Last May, I experienced one of the most taxing yet memorable events in my career as an Advertising person. That is, handling my first (and last… whew!) Kiddie Crew Graduation stint! So why was it a stressful and tiring experience? Well, apart from it being a month-long event, with week-long preparations in key cities nationwide including Manila, planning started way back December of last year. So you can really imagine the stakes my company put in, organizing such a tedious annual event.

For everyone’s knowledge, the Kiddie Crew Workshop is an annual event under McDonald’s Philippines that takes place just in time for summer. It’s for kids 6-12 years old and it’s one of those activities that is highly anticipated by children who enjoy trooping to their nearest McDonald’s store. The summer gig for kids starts off with a 5-day workshop, involving arts and craft, fun and games, and the best of all, the in-store training where participants have the chance to become a McDonald’s crew doing counter or drive thru chores, or simply assisting customers with their order. After the 5-day training, a series of Graduations are held in cities like Sta. Rosa for Laguna, Cebu, Davao and last in Manila.

Actually, this was the  2^nd KC event I was part of, the first being a behind-the-stage sort of participation, as an instant Voiceover Announcer at the grand show in Manila (without any fees involved ha? Bad trip!), and as writer for the program show script of the provincial leg. What’s different with this year is that I got to manage the whole event from the start to finish. This included coming up with a concept (this year played on the idea of Hogwarts theme), scriptwriting, sourcing of production suppliers, talents like magicians and acrobats and dancers, stage design, fabrication, logistics, collaterals, hotel and travel expenses, coordination meetings, and the list goes on. Good thing, I had very reliable people under my wing, including a highly trained (via experience heheh!) events person,  JC Brion. With him and Erika Rodriguez as my wing men, everything turned out to be a very successful show especially in the provincial legs of KC.

I realized that it was enjoyable most of the time, from the video shoot for documentation to the hurried preps in my home city Sta. Rosa where the first provincial leg began. What made things a lot more exciting though hectic, was when we flew for our Cebu and Davao shows. Yep, we held 2 of our major shows down south, and boy, was it a blast! Not because I got to travel, but it was the feeling of satisfaction of seeing what you’ve conceptualized now coming to life. Of course, there were a few bumps and pitfalls along the way. But hey, there was nothing a quick decision could not solve. The good thing, everything went smoothly as planned. With a select accounts and creatives team (JC, Erika and Carol Ildefonso) I brought with me, and an experienced production team headed by my good friend Mark Santos, I was pretty sure the Kiddie Crew graduation in all 3 provincial areas this year were one for the books.

As May came to an end, the last leg of KC also culminated, this time, in Manila at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Kid participants, as well as their parents were treated to something different. From magicians, slide & Velcro wall inflatables, jugglers, Cosplayers, moving statues, toy bazaars, face painting, a mini science station, celebrities like Jackie Lou Blanco and kid wonder Jillian Ward, and of course, to the treat of seeing Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Birdie and Hamburglar live, everything spelled magic for all. The smiles and the satisfaction of all the kids present kept all of us afloat. With all the hardwork (not to mention leg work) involved, and only a few hours sleep, it was truly rewarding and it made me feel so happy inside. I will always remain grateful for having the chance to manage it with flying colors.

I know  won’t be part of next year’s Kiddie Crew anymore. Definitely I’ll be missing a lot of those 2-hour sleep and preparation involved, especially those people whom I’ve met and encountered during rehearsals and show proper. But at least my experience will be cherished in the years to come.

Kiddie Crew, thanks for making me a part of you. ‘Til next time!

At salamat ulit sa inyo!

McDo Marketing: Fidel, Dothy, Cez

Team Ronald: Philip, Rayn, Cris, Gilbert

JC, Erika, Carol, Van, Meann & direk Mark

Logistics: Jeff, Chona & Melvin,

Production: Cha, Ariel, EddieBoy, Ben, Lakay & the Finishing Team

Jon (choreographer)

upon arrival in mactan airport

my stage design for the KC show Cebu

A view of the old Insular office in cebu

the new IL Cebu

the KC team with KC head Fidel Balbieran (seated, middle)

IL Davao at night

the show held at Gaisano Mall Davao

Cosplay moment

Napugutan but still happy! haha!!!

With McD big boss Kenneth Yang & others (haha others!!!)

posing at a Balete Tree at WTC

My CGI team

With Jillian Ward, McD's kid ambassadress

My KC CGI team - JC, Carol & Erika

a fun shoot with the KC participants

Thanks for everything, Kiddie Crew!!!