David Droga

David Droga, the closest thing the advertising world has to a rock star!
--Cynthia Dayco (Comment from Facebook)

I was happy to receive an email this morning from Mindy Liu of Droga 5, New York. She corrected me on the last paragraph of this post regarding David Droga. I stand corrected. So I am reposting this revised blog entry for a more accurate information about the man. I am flabbergasted and flattered that she stumbled upon my blog :)

I think everyone loves this guy not just Saatchi & Saatchi creatives but the advertising people from around the world. David Bjorn Droga--A 40 year old Australian who is the product of a Danish mother and a Jewish businessman father. He began his advertising career from the bottom rung of the ladder -- the mailroom boy at Grey Advertising, Sydney who wanted to write, saw the work on creatives' desks and thought he could do better. He signed up to the Australian Writer & Art Directors School, came top in ranking in the entire Australia then he was immediately offered a job at FCB. Three years later, at 21, he became the youngest Creative Director (based on what I know.)

At age 26, he was offered the job of Regional Executive Creative Director of Saatchi Asia, based in Singapore. Not the typical creative person, Droga put the region on the map by winning more awards than other offices in the network, including London. So, after invading Asia, Droga once again given a fresh challenge. He became the Executive Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi in London, where the agency was shaking after they lost their major accounts and staff. It was a difficult start for him, the British ad community asking 'Dave who?' and wondering what on earth this young Australian had to offer. He proved so much than what was asked from him.

With his continuous success, Droga is now based in New York as the founder and Creative Chairman of Droga 5. An indpendent and fastest growing ad agency in America. It opened in New York and Los Angeles year 2006, then another one in Sydney, Australia around 2008. In Australia, Creative Magazine has named him as "AUSTRALIAN CREATIVE PERSON OF THE DECADE."

Aside from having a wife and three children in Manhattan, building a new venture, David's favorite topics are ART, Environment and anything Australian.

During his show off in the Philippines with Filipino Creatives as his audience
Photos were grabbed from Telly Arce's Facebook

Yesterday, I was informed by some Saatchi friends in Manila that Droga was in town. All of them were giggling while narrating to me their stories on how genius this guy is. But the real story behind those giggles was, David took off his shirt and tried to fit one of Team Manila's shirt during his talk for the creatives in the Philippines. By the way, I think Team Manila was the sponsor of David Droga's Talk. So after hearing these details from Hans Malang and Acid Cid, I vehemently agree that David Droga is soooo HOT! Another reason for me why I should like Australian guys. They are simply beefed up with muscles, with oozing charm and undeniable brilliance. I feel sorry I missed David Droga's visit in Manila. How I wish he will also visit Ho Chi Minh City, but I also wish I will be part of Saatchi & Saatchi Vietnam by then again. But when you dream it should be bigger since it's free right? So I am dreaming to work for Droga 5 in Sydney as an Art Director. Who knows what life brings :)

Is still on high with DROGA!

hugs,
joanie xxx

Carrot Yema Balls

Yema balls is one of my favorite desserts to do. I had my craving a week ago of doing this traditional Filipino dessert. My secret for my Yema Balls is adding mashed potato to make it more beefy. One day I headed to the supermarket and bought the ingredients for my Yema balls. I got a bit disappointed not to find some potatoes. So to substitute, I bought carrots instead. I'm afraid it won't result as good as the potato version but surprisingly it did! This new concoction is very sinful but very healthy also on the other hand. My Chinese, Thai & Vietnamese friends tasted it. They find it too sweet but very yummy. I myself was also surprised that I can eat 4 balls in one eating. Quite a lot. So allow me to share you this simple recipe I concocted.

Ingredients:
• 1 can Condensed Milk
• 3 pcs. Large Carrot
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• 3 pcs. Egg yolks
• 100 grams Cashew Nuts
• Butter

Procedure:

Boil carrots for 20 minutes. Make sure you have it over cooked. Mashed it smoothly then set aside. Heat pan with butter then add condensed milk. Stir for 10 minutes in medium heat then add the beaten egg yolks. Continue stirring until it thickens. Add the mashed carrots then fold the mixture. Approximately it will thicken after adding the mashed carrots. Add two scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream then continue stirring until it thickens again. Add the chopped cashew nuts. When thick and ready like a mashed potato, scoop some using a spoon on your palm then roll it like a ball. Then ready. Serve hot for a unique satisfaction.

