MANILA – For decades, the image of a smiling man with white hair, glasses, a white beard, and a white suit symbolized both fried chicken and the quintessential Southern gentleman. After all, even though Col. Harland Sanders had passed away in 1980, his visage remains the official face of Kentucky Fried Chicken (or KFC) to this day.
It’s almost blasphemous to picture anyone else putting on the glasses and white suit of “the Colonel,” but that’s exactly what Ogilvy & Mather Philippines posits when they ask, “Who is KFC’s first Filipino colonel?”
This is no small task, something no mere mortal can be expected to accomplish. Thus, the agency tapped three distinct yet notable actors to make their case for this honor. Renowned actors Ronaldo Valdez, Leo Martinez, and Pen Medina are shown going through the audition process, giving their individual takes on what a Filipino colonel should be.
Valdez, a matinee idol in his younger days who has since become a favorite character actor might just resemble Col. Sanders the most among the three. Martinez, with his distinct Batangueno accent and his penchant for comedic characters such as Cong. Manhik Manaog, goes the funny route for his audition. Meanwhile, Medina, a staple of theater and dramas for decades, is the epitome of intensity and seriousness when he wraps his head around how Col. Sanders should act.
In the end, the audience is left wondering which among the three will earn the distinction, or if any of them will even be chosen by May 29. Who would you pick as KFC’s first Filipino colonel?
Ogilvy & Mather Philippines
Creative Director – Donna Dimayuga
ACD – Eia Garcia
ACD – Paulo Villones
Senior Copywriter – Liana Barcia
Art Director – Pia Bautista
Copywriter – Wacky Torres
Art Director – James Mendoza
KFC
VP for Asia Pacific – Soames Hines
Managing Director – Caloy Sambrano
Account Director – Emma Manalac
Account Manager – Carmela Bangsal
Account Manager – Jordan Wei
