Tag: Marketing

Singapore – Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has teamed up with record label BIGHIT MUSIC for BTS Jin’s music video. The ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ music video spotlights iconic landmarks in Singapore.

Set in Singapore, the music video highlights travel destinations against music and visual storytelling for a global audience. 

The music video features iconic destinations like the National Gallery Singapore, the Singapore Flyer, Gardens by the Bay, and the Anderson Bridge. It also includes hidden gems in neighbourhoods, such as the Keng Eng Seafood and Goldhill Plaza.

The video was launched globally on HYBE LABELS’ YouTube channel and STB’s social media platforms.

‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ is the main track of ‘Echo,’ BTS Jin’s second solo album.

Serene Tan, executive director, North Asia at STB, said, “This collaboration was a unique opportunity to showcase Singapore’s culture, nature, and architecture through a charming blend with Jin’s music. We hope that people around the world will come to see and experience Singapore from a new perspective through the music video.”

Last year, STB collaborated with music-based entertainment company Universal Music Singapore for OneRepublic’s ‘Singapore’ music video.

Philippines – The Philippines is rapidly emerging as a pivotal force in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, with its retail and e-commerce sectors undergoing significant transformation. Consumers are increasingly seeking personalised experiences, seamless payment options, and omnichannel convenience. To meet these evolving demands, businesses must harness the power of automation, predictive analytics, and partnership marketing.

In response to this dynamic landscape, MARKETECH APAC, in collaboration with its sister publication UpTech Media, is thrilled to present the ‘Retail & E-Commerce Innovation Marketing & Tech Summit: Philippines 2025.’ Happening on 14 August 2025, at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, this summit aims to redefine the future of e-commerce in the Philippines. The event will bring together industry leaders, marketing experts, and tech innovators to explore the latest trends, strategies, and technologies driving the evolution of e-commerce.

Building on the success of ‘E-Commerce Marketing Philippines 2024,’ this year’s summit promises to be bigger and better, offering attendees valuable insights, cutting-edge ideas, and ample opportunities for learning, networking, and inspiration.

The conference will feature top-notch keynote presentations, dynamic panel discussions, engaging fireside chats, and curated networking sessions, each designed to elevate retail and e-commerce strategies.

Leading the conversation will be top industry leaders and experts, including:

  • Emmanuel Cruz, Omnichannel Director at Avon Cosmetics Inc.
  • Sriharsha Vavilala, Director of Revenue & Strategy at edamama
  • Nancy Almasco, Marketing Director at FlowerStore.ph
  • Marx Benedict So, Associate Director, Digital & Commercial Insights at Mega Prime Foods Inc.
  • Tiffany Batungbacal, Assistant Vice President at Primer Group of Companies
  • Neelam Gopwani, President at Vision Express Philippines
  • …and more to be announced!

Joven Barceñas, founder at MARKETECH APAC, said, “This summit isn’t just about trends—it’s about enabling the tech backbone of retail and e-commerce in the Philippines. From AI to marketing automation, we’re here to facilitate the conversations and collaborations that will define the future of commerce.”

The Retail & E-Commerce Innovation 2025 Series is also set to expand to Malaysia, with an event scheduled for 17 July 2025.

To learn how to be part of this summit, click HERE for further details.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joven Barceñas at [email protected].

For speaking opportunities, contact Kathleen Murata at [email protected]; and for registrations, reach out to Rosalie Cruz at [email protected].

Philippines – Footwear brand Havaianas has dropped a giant slipper in a satellite image for its latest campaign in collaboration with advertising agency GIGIL. The slipper, resembling a green footprint, aims to call for more green spaces and parks in the country.

The move is part of Havaianas’ ‘#BreakTheRush’ campaign, highlighting the importance of taking a moment to relax amidst the fast pace of daily life.

The satellite image, which captured a green space, was transformed into a visual that resembles a Havaianas slipper. It bears the Havaianas logo and ‘Break The Rush’ messaging.

Havaianas and GIGIL posted the advertisement on April 22, 2025, in time for Earth Day. It emphasises the vital role of green areas and parks in the Philippines as a place for much-needed rest, especially in urban environments.

GIGIL recently collaborated with antibacterial soap brand Defensil for a creative series of comedic films starring ‘Germ Zs.’

Last year, the agency’s collaboration with finance company Skyro for ‘Flexi-Billboards’ went viral on social media.

Australia – Sydney-based marketing agency, Stanley House Studios, expands its travel division with two major new wins: Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park and Amora Hotels.

This follows the agency’s recent rebrand and builds on its strong track record of standout campaigns across hospitality, food, and beverage – now channeling that creative firepower back into the travel and hotel space.

Founded by Director David Wasserman, who brought the Hilton Hotels brand to the Australian market in 2005, Stanley House Studios has since worked with more than 150 brands. 

The agency’s previous travel work includes campaigns for luxury hotel group Anantara.

