bank, expressed, “We are excited to work with Iris Singapore. The agency really impressed us with their ideas during the pitching process. We are hopeful that when these ideas are executed, it would help us unlock the financial potential of every Filipino through a human-led campaign.”

Manila, Philippines – DDB Group Philippines, the agency of record for the Department of Tourism (DOT) Philippines, has apologised for the misuse of several stock footage assets as part of its promotional video for the recently unveiled ‘Love The Philippines‘ tourism campaign rebranding. This comes after several netizens have pointed out that several of the scenes on the ad were not based in the Philippines but rather from other countries.

In the days following the campaign launch, netizens took notice of how the video used stock footage that misrepresented various tourist spots in the country. They include a fisherman throwing a net which was actually stock footage of a Thai fisherman; the country’s Rice Terraces which was actually stock footage of a similar structure in Bali, Indonesia; and a dune racing footage which was actually shot in Dubai.

In a statement, the agency said that they take full responsibility for this matter and that the video was only intended to excite their internal stakeholders regarding the new tourism campaign.

“While the use of stock footage in mood videos is standard practice in the industry, the use of foreign stock footage was an unfortunate oversight on our agency’s part. Proper screening and approval processes should have been strictly followed. The use of foreign stock footage in a campaign promoting the Philippines is highly inappropriate, and contradictory to the DOT’s objectives,” the agency said.

DDB Group Philippines has also stated that the video has been taken down across all channels, and will be working closely together with the DOT in investigating said matter. It also noted that succeeding ad campaigns for the new tourism slogan have yet to be produced.

It has also clarified that no public funds have been used to produce the video and that it was only made by the agency to pitch the slogan to the public. It also hopes that following the fiasco, it would not diminish the public’s reception regarding the campaign.

This was not the first time an agency has been caught under fire for various campaign fiascos alongside the Department of Tourism.

In 2010, DOT released a slogan named ‘Pilipinas Kay Ganda’ alongside agency Campaigns & Grey. However, many pointed out that the slogan’s artistic interpretation resembles Poland’s tourism slogan ‘Polska’. Then in 2017, DOT came under fire as well when it released a promotional campaign titled ‘Sights’ alongside creative agency McCann Worldgroup. Netizens then pointed out that the campaign’s storytelling resembles of South Africa’s tourism campaign back in 2014. As a result, DOT terminated its PHP650m contract with the agency.

UPDATE: As of this writing, the Department of Tourism has terminated its PHP50m contract with DDB Group Philippines following the stock footage misuse fiasco. DOT says that no payments have been made to the agency. This was made in a public statement by Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.

“As DDB Philippines has publicly apologised, taken full responsibility, and admitted in no uncertain terms, that non-original materials were used in their AVP, reflecting an abject failure to comply with their obligation/s under the contract and a direct contravention with the DOT’s objectives for the enhanced tourism branding, the DOT hereby exercises its right to proceed with termination proceedings against its contract with DDB,” Frasco said.

Manila, Philippines – Cignal TV, the television arm of media company Cignal, has unveiled ‘Pilipinas Live’, its own over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform dedicated to showcase sports events.

Through the new platform, users can watch sports live broadcasts including behind-the-scenes action, sports news and updates, interactive fan experiences, and other exclusive features.

Moreover, the platform also offers multiple screen viewing, with users able to watch plays from various camera points, as well as get insights from special hosts and guests and engage with fellow sport fans’ perspectives while sharing your own thoughts with other like-minded viewers on the app.

Jane Jimenez Basas, president and CEO of Cignal TV, said, “Pilipinas Live was created to reshape the landscape of sports viewing. It offers the ultimate digital experience to Filipino sports enthusiasts wherever they may be. The innovation behind the app’s development and rollout represents our steadfast commitment to providing only the best to the Pinoy sports fan.”

Basas added, “It will also stream this year’s most anticipated basketball event, the FIBA World Cup 2023 which will feature the best teams around the world. With Pilipinas Live, you can watch not just all the games that will be played in the Philippines, but also all the games in Japan and Indonesia. Of course, fans of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) will also enjoy watching their favourite games on the streaming platform.”

Cignal TV previously tapped Canadian software company Quickplay to aid in its development for the sports app, as well as expanding its existing ‘Cignal Play’ streaming service.

