Filipinos love naming brands out of wits and humor. From small-time businesses like “Mang Inasar”, “Libing Things Funeral Parlor”, “Summa Cum Laundry” to name a few, it’s crazy how one can pull off a serious brand out of this uncanny naming. But for Tuta ng KuChina, their name came at a perfect time to ride a national issue and go viral for their fun branding.

Tuta ng KuChina is a local food business that sells Chili Garlic Oil, which is one of the staple appetizers in the Philippines. Often flagged as a meme page on Facebook, they clarified that their business is real and that they are grateful for the amount of visibility and orders that they receive. “Sa mga nagtatanong, legit po ang produkto. May dalawang anghel na tumutulong sa akin para magawa ito, at ang isa ay kasama ko para maihatid ito sa inyo,” said in one of their Facebook posts. 

However, the name is eerily familiar with the running allegations on the president for being a Chinese lapdog and links their name as a satirical shade. So with a statement on Facebook, they shared that their name came from their love for Chinese cuisine and that they have cute dogs at home. Combining these, the name was a clever pun that people only have soon realized.

https://www.facebook.com/tutangkuchina/photos/a.105288811299504/105516831276702/?type=3

Soon enough, the news reached the trolls and the die-hard admin supporters calling it out for its sensitive branding. One commenter expressed their dismay and asked them to come forward and stop hiding behind a curious brand. This was further fueled by their playful social media posts that relate to a political approach such as using President Duterte on their ads, his famous “Brrrt” mention, and even VP Leni with a dog beside her.

The page has since received a massive following with over 6.9K page likes on Facebook and boasts sold out orders every now and then. At one point, they also sold Tapioca Milk Drinks but recently stopped production due to supplier concerns.

Small local businesses found a better market since the pandemic happened which has led to many people resorting to order food from delivery apps. While the economy may be in a dire situation right now, the shift in consumer behavior gave the opportunity for the rise of these home-made delicacies and support for locally-made products.

Tuta ng KuChina’s Garlic Chili Oil sells for P90 per container and you may order by sending a private message. Payments are made by GCash or Paymaya and orders are delivered through Grab, Lalamove, or MrSpeedy.