MANNY Pacquiao earns millions fighting in the ring. He gets just as much off it.
A Surf commercial with Pacquiao as lead star took only 30 seconds, but it poured P2 million to the coffers of the Filipino boxing icon.
For Unilever, the soap and cosmetics giant which makes powder detergent Surf, Pacquiao was well worth the price.
The company said the reigning Ring Magazine featherweight champion epitomizes the Filipino trying to excel in life and touches base with Surf’s main users — the masses.
The commercial shows a fusion of the common tao (man) doing menial labor and a clip of Pacquiao fighting an Erik Morales-look alike.
Even Pacquiao’s line rhymed and jived perfectly with that of Surf. “Di baleng madugo ang bakbakan, basta malinis ang laban (Never mind if it’s a bloody fight as long as it’s clean).”
He got bloodied by a head butt in his fight with Morales, but never boxed dirty. He lost with dignity.
“Surf is proud to associate with people who desire to uplift Filipinos in general,” said Chito Macapagal, Unilever general manager for corporate development, during the commercial’s launching on Thursday at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City.