Stanley House Studio’s 12-person team is already rolling out integrated campaigns for both hotels encompassing digital, PR, influencer engagement, and content production – all tailored to bring each brand’s unique guest experience to life.

With the brand relaunch, Stanley House Studios is actively expanding its travel portfolio and is already in discussions with several international hotel and travel brands.

The agency continues to offer end-to-end marketing services spanning strategy, PR, digital, content, and social with a special knack for creating culture-led campaigns that spark buzz and deliver results.

“We’ve always had a deep love for travel and great hospitality, it’s in our DNA. The travel division has been steadily evolving behind the scenes, and this marks a full circle moment for us. We’re thrilled to be working with premium hotel brands like Sheraton and Amora as we reestablish our footprint in this space,” David said.

Meanwhile, George Redmond, director at Stanley House Studios, commented, “We approach travel marketing the same way we do food and beverage: with a focus on culture, community, and conversation. Our goal is to connect people to places in ways that feel authentic, aspirational, and current.”

Philippines – The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) is condemning the alleged use of fake social media accounts to spread disinformation against the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea.

The PRSP’s statement follows Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino’s revelation of excerpts from a contract between a public relations agency and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines. The contract was presented during the April 24 hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Philippine maritime and admiralty zones.

The said contract outlined the deployment of “keyboard warriors” to ensure the “overall effectiveness of the issue management project.”

In the statement, PRSP emphasised its advocacy for communication based on honesty and integrity.

“While our role is to uphold and strengthen the reputation of our clients and organisations, this is not to be done at the expense of societal good,” the statement read.

“We believe in the power of words and stories to shape public perception and opinion. As such, we exert utmost care and effort to ensure that we adhere to a set of ethical standards in the practice of our profession.”

The organisation highlighted its code of ethics, which includes using public interest as a primary guide, ensuring accuracy, and upholding the law and order.

“PRSP urges vigilance and calls on the authorities to act swiftly and decisively, ensuring a thorough investigation on cases of misinformation and disinformation that upholds the rule of law and due process,” the statement read.

The long-standing West Philippine Sea dispute involves conflicting territorial claims and maritime rights within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The Philippines has been asserting its sovereignty based on international law, including a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Singapore – Creative agency The Secret Little Agency (TSLA) has appointed Ng Li Ting as business director to boost its earned media capabilities. With the appointment, TSLA aims to improve its creative services by integrating fame, PR, and earned-media communication planning.

In her new role, Ng will work with TSLA’s creative and strategy teams and develop its PR capabilities to enhance the agency’s communications services.

Ng brings over a decade of experience in public relations, with expertise in brand reputation management, storytelling, and influence marketing. Prior to the appointment, she worked with PR agency DeVries Global, where she collaborated with global clients like Procter & Gamble, Kenvue, Merz Aesthetics, Dyson and ASICS.

She also led DeVries Global’s innovation, introducing search-powered PR and the Gen Z incubator to enhance the agency’s capabilities beyond PR.

Ng commented, “Too often, PR gets pulled into creative-led campaigns as an afterthought to demonstrate impact, when it really should be a core consideration from conceptualisation. When I was first approached for the role, I was thoroughly impressed by TSLA’s creative track record in delivering high-quality PR value across most, if not all, of their work. The agency has already been doing amazing work that has earned talkability not just in the region but globally. I look forward to bringing my PR lens to propel the best work of our career, and to learn from some of the industry’s best talent here at TSLA.”

“Our clients have benefited greatly from seeing the work they do with us, out-earn even their paid media campaigns. Li Ting joins at a time of tremendous momentum for the agency, and we are relieved that now we have this capability, at the highest levels, in-house to supercharge our creative ideas and give them the ROI and impact they were truly meant to land in culture,” Eunice Tan, group chief executive officer at TSLA, said.

“In a world where culture is constantly in flux, the ability to craft sharp, resonant narratives and land them in the right moment, through the right voices, is everything. Li Ting joins us with deep experience in doing just that. More importantly, she shares our belief that fame can – and should – serve a higher purpose. For us, public relations is not an add-on, but a vital creative force for us to keep on growing and creating work that makes our children proud,” Tan adds.

Singapore – Socially-led creative agency We Are Social Singapore has promoted Daniel Foo to executive creative director. The appointment makes him part of the leadership team. 

Foo previously served as creative director at We Are Social. Before joining the agency, he worked at Lazada for three years. 

With over 15 years of experience as a creative, he has worked with agencies such as BBH, Grey Group, JWT, and McCann. He has collaborated with clients across tech, banking, tourism, and retail industries.

Foo will be reporting directly to Naiyen Wang, who was recently appointed managing director of Southeast Asia at We Are Social.

Wang commented, “Social is now a core pillar in brand building. Having a creative leader with diverse global, regional and local experiences who is able to translate brand challenges into meaningful and effective through-the-funnel social moments is invaluable. Daniel is able to blend strategic rigour with creative craftsmanship for every brief to elevate the work. In the year that he has been with us, he has proven to be a creative leader who inspires, understands the critical importance of effectiveness and is a true partner to both our teams and clients.”

