GSMI leads World Gin Day celebration in PH with ‘Gin Bar Crawl’ challenge

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After more than two years of pandemic disruptions, Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI), the maker of the world’s no. 1 selling gin, returns to celebrate World Gin Day (WGD) in true Ginebra fashion. The celebration consists of month-long activities, highlighted by a media launch on June 10 to kick off the nationwide Gin Bar Crawl challenge that starts on June 11.

Held every second Saturday of June, WGD was first celebrated on June 13, 2009, in Birmingham, England. GSMI led the first WGD celebration in the Asia Pacific region in 2014, coinciding with the 180th anniversary of its flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel. Since then, the WGD celebration in the Philippines has become a much-awaited, month-long event for gin enthusiasts.

On June 10, four of the country’s top professional mixologists take centerstage to craft one-of-a-kind cocktails based on GSMI’s gin products. It promises to be an unforgettable gin experience, stirring up the senses.

GIN BAR CRAWL

People who are trooping back to the bars after a long hiatus are in for an exciting and unique experience with the Gin Bar Crawl challenge. Gin lovers are invited to try five specially-concocted signature drinks made with GSMI gin products (Ginebra San Miguel, GSM Blue, GSM Premium Gin, and 1834 Premium Distilled Gin) or buy a GSMI featured product at any of the 30 partner establishments nationwide on June 11, 17, 18, 24, and 25 from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Participants will be given a Gin Passport with five sticker slots. All they need to do is buy the five different signature WGD cocktails from the partner bars and have their Gin Passports stamped with five corresponding stickers. One drink is equivalent to one sticker. Those who complete five stickers will receive a WGD Finisher Pack, consisting of three GSMI products, and a finisher T-shirt.

GIN IS IN: COOL, CLEAR, AND VERSATILE

The gin-drinking culture is very much alive in many countries, especially in Europe. Gin has been around since the 17th century but it has remained popular, hip, and loved by many to this day. The enduring fame of the drink can be attributed to its cool vibe.

The rise of the craft gin movement has also spurred a collection of unique blends that everyone — especially the young, can enjoy. Gin’s clear, pure quality is derived from a rigorous distillation process that brings out its best flavors. Gin is also an ideal drink for its versatility, as it can be enjoyed straight or mixed with other ingredients in a cocktail. With an abundance of flavors and accessibility, gin continues to be an all-time favorite among spirits.

In the Philippines, gin is synonymous with brand Ginebra San Miguel. It is the country’s pioneering gin and the oldest consumer brand still in the market today.

The brand, already an award winner as early as the late 1900s, was originally a drink for the wealthy—popular among both peninsulares and insulares. To this day, Ginebra San Miguel continues its legacy of excellence. Its white spirits line has been a consistent Gold Quality Label awardee of the Monde Selection International Quality Institute.

Reaping accolades both locally and internationally, Ginebra San Miguel is the epitome of excellence. Every bottle of Ginebra San Miguel goes through a stringent production process to ensure optimal quality. As a testament to the strength of its brand name, variants such as GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, and Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, have been introduced to cater to different market segments.

NEW INNOVATIONS

GSMI continues to innovate and cater to the varied tastes of its different markets.

Among its latest creations is the 1834 Premium Distilled Gin. Infused with classic juniper berries, and unique Philippine botanicals such as Sampaguita and Calamansi, 1834 appeals to sophisticated tastes.

Another exciting new product from the GSM Blue Flavors is the GSM Blue Cosmopolitan. This new flavor is a mix of sweet and tangy notes from Cranberries and Lime. Patrons of the GSM Premium Gin will also have a more exquisite experience with its new look and enhanced flavor of natural ingredients such as juniper berries, botanical essences, and citrus flavors.

GSMI also previously released the Ginebra San Miguel Hari, a 1-liter version of the flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel that is designed for group drinking. Packaged in a bigger Frasco or Kwatro Kantos, the Hari is the perfect size for a barkada or family of four to five. The Ginebra San Miguel Hari also bears the Ginebra San Miguel label with the iconic St. Michael logo made by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

“Through our World Gin Day activities, we hope that more Filipinos will gain a deeper appreciation of gin and enjoy a unique gin-drinking experience made more special by GSMI’s world-class products,” said GSMI Marketing Manager Ron Molina.

Apart from the Gin Bar Crawl challenge, other WGD activities include online videos on the gin attributes and gin-drinking experience as well as pocket events on June 11 in Baguio, Naga, Cebu, and Davao to drum up the celebration.

GSMI is the producer of Ginebra San Miguel, the world’s largest-selling gin according to leading global drinks journal Drinks International. GSMI’s other quality distilled spirits include GSM Blue Light Gin, GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Blue Gin Pomelo, Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, Antonov Vodka, Añejo Gold Rum, Primera Light Brandy, and the Philippines’ no. 1 Chinese wine Vino Kulafu.

