You’ve probably seen Disney’s latest Pinoy-themed advertisement on social media, which has made thousands if not millions shed a tear of joy, especially among us Filipinos.
The ad begins with a young girl given a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy by her dad in 1940 amid the backdrop of parols and a huge church — both symbols of the traditional Filipino Christmas celebration.
Lola then gives the doll to her granddaughter, while teaching her to make parols.
If you still haven’t seen the ad or wish to relive its heartwarming drama, watch the video below:
The story was based on the personal experiences of Angela Affinita, a brand and creative marketing director at Disney EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).
Based on her November 9 entry on her Facebook page, Angela describes the short animation film’s story as being “inspired by my Lola and my mum.”
A day before, she posted a teaser of the ad, calling it “the best thing I’ve ever made.” Angela has been in the communications business for two decades, the last seven and a half years of which were with Disney EMEA.
Another post before the reveal says that the ad was ten months in the making and that “all of my heart and soul has gone into this.”
In addition to Angela’s own experiences, cultural consultants in the Philippines were also interviewed as part of the production process, so that the references were as accurate as possible.
Screengrab from Disney UK YouTube channel.
