For many, the sight of the Coca-Cola Christmas advertisements, especially with Sta. Claus drinking a bottle of Coke, are very iconic advertisements and signals holiday season is on underway. Like millions of people around the world, I grew up watching the annual Christmas advertisements by Coca-Cola around the month of November to December. It’s a long-held tradition reaching back to my early childhood, as far back as my memory can stretch. Feelings of exhilaration would be felt across my body when on TV I would see the brightly lit, giant red lorry driving along in full Christmas cheer.
2012 has been a challenging year! But despite these challenges, our country remains resilient and hopeful as ever. Our nation’s optimism is fueled by our collective action to open happiness amid any situation. As Christmas approaches, strange creatures dressed in bright floppy hats garnished with shiny bells encroach from the dark and begin to occupy stations up and down the country. This year, as a tradition to Coca-cola and as offering to 100th year of Coca-Cola in the Philippines, the newest Coca-Cola Christmas Carol continues to inspire, remind and provoke the Filipinos – that despite all the challenges and hardships, there are still more reasons to be thankful and be happy, especially this magical season of Christmas.
The latest TV commercial of Coca-Cola shows the children caroling in every houses bringing the Christmas spirit and the tradition of gift-giving. This also shows Filipino optimism and that for every dispute in every part of the world, we Filipinos raises our hands with a peace sign hoping that everything will be settled and we will all be happy.