Creative Q&A: DDB Philippines' Joey Ong

How did you get into advertising?
I’d like to think I was pirated from University by Robert Labayen. He was my professor in creative thinking and I guess he saw potential in me to make it in advertising. Or maybe a young, hungry and cheap creative wanting to get out of school. Whatever reason it was, I will forever thank him for doing so.

What was your first ever ad?
I actually wrote copy for my first ad in J Walter Thompson. It was for Cream cornstarch launching a flour variant. Back then word pun was still ok - 'The Cream Team'. Hahaha - from then on I had to inspire myself to do better ads.
 
What was your first ever job?
Advertising was my first job, I don’t think I ever considered doing anything else.
 
What was your worst job ever?
Advertising also. it’s a love-hate relationship.
 
What does it take to impress you?
Aside from a pretty face and a nice body... a good insight always works for me.
 
Where do you go to be inspired?
I run and surf. Nothing like the recharge from the ocean.
 
If you can spend one day with a celebrity or historical figure, who would it be? Why?
I’d love to have a chat with Steve Jobs. Would be cool to see how normal he is in real life.
 
What is your guilty pleasure?
I can eat a gallon of ice cream and I love watching cartoons on a Sunday afternoon.
 
If you have to come back as an animal, what would you be? Why?
I wanna be a beach dog. I see them and I feel that they are lucky to be are super steady.
 
What is the last book you read?
I was given this book by Charles Saatchi, My name is Charles Saatchi and I am an arthoholic. Nice easy read. I was more impressed knowing he's married to Nigella Lawson.
 
What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Usually I get up to feed my dog, sometimes I just snooze my alarm to catch five or 10 minutes of sleep.
 
Worst haircut you’ve ever had?
I was 10 when I finally got rid of my beatles apple cut and I cried. But I’ve had the same spikey haircut eversince.
 
Describe your typical day
Busy... busy... busy... It’s a constant brainstorm.

Can you suggest a question for Creative Brief next Q&A candidate?
I like it when people ask me what I would have been if I didn’t get into advertising. I think it’s interesting to know these things about people. For me, I would have been an architect but definitely something related to the arts.

What’s the worst movie you have ever seen and why — not why you saw it, but why it sucked? (question provided by JWT's Juhi Kalia)
I see movies as a passive form of entertainment. If I want something deep or meaningful, I would watch Nat Geo or Discovery. Call it shallow, but there are a lot of stupid movies, still at some point a few seconds of it can be entertaining.