On March 25th, Manila-based TBWA\Santiago Mangada Puno bagged four Lotus metals at AdFest 2017 against an initial eleven shortlist nods. The Disruption Agency’s, “Correcting History” for CARMMA (Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang) was the big winner, being the only work honored with a prestigious Grande Lotus Roots award. Judges noted the work for its ability to spark change among the Philippines’ youngest voters during the 2016 Presidential Election. The online video also won a Silver Lotus in the Media category.

Grand Jury President and Droga5 New York Chief Creative Officer Ted Royer was effusive in his praise for the campaign, noting that, “It changed the course of a country and the whole jury was incredibly moved by this and was unanimous in this decision.”

TBWA\SMP also claimed a Silver Direct Lotus and a Bronze Print Craft Lotus for its “Dirty Watercolor” campaign for the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation initiative to bring life back to Manila’s rivers and estuaries. The campaign has previously been recognized with awards metal at numerous shows across the globe, including two Bronze Lions at the 2016 Cannes International Festival of Creativity.

“Our wins at AdFest represent the hard work, commitment and dedication of our agency,” said TBWA\SMP Executive Creative Director Bryan Siy. “For this agency, Creativity will always be a force for good, allowing us to positively impact our communities and create authentic change.”

Siy had served as Jury President for the Outdoor and Lotus categories, while TBWA\SMP Chief Creative Officer Melvin Mangada had delivered a talk to young creatives earlier in the festival. They were accompanied by Associate Creative Director Ryan Caidic in accepting the agency’s awards.

“Campaigns like ‘Correcting History’ and ‘Dirty Water Color’ represent TBWA’s belief that everyone has have a role to play in protecting the future, said Mangada. “We need to ensure that the generations that follow ours will never have to go through what we did.”

Based in Pattaya, Thailand, ADFEST is an annual creative festival that recognizes Southeast most creative, innovative, and inspiring works in the advertising, marketing, and production industries