Ginebra San Miguel launches 2021 Calendar Girl

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Ginebra San Miguel introduces Christelle Abello as the Calendar Girl for 2021.

An aspiring model, a fresh face as its Calendar Girl for 2021, newcomer Christelle Abello was launched as Ginebra San Miguel 2021 Calendar Girl in a virtual media event held onTuesday, October 20. Christelle is 26-year old model based in California, USA. 

As Christelle takes the reins from Kapuso actress Sanya Lopez, the 2021 edition of the Ginebra San Miguel calendar is very timely as it captures today’s “new normal” at home in six (6) different layouts. 

With the theme “Ganado sa Bahay,” the calendars feature Christelle being “ganado,” motivated and productive even amid the COVID-19 pandemic – working from home, honing her creativity and discovering new skills, and taking care of her body and well-being. 

“More than just a pretty face, our Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl for 2021 definitely personifies our latest campaign ‘One Ginebra Nation.’ We were not only charmed by her intelligence, but also by her optimism, her courage, her never-say-die spirit, her heart for others, and love for her kababayan. We feel that she best represents the brand and we are very happy to welcome Christelle to our Ginebra San Miguel family,” relates Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) Sales and Marketing manager Allan Mercado. 

As in the past, the Ginebra San Miguel calendar is considered as a stepping stone for up-and-coming artists and personalities. 

For Christelle, being chosen as the next Ginebra San Miguel calendar girl is an opportunity of a lifetime. “I’m so thrilled. I’m so proud and honored to represent Ginebra San Miguel. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m so grateful to be a part of such an iconic and historical brand,” she says. 

To prepare for her Ginebra San Miguel calendar girl shoot, Christelle made sure that she is both physically and mentally ready. 

“I already do a lot of weights and cardio workouts. I’ve become accustomed to that lifestyle not because I want to look good physically but also because I want to feel good mentally. And I think that’s really important especially at this time,” relates Christelle, who at the start of the pandemic put up a fundraising effort called “Kapit-bisig Tayo” to assist healthcare workers. 

REVISITING HER ROOTS 

Christelle is born to Filipino parents. Her father is from Kalibo, Aklan while her mother is from Silang, Cavite. She graduated with a degree in Communication from California State University San Marcos. 

While she spent most of her life in the US, Christelle has always been in touch with her Filipino roots. “My mom heavily enforced Filipino culture and values at home. She wanted my sister and I to learn Tagalog, and what better way to learn it than through watching teleseryes and movies. So, I grew up watching KathNiel’s ‘Got to Believe,’ and ‘A Very Special Love’,” shares Christelle, who dreams of starring in her own teleserye or movie. 

Christelle admits that the never-say-die story of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach also inspired her to pursue her other dream – to become a beauty queen. “The world of pageantry fascinated me so much because I witnessed phenomenal women and beautiful and confident women like Pia Wurtzbach who made a mark in this world. And they impelled me to say that I can do this too.” 

“Back in the day, my dad would tell me stories about [Robert] Jaworski and that even if the team was falling behind in a PBA game, people would still cheer them on and were confident that they will come back strong and win the game because of their never-say-die attitude. I think Barangay Ginebra resonates with Filipinos so well with who we are as people, resilient despite the adversities that come our way,” shares Christelle. 

THE GINEBRA CALENDAR TRADITION 

The Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl is a significant part of the brand’s 187-year history. Inspired by the classic US TV series “Charlie’s Angels,” the Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl promotion was started in 1988 and since then, the special merchandise has become a sought-after item among consumers and fans year after year. 

Through the years, Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl had popular beauty queens, models, and actresses grace its calendars including Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (2019), Arci Munoz (2018), Kim Domingo (2017), and Marian Rivera (2009 and 2014). 

GSMI is the producer of the world’s largest selling gin Ginebra San Miguel. Other GSMI products include GSM Blue Light Gin, GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Pomelo, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Premium Gin, Don Enrique Mixkila, Antonov Vodka, Anejo Gold Rum, Vino Kulafu, and Primera Light Brandy. 

For more details, like the Ginebra San Miguel official Facebook page www.facebook.com/BarangayGinebra or log on to www.ginebra.com.ph.

Sanya Lopez, the Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl 2020

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Ginebra San Miguel calendars have become a staple in neighborhood sari-sari stores, mini groceries, barbershops, and laundry hubs. In recent years, the Ginebra San Miguel calendar has turned into a sought-after Christmas giveaway, appealing mostly to consumers and fans who want to add special merchandise to their collection of celebrity souvenirs. 

