Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The True Meaning of Beauty.


Two thirds of women around the world,


from fifteen-year-olds to sixty-year-olds, avoid basic activities of life because they feel badly about the way they look. It’s time we changed their minds -Dove Campaign


I can't help but admit that this project made me cry. It affected me so much because I am part of the Girl Community, and I know that every girl on this planet is prone to being judged.

I can't help but admit that I hate all commercials which wrongfully DICTATE what beauty is and what kind of life it can give you. It takes young ladies away from their path to having normal and happy lives.

I can't help but admit that tears fall from my Owl-ish eyes whenever I would see girls in the comfort room, staring at other girls, or older women whom they think are prettier, sexier, and more presentable than them.

I can't help but admit that whenever I have friends who ask me the ultimate question ---"Kailan ba ako gaganda?", I get so depressed and I just wanna hug that person and whisper that she IS beautiful and there's nothing to change because we are all pretty and lovely in different ways.

I can't help but admit that I am the kind of person who sometimes choses to sacrifice her own time, and happiness for someone who needs a helping hand, a listener, and a friend who can share her love and care.

Beauty is not just about our our physical looks. Beauty as they say is also about the love we get form our families and friends. It also covers aspects of our self-esteem which is about the way we recognize and take pride in our strengths, talents, and natural beauty. The Dove Self Esteem Fund, a well-researched, well planned, and well implemented CSR (corporate social responsibility) is not just like any other project we have encountered. Unlike other organizational projects which are focused only on the idea that everyone is naturally beautiful, Dove gives importance to the wrong understanding and definition of beauty and envisions to uplift the self-esteem of every girl, lady, woman that are deeply affected, and are vulnerable to the terrible beauty trends and lifestyles of this distorted planet.


"Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does..."
-
Dove Campaign

It really is about time to make some changes. Though this Dove campaign brought about certain issues such as being accused of using this kind of campaign just to increase their sales, and that the organization has a sister company which sells cosmetics (this I am not sure of, I just read it form a comment in youtube), Dove was still able to get the support of the many. It made such a big impact on people, especially women, because it is an issue that every woman is having and is embarrassed to share with others, fearing that she may be seen as someone who is not very confident about herself.

I guess being supportive and helping people with their problems is really an effective way of being a part of their lives. Dove has probably been a part of almost every woman's life since the Self Esteem Campaign. Proceeds of the sales go to the project's funds. I love the way Dove introduced its campaign to the people. Not only that their ads are very touching, they also sounded very credible because captions in between pictures of girls are about researched information. I will continuously support this project as I have since its launch because I know that somehow, somewhere in this cruel world, a part the money I contributed by buying their products has helped a young or old lady with a distorted thinking of beauty

Positive Self Esteem is about being able to celebrate differences - Dove Campaign


DOVE SELF ESTEEM CHECK (Take the test)
Do you have a positive body image? Does your self-esteem need a tune-up? Find out through these interactive quizzes.


Nag Pa-Cheeseburger Ka na Ba?


"Hey there! Bagong visitor ka ba ng First Ever Formal blog ko? Hhmm... sabi na nga ba eh! Pa-cheeseburger ka naman! BURGER! BURGER! BURGER!"


McDonald's newest series of commercials is one of the most talked about "stuff" this part of the year.

Some people saw it as a desperate way of getting the attention of "all publics". Some said that its also a desperate way of making people buy Mcdo's cheeseburgers. While some, saw it as a good marketing strategy because it targeted a wide range of publics in this Pinoy Land. Most people even had that "pa cheeseburger ka naman" joke as part of their lifestyle. The theme of the burger commercial says something like "kahit anong dahilan nalang, matikaman lang ang cheeseburger ng Mcdonalds". During the peak of the commercial series, hearing different groups of employees, couples, and teens say "Pa Cheeseburger ka naman" was like a part of my daily/ weekly adventure. Geeez, it was like the latest fashion trend! In La Salle alone, from ENG gate to Miguel Building, there are about 1 to 2 hirits in a week. Nag-hit siya sa mga Pinoy dahil tayong mga Pilipino ay madaling patawanin, mababaw sa mga jokes, at mahilig magbiro, tapos hihirit ng Libre. Lifestyle kasi natin yan. - from a friend.

My cousins even joke about it with their families almost every single day.

They would tease each other whenever someone just woke up ---
"Uuuyyy Bagong Gising, Pa Cheese Burger ka naman!"

Whenever somone just got home
"Uuuyy, he brought home the bacon! Pa Cheeseburger ka naman!".

For me, that is actually one of the most effective comm strategies in my generation. I think Mcdo wanted to give everyone the idea that their Cheeseburger can be everyone's snack anytime of the day. Like when we Pinoys think of LIBRE, instead of just thinking about Pizza, Chicken, etc. we can also think of Mcdo's cheeseburger. "Uso kasi sa mga office dito sa atin ang mga pakain. Uso din kasi sa atin ang maging IN sa panahon kapag kaya natin sabihin ang latest na expression o kaya latest na hirit-- from a friend."

Kamusta naman yon diba?? (hmmm... I'm pretty sure that almost everyone is guilty of copying Mariel Rodriguez' favorite expression )

The "Pa Cheeseburger ka naman" idea worked well because people talk about it everyday. But being talked about is different from being successfull in terms of profit. I have no idea if their sales went up because of this TV ad series. Whatever the result is in terms of the sales, I sitll think that the idea was halfway successful and effective because it targeted a part of Most Filipino's lifestyles --- pa-libre, pa-kain, atnd making things become such a big deal which results to a....

"Pa cheeseburger ka naman! BURGER! BURGER! BURGER!






Sunday, October 26, 2008

My Favorite Nescafe Classic Poster


Don't you just love it?

Though it only consists of the colors
brown, yellow, and off white, it is still very meaningful, artististic, unique, and...oh so coffee craving!

Whenever I look at this poster, I feel like I can smell the coffee aroma too. I am so amazed how the aroma was directly connected with the human nose by using the "coffee smoke" concept for shaping the nose.



C
heers
to the person responsible for this incredible work of art! =)


I wonder :
What came to the artist's mind that made him/her think of this concept? I adore the idea.
I really do!