MANILA, Philippines— Total beverage company Coca-Cola Philippines has been in the country for over 100 years and this made them part of every Filipino celebration, especially Christmas. For decades, the iconic Coke bottles, Coca-Cola Christmas trucks, and advertising campaigns would feature the classic image of Santa Claus or polar bears relishing the soda as the holiday drew near. This year, however, Coca-Cola is doing something a little different to celebrate a Filipino Christmas.
Dubbed “Real Magic of Christmas,” the global campaign that reminds us that the Real Magic at Christmas takes place when we connect with one another, has been adapted for the Philippines and features recipes prepared by Filipino influencers and chefs Ninong Ry and Marsha Tamayo of TastyDelightsPH. Each shares a dish that they can easily prepare yet also love making when celebrating with friends and family.
For Ninong Ry, it’s his version of the Cathedral Windows cake. “Personally, this dessert is one of my favorites, especially during my birthdays,” he shares. “I don’t mind not celebrating birthdays as long as I have Cathedral Windows. And of course, in every celebration, Coca-Cola is present. So, the combination of the two makes my day feel very special.”
For her part, Tamayo, the personality behind TastyDelightsPH, chose to prepare her own take on Sizzling Bulalo. “I always choose Sizzling Bulalo with mushroom gravy when entertaining three to five persons at home and with drinks like Coca-Cola,” she says. “It looks fancy but it is easy.”
“After boiling the beef shank until tender, I divide the broth into two. The first half is reserved for serving soup that soothes cool breeze or on a chilly rainy night and the other half I turn it into a thick, savory, and rich mushroom gravy,” Tamayo adds.
“It is a tried-and-true recipe with meltingly delicious beef chunks in a thick and savory rich mushroom gravy with all our favorite vegetables,” she notes. “It is every bit as delicious as it is easy to prepare.”
According to Tony del Rosario, Coca-Cola Philippines President and VP for Franchise Operations for the Asean and South Pacific Unit-East Asia Region: “In the Philippines, Coca-Cola uses #PaskongCocaCola and #IbahagiAngMagic in its social media platforms to speak directly to Filipinos, inviting them to share the real magic of Christmas with their loved ones.”
“In its 110 years of spending Christmas with Filipinos, Coca-Cola has always been a staple in mealtime celebrations,” he adds. “A Christmas celebration is never complete without Coca-Cola, and we want to bring families closer together with the magic of opening a bottle of Coke and the human connections we make.”
While past Coca-Cola Christmas campaigns worldwide have seen the magical presence of Santa Claus delivering gifts or even driving a large Coke truck, the company went for a more personal touch in 2021 but with magic still part of its message.
Asked what the true magic of Christmas means to them, there are some similar themes from Ninong Ry and TastyDelightsPH. “The real magic of Christmas stems from the connection with your family, friends, and loved ones,” bares Ninong Ry. “Feeling that human connection at this time of the year is really the magic of Christmas.”
For her part, Marsha Tamayo notes that, “It is cherishing the joyful spirit of it such as: decorating for Christmas is so much fun, the Joy of shopping, seeing the stores are beautifully decorated and very festive, buying, wrapping, giving, and receiving gifts bring so much joy. Connecting and being with loved ones, loving and showing each other how we all feel. Preparing and cooking lovingly for noche buena for the whole family to partake after hearing the Christmas mass.”
Each also shared their memorable Christmas moments. According to Ninong Ry, “Being in the restaurant industry for many years, I tend to get busy during the holidays. So, whenever I get invited to a potluck Christmas party, I always get the role of bringing Coca-Cola because I’m always busy and too tired to cook. Coca-Cola is always present at Christmas and in every celebration.”
“Christmas 2020 is my most memorable Christmas Coca-Cola experience,” Tamayo states. “It was so different from what we are used to celebrating. Because of the current situation, our little family decided to share a big chunk of our Christmas budget and focus more on the importance of giving and sharing not only with family and friends but more so on our outreach program. A clearer way to teach my children what the real meaning and spirit of Christmas is.”
“That means a simpler noche buena but we made sure that some of the favorites are laid on the dining table including desserts and drinks like Coca-Cola,” she adds. “Seeing the ever-present Coca-Cola on the dining table is like seeing a close friend or a family member even at the height of the pandemic where all are prohibited from getting close physically. It is like a warm hug when you are feeling alone. Truly, I felt nothing Coca Cola can’t fix! In today’s language Coke lang SAKALAM ika nga!”
In a world that still needs magic after a difficult couple of years, Coca-Cola would like to infuse the Christmas spirit with the magic that has been associated with Christmas for years. Filipino households have celebrated the Christmas season with Coca-Cola since the company first reached our shores, and it’s no surprise to see bottles and cans of Coke present during the noche buena feast on Christmas Eve or during family reunions throughout the holidays.
Christmas, perhaps like no other season, is so cherished by Filipinos. They are, after all, famous for having “the longest Christmas celebration in the world,” as seen by the sprinkling of parols or the playing of Christmas carols as early as August of every year. Part and parcel of these holiday traditions has been the sharing of Coca-Cola among friends and family.
With human connection finally becoming a reality again after we’ve seemingly been kept apart for so long, Coca-Cola wants to be part of that reconnection and celebrate the magic that only the human touch can genuinely bring forth. That’s the real magic of Christmas and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
What are your magical moments with Coca-Cola? Share them using #PaskongCocaCola and #IbahagiAngMagic when visiting Coca-Cola on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