Hope you like my simple recipe :-)

hugs,
joanie xxx

TWINS - My Boxing Gears

These are my boxing gears that came from Thailand. The famous TWINS! I asked my friend Warren Santiago who's working in Bangkok to buy me gloves and hand wraps. He went all the way to Lumipini stadium to buy them. Surprisingly he gave me additional stuffs as his pasalubong, the kick boxing ankle support and the sando tank top. I'm sooo touched. Warren never fails to give me some pasalubong wherever he goes. I just can forget the first pasalubong he gave me during college, the small koala bear from Australia. Since then this friend of mine constantly gave me pasalubongs through the years. On the other hand my good friend Paolo Garcia brought it here in Saigon from Bangkok. He had his online in Bangkok for his TVC. He also had the chance to see Warren after how many years already. These two guys were classmates during college. To think they were never my classmates, they have been my good friends through the years.

Sando Tank Top (For the Lady Boxer in Me)

Ankle supporters & Hand wraps

Family shot photo which I took in my apartment

I already started my boxing class mixed with some cardio. I was able to meet the famous David Minetti, a French fighter. He's the owner of K1 Fitness Factory where I box. He's very accommodating and very nice to me. I also met his brother FX Minetti. He's my instructor in my boxing class. After having my boxing class, I can't imagine on how to be a Manny Pacquiao! Honestly, my class was very tiring and made me a bit dizzy but I was able to survive. I have never been this happy and fulfilled with what I do. So I am keeping this up.

Now I am ready to punch and kick some ass! :-)

hugs,
joanie xxx

Mark Peckson

I have to blog this one guy I am really proud of, and surprisingly this colleague of mine is currently making big waves and earning some popularity because of his unable to speak the Filipino language. So apparently Saatchi & Saatchi Manila made Mark as part of the Yabang Pinoy's Linggo ng Wika Campaign. The campaign is called "The Mark Peckson Project." I am encouraging you to visit his site and see how he chronicled his battles on learning how to speak proper Tagalog on his day to day conversation with other people. He will surely give you a laughter with his crooked tagalog and funny ways of pronouncing the words he uttered.

Yabang Pinoy did a website for Mark to narrate his struggles and adventures on learning how to converse in Tagalog. Yabang pinoy sells different items like shirts, bags, wrist bands and more--made of 100% Filipino in concept.

These are the series of posters that were also printed on shirts and being sold in all Yabang Pinoy outlets. I think I'll buy some for myself and some for the foreign dudes I've met here in Saigon. Saatchi & Saatchi Manila did the campaign with the following creatives: Executive Creative Director Tony Sarmiento and writers Angelo Suarez & Bia Fernandez. This campaign won the Platinum award in the recent Araw Values Award for Advertising last December 2008.


Mark Peckson is a former Accounts person from JWT turned Copywriter in Saatchi Saatchi. We used to be seatmates when I was still working with Saatchi. He's always loaded with ideas and some are mind boggling and very creative that I often ponder if those ideas can be transcended especially if your account is SM. I doubt dude. I had fun brainstorming with this fella especially when we went to 121 and had some beers. I often give this dude some food when I bring some to the office because this guy loves to eat. Despite that he remained fit and healthy. He always have his jar of water and some Lemon juice. Aside from that he surfs a lot too, so we always see him with sun kissed skin. And what I missed about my seatmate Mark, is his long board under his cabinet that I often ride and skate around Saatchi house. From that long board I learned some little ways on how to skate.

Sigh. How time flies. Saatchi days are just memories now. I am proud seeing Mark on this project. Some people in the office doubted if he would make it as a copywriter since he cannot write a Filipino copy. But I believe it's not too late to learn. And in advertising language is not a big barrier. What's important is, you can think of big ideas and successful campaigns. Good thing Mark made it! He's now a regular employee of Saatchi & Saatchi as a COPYWRITER!

I'm sooo proud of you PECKERS! See yah soon :-)

hugs,
joanie xxx