AV Communications (AVC) is pleased to announce that it has ranked on the 2024 Report on Business magazine’s ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies. AVC earned its #248 spot with a three-year growth of 163%. The full list of 2024 winners, along with editorial coverage, is published in the October issue of Report on Business magazine. The list is out now and online here.

If you’re looking to turn heads, make a positive difference, and stand out in 2022, then you need to tap into the marketing trends that will get you there. Take advantage of these trends and you will be most likely to get a head start next year, and who knows, you could very well get ahead of the competition, too!

As we end the month-long celebration of Filipino Heritage Month, AV Communications and One Down Media are breaking the tabo (er taboo) today.

Join us as we present the accomplishments of Filipino-Canadians from the true north. And why 1 million Filipinos in Canada need to be visible and represented in mainstream society. Not yesterday, but #Filipinow!

“We want to instill a sense of belonging and solidarity among Filipinos,” says Joycelyn, CEO and owner of leading Toronto-based multicultural agency AV Communications. “We want to elevate the Filipino community and importantly tell their stories through their own words.”

Backed by prominent Filipino influencers and media community advocates across North America, #FILIPINOW stemmed from Joycelyn and Argentina’s shared desire to connect with Filipinos of all backgrounds and generations worldwide.

The campaign hashtag #FILIPINOW combines a sense of urgency that “now” is the right time to talk about the impact of the community beyond the healthcare industry. Through this campaign, the duo aims to dispel stereotypical notions of who Filipinos are. Filipinos are not just proud healthcare frontliners, they are social drivers, innovators, and yes, even heroes.

Through #FILIPINOW, Filipino-Canadian entrepreneur Argentina is on a mission to showcase the Filipino’s brand of leadership across various industries and professions. “My name might be Argentina but I am a proud Filipina. To my Filipino brothers and sisters, I encourage you to keep showing your resilience, your knack for innovation, and keep building our legacy across the world,” she says.

Starting June 1, Filipino Canadians who want to participate in the campaign can simply:

•  Post how proud you are of being a Filipino/a/x.
•  Tag a Filipino/a/x who inspires them.
•  Share a photo of that favourite Filipino/a/x.
•  Use hashtag #FILIPINOW

Now is the right time to show the world how proud you are of being Filipino. As Argentina said, “Filipinos are here. We matter and we are visible.” If you want to know more about the #FILIPINOW campaign, watch the video below or reach out to your kababayan Joycelyn David.

AVC and TFC took the lead by organizing Filipi-NOW, the first webinar in North America that provided marketers an intimate look at Philippine Canadian audiences, insights, and media.

During the hour-long session, AVC CEO Joycelyn David together with Raymond Olano, Head of Partner Marketing; Rosary Escano, Regional Marketing Head; and Abigail Katigbak, Partner Marketing Specialist at ABS-CBN Global elaborated on what exactly makes the Filipino consumer tick.

“The Filipino market is very unique. We’re not homogenous. There’s first-generation and second-generation Filipinos. Not all Filipinos speak the same language. There’s a lot of dialects. And so, when we work with brands and clients, we like to help provide deeper segmentation for them in terms of how best to align their brand to the personas of the audience,” says David.

Filipinos come to Canada from different walks of life. 77% are first-generation immigrants composed of family migrants, international students, and temporary foreign workers who are building their careers in the hospitality, healthcare, and trade sectors. Their migration journeys may be different from each other, but they’re all bound by a strong connection to the motherland.

TFC has been instrumental in keeping that connection alive for over 25 years, having been one of the world’s largest creators and distributors of Filipino content. “Through TFC, ABS-CBN Global brings superior Filipino content in the form of news and information, dramas, variety shows, and movies. Content that are widely enjoyed and consumed by the Filipino market,” says Olano.

Intending to connect the Filipino diaspora to their roots, TFC continues to up its game by offering exceptional viewing experiences delivered through linear viewing on cable and satellite and online streaming through OTT platforms such as I Want TFC and IPTV. Through TFC, brands can easily reach Filipinos no matter where they are in the world.

Beyond this massive reach, TFC’s brand of news and entertainment is top-notch. Olano adds, “Based on the March results of Comscore, which as you know is the TV ratings and analytics audit company in the US, TFC shows have placed in 9 of the top 10 most-watched Asian content in the US. While this is US data, we can assume that the viewing behavior of Filipino Canadians are not far off.”

More than Filipino Canadians being a goldmine for market growth, David also reiterated the importance of BIPOC representation to which Filipino Canadians are an integral part.

