"Hello, Billy" (found Filipino TV commercial series, 2000-2001): Difference between revisions

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==Controversies==
==Controversies==
During the campaign, Filipinos were speculating over what does Gracia looks like and if Billy is gay. Multiple different discussions were archived during the advertising campaign and are still available today. <ref>[https://www.pinoyexchange.com/discussion/32084/hello-billy-commercials A old discussion about the ad campaign on the Pinoy Exchange forums.]Retrieved 22 February '22 </ref> <ref>[https://www.pinoyexchange.com/discussion/64481/dapat-bang-i-pullout-ang-latest-billy-commercial-ng-pldt A second discussion over if Hello, Billy should be cancelled.]Retrieved 22 February '22 </ref>
During the campaign, Filipinos were speculating over what does Gracia looks like and if Billy is gay. Multiple different discussions were archived during the advertising campaign and are still available today. <ref>[https://www.pinoyexchange.com/discussion/32084/hello-billy-commercials A old discussion about the ad campaign on the Pinoy Exchange forums.]Retrieved 22 February '22 </ref> <ref>[https://www.pinoyexchange.com/discussion/64481/dapat-bang-i-pullout-ang-latest-billy-commercial-ng-pldt A second discussion over if Hello, Billy should be cancelled.]Retrieved 22 February '22 </ref>
However, it sparked controversy over its portrayal of gay people. In one commercial, "Rumors", Billy calls his gay friend Joey about the scandalous rumors surrounding his marriage to Gracia. The commercial then cuts to Joey acting clueless and it's revealed that Joey was the one spreading the rumors. <ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2a479&dat=20011023&id=JqhjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hiUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3356,24888100&hl=en Another edition of the Inquirer, dated at October 23, 2001.]Retrieved 22 February '22.</ref> In protest of this commercial, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (Lagablab), boycotted PLDT.<ref>[https://lagablab.wordpress.com/2006/09/04/isagani-cruz-press-freedom-and-media-ethics-and-responsibility The official website of Lagablab.]Retrieved 22 February '22.</ref>
However, it sparked controversy over its portrayal of gay people. In one commercial, "Rumors", Billy calls his gay friend Joey about the rumors surrounding his marriage to Gracia. The commercial then cuts to Joey acting clueless and it's revealed that Joey was the one spreading the rumors. <ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2a479&dat=20011023&id=JqhjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hiUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3356,24888100&hl=en Another edition of the Inquirer, dated at October 23, 2001.]Retrieved 22 February '22.</ref> In protest of this commercial, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (Lagablab), boycotted PLDT.<ref>[https://lagablab.wordpress.com/2006/09/04/isagani-cruz-press-freedom-and-media-ethics-and-responsibility The official website of Lagablab.]Retrieved 22 February '22.</ref>


==Videos==
==Videos==

Revision as of 09:10, 11 June 2022

Hello billy joey screenshot.png

A screenshot of Joey talking to the main character, Billy, by using a telephone.

Status: Partially Found

In 2000, the telecommunications company PLDT collaborated with Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, a marketing firm to help create Hello, Billy. The advertising campaign was conceived to increase the number of international direct dial (IDD) calls in the Phillippines. The series is about a mother who is concerned about her son, Billy, who lives somewhere far away and is lonely. However, Billy has a girlfriend. The name of Billy's girlfriend is Gracia.[1]

The advertising campaign was a great success, prompting PLDT to produce more commercials. The commercials doubled how many times subscribers called overseas and increased the number of minutes by 50%.[2]

Controversies

During the campaign, Filipinos were speculating over what does Gracia looks like and if Billy is gay. Multiple different discussions were archived during the advertising campaign and are still available today. [3] [4] However, it sparked controversy over its portrayal of gay people. In one commercial, "Rumors", Billy calls his gay friend Joey about the rumors surrounding his marriage to Gracia. The commercial then cuts to Joey acting clueless and it's revealed that Joey was the one spreading the rumors. [5] In protest of this commercial, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (Lagablab), boycotted PLDT.[6]

Videos

This is the "Rumors" commercial.

Another commercial, this time titled "Best Man".


References