Coke’s Biggest Surprise
It all started when this arrived in my email inbox:
Actually, I thought it was a hoax first, because it arrived at a time when I was busy answering comments left by MLM employees in my blog. So, I emailed the sender and asked how she came by my email address. And quite promptly, she replied that she got the email address from my personal blog (this blog). I googled her name, Greta Razon, and her affiliation, Keren Pascual Public Relations and Events Management Services and found nothing wrong. I replied to the RSVP invite and fixed my schedule. The event is supposedly Coke’s “Biggest Surprise” to be held at BGCEA Community Facility, right across the NBC Tent.
So, okay, I do not really know what to expect from this event nor could I really bother Ms. Razon about it, since it claimed to be a “surprise”. But, of course, the first thing that would come to mind is that it’s a product launch party. But what product?
So, February 13 arrived and I found my way to BGCEA Community Facility. I was a bit early and found the staff still setting up props so, I left the place for a while and chilled at GoNuts Donuts. And I learned one thing during my stay there: there’s a basketball team called Coca-Cola Tigers. 
Hahaha. What a noob, you’d say. But hey, I don’t watch basketball nowadays.
After half an hour, I went back to BGCEA Community Facility and found that a lot of guests have already arrived.
I think I might have been a wallflower this time. I didn’t know anyone, though I think I saw Abe there. But, what the heck, I was already there, so I might as well enjoy my stay.
And they did make the guests feel real comfy, while waiting for the “real” event to start:
Who wouldn’t want to get their hands on those bottles?
Waiting to be filled up and emptied
This really tasted good…
And this one, too…
…and this one, too! But please don’t ask me how they’re called. I just ate ‘em and forgot the names because I couldn’t pronounce it. Hehe.
It was almost 6 o’ clock in the evening when we were told to go outside of the place. Then, we were ushered to ride on some shuttles parked outside.
Wait, where are you taking us?!?!
I think this was the time when I twitted this:
It’s funny how people who were in the shuttle with me also thought of the same thing, and some were joking about not having their lawyers with them. But then, where are we going, really?
We’re going on a field trip!
No, seriously, I didn’t have any idea where they could be taking us. Except for maybe there could be a new building of some sort that is connected with their product launch.
(I was supposed to insert the video of our trip here but I was unsuccessful with my attempt to convert the video format. I’ll have an attempt at it again next time)
This is the place where we actually ended up:
What’s up at the Helipad? (Honestly, this picture looked as if a Cloverfield monster might appear anytime soon behind McDonald’s sign and swat it off its pole)
Those men looked like they mean business (they’re actually our “tour guides”)
People scurrying about to find their places
So, what are we really waiting for?
It’s here!
What is that chopper carrying?
Yup, it’s the biggest coke surprise there is (note: this photo was taken later. I actually had a video of the chopper dropping the coke bottle but it got erased. 
Jon saw it dropped too!)
With all that secretiveness and ceremonies, I was pleasantly surprised, actually. It was fun! That must be the only time when it’s fun to be kidnapped (not to mention being kidnapped by cute men in black, hehehe).
It said taste it and then, peel it. So, I tasted it first. Hehe. And what do we have after peeling the bottle…
Ta-da! Coke Zero! (Oh well, it’s still Coke Zero, even if it wasn’t peeled but anyway…)
Coke Zero? What does that mean?
It is the new product of Coca-Cola being launched now in the Philippines. It claims to look and taste like the regular Coke, but without the sugar and the calories. And it does!
I got Zeroed!
Also, you get to win one of the 10 iPod Touch gadgets being given away at the party, if your Cliquebooth photos are one of the wackiest and most original. But I wasn’t able to get myself into the Cliquebooth photobooth because I got too “aliw” with the magicians (Ruther, Ian, Oliver, and Marco(?)) in the party and their magic tricks (but, don’t worry, Marcelle, you’re still my favorite hehehe).
But this guy did and won one of the iPod Touch:
I don’t know him but I heard he’s an ETC talent. Anybody there who knows this guy?
Megan, former PBB Celebrity edition housemate, and Marc Abaya were also there at the party and won iPod Touch. Geez, why are the celebrities still included in the raffle? They can afford to buy those, anyway. Hehehe.