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has announced a new tourism slogan ‘Love the Philippines’, a departure from the country’s ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ tagline that was conceptualised back in 2012.

The ‘Love the Philippines’ tagline was conceptualised alongside DDB Group Philippines. According to Marie Adriano, the agency’s brand and strategic planner, the word ‘love’ is the positive theme evident amongst travellers in the country.

https://youtu.be/wKmCscTJFcc

“While fun remains a positive theme and certainly part of the Pinoy DNA, there’s less volume of mentions. Coming from a culture shift, naturally, changes in the consumers follow. Who are they? We call them the ‘changed traveler’ for the very reason that travelling has come to mean more than just leisure,” Adriano told the Philippine News Agency.

Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco commented, “The campaign Love the Philippines is not a mere branding campaign, but rather a call to action to every Filipino citizen to remember the beauty of our country, to honour our past, and to look forward to the future armed with the virtues, (and) values of being a Filipino.”

The previous tagline ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ was conceptualised by BBDO Guerrero in 2012. It also renewed its partnership with DOT in 2021 alongside the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) to promote the country’s tourism amidst a new normal.

Manila, Philippines – Out-of-home (OOH) advertising technology provider Broadsign has been tapped by Summit Outdoor Media, the outdoor advertising arm of Summit Media, to leverage Broadsign’s content management and programmatic advertising solutions to advance its OOH services.

This marks the first time Broadsign is having a media partnership in the region. The technology will play a pivotal role in helping Summit Outdoor Media manage content and optimise ad campaigns across their broad range of OOH advertising inventory of large-scale LED video billboards, strategically located along prime highways in key cities across the Philippines.

Remi Roques, general manager for APAC at Broadsign, said, “Summit Outdoor Media is one of the largest OOH media operators in the Philippines, offering innovative ways to effectively reach local audiences through digital and traditional OOH advertising.” 

He added, “With the Broadsign platform, they’ll be able to scale and transform their offering, even as the OOH industry in the Philippines continues to rapidly evolve with the arrival of new cutting edge LED technology and programmatic advertising capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Abigail A. Pe Aguirre, deputy head for outdoor at Summit Outdoor Media, commented, “This partnership is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence. With Broadsign’s industry-leading technology, and Summit Outdoor Media’s extensive network of premium and iconic digital displays and traditional billboards, we believe that this collaboration will lead to transformative executions and campaigns for our clients.”

Manila, Philippines – As a predominantly Catholic country, most brands based in the Philippines still shy away from talking about gender inclusivity, fearing backlash from the conservative audience. With a growing LGBTQIA+ community in the country, how can brands use ads to fight alongside with these communities for inclusivity and equality?

This was the latest ad from global fast-food chain McDonald’s in the country, who recently launched a full-on campaign in celebration of Pride Month. The ad, conceptualised by TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno (TBWA\SMP), is a feel-good spot showcasing the brand’s commitment to promote gender equality in society.

The ad features a sweet story between a skater girl repeatedly passing thru a McDonald’s drive-through window: just to see her crush who works at the McDonald’s branch. Moreover, the ad–which has seen organic virality over the past few days–caught the attention of the masses as it featured an inclusive story between two women.

When asked about the creation of the ad, Adi Hernandez, corporate relations director at McDonald’s, shares, “Despite its rare representation locally, it was more important for us that who we are as a brand, which is a brand that welcomes all, is reflected in the stories that we share just like this one. Our commitment to diversity and gender inclusivity is an overall brand experience that we aim to improve from our employees and to our customers.”

Hernandez also added that the casting for the actors in the ad were made alongside TBWA\SMP to feature true members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“No matter who you are, you are welcome and safe to come back here again and again – that’s what we wanted our audience to know. Which is why this is a part of a broader initiative of McDonald’s Philippines to show our commitment to ensuring we continue to be everyone’s happy place,” he added.

Manila, Philippines – Integrated media and communications group Havas Ortega, alongside the Philippine Junior Marketing Association, returns with the eleventh edition of its flagship event ‘MADWORLD’ on June 3 to bring new insights amongst its attendees as they learn how to adapt to the industry’s fast-changing innovativeness.

The Philippine Junior Marketing Association (PJMA) is consisted of over 300 member schools and attracts a membership of more than 50,000 marketing and business students around the country.

