For the Love of Fun
Imagine walking around the mall, just doing your thing and minding your own business. Everything’s pretty routine, nothing’s out of the ordinary. The shops are still there, the smell of recycled air continues to circulate, and hundreds of people talking simultaneously results in that really weird, garbled noise one can only refer to as “mall tongue.” Yup, everyone seems to be normal just like you.
Then it happens. You hear a loud foghorn and some guy starts break dancing right in front of you. You figure, “the floors are smooth, so this would be the perfect place to do it.” Then, in an instant, one break dancer becomes five. Next thing you know, 30 people are doing choreographed steps in the middle atrium. Like you, others have stopped to see what the commotion is all about. Before you know it, the floor is tight, people have busted out their cameras, and the number of dancers moving in unison has risen to a three-figure number.
If you caught such a scenario, then what you would have experienced was a flash mob. In short, a flash mob is a group of people that agree to perform a single act in a public place for a few minutes after a given “go” signal. It is very improvisational in nature, and can range from dancing to pretending that all sound has disappeared from the world. One famous act is the famed “Times Square Freeze,” where more than a hundred people froze for a couple of minutes in one of the world’s busiest places.
While most people will agree that this sort of thing is weird it really is quite harmless, and actually tries to get people involved in more creative endeavors. In a way these flash mobsters are performance artists, and looking for distractions that get them a little more attention.
Visitors to SM’s Mall of Asia had the opportunity to see a real live flash mob in action, as some 300 dancers, including teens, young professionals, lolos and lolas celebrated the “langhap-sarap life” that is the embodiment of Jollibee. Inspired by the Yumburger, the four-minute spectacle was conceptualized by Stratworks, choreographed by Whiplash and directed by noted film, TV and music video director, Mark Reyes.
“This is the biggest spectacle we have ever done and it’s something that we hope will inspire Pinoy teens to continue to stay real and true to themselves and have fun in their own unique, wholesome, and creative ways,” says director Reyes.
The really surprising thing was that bystanders actually joined the dance. Seeing lots of people having so much fun, it might have made sense to take part in something out of the ordinary, something not so cookie-cutter correct. After all, life does need some out of the ordinary moments once in a while.
The great thing about the flash mob event at MOA is that it showcases how a truly Pinoy brand like Jollibee knows no barriers when it comes to age and having fun. Whether you attend school or have grandchildren, the idea of having a good time remains the same. For the older people that might have had good Jollibee experiences in the past, it must be quite nostalgic to see their sons, daughters, and grandchildren feeling what they must have felt at one point. And we know from the exhibition at MOA that these kids and kids-at-heart sure know how to have fun.
Gold Tantoco, Jollibee’s VP for Marketing, says it best: “For decades, Jollibee has been the symbol of happiness and special family moments especially among Filipino kids. But even in their growing-up years, Jollibee continues to believe that the youth, particularly the teens of today, still relish the good things in life.” But as the grandparents who joined the dancing have demonstrated, age is a state of mind and Jollibee is a timeless favorite.
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Visit Jollibee’s website at www.jollibee.com.ph.
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Email me at enricomiguelsubido@yahoo.com.
