Last month, I was asked to a contribute an article for a local magazine. Not Code Red which I still regularly write for (yah, yah, yah — I never left print media) but another magazine which has published an article of mine in the past. Guess all you like — I’ve written articles for so ... (more)
The Sustagen Junior and Alactagrow recall
Posted on September 27, 2010 · 5 Comments
Is there truth in advertising? If this ad is to be believed, Sustagen is nothing but beneficial to young children. But on September 16, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall of two Mead Johnson milk products — Sustagen Junior and Alactagrow. Mead Johnson downplayed the recall by citing technicalities and insisting that ... (more)
Advertising that makes sense
Posted on September 7, 2010 · 13 Comments
I’ve seen just about everything on the body of buses in the city — from make-up to deodorants to disposable diapers. So refreshing to see a public service announcement that actually makes sense and sends across a very important message. At the back of this bus, the image of a man riding a bike. The ... (more)
Sometimes, it’s okay not to be the first
Posted on January 26, 2010 · 19 Comments
In the age of mass media, and the internet, people have developed the “scoop” mentality. Everyone wants to be the first. Media outfits will pay good money to get the scoop on an event and internet publishers sometimes try to out-scoop media. The more serious movie goer and book reader do it to their peers ... (more)
Perceptions and images of women
Posted on July 21, 2009 · 8 Comments
In a television commercial, an attractive young woman calls out “Darling” to the out-of-focus image of a man in the crowd. She runs to him, he picks her up, she tells him she missed him and he says the same to her. The camera focuses on his face which, in wry Filipino humor, would be ... (more)
Shopping for bargains
Posted on December 2, 2008 · 13 Comments
(Today’s column) It was a strange sight. We passed by Dampa sa Libis on Sunday evening and the parking lot was not even half full. The only times I’ve seen that parking lot in such a condition was on weekdays during the dead hours between lunch and dinner. I wondered if it was because most ... (more)
Junk food generation
Posted on May 20, 2008 · 16 Comments
The online version of The Australian recently published a report about a growing movement of parents to ban junk food ads especially on television. The reason? Because “the advertising was undermining their efforts to teach children good eating habits.” Heaven knows I’d like to see something similar in the Philippines, but the question is who ... (more)
Ethics and product endorsements
Posted on April 16, 2008 · 19 Comments
So you’ve seen Aga Muhlach downing all that Jollibee Chicken Joy. So you’ve seen Sharon Cuneta eating all those McDonald’s burgers. And watching them do it makes you want to run to the nearest Jollibee and McDonald’s outlets to get a bite of what they’re having on the screen of the idiot box. Now try ... (more)
Diamonds and the 80th Oscars
Posted on February 28, 2008 ·
Full text of today’s column, “Diamonds and the 80th Oscars” I was busy writing last Tuesday’s column when the 80th Oscars went on the air. I heard snatches of the ceremony but completely missed the Red Carpet prelude. I went to the Oscar Web site yesterday and took a glimpse. Below are some descriptions: “Nominee ... (more)
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