The Gist

THE INTERNET APPLAUDS DISNEY UK’S CHRISTMAS AD SHOWCASING FILIPINO VALUES AND CHRISTMAS TRADITION

Disney UK made waves on every Filipino’s social media feeds last November 9 after they posted an ad featuring the Filipino Christmas culture.

/ 10 November 2020

On what seemed like a tear-jerking Disney movie trailer, a father is seen handing a small Mickey Mouse plushy to a young Filipino girl in a street full of Christmas lanterns or parol, and a horse-drawn carriage.

In a setting that is easily identified as a street in the Philippines during the 1940s, the Disney UK video focused on a Filipino-themed Christmas advertisement for 2020.

On social media, the company shared the video with the caption “From our family to yours.”

The three-minute clip follows a Filipino girl and her grandmother who shared strong family ties while living abroad. The young girl who has received the Mickey Mouse toy at the beginning of the film passed the doll to her granddaughter.

As the short movie furthered, the granddaughter was seen growing up and detaching from her toy and her grandmother.

Upon realizing what she has done, the granddaughter surprised her grandmother by mending the worn out toy and lifting her grandma’s  Christmas spirit by filling their house with Christmas lanterns.

The short film showcased the Filipino Christmas culture quite well; from the different-colored lanterns, the Filipino’s “mano po” gesture, the giant spoon and fork, the tin can which keeps sewing materials, and the word “lola” on a letter placed on a cabinet.

Many were left in awe after watching the film, which now boasts more than 100,000 reactions on Twitter, and more than 300,000 reactions on Facebook.

“Christmas is a time for giving and giving back, and we’re delighted to debut this festive ad campaign supporting our long-term charity partner Make-A-Wish,” says Tasia Filippatos, SVP Disney EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) in a story by the Daily Mail UK.

Have you seen the clip yet? Watch it here!