The Cole Sprouse challenge

My Amazing Race challenge began two weeks ago when my daughter Annika burst into my bedroom, “Dad, Cole Sprouse is coming to Manila! Can you get me to meet him? Have a picture, talk to him for awhile. Please, Dad!”

Cole who?

“Cole Sprouse!” she exclaimed.

Oh, okay. And what team does he play for again? 

“Dad, he plays Jughead in the Riverdale series!” she answered.

Oh, that guy! The one who narrates through the teen drama series based on the characters of the Archie Comics.

“Yes, that’s him! He’s the newest endorser of Bench. Can we meet him?” she replies.

Hmm. Now, I’m more immersed in sports, which I have been doing for over 20 years, though I have been fortunate to have had a few assignments in the past for entertainment. 

I interviewed Val Kilmer and the cast of The Prince of Egypt in a Singapore junket, and the entire cast of Star Wars: Episode One during their New York screening. I’m a movie buff so that transition was seamless.

But this was a little different, especially since I haven’t dabbled in entertainment recently.

But this was my daughter, asking me for this special request. Show me a father out there who won’t do just about everything for their kids, right?

So, game on!

But where do I start? Who can I call? Who would give me the best chance of winning this game?

I got in touch with my kumpare Richard Gomez, the original Bench endorser, to ask for this huge favor. The now-Ormoc Mayor would gladly help but since he’s based in the province and wouldn’t be here for the occasion, he could only commit to making some calls, and everything would be on a “best effort” basis.

I understood.

I then remembered I had a friend at Bench!

So I called my friend Jude Ong. He said that he’d love to help, but the demand to meet Cole was tremendous! He also has two daughters and he couldn’t even assure them that they would get to meet him.

You really have to hand it to Ben Chan and his team; they really truly understand the pulse of their market, and know just who to tap to shake the ground with their advertising campaigns. I guess that’s why they are the market leaders!

But wait, none of this gets me closer to the finish line.

Before ending our call, Jude mentioned that The STAR has always helped in their campaigns and that might be an avenue to consider.

Brilliant!

I immediately contacted my editor, Ma’am Millet Mananquil, and asked if I could have the opportunity to interview Cole for my column.

She was obviously surprised because I don’t normally cover TV stars, but she said she would see what could be done and arranged things.

I thanked her and went on my way.

I had to explore other avenues, just to increase my chances of crossing the finish line!

But what other road could I take?

There was a Bench promo, which after a proof of purchase, you could win a “meet and greet” with Cole. Hmmm. That’s interesting but I deemed that an even longer shot than the previous doors I had knocked on.

What to do? 

I tried a few friends at the different networks but that turned out to be a dead end.

Time was running out, and my daughter was constantly asking me about it. Things felt like the walls were caving in!

Then I got a text from Ma’am Millet. She was able to get me (and Annika) to attend the presscon for Cole!

Yes! The light at the end of the tunnel! 

Thank you.

What I have always stressed, especially in these disjointed times between parents and their kids, is that we should always try to be more involved with our children, strengthen that bond whenever you can. Family is number one!

Interestingly, “family” also resonated strongly with Cole.

“I enjoyed that Bench was very family- oriented, and it eventually gave me a chance to interact with my Filipino fans, an audience I haven’t perceived to be as big off Riverdale. The company was surrounded by good people, and I was excited to collaborate with them,” Sprouse said.

He was also quite the intellectual, having taken up archeology in college, and being a more than adept photographer.

It was easy to see why hordes of young girls were lined up around the hotel just to get a glimpse of him, not to mention the thousands at the MOA and Greenbelt events.

He’a such a simple gentleman. He rode a jeepney, visited Divisoria and a seafood market, always enjoying the hometown flavor. “I try to get as much of the local experience as possible. I stay away from the polished areas,” he intimated.

By all indications, this will not be his last visit to the country and his fans will patiently wait for his return.

As for me? My Amazing Race is done.

Now on to the next competition... “Father of the Year”?

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