ComCo Southeast Asia Hits 2nd Year with 13 Quill Awards and Agency of the Year Nomination, 13 NewBiz Wins and a New Command Center

Fresh off the heels of the 16th IABC Philippine Quill Awards, fast-rising and award-winning communications agency ComCo Southeast Asia has made a mark on the communications scene in a short span of two years since its launch in 2016. The past year has been a monumental one for the budding agency filled with new recognitions, new collaborations, and even a new headquarters! All of this is possible through ComCo SEA’s three agency thrusts, instilled in everything they do: Igniting Brand love, Igniting Social Change, and Igniting Talent.

ComCo SEA New PR Smart Social

The ComCo Squadron, dressed in its official brand color imperial purple, takes center stage in the recently held 16th IABC Philippine Quill Awards.

Industry Recognition
After winning two IABC Quill Awards of Excellence for Igniting Brand Love – The Launch of ComCo Southeast Asia and M&M’s Vote PH Campaign the previous year, the company ascended into even greater heights this year by being nominated for Agency of the Year and winning 13 IABC Quill Awards!

The IABC Quill Award is the world’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication. It has been bestowing the seal of approval to the most reputable organizations and corporations in the nation for almost two decades, emphasizing the use of excellent communication to achieve business goals, and to make a difference in society. To win a Philippine Quill means being recognized as achieving the highest Global Standard for business communication practices.

ComCo Southeast Asia won the prestigious Quill Awards for the following:

  • The Gift of Education – The AirAsia – World Vision See the World initiative for Communication Skills – Audio-Visual) and Communication Management – Corporate Social Responsibility and Nonprofit Campaign
  • The Power of the Youth – The WWF Earth Hour Camp for Communication Skills – Special Event and Communication Management – Nonprofit Campaign
  • Si Kathy at ang Kutostrophe – The Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz KKK Coloring Book / Comics for Communication Skills – Publication
  • Youth’s Message of Hope – The Pioneer Insurance #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition for Communication Management – Social Media and Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Our Strong Connection – The Eastern Communications rebranding campaign for Communication Management – Internal Communication
  • AirAsia’s Red Talks with Daphne season 1 – Amazing Stories to Inspire your Journeys for Communication Skills – Audio-Visual and Communication Management – Digital Communications and Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communications
  • #CitizenComCo – The ComCo Southeast Asia Advocacy Communications Practice for Communication Management – Corporate Social Responsibility

Likewise, Pioneer Insurance #MoveOnLang Song Writing Competition also bagged two silver Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) earlier this year. In 2017, ComCo SEA was also recognized in Kidlat Awards and Spikes Asia by being part of the winning team of Snickers Don’t Drive Hungry and in Mumbrella Asia Awards for doing the Philippine leg of TCL Inspiring Bonding Moments.

New Business Wins
The past year was not only filled with recognitions and retaining long-term partners such as Electrolux, WWF, Eastern Communications and Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz.

ComCo SEA also won a number of inter-agency pitches acquiring new accounts such as PR for SM Cinema (including IMAX, Director’s Club and SnackTime), environmental sustainability research project for Coca-Cola, Digital and Social for Dragonpay and SureTayo, PR for Lamoiyan Corporation’s Hapee Kiddie and GumTect, Healthcare Communications for The Medical City – Clark, PR for Oakley and Reef, Development Communications for UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), and PR for Bai Nian Tang Bao restaurant, Wake Up Manila job convention and Goodyear.

The New ComCo SEA Command Center
From starting out on a shared space in Makati CBD (Central Business District), ComCo SEA moved into its new and own headquarters they call home on the 32nd floor of the BPI-Philam Life Makati building along Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

Visitors and guests, as soon as they are in the hallway outside, will notice the company’s bubbly and vibrant imperial purple logo greeting them. The office, known as the ComCo SEA Command Center, is home to the ComCo Squadron composed of ComCoys (directors and staff) and ComCowans (apprentices), a reference to the love of the team has for Star Wars. This particular passion for pop culture is seen all through the office floor with each room’s name being a reference, such as the Millennium Falcon (the primary craftsmanship studio), the Watch Tower (the conference room), the Cerebro (the leader’s room) and the Room of Requirements, among others.

ComCo SEA Command Center New PR Smart Social

As soon as you enter the Bifrost Bridge (from Thor and The Avengers) or the reception, the company’s royal purple logo greets you, ready to lead you into a world of wonders.

 

ComCo SEA new PR Smart Social Command Center

The Cerebro (from X-Men), a reference to the main device that Professor X uses, is not just the executive office but the microcosm of what ComCo Southeast Asia is all about – a melting pot of pop culture, years of experience, and love for the craft.

 

ComCo SEA Command Center - New PR Smart Social

The Watch Tower (from Justice League) is where the magic happens, where great minds meet and collaborate amid the equally great Makati Central Business District skyline surrounding them.

Igniting Talent
To celebrate the Agency’s 2nd Anniversary and plan ahead for its #RoadToYear3, the Squadron spent their away days in a week-long trip in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan! They were able to reflect, recalibrate, and regroup together for their next conquest.

ComCo SEA New PR Smart Social - Japan

The ComCo Squadron held their away days in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in Japan.

The Squadron has also injected new and young blood into its team, enabling and turning its bright, talented, and passionate young associates into becoming full-fledged communication experts. They recently hired new Associates for Brand Communications and Finance & Administration and engaged Enablers for Digital Solutions and Information Technology.

Most of its workforce came from ComCo SEA’s very own mentorship program called Camp ComCo. Now on its 8thcycle, over 20 apprentices have gone through its real-world and practical on-the-job training involving workshops and sessions delivered by industry leaders as well as a mentee-mentor relationship between employees and apprentices, enabling the interns to perform actual work in the field.

ComCo SEA New PR Smart Social Best agency

The Camp ComCo Mentorship Program, featuring its official logo as well as the logos of each house: House Bearcat, House Flyingfox, House Whaleshark, and House Hawksbill.

#RoadToYear3
The past two years were certainly full of exponential and positive growth for the Agency. The year 2018, however, is shaping up to be an ever better year for the kickstart-up now mainstream player ComCo Southeast Asia.

ComCo SEA Regional Integration and Executive Director Ferdinand Bondoy shared, “As Walt Disney said before – It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. Everything is overwhelming as we are just on our #RoadToYear 3. I guess if you are having fun in what you do best, with a fantastic team, in a more home-like environment, where we can work on our crafts knowing everyone got each other’s back, the impossible becomes possible. We were able to create a culture that inspires all of us to pursue our life’s work, and make a difference, together.”

More than the metals, ComCo SEA felt elated for the love and support of its clients who rooted for them in the Agency of the Year match in IABC Quill Awards!

What’s extra special about this year’s IABC Quill Awards is that the #CampComCo Mentorship Program graduates from different cycles are now certified award-winners!

Whatever lies ahead in the next year, ComCo Southeast Asia is sure to ascend even further, reaching new heights and breaking new grounds. To know more and get in touch with ComCo Southeast Asia, please visit www.comcosea.com or www.facebook.com/comco.southeastaasia or e-mail commandcenter@comco-hq.com