“Big thanks to Naiyen and the agency for the trust and support. I get to work with a team of absolute killers, which makes making great work fun, to put it simply. Work that gets people talking — not just in the industry, but out in the real world,” Foo said.

We Are Social recently announced the launch of its office in Thailand, supporting more clients in the market. It also recently secured the creator strategy remit of H&M in Asia, boosting the brand’s engagement in the region.

Singapore – Superapp Grab has announced key leadership appointments for its Singapore and Vietnam operations, effective on July 1, 2025. Grab has named Alejandro Osorio and Ma Tuan Trong as managing directors of Singapore and Vietnam, respectively.

Both Osorio and Trong will report directly to Yee Wee Tang, who will transition to his new role as group managing director of operations from his previous position as managing director of Grab Singapore. Tang will oversee operations across multiple countries, ensuring strategic alignment and platform safety.

Osorio currently leads the operations of Grab Vietnam, having held leadership positions in Grab Thailand and Singapore. He first joined the company as director for regional strategy and planning before his country head roles in Thailand and Vietnam.

In Osorio’s new role, he will focus on scaling the GrabCab taxi service, enhancing its accessibility and convenience. He will also integrate Chope’s capabilities for a unified food experience and develop financial products through GrabFin and GXS Bank.

Meanwhile, Trong currently serves as the country commercial head in Vietnam. Having been with Grab for nearly seven years, he has held various leadership roles in marketing, deliveries, and commercials.

Trong will be responsible for expanding Grab’s operations in Vietnam while fostering economic empowerment for its locals.

“These appointments reflect Grab’s investment in talent development and its strong bench of leaders. Alejandro and Trong bring extensive experience and proven track records that will be instrumental in driving innovation and growth. Alejandro’s expertise in leading diverse markets will introduce fresh strategies in Singapore, while Trong’s capabilities in scaling businesses will deepen our reach within Vietnamese communities. Under their leadership, we are confident that we will continue to deliver exceptional value to our users and partners,” Tang said.

Osorio commented, “Singapore’s openness to new ideas and commitment to public-private collaboration have given Grab invaluable opportunities to co-create industry-first solutions that truly make a difference in people’s lives. That spirit of innovation is what draws me back to Singapore once again. I’m excited to deepen our partnerships and learn from our users and partners to co-create meaningful and relevant solutions that meet the evolving needs of Singaporeans.”

“I am truly honoured and proud to be a Vietnamese serving the people of Vietnam and contributing to Grab’s growth journey in my home country. Together with our passionate leadership team and Grabbers across Vietnam, we will continue to leverage our technology and scale to deliver even greater value to our consumers, driver-partners, merchant-partners, and the wider Vietnamese communities. Digitalisation has profoundly improved the lives of our communities, and we are committed to working closely with the government through meaningful public-private partnerships that empower every Vietnamese to access better opportunities in the digital economy and support the nation’s socio-economic progress,” Trong said.

Philippines – Integrated marketing communications agency Stratworks has secured new major clients: Raemulan Lands, Inc., Geely Motors, and McCormick Philippines. 

With its string of new client wins as a communications partner, Stratworks is cementing its reputation as a ‘brand love agency.’ Its client expansion also underscores its ability to cater to various industries, including automotive, retail, real estate, and food.

The agency’s recent wins highlight its ability to attract major players and top category leaders. Leveraging its expertise, Stratworks is expected to help the brands enhance their reputation and build strong consumer connections.

Stratworks’ track record of delivering impactful and purpose-driven campaigns contributed to its success in securing new clients. Its past initiatives include the First Philippine Mount Everest Expedition, Jollibee Family Values Awards, and PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms.

Mark Christian Parlade, managing director of Stratworks, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Geely, Raemulan, and McCormick to the Stratworks family. These wins reflect our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results and building strong, lasting partnerships.” 

“Our vision for growth and innovation is centred on creating work that not only meets business objectives but also cultivates genuine brand love and makes a positive impact. We are immensely grateful for the trust these leading companies have placed in Stratworks, and we are excited to embark on this journey with them,” he added.

Philippines – The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has teamed up with communications group DDB Group Philippines to encourage Filipinos to vote during the elections.

Through an AI-powered campaign, MAP and DDB Group Philippines aim to improve the voter turnout, sparking a sense of civic responsibility. It builds on the current trend of the rising number of registered voters in the country, but addresses the gap in actual voter turnout.

Made in partnership with DOOH and Plan B, the campaign leveraged AI in its video while ensuring emotional resonance.

The campaign video reminds voters of their promises of a better life for their families. Its message revolves around how these promises can be delivered through voting wisely.

The midterm elections in the Philippines commenced on May 12. The elections cover senators, district and partylist representatives, governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councilors.

DDB Philippines was recently appointed to handle LG Electronics’ social and digital communications for its product portfolio locally.