And the party went on with more food and some party music courtesy of Up Dharma Down (sorry, wasn’t able to take photo of their band. I love their music, but got distracted by magicians!) and Chicosci:
At around 8 p.m., the party ended and I went home, empty-handed because I didn’t win an iPod Touch, but with a full stomach. I really got stuffed with food and Coke.
So, watch out because soon, Coke Zero is going to invade the grocery stores and supermarkets! Better prepare to get zeroed!
wow! that was fun! and i’m pretty sure this new line of coke beverage will surely hit the obese and the figure conscious market! and wah! taht gimmick was good! twas great! and oph, i love your cloverfield-like pic! haha. panalo yun!
bulitas’s last blog post..not your usual valentine trick
LOL, so THAT’s what you were doing up in the helipad when I saw you.
Sayang talaga nabura yung video mo
Jon Limjap’s last blog post..Cloverfield isn’t a movie about a monster attacking New York
to bulitas:
Yup, it was indeed fun even if I went there alone. Just getting those surprises really made it worth coming to.
to Jon:
Oo nga eh. Inis talaga ako
I actually had a series of unfortunate events that day. First, I left my camera’s batteries charging in the clinic. Second, my cellphone’s battery is almost drained dry (which explains why I wasn’t able to take a lot of pictures). Hay.
wahahaha. natawa ako dun sa na-jun lozada.
pero, ngayon lang pala nagka-coke zero sa inang bansa. medyo iba pa rin yung lasa nung zero no? parang walang “kagat”
to ramil:
Yup, now lang siya na-launch here sa Philippines. I really can’t say that it still tastes different. For me, parang pareho lang sila. Hehehe.
Go check the Coke Zero website (which I’ve provided in the post). There’s a fun game there, called “Unlocking the secrets”. Try mo lang
How much did coke pay you to do this? My god! The advertising is total crap as well.
Do they actually think they can peddle this junk that is harmful?
It scores a BIG ZERO!
to penguin killer:
It’s amazing how malicious minds work because they automatically think that whenever people speak about something, they have to be paid for it.
But then, don’t get too self-righteous. Considering the name you went by, penguin killer, I think you’re off having a worse impression than anybody else who had been blogging/talking about the event. I mean…penguin killer? And an email address of sheepshredder@___.com? Thinking that being penguin killers or sheep shredders are better than people liking Coke or whatever soda there is out there is simply out of this world.
hmmm…One wonders if you actually believe what you are saying.
So you are saying that coke zero is not harmful? That it has no chemicals in it and is better than water.
Is it against blogging policy to present an opinion? One that may actually be in dissent to what you are saying. Last I heard the internet is about expressing opinions. Unless you tell me that is not allowed here then I can refrain from it. Then I can just say it is the greatest.
btw, you required a hidden email address and violated the cardinal admin rule by revealing it…tsk tsk
Now tell me honestly was the print ad and the billboard really that great?
But again, if you would rather that we keep opinions to ourselves unless it is to say all you say is correct I can now keep quiet.
to penguin killers:
Do you actually read the whole comment or you just pick the words that just jump out of the page and caught your attention? Do you really think I revealed your email address? Can you please take a look again?
Also, where did I even say that just because you presented an opposing view, you’re not allowed to put a comment in a blog anymore?
You’re the one who first became offensive because don’t you think it’s rather rude to tell somebody that they said certain things because they’re paid?
Truly, you’re being selective.
Coke Zero is soooo good, I bathe in it.
Why wasn’t I invited to thing thingie?!
benj’s last blog post..Why Jumper Sucks
Woah that was cool I wish there too…I remember Jeff’s Twitter he was looking for a Coke Zero a day before that event I think. Coca-Cola Zero in fact has a negligible caloric value =D
L.A’s last blog post..+Ion Atk
^ the last line is in ‘tard. Kindly look for someone who could translate that for you. LOL
benj’s last blog post..Why Jumper Sucks
to benj:
It’s not particularly a bloggers’ event. Somebody just emailed me the invitation and being curious, I attended it.
to L.A.:
That’s what they claim, zero calories and no sugar. I think Coke made this product to compete with Pepsi Max. But it does taste just like the regular kind of Coke. Coke drinkers would like this one
bloghop.
