So young and yet so successful

It is hard to believe, palanggas, that the popular, in-demand BBDO/Guerrero Ortega, dahlings, is only four years young. Who could have imagined that an advertising agency would have so much impact and reap so many international awards and accolades in the short time it has been around?

For those still not in the know, BBDO is the world’s third largest advertising agency network. It has 323 offices in 76 countries, with the Philippine office being one of the youngest. This is the advertising agency responsible for such well-known TV commercials like Donita’s fun Pepsi ad; Diether’s makes-you-wanna-eat Pizza Hut ads; Judy Ann’s yummy, yummy 555 sardines; Aga and Charlene’s popular Argentina’s corned beef; and Zhang Zi Yi’s eye-catching Visa ad.

Well, BBDO doesn’t need star endorsement for a good ad campaign. The creative agency (creativity is what they are best known for, dahlings) has drummed up national interest in that unforgettable Baygon cockroach "mating campaign" using that familiar song, Afternoon Delight, and the Department of Tourism’s "More Than the Usual" TV ads. There! Now you know, palanggas.

BBDO certainly had a reason to party, having accomplished so much at the tender age of four. Dream Bar was closed for a night as the BBDO organization led by those two hotshots, chairman and executive creative director David Guerrero and president Jos Ortega, invited tons of friends and clients. David G. is the only Filipino winner of the Cannes Gold Lion for FedEx; the London International Grand Prix for Pepsi; and the CLIO awards for Pepsi, Visa and Anvil. He also worked in London and Hong Kong and has been with Philippine advertising for seven years.

Seen partying with glass in hand were client service director Mio Chongson; Media Direction managing director Hermie de Leon; finance director Nette Samson; and creative director Dave Ferrer.

Dream Bar was packed sardine- style, dahlings, with guests treated to unlimited drinks and cocktail finger food. A comedy group and the band PIDO entertained the chic invitees.

One couldn’t miss zooming in on such social heavyweights as BBDO Asia-Pacific chairman Raymond So; vice chairman Tom Kao; chief finance officer Francis Phuah; Varun Berry; Century Canning’s dashing, good-looking brothers two, Ricardo Po Jr. and Leo Po; Pizza Hut’s Lars Petersen; General Milling’s Kirk Young; Summit Group’s brilliant two, that sister and brother act of Lisa and Lance Gokongwei, the brains behind the amazing success story of one of the best around, Cebu Pacific; Wrigley’s Alon Kahn and David Glass; NU 107’s witty boss, Atom Henares; Nivea’s Rica King; and Pizza Hut and Fix Gel top endorser Diether Ocampo, natch!

Beaming with pride over the smashing fun happening was the gent responsible for it all, Cosmo Manille’s new PR, smart, workasonic Pepper Teehankee, no less.

BBDO enters its fifth year by continuing to spread the word about fantastic ideas cooked up by Filipinos. It remains more committed than ever to making Filipino ads famous abroad. Naturellement, it also believes that more local clients can benefit from working according to international standards of creativity.

Its latest brochure, BBDO Guerrero Ortega in Black and White, spells out in detail just how great those results can be. For instance, one local casual dining chain tripled its market share in just a year. A local snack food company raised its market share by 50 percent with one commercial. And, most famous of all, a consumer goods company beat the rest of Asia in advertising effectiveness. Not bad, huh? Not bad at all.

You can get a free copy of the book by calling Shirley Marcaida at tel. no. 892-0701 or via e-mail at jos.ortega bbdo-go.com. Who knows, dahlings, it could be the best gift your company could ever get. N’est ce pas (as in, di bala)?

A trendy young brand

Amichi, dahlings, a trendy, upbeat fashion brand for women on the move, comes to Cosmo Manille via one of the best, Rustan’s, naturellement. The luxury department store adds the Amichi name to its collection of well-known international fashion brands like Christian Lacroix, Diane Von Furstenberg, BCBG, and Max Azria, among other namedroppables. The Amichi boutique offers casual and office day wear, as well as trendy evening wear.

Rustan’s presented Amichi in a fashion show at its flagship store in Ayala Center, Makati. The fashionable pack was led by Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., palanggas.

The Spanish fashion label was established in 1985 by Juan Carlos Amichi. It features updated classics for today’s fashion-conscious woman. Amichi goes by the philosophy that fashion plays an important role in women’s lives. This is why the label strives to constantly provide its shoppers with vibrant, comfortable clothes using the latest materials.

Amichi’s collection, dahlings, includes the city line, clothes with simple cuts ideal for working women. They are chic and elegant–a sexy knit top may be paired with a suit made of jeans material or the classic white shirt buttoned low with pair of tight, flared pants.

Silk tops and dark tight jeans as well as safari-inspired ensembles comprise Amichi’s trendy line, which offers up-to-the-minute styles.

Basics are the collection’s classic pieces that go beyond any trend. These timeless pieces are among Amichi’s bestsellers, which include short-sleeved white tops in rich cotton and linen to classic black pieces for those fun partying nights.

Amichi, palanggas, is one of today’s fastest growing brands with 120 outlets worldwide. In the Philippines, it is available only at Rustan’s, but where else?

Well, that’s our town, palanggas.

Do smile. See you.