If there’s one thing I’m sure of about Chinoys or Asians for that matter, is that they’re very frugal with money. Not in the wrong way, though. When it comes to financial matters, Chinoys are wise on what to spend their money on and how to save more.
Even to this day, it’s normal for small and medium scale business owners to ask their family or friends to model their products in order to save money. Such is true for Robina Gokongwei-Pe, and their family-owned company Universal Robina Corporation, founded by late John Robinson Lim Gokongwei Jr., founder and chairman emeritus of JG Summit Holdings Inc.
URC is known for various food products like Jack ‘n Jill snacks such as Chippy, Cream-O and Hello! and Nissin instant noodles.
In a recent Facebook post on Universal Robina Corporation’s page, Robina shares a fun memory about her father and her experience as URC’s print ad model.
“I don’t know if Dad was saving money at that time or he just thought his kids would look nice on camera (far from it), but Lance and I became endorsers of Presto chocolate. I was 10, and he was five, and our talent fee was [unlimited] chocolate,” Robina shares.
According to Robina, the current Robinsons Retail Holdings president, and CEO, this year marks the 65th anniversary of URC. “Unfortunately, Dad, who founded the company, is no longer around to celebrate it,” she adds.
Fun fact, in this print ad, Robina was endorsing URC’s Wafrets.
“We may be lucky endorsers because Wafrets is still alive but has resurrected into a better form. And now comes the equally yummy Cloud 9,” Robina continues, “Without the permission of Dad and the URC team, I have decided to go back to childhood at the matrona age of 60, feeling endorsed again.”
During the print run of her nostalgic childhood ad, the slogan of Wafrets was “isang kagat, dalawang sarap” and “sultry wafers” which, Robina jokes, would no longer pass the censors at this day and age.
Robina ended the nostalgic anecdote with a greeting to their company, “Happy 65th URC! Isang kagat, tatlong sarap!”
Are you team Wafrets or team Cloud9? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