Through ‘MADWORLD’, Havas Ortega and PJMA have engaged in a year-long partnership which includes mentorship and activities that will help prepare the PJMA MadWorld leaders to launch the event. Moreover, it will also host the ‘MadWorld Bootcamp’, a full-day session with topics centered to support the theme for the year.

Some of the speakers at the upcoming event include Joseph Albert Meñez, country channel partnerships lead at TikTok; Enzo Valdez, managing director of Universal Music Philippines; and Maisie Littaua, head of growth at Canva.

Jos Ortega, CEO of Havas Ortega Group and co-founder of PJMA’s MadWorld, found that making a network of mentors and acquiring industry-specific knowledge to the aspiring marketers helps better prepare them for the professional world. Naturally, he sought to make the process easier. The conference and its activities that lead up to the main event day stem from Ortega’s desire to cultivate his personal advocacy on youth education. 

“MadWorld represents our continued dedication and commitment to youth education through mentorship and counsel, as well as nurturing the future talent pool of the marketing industry in the Philippines. We are privileged and honored to have industry rockstars as our resource speakers and supporters of PJMA’s largest annual event,” says Ortega

Manila, Philippines – Popular Malaysian coffee chain OldTown White Coffee has officially opened its first branch in the Philippines. The inugural store was launched May 25 at SM City Grand Central, located in the city of Caloocan in Metro Manila.

OldTown White Coffee first opened in 1999 at the city of Ipoh in the state of Perak in Malaysia. They were founded by Goh Ching Mun and Tan Say Yap.

The coffee chain was then taken over by by American-Dutch holding company JDE Peet’s in 2017. The chain was acquired for a total of US$361m.

At present, OldTown White Coffee has branches in the markets of Singapore, China, Indonesia, and Australia.

Some of the dishes OldTown White Coffee offers include its famous Ipoh Chicken Hor Fun and Hainanese Chicken Chops, along with other Malaysian dishes, sandwiches, soup, noodles, and chicken rice meals. 

Manila, Philippines – Alida, a Total Experience Management (TXM) software company, has announced that is opening a managed services delivery hub in the capital city of Manila in the Philippines. This adds up to existing Alida offices globally including London, New York, Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, amongst others.

The Manila office will operate as a managed services delivery hub with potential to increase operation functions and expand roles in various departments. 

Alida’s services such as the ‘Premier Community Management’, which partners an Alida community manager with a customer to help sustain and build an engaged community, and ‘Premier Survey Management’, which offers customers an Alida technical specialist to help drive business outcomes via surveys, have both launched operations and are already exceeding initial targets.

Ross Wainwright, chief executive officer at Alida, said, “We are thrilled to expand in the APAC region and leave our mark here in Manila. We are fortunate to find employees with impressive technical skill sets and flexibility to help grow our business globally. We saw immediate interest in our positions and expect strong progress in the coming year, which sets us up for long-term scalability and growth.”

Wainwright added, “What we offer out of Manila truly speaks volumes to our belief in community-centered CX. So far, we have moved with stealth and incredible speed with no signs of slowing down.”

Manila, Philippines – Media giant ABS-CBN has announced that will be shutting down ‘TeleRadyo’, a pay television channel under its ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs (ANC) arm. According to the company, the closure was brought by financial losses it had experienced since 2020.

“The company is deeply saddened by this closure and having to part ways with the many passionate and committed people who have made Teleradyo an important source of news and information for many Filipinos,” ABS-CBN said in a statement.

TeleRadyo was founded in 2007 as the television counterpart of the commercial news and radio channel DZMM Radyo Patrol. Following the cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to close its broadcasting activities, DZMM Radyo Patrol ceased operations alongside its other free broadcasting channels. They have then moved to TeleRadyo for continued reporting.

Following the TeleRadyo closure announcement, ABS-CBN has also announced a joint venture with Prime Media Holdings. Said venture will produce various programs, which will be supplied to broadcasters and other third party platforms including Philippine Collectivemedia Corporation.

Prime Media Holdings is the majority shareholder of the new venture, with ABS-CBN serving as a minority shareholder.

ABS-CBN also hopes that through its deal with Prime Media, they can help some of their former personnel a chance to find new job opportunities.