MARCH 20, PATTAYA — At the Asia Pacific’s most popular advertising festival. With delegate numbers and Lotus entries down by at least 35%, organizers felt the pinch. A reflection of the economic slowdown that still has many upsides – the ad world’s knight, Sir John Hegarty of BBH London; India’s godfather of advertising Piyush Pandey; Mark Tutssel, Leo Burnett’s worldwide chief creative officer; and Dentsu’s Akira Kagami, gave ADFEST its prestigious standing.
The quality of work entered this year still sees Asia raising the creative high-bar. Mark Tuttsell, Jury President of the Press and Poster Lotus Awards this year said, "The quality of art direction in this region is still second to none. Clearly ADFEST is the gold standard in Asia, and I think some of the work we’ve seen this year is amongst the best creative work in the world this year." Jimmy Lam, ADFEST President, made a light-hearted com-ment in his opening remarks that " at least you’ll not have a hard time lining up for lunch!"
A magnificent display of thousands of the best work from Asia in Print, Outdoor, Design, Direct Marketing, and Interactive were at the PEACH convention center for attendees to feast on. Finalists in Press, Poster, Film Craft, Design, and Print Craft will be announced later today! adobo will keep you posted.
Today’s sessions:
– SINO-ADI presents How to Innovate Ourselves Out of This Downturn?
– DDB Asia Pacific presents The Gossip Principle. Reversing Through An Age of Acceleration by John Ziegler
– Mass+Niche: The Art of Two-Track Branding. A Contagious Trends Briefing by Jessica Greenwood
– Short Films by the Fabulous Four 2009 moderated by Prasoon Pandey
– Awards Presentation: Design Lotus, Print Craft Lotus, Press Lotus, Poster Louts, Film Craft Lotus, New Director Lotus
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Dave Ferrer of JWT, the Philippines’ ADFEST judge for Print Craft and Design, sneaked that Philippine entries in Print Craft and Design will fare well with some agencies expecting to take some metal home at the awards ceremonies tonight! (The awards night for Print Craft and Design was moved from last night to this evening due to overextended awards presentation of The CUP and Gunn Report). Ferrer described his jury as "very relaxed group, a mix of art directors and designers" led by jury president of Vince Frost, CEO of Frost Design in Sydney. Now done with jury duty, Ferrer will be reviewing portfolios of young creative as part of the newly formed ADFEST academy, besides downing pints of Singha at the bars.
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Although fewer in number than in previous years, the cosy Philippine delegation of about 11 (with more trickling later today) led by genius Melvin Mangada of TBWA/Santiago Mangada Puno and Gigi Tibi and Bryan Avancena of Creative Juice Manila, took in their fill of the festival. Caught at the opening cocktails last night at the Royal Cliff poolside were Lawin Bulatao, ECD of Dentsu Indio, Mike Calaquian, ECD of Dentsu Philippines, Rhett Hermedes, Head of Marketing at Unilab Bangkok, and the young female duo from BBDO Guerrero, Leah Mababangloob and Rachel Teotico who represented Team Philip-pines at the Young Lotus competition. Although the two did not make it to the finalist cut in the competition, they made friends with teams from the 13 cities in Asia.
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