Tag: KATOK

Manila, Philippines – With the news that the Michelin Guide is expanding its reach to review restaurants in the Philippines, many restaurants–especially in the target places of Metro Manila and its Environs, as well as Cebu–are now vying to get the coveted Michelin Star recognition, which has been used commonly as a symbol of high quality-cooking.

Amidst all of this, Chinese hotpot brand Jiang Nan, like any other restaurant, also aspired to achieve the elusive and prestigious Michelin stars, but they won the race through wit and humor. 

In their latest campaign, the Chinese hotpot restaurant found Michelle Lyn Espiritu, a Filipina with a name that rings just like that of the expert food critic organization’s. She ate at the restaurant, and gave her judgment on Google reviews: 5 stars.

Said campaign is done alongside Katok, the social media agency of GIGIL.

Following this, Jiang Nan announced this ‘recognition’ on Meta which created buzz online. From avid fans of the restaurant to people scrolling and having a good laugh, and even to heavily followed pages, the stars used as a joke skyrocketed Jiang Nan’s traction. 

Over the weekend alone when it was posted, the post organically garnered millions of views with zero media budget. 

Manila, Philippines – In another case of ‘weird ads you enjoy’, local-based finance app DiskarTech recently launched a new spot alongside agency Katok, the new agency affiliated with well-known independent creative agency GIGIL, to promote its loan services–in the most tongue-in-cheek way possible.

Titled ‘Utang Ni Tatang’ or translates to ‘The Old Man’s Debt’, the comedy-themed ad features two farmers, where one of them asks the other if he can loan him some money. When he refuses, a sudden turn of events takes place as a DiskarTech agent emerges from—we kid you not—a carabao or a water buffalo. As both farmers stare in awe and confusion as to what they just witnessed, the agent begins his pitch of the various loans users can avail on their app.

The ad, which as of this writing, has now been viewed over 4 million on Facebook alone, speaks to the company’s aim to be more inclusive to Filipinos, including their intended launch of the app in the Cebuano language, and sooner other Filipino languages.

“We needed to create a product that is easy, simple and relatable to Filipinos. The Diskartech app is in Taglish in order to break the comprehension barrier, and allow banking newbies to navigate it with ease. It’s a financial inclusion super app that allows every Filipino to save, borrow, pay, and even purchase microinsurance and telemedicine services complete with livelihood opportunities,” said Lito Villanueva, executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer at RCBC.

DiskarTech is one of the latest initiatives from Filipino banking institution RCBC, launched last year.

“With DiskarTech users spanning across all the 81 provinces, and over 70 percent of which are from rural areas, we are committed to continue to bring the unbanked or underserved Filipino into the banking fold,” Villanueva added.