Edit:
If you’re following me on Twitter, you would know about the creative sparring that happened earlier between my friends advertising whiz @MannyDR and award-winning graphic artist @AJDimarucot of googooandgaga regarding what Bayo’s follow-up ad should be:
Genius!
“50% Australian and 100% Filipino”
***
I received a text message from Bayo yesterday:
I also got this in my inbox:
From Bayo’s VP for Product Research and Development, Lyn Agustin:
“We at BAYO, deeply apologize for the message our campaign—‘What’s Your Mix?’—has unintentionally conveyed. We would like to express our regrets to those who have been offended or felt discriminated against.
“Our company and our partners have always taken pride in being pro-Filipino as we continue to celebrate our uniqueness and achievements. We believe that being a Filipino will always make you 100% beautiful. It is unfortunate that this message got lost along the way.
“We thank everyone who has shown support for our thrust of promoting Filipino beauty, talent, and creativity.”
I personally know the owners of Bayo and I have worked with their team for many years. They have a soft spot in my heart because when I was starting out as a fashion stylist/personal shopper in the industry, they were one of the few stores who trusted me in pulling out clothes to feature in different publications. Those were the days when being a “fashion stylist” or “personal shopper” were unheard of.
Bayo back then was an emerging brand. I was attracted to their classic pieces that were fun, affordable, and made in the Philippines.
Photography, Mark Nicdao; Stylist, Jenni Epperson
The first time the owners, Lyn Agustin and Corcor Bitong and I met, we instantly became good friends. They are down-to-earth, kind, and proudly Pinays.
I was also instrumental in Bayo and KC’s partnership. Since I was friends with the Bayo owners and KC, I knew that the alliance was a match made in retail heaven.
I have worked with Bayo and KC for some of their campaign ads. The shoots were always fun and relaxed, just as it should be when working with friends.
Photography, Mark Nicdao; Stylist, Jenni Epperson
I can attest to you that the company and the people behind Bayo are far from being “racist” or had any intentions of offending anyone. I have to admit though that the recent “In the Mix” campaign write-up was not properly executed. I also know that Bayo is very sorry for what happened. They will correct their mistake and this has served as a lesson for them.
Photography, Mark Nicdao; Stylist, Jenni Epperson
Personally, I’m a bit saddened by this whole experience as I know for a fact that Bayo has always supported Filipinos and believed in our beauty and talent. Unfortunately, the “In the Mix” campaign got mixed up, so to speak, and did not do them justice.
From someone who’s been through many challenges in her life, I know that this incident will not define Bayo but will make them even stronger and wiser.
To those who are asking on Twitter if I worked on the In the Mix ad campaign, the answer is no. I was not the stylist but I thought all the models and Bayo endorser Jasmin Curtis Smith looked beautiful and stylish.
Shoppingero/shoppingera, when was the last time you made a mistake and how did you rectify it? Please share.
Comments 10
I’ve been patronizing Bayo since they started with Bea Lucero! (nahalata ang edad! LOL!)
Despite the controversial “mix-match” campaign, their products will still sell itself. I buy stuff not because of ad campaigns, I buy because I like the products.
Author
Thanks Mom-Friday!
Truth be told, they were one of the firsts too to support my blog when I started. They’ve always been pro-Pinoy and believed in our uniqueness and talents.
Here, here! Totally agree Jenni! I can’t believe all the hullaballoo over this. LIke I said before…pure, mixed, whatever, aren’t we all Pinoy and Proud? I think a lot of people were too sensitive and over analyzed this. There are more important issues to focus our attention on. And like you said over the years Bayo has proven time and time again that they thoroughly support Filipinos.
Author
Thanks Manda for the comment!
The first time I saw the ad of Jasmin Curtis along Katipunan Ave showing the 50% Australain 50% Filipino, the 1st though that came to mind was that Bayo was already partly owned by an Australian entity. Right, it was not properly executed or, that the main intention of the ad campaign did not come out clearly. But just like Mom-Friday, it shouldn’t affect buyer’s decision, I buy the clothes if I like the clothes!
I personally did not find anything wrong with the message. Not racist or anything. I get what they want to say.
My only problem is that whoever wrote that copy could have done it better. And the percentages seem wrong to me. That last is a little nitpicky, but well, when you put up humongous billboards, you kinda expect to get nitpicked.
Cheers!
Thanks for posting Jen! Para sa akin, kahit ano pa halo ng dugo mo, basta puso mo 100% Pinoy, that’s all that matters! =)
Author
Hi AJ!
Totoo yan! Alam natin ya!
Galing mo!
J
Ikaw pala ang nag-style nung mga KC Bayo ads?!?! OMG!!! I love those ads. I was trying to get a hold of a copy of HQ pictures then pang-wallpaper. Hahaha! Wallpaper ng PC hindi ng kwarto. Chos! Love love love the KC-Bayo ads…
Anyway, this is another case of lost in translation. I totally get what they’re trying to say but the paragraphs were a tad tooooo long. Mas madaling mapuna. However… Ang ganda ni Baby Curt. 🙂
I honestly didn’t see what was offensive in their ads. I’ve been using bayo for years and just kind of stopped bec the quality decreased. I still prefer it over kamiseta.
I’m 50 percent kapampangan and 50 percent Ilocano. What’s the big deal. Sometimes we can get overly sensitive.