hey when was this event? this would have been a cool go-to.
love events that have drama in them! haha! great P.R if you ask me.
ummm… IMO, penguin killer is being rude.
difference in opinions are welcome but rudeness is not.
sorry… i may be butting in….
yevka’s last blog post..Another successful, tiring, adventurous weekend
That’s according to Wikipedia “Depending on the country in which it is made, it has about 0.8 to 2.1 KJ (0.2 to 0.5 Kcal) per 100 mL” but for Pete’s sake Pepsi Max taste like *toooot* honestly with the tag line “Premium Taste, No Sugar/Zero Sugar. Max Taste” makes me LOL!
L.A’s last blog post..+Ion Atk
Okay. I apologize for what you call “rudeness”. So the Blogger swears that she was in no way given any form of gratuity by Coke? That this is not a set-up for the blogger to make a write-up about coke zero. Just say “I swear coke did not put me up to this and did not give anything special in the form of money or gifts or free food.”
The blogger claims to be a medical practicioner. Is it possible that Coke is not healthy? Is water not healthier? Unless, the blogger tells us otherwise and says regular consumption of any coke product is not bad for health. Just stick to the issues dear.
What is rude for some may be eye-opening for others.
Again, when one has a dissenting opinion is it rude?
You’re wack penguin killer. Go get a life.
hmmm. Is the truth that painful “penguin lover”?
Maybe you would care to elaborate on why Coke Zero is the bomb.
It was just an entry about Coke Zero. Get over it. You should be ranting about other things… Military junta in Myanmar, global warming etc. etc. etc. I think you’re just being plain blasted.
I will rant about what I choose to rant about. Unless you want to dictate to me what I should rant about.
You fail to see what I am saying. Could you be a Coke lackey? All you have to say, “penguin lover”, is that Coke Zero is healthy. Say you swear it is. Or do you agree with me that it is another way a big company is plying bad stuff down our throats? Hey even Pepsi Max is filled with carcinogens. Okay so now at least you know I am not from Pepsi.
Coke is evil like McDonalds is and could care nothing about the state of the environment as Big Biz does not care too. Oh and the Myanmar Junta? Don’t get me starting to name what repressive regimes and dictators Coke has dealt with.
Honestly, tell me…just say Coke is looking after the welfare of the people. How hard is that to say? Unless you too do not believe it.
to penguin killer:
Financial disclosure would have been required if I were promoting a product to be better than a standard. If you’ve been reading the post carefully, then you would have surmised that the whole post isn’t about Coke Zero being good for your health or better than another product, but rather about the event that has launched Coke Zero in the Philippines. Nowhere in the post does it say that Coke Zero is healthy or is healthier than a similar product.
In case you don’t know, I always put my sponsored posts in a separate category. And since it’s not under that category, then this is not a paid post. But I guess you’re not familiar with this blog. Or you’ve not been reading very well.
And again, where did it say that I consider you rude because of your dissenting opinion? Haven’t you realized that if I were against such kind of opinions, not a word of your comments wouldn’t have been posted in the comments section? I think you’re the one who have something against dissenting opinions as you’re being arrogant and rude. If you think asserting that a person is only saying things just because they’re paid to do so isn’t rude, then I don’t want to even know what the rest of the values you hold are.
There’s a big difference between argumentation and fighting. I think, based on how you’ve been “challenging” people, you’re only after picking fights with people. And being anonymous has given you the courage to do so.
Yes, you’re free to rant with whatever it is that you want as I’m free to moderate my blog. You don’t pay for my domain and for my web space.
Bring your advocacy where it will be appreciated. Or go get your own blog and rant about the “evils” of Coke, McDonald’s, or whatever you fancy. I’m not going to argue with you anymore.
Oh, so it was you! I thought you looked familiar, though I was thinking of somebody else.
yuga’s last blog post..Canon Model
I have received Coke Zero a day before the launch (I’m not a VIP but there’s this idiotic convenience store that released their stock already) and as always, it tastes good. But, for me, Pepsi MAX tastes better than this one as Coke Zero, when drank in huge quantities like I did today, tastes a little less sweeter than Coke Light. My friends told me that it tasted like plastic (maybe drinking from a plastic bottle…there’s this PET taste that you can detect) and even aluminum (drinking from the can…meaning, Coke Zero’s tasteless) but I defended it, as I am a huge fan of diet soda.