For 2020, Ginebra San Miguel recently introduced lovely Kapuso actress/TV host Sanya Lopez as its newest Calendar Girl during a festive media launch held at the Novotel in Quezon City. The world’s leading gin brand revealed Sanya Lopez as “The Island Girl” with the calendars set amidst some of the country’s most beautiful islands as backdrops. 

“It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen as Ginebra San Miguel’s 2020 Calendar Girl. I feel excited and nervous at the same time. To be part of Ginebra San Miguel’s history, to be entrusted with this role as a brand ambassador and to be the newest addition to the Ginebra San Miguel family is a huge blessing,” says Sanya Lopez. 

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) officials General manager Emmanuel Macalalag, National Sales and Marketing manager Allan Mercado and Marketing manager Ronald Molina formally welcomed Sanya Lopez in a grand ceremonial toast during the launch featuring her own Ginebra San Miguel cocktail called “Sanya’s Island Mix”, a concoction of pineapple, buko juice, and gin. 

“We chose Sanya Lopez as our brand ambassador because she embodies what Ginebra San Miguel represents – courage, passion, optimism, and never-say-die spirit. Sanya is truly ‘ganado sa buhay’ as she worked her way up to become one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry today,” says Molina. 

All of the six calendar layouts will be made available soon. 

RISING STAR 

Since being discovered in 2012 by the late German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, GMA star builder, Sanya Lopez has treaded the path to being a serious actress taking on roles that showed off her acting prowess including her portrayal of Hara Danaya in the TV remake of “Encantadia” and in her recently-concluded series “Dahil sa Pag-ibig”. She will soon be seen opposite Superstar Nora Aunor in the film “Isa Pang Bahaghari” directed by Joel Lamangan. 

“I consider the challenges and struggles that I went through in life as motivation to never give up in pursuing my dreams. It is my family that inspires me to be ‘ganado sa buhay’,” relates Sanya Lopez. “For me, when you say ‘Island Girl’, you see a woman who is strong and independent,” she adds. 

As Ginebra San Miguel’s “Island Girl”, Sanya Lopez will be joining the “Ginuman Fest” tour, the gin brand’s annual series of music festivals that brings together gin lovers around the country as One Ginebra Nation. 

To prepare for her Ginebra San Miguel calendar girl shoot, Sanya Lopez went on a no-carbs diet. “I only ate fish and chicken. I also did a lot of cardio workouts, mostly running, muay Thai and boxing,” she shares. 

She was, likewise, thrilled to be photographed by one of the country’s most talented young photographers BJ Pascual. 

A LONG-STANDING TRADITION 

Inspired by the hit US TV series Charlie’s Angels, the Ginebra San Miguel Super Angels, which eventually evolved into Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl had popular beauty queens, models and actresses grace its calendars since it was started in 1988. 

Ginebra San Miguel’s first calendar girl was model/TV host and now fashion designer Monina Tan, who posed in the calendar ala Marilyn Monroe. 

After their respective reigns, beauty queens who posed for the calendar were Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Anjanette Abayari (1994), Binibining Pilipinas-International Alma Concepcion (1995), Miss Asia Pacific International Michelle Aldana (1998) and most recently, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (2019) with the theme aptly called “Center of the Universe”. 

Sexy stars Janna Victoria (1999), Patricia Javier (2000), and Aubrey Miles (2003), were a hit in their sizzling calendars while singer Geneva Cruz (2001), ex-teen stars Rica Peralejo (2002) and Angelica Panganiban (2007) surprised the public by shedding their sweet images in the calendars. 

Actresses Belinda Bright and Maricar de Mesa (2004) were the first calendar girls to appear together, while Marian Rivera owns the distinction as the only actress to become a Ginebra San Miguel calendar girl twice, in 2009 and 2014. Long-time best friends Anne Curtis (2011) and Georgina Wilson (2013) have also been calendar girls, along with Ellen Adarna (2015), Arci Munoz (2016), and Myrtle Sarrosa (2018). 

Like Sanya Lopez, other Kapuso stars who joined the ranks of these popular celebrities were Maureen Larrazabal (2005), Iwa Moto (2008), Krista Ranillo (2010), Solenn Heussaff (2012), and Kim Domingo (2017). 

GSMI is the producer of heritage brand Ginebra San Miguel, which is celebrating its 185th anniversary this year. Ginebra San Miguel is a 14-time Gold Quality Label awardee of the Monde Selection International Quality Institute, the world’s most prestigious body that recognizes the highest standards of taste and quality in the food and beverage industry. 

Other GSMI products include GSM Blue, GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Pomelo, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Premium Gin, Don Enrique Mixkila, Antonov Vodka, Anejo Gold Rum, Vino Kulafu, and Primera Light Brandy. 

For more details, like the Ginebra San Miguel official Facebook page www.facebook.com/BarangayGinebra or log on to www.ginebra.com.ph.