Team O goes Caroling!

MANILA, Philippines - In 2012, Oishi created a group of ambassadors whose mission was to bring surprise and happiness to unsuspecting peeps — a team they came to call Team O.                  

Last November 14 Team O went at it again, they kicked off their series of surprises with Elmo Magalona’s “Chopper Shower,” where he ambushed students of Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School from a helicopter up in the sky, showering them with snacks.

As if that surprise wasn’t enough, the brand also inducted other members into Team O — Ramon Bautista and Slater Young — through their own individual surprises as well. Ramon Bautista had a surprise “O-blation Run” for the students of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, as he came out and rounded up his team of runners in red suits — with Oishi snacks as their main accessory to distribute to all the students.

Slater, on the other hand, threw his surprise at the Philippine Women’s University and Emilio Aguinaldo College, where the brand had set up what students thought was just a regular photo booth. Having fun with the cute props, students came into the booth and gamely posed for the photographer. Little did they know they were about to be photo bombed by Slater, who would appear out of nowhere to pose with them.

These are just a few of the surprises the team came up with when they were newly formed. Pioneered by Elmo Magalona, Slater Young and Ramon Bautista, Team O’s success encouraged them to later welcome two more members, teen icons Daniel Padilla 2013, and Kathryn Bernardo (2014).  Last 2013 the team did a surprise entitled “Jeep O” along with Daniel Padilla’s “Tag Your Daniel Padilla,” which everyone can check out on Oishi’s YouTube page: .

This year, Oishi is capping their 40th anniversary celebration by making the surprise bigger with all five members complete in action. Team O also got the fans involved when at the start of the year, they announced that followers could submit their own ideas of what surprise the team should do next. In total, they received thousands of entries, and some of the ideas were really unique! Suggestions ranged from having the team bag groceries incognito, to surprising people from out of an office building elevator. Ultimately, with Christmas right around the corner, it seemed most appropriate for the team to kick off the season by going caroling around the metro.

Together with Rye Sarmiento of 6cyclemind, Team O hopped inside their Team O Jeep and scoured the Kamias area of Quezon City, surprising both students and residents in the area.

Upon arriving in Quezon City High School and two residential compounds of Barangay West Kamias, the team made it a point to be well disguised, wearing Santa beards, coats, vests, and shutter shades as they sang their carols. Both students and residents were baffled to see a group of Santas singing to them, while some were almost aloof and quietly watched the five costumed characters without finding anything particularly unusual. As Team O took off their disguises, cheers erupted as people realized their favorite teleserye actors were standing right in their neighborhood! Hugs, autographs, and photos were exchanged, and smiles only got bigger when Team O began handing out Oishi Cuckoo Bags.

With Team O at the helm, it really did seem like Christmas was coming.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as we sit down with Oishi’s Team O and talk about some of their most memorable Christmases to date:

Elmo Magalona

Last Christmas was spent at my cousin’s house. It was so much fun! I remember drinking so much water that I used the bathroom at least 20 times! It was so funny! This holiday season, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family. My siblings and I have all been very busy and it’d be awesome to come together and celebrate the magic of Christmas together. I just might have my own O-Wow surprise for them this year!

Kathryn Bernardo

Last Christmas was memorable because we all spent it together in our new house. This year, we plan to do the same! It’s so much fun when the family is complete.

Ramon Bautista

Last year’s Christmas was very memorable! I was with my friends editing “Tales from the Friendzone” and making it to the deadline to spread holiday cheer in time for noche buena.  This year, it will also be about sharing good vibes with others as I host a children’s party in my neighborhood.

Slater Young

Christmas has always been a time that we spend at home with family. It’s always been our tradition ever since I can remember. However hectic our schedules are, we always make sure we’re together for Christmas. And although I don’t have one specific memorable Christmas, I do have a ton of little memorable Christmas moments like the time when we had a formal family photo by our Christmas tree. My brother and I were barefoot because we thought it wouldn’t be seen but when the photo was developed, it was! We thought it was the funniest thing.