"Hello, Billy" (found Filipino TV commercial series, 2000-2001)
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 amount of minutes by 50%.[2]
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. [3] In protest of this commercial, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (Lagablab), boycotted PLDT.[4]
Videos
References
- ↑ An archived edition of the Inquirer, a Filipino newspaper.Retrieved 22 February '22.
- ↑ A article on the Phillippine Star news website, dated June 4, 2001. Author might not be reliable due to no social media presence on the web except the Phillippine Star (as far as I am aware of).Retrieved 22 February '22.
- ↑ Another edition of the Inquirer, dated at October 23, 2001.Retrieved 22 February '22.
- ↑ The official website of Lagablab.Retrieved 22 February '22.