Bohol Yoga Festival, April 21-22, 2024

Bear Brand Sterilized Milk Tv Commercial

Location : Metro Manila, Philippines

Back in the Day
I am writing this blog on Feb 15, 2021, but this commercial was shot around 1981 when I shortly began working after my university graduation. To put things in perspective, during that time, Blondie had a hit single, Call Me, which was used as the theme song for the movie American Gigolo by Richard Gere. New Wave music was slowly inching its way to popularity.

The Good Life
It was heady during those times. I was 21 years old and full of energy (full of myself too). I moved out of my parents' house and had a glamour job, money, an apartment, a car and a girlfriend. All the essentials to a budding career upstart was already there for me. Life was good.

at 21, fresh out of university, I had the swagger, a good-paying job, a car, an apartment, a girlfriend, and my face was on TV and magazines...it was intoxicating. I would really wish that everyone would experience this fleeting moment of intoxication at least 15 minutes in their lives.

"I Want to be a Model"
I was so confident that I applied to be a model at Talents International and had my modeling SetCard made. I then made my rounds on the most prestigious advertising agencies in the capital, talked to whoever was in-charge, and simply stated, "I want to be a model". I wasn't tall enough, and I wasn't exactly good-looking enough to be a commercial model, but thank God, I didn't know that. At some point, I actually got a few calls for audition. Bear Brand, one of the leading milk products, was one of them.

my modeling SetCard with Talents International

Yolly, the Leading Lady
During the filming, I met the 'leading lady', Yolly, a lovely half-Spanish mestiza whose beauty could easily launch her on the silver screen. We got along well. After the filming, we were already 'together'. Yes, life was good.

Yolly and I shared happy moments after the filming

15-Minute Celebrity
With the nationwide launch of the Bear Brand commercial (TV and print), I became an instant celebrity within my growing social circle. I was known as "the Bear Brand guy". My cheesy jokes were suddenly funny. I got invited to more parties and events. I was popular and people wanted to be friends with me. Women were drawn to me, and I was drawn to them. The good life even got better. I wasn't exactly intoxicated, but I was really enjoying myself.

Domino Effect
Bear Brand was followed by a few more tv and print commercials - Magnolia cheese, an Indonesian beer (I never saw the finished commercial since it was only shown in Indonesia), print ad for Sahara Club (a chique fashion label), Baguio Oil (a national brand cooking oil), etc.

Bear Brand print ad graced many magazines

Ending Thoughts
It's nice to reminisce that era when I was still a part of the establishment, young, optimistic, upwardly mobile, and full of life. Fast forward to today, 2021, and although I live life as a nomadic renunciate (no home, no job, no property, little money, letting the wind take me wherever), life has continued to be kind and abundant. I've had challenges but they were all manageable and necessary. Maybe I did good things in a previous life. I've never allowed the euphoria or set backs get inside my head. Yes, it's been a privileged life and I'm always grateful. Like Andy Warhol, I would wish everyone to have their 15-minutes of fame as well - it's quite a surreal experience while it lasts.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

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