Battle of the merch: Quirky promos and polls where you could (unofficially) vote for your presidential candidate
The 2022 national elections is truly bringing out the creativity of Filipinos.
We’re finally coming to the tail end of the presidential campaign. With less than fifty days left until the elections, live-streaming rallies and online debates have become an important reflection of just how modern this campaign period has become.
Whether you’re the subtle supporter or someone loud and proud, all types of merchandise has also become available to voice out your preferred candidate. Though they may not necessarily count during the final tally this May, we’ve rounded up the promos and polls where you can exercise your right to vote, even if it's with your wallet.
7-Election 2022, 7/11
The chain convenience store has brought back their 2016 National Elections initiative through 7-Election 2022, the “unscientific and unofficial" survey that allows Filipinos to buy a drink with the brandished face of their preferred candidate.
With the goal for voters to “speak cup”, 7/11 offers 22-oz and 12-oz sizes cups for cold drinks or coffee with top leading candidates: Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, senator Manny Pacquiao, and Vice President Leni Robredo.
One cup is equal to one vote, with 7/11 releasing results on a weekly basis through their website. As of writing, Bongbong Marcos is leading the 7-Election with 629,819 cups sold. He is followed by Robredo with 370,576.
However, the initiative hasn’t come without issues, as the convenience store issued a statement on March 7 to address claims that receipts shown in the cups had a different candidate written than the one they bought.
"We continue to remind all customers to ask for and check their receipts to make sure these reflect their purchase, which is always good practice when buying anything from any retailer, but especially helpful to us in this particular endeavor,” their statement reads.
7-Election will run until April 27, a few days prior to the May 9 casting of ballots.
Freshidential cups, Fruitas
As part of its “Vote for the #FreshFruiture” campaign, local fruit shake maker Fruitas launched the “Freshidental Cups” to gauge the political opinion of Filipino Fruitas drinkers.
Similar to 7-Eleven’s campaign, shoppers can choose among five cup designs, which each bear the face of a presidential candidate, when they buy a fruit shake from the brand’s mall kiosks.
At the end of the #FreshFruiture campaign, Fruitas will announce which candidate sold the most cups.
So far, the local brand released an update on March 10 of their February rankings with Marcos getting 39% of the cup votes. Robredo comes in close second with 33%, Moreno with 14%, Pacquiao with 8%, and Lacson with 6%.
Fruitas launched the same initiative during the 2010 elections.
Every Bread Counts, San Jose Bakeshop
Cebu's San Jose Bakeshop is also offering an unofficial poll through their Every Bread Counts initiative across their 31 branches in the Queen City of the South.
The bakery's campaign election advocacy commissioner Bert Jorbina III shared that their similar promo with President Rodrigo Duterte, Mar Roxas, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Mar Roxas, and Grace Poe became the “talk of the town” during the 2016 presidential elections.
Unlike the previously mentioned initiatives, the bakeshop joined the presidential and VP tandem with the goal to educate people on the possible running mates.
"Kasi nakita namin mga tao talaga dito, hindi nila alam kung sino yung running mate of these presidents. Meron pang mga hindi nila alam na magka-tandem itong dalawa.” Jorbina explained. He shared that they have been selling over 500 to 1,000 loaves of bread every day because of the initiative.
They also have a website that offers daily tallies and the backgrounds of each presidential and vice-presidential candidate.
As of writing, Marcos Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio have been leading the presidential votes with 44.5% of the total “votes” cast. They are followed by Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
Kumori cake cups
Japanese bakery Kumori wants to make voting sweeter with its first ever presidential cake cups.
To cast an unofficial vote, pick among the five different cake cup flavors of Summer Strawberry, Okinawa Milk Tea, Butterscotch Dates, Choco Crumble, and Ube Halaya. Then, you can show your support for your presidential candidate by choosing from the shop’s five cake covers.
Kumori allows anyone to mix and match their preferred cake cup flavor with any cover. They’re also keeping a tally of the “Cake Race” for the poll, with results based on chosen covers, not flavors. As of February 28, Robredo leads Kumori’s cake race, while Marcos comes in second.
The presidential cake cups are available to order for P89 a piece in all Kumori stores and for delivery via the Kumori website, GrabFood, foodpanda, and Pick.A.Roo.
Leni Funko! Pop, Cubao Customs
Local custom Funko! Pop shop, Cubao Customs, has taken the liberty of crafting an exclusive Leni Robredo figurine.
The locally-made Funko! sees a miniature version of the Vice President donning her all-pink ensemble during the CNN Philippines Presidential debates. Cubao Customs even added a custom box with Robredo's ballot number and campaign logo.
Fans of the figurine have been urging the store to make the figurine available for purchase, while they maintain that it will be a custom build.
Bossing Red President Unity, Blackwater
Local fragrance brand Blackwater released a unisex fragrance line with elements alluding to Bongbong Marcos.
The name of the fragrance, “Bossing Red President Unity Body Spray,” makes use of Marcos Jr.’s red campaign color as well as his campaign promise of “unity” promise.
The former senator was an endorser for Blackwater in the early 2000s.