But if you compared Coke Zero to Coca-Cola, the latter wins. It’s sweeter than Coke Zero, actually, and tastes refreshing compared to Coke Zero, it’s just like light beer (all the peeing, none the fun). If you compared Coke Zero to Coke Light, Coke Light wins but it’s a girly soda so, I stay away from it (although I always order Coke Light in fastfood chains.) Coke Zero vs. Pepsi MAX (or even Pepsi Light), Pepsi wins.
It’s not that Coke Zero sucks. I love the “tabang” factor of it (and it’s actually sweeter when the fizz runs out). It’s just that there are better choices for you, that’s the point where I agree to your post.
If I were you, wait for the coffee-flavored Coke (Coke Blak), although it was discontinued na daw. It tastes wonderful, according to my friend in France.
wait…my comment is actually a repost…I’m actually lazy but just disregard the agree thing there.
BTW, I only knew that the event happened when I first received my can and my 1.5 L bottle of Coke Zero. And, SM Hypermarket is mad at my tita for letting them know about what the convenience store did to their stock.
Blah. I love it with lots of ice!
I wish I was also in the event, you know… I’m becoming a Coke Zero addict ever since I saw it in mini-stop (near our place). yey
Dear Blogger,
No I do not read your blog but it was posted in my forum to check the entry. I did just that.
I commented on the entry.
You know my comments and I still think that the “event” and the marketing “efforts” put behind it suck. It would be ruder if I lied. I found the whole story so cliche and blah. Maybe it is reflective of Coke Zero being bland as mentioned and BS. Honestly, I see Coca-Colas efforts on TV and even in the idiotic billboards. Nah it doesn’t do it for me. They should fire whoever does it. Why? Coke is such a strong icon and now it has to resort to corny stuff. Well it is Coke’s loss then they have their head so far up their…(fill in the blank)
So yes, my comment is centered around your entry. I think the event was a non-event.
hahaha you know what i enjoyed about this blog… si penguin killer parang tanga… astig mo dude masyado ka malalim magenglish pro para ka nman walang pinagaralan kung umasta ang blog di awayan yan opinions lang kung di mo nagustuhan period eh di hindi… hindi katulad ng comment mo na u’re accusing prudence na bayad siya ng coke pra gwen un blog.. kanya kanyang trip lang yan. i can sense that you werent invited to the big launch as what they are saying so un ba ung reason bket nagiinit ang ulo mo sa coke? and to those who made the ad and set up the big surprise? kung di ka nagandahan fine its not good enough for your taste pro may taste ka ba? and the way you comment dude di ka nagcocomment you wanna have a fight with the blogger… how good you are in what you do? masyado ka maraming comment wala nman kwenta… ano bang profession mo? taga call center ka ba? kaya ka ba magaling magenglish? dont show off your talent by posting super english na comment dude pinoy naman mga nandito diba? khet pagandahin mo pa english mo pra ka pren tanga kse mga simpleng bagay pinapatulan mo pa hahaha… ako lam kong lukring ako kaya pinapatulan kita pro di ako katulad mo na walang kwenta hahaha…. o bka sbhen mo binayaran ako ni prudence to put this comment well sorry dude di ako tautauhan i just felt that gusto ko magcomment sau and not sa blog na to bwahahaha…
Actually, Coke practically couldn’t care less about Pepsi Max. Pepsi’s market share in the Philippines is just way too below the radar to be a truly serious threat.
The REAL threat that Coke Zero was mobilized to take care of was C2! Yeah, this so-called healthy tea drink has taken so much of the local beverage market that Coke just had to do something about it.
Oh, and as for “Penguin Killer” (what’sa matter, afraid of confronting more ferocious animals such as bears or leopleurodons?), your rants are tired and old. Coke Zero doesn’t claim to be a healthy beverage. It has zero calories, period. Take it or leave it.
[...] efforts promoting their new product, Coke Zero, as there’s another event similar to their “surprise” last February but, this time, sponsored together with SM Hypermart: the Buhay Coke ng Bloggers with SM [...]