The 'Mercy' Ad Campaign

Got this off awearnessblog.com which is very, very aggressive and I couldn't believe it's running in KSA. I remember there was one campaign with the same thought that was aired here in Kuwait, I hope that whenever they come up with such awareness is that they should make it thorough, long and effective enough to move people.


"Mercy" -- which is an important part of Islam -- is also an ad campaign in Saudi Arabia. The ads argue with arresting imagery for the better treatment of Saudi Arabia's ubiquitous domestic workers and were created by Fullstop, an advertising agency in the birthplace of Islam. The Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) and the MBC-owned Al Arabiyya TV are running three television ads. Above is an image that has run in Saudi Arabian newspapers.

The reason for the ads is, in part, the Human Rights Watch report in July "As If I Am Not Human." The scathing 133 page report on the second class citizenship status was based on 142 interviews and caused the kingdom's great embarrassment. Saudi households employ roughly 1.5 million domestic workers, primarily from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal.

Rest In Peace... Francis!

I thought it was bad joke when someone told me that Kiko passed away, so I called my friend DJ Coki back home and he did say that the master rapper passed away around 12 noon, Friday. Francis M a.k.a. The Mouth, was an inspiration to us all hip hoppers, DJs, Rappers and Rhymers. He's one of the foundations of Philippine Hip Hop, A world-class performer and a true Makabayan. We Love You Kiks, IDOL! Rest In Peace.


MANILA, Philippines - Master Rapper Francis Magalona, 44, passed away Friday. Vic Sotto confirmed the news over GMA's noontime show "Eat Bulaga" and asked for a minute of prayer for the eternal repose of the singer-composer's soul. A doctor at the hospital who requested anonymity told reporters that Magalona succumbed to multiple organ failure "secondary to severe sepsis and secondary to pneumonia." Magalona's battle with the illness was made public last year. The 44-year-old singer-composer told the Philippine Entertainment Portal in December 2008 that he survived a delicate medical condition days before he was dispatched from a hospital. "Akala ko kasi magki-Christmas ako sa ospital, e, [I thought I would spend Christmas in the hospital] because I had a very, very, very close brush with death last December 4. I went into septic shock and it was a very scary moment," he said in an earlier interview. It was announced last year that Magalona was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant. "My doctor said I'm in remission right now after my third chemo cycle. So, my next move would be to do the bone marrow transplant and I'm very happy to announce that I was able to find a match. One of my sisters from the States we have the same tissue typing so she would be my donor," he added. In a GMA "Flash Report" Friday, reporter Sandra Aguinaldo said among the first personalities to rush to the Medical City Hospital in Mandaluyong City to condole with the family of Magalona were long-time friends Michael V, singer Ogie Alcasid, and Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista. Also rushing to the hospital was veteran actress Rosa Rosal, who chairs the Philippine National Red Cross Blood Donation program. Comedian Michael V said Magalona died with his entire family around him. After spending some time with Magalona’s family inside the hospital, Michael V went outside and told reporters how much the Philippines’ Master Rapper had influenced him in his rap music career. While expressing grief over the news, Bautista said he would immediately busy himself with arranging for the wake of Magalona. The Magalona family has yet to announce where wake of the late TV host will be. - Amita O. Legaspi, Mark Merueñas, and Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV

Who Is The Idiot?

It may not be the best TVC for anti-drunk driving, but this is quite an effective one! It is indeed a lot safer to get a cab home than driving by yourself. (this was aired in 2008 for the festive season in the UK)

Bruce Lee for Nokia N Series

Created to advertise a special edition Nokia Bruce Lee N Series! Check out the cinematography, although it mimics amateur video, it really tells the story. It's very memorable and incredibly fun!

CR Feb issue, Out now!

Creative Review Feb issue came out on Wednesday 21 January, featuring Luke Hayman, Letman, Indian advertising, The Guardian’s new home, The Elms Lesters Painting Rooms... So Grab a copy, quick!

Drunken Bush

This is pretty hilarious, amazing how they'd slow down the cam and the pitch at the same time! Taken from the late late show with Craig Ferguson.

Bb Gandanghari for KIDLAT AWARDS

Got this one off from Adobo mag site, And this year's Kidlat Awards will be hosted by no other than Rustom, este, BB Gandanghari! I couldn't stop laughing after seeing this one, Directed by Lyle Sacris and produced by Telly Arce at Carver Studios, with scriptwriter Leigh Reyes, talent coordinator Kat Limchoc. With special participation of the master himself, David "Cabana Boy" Guerrero :)

Hala Febrayer

Hala February or Hala Febrayer (in Arabic) kicked off with a great display of vintage cars and motor bikes, there were acrobats and a circus(?) It was really a full decorated event, what really caught my attention in the early hours, was this huuge ford truck, I mean it is sooo big, ideal for the roads in the Philippines specially when it's flooded :) Hala Feb parade always starts in Salem Mubarak street (high street) and it's just so very near where we are staying. Aliyah & Eli enjoyed that one friday morning.

The bikes on display along Salmiya high street.

This is the truck I was talking about, Imagine having one in the PI?

Aliyah at her favorite breakfast place, CBTL.

50s, 60s, 70s, They got it there!

Pink Campaign

This ad for Breast Cancer awareness was done sometime late 2007, It was featured in Arab ad magazine and in some ad blogs worldwide, it gained positive comments and moved a lot of people. Inspired by the transparent balloons that were used during the decoration of my daughter's 7th Birthday at the Ritz, and what do you know? I got an email from the British Army Federation and they asked permission to use this ad for their awareness article in their quarterly magazine with a worldwide distribution! That 5-minute creative thought really paid off!

Prank Call

Panic came last Sunday when a bomb threat was called at my daughter's school at the AIS, My wife nervously called me up and I flew from my office to the school in like less that 10 minutes! When I came, there was people everywhere, a long line of cars jammed on the road, police blocked the main gates and the Special weapons and tactics team came to the scene with their sniffer dogs. Parents weren't allowed in the school campus as some wait in grief and anger. Paramedics were on standby and so are the fire trucks. We waited for the gates to open but there was nothing, not even a hint of what was going on inside. I thought at first, it will be fine, knowing that never these kind of terror things happen in Kuwait, there was an attempt however in '06, but were easily crushed by Kuwait's special task force, but on the other hand I thought, what if it's a hostage scene? Like what happened in Bosnia? That thought really scared the shit out of me. After almost an hour of waiting, the gates were opened and people start swarming inside the campus, parents trying to go to their children and take them out of the premises. Finally, my wife came out with Aliyah, Boy! Am I glad to see her! Soon we found out that it was a prank! I mean what the eff!?! It's not even the month of April, but kudos to the school teachers for making the drill, the police for the quick response and damn those people who called the prank!