“In an age of representation and where representation matters, where we’re trying to dispel all of these nasty things out there about Asian hate that is happening unfortunately in the world. Representation and putting your business dollars into supporting and representing is so important. And I think for any business that wants to live by ‘we embrace diversity and inclusion,’ then they must be embracing that through the representation of talent: behind the camera, in front of the camera, in your supplier choices, in your media choices.”

And for marketers and brands who sincerely want to champion BIPOC voices, David encourages them to take concrete action, “And I’ve said it to many clients and I’ll say it again, the visible minority population in Canada is 20 percent. So, 20 percent of your marketing dollars should be put towards multicultural audiences. If it’s not there, get it there.”

If you would like to know more about Filipino Canadian audiences, start by watching the full webinar here or drop Joycelyn a line and say “Mabuhay!”

According to Hofstede Insights’ 6-D Model that provides an overview of the deep drivers of a country’s culture in comparison with other world cultures, China scored 20 and the Philippines 32 in INDIVIDUALISM. This index determines the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. Meanwhile, India has earned an intermediate score of 48, the highest among the three countries, which means that it has both collectivist and individualistic traits.

In a collectivist culture, the family takes precedence over people outside of this close circle. Banking and financial experts fall outside of this sphere and are essentially strangers to newcomers. 39% of newcomers seek the advice of family and friends when it comes to their finances. A financial decision significantly impacts their day-to-day lives and would not be entrusted to a “stranger.”

Even though financial advisors are considered experts and essentially know better, newcomers would defer to elder family members for sound advice on money matters.

On Choosing Their First Canadian Bank
Given this culturally driven disposition, it does not come as a surprise that among the newcomers polled 48% choose their first bank based on their family’s recommendation. Also, most newcomers live with the family when they first arrive in the country. According to the same study, 42% live with their extended family in a multi-generational household.
Often, relatives who came before them offer critical support in the areas of health, wellness, education, and emotional well-being. And even financial support when newcomers are just starting and have yet to secure employment to earn a steady income. And so, the opinion of these trusted and close contacts is highly valued.

Family versus Financial Experts
The findings of this ETHNIHUB^TM study should serve as a gentle reminder to banking and financial institutions that when dealing with newcomer customers, the approach is not always cold, straightforward, and business-like. Perhaps the best way they can woo this segment is to make newcomers realize that they can trust financial advisers and that they always have their best interests in mind.

Remember too that they would not only be speaking to a nuclear family. For newcomers, the mantra “all for one, one for all ” applies. Older parents, uncles, aunts, even cousins have an opinion on the financial journey of the whole household.

Each member matters and is well-esteemed. So be warm, go up close, and personal. After all, that’s how one treats family right?

If you want to get more information on ETHNIHUB^TM or learn how to connect with multicultural audiences, contact us.

32% OF NEWCOMERS WANT ‘NO BANKING FEES’  
 17% wish for additional incentives
16% care about security and fraud protection

Newcomers are just starting to build their financial future in Canada. What they can save from not paying extra fees could be used for buying their basic needs. That’s why Canadian banks that offer a reprieve from paying bank fees are one of the things that newcomers seriously consider when choosing a bank.

39% SAYS ‘UNREASONABLE BANKING FEES’ TRIGGERED THEM TO SWITCH BANKS
 22% Bad Customer Service
21% Complicated Banking Requirements

How they are treated by their banks and complex processes are factors that make newcomers think of going to another Canadian bank. But unreasonable banking fees are the deal breaker.

87% OF NEWCOMERS ARE SAVING MONEY
Only 13% do not set aside money for savings.

Did you know? 39% of newcomers that were polled say that they’ve become thriftier and budget-conscious when they moved to Canada. Lack of employment opportunities, the large expense of settling in that includes paying for a home, buying furniture, etc., and managing a household with extended family members living under one roof, affect the financial well-being of newcomers.

With limited income and slowly dwindling savings, it’s no surprise that newcomers are tightening their belts. But it’s also worth noting that they still make savings a priority.

3 MOST POPULAR BANKS AMONG NEWCOMERS
1 TD Bank (Toronto-Dominion Bank)
2 RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
3 CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)

Among the Big 5, TD Bank comes out on top as the bank preferred by newcomers.

Born in Canada, Raised Filipino

Proud of her Filipino roots, David was the first of her family to be born in Canada after her parents emigrated from the Philippines in the 1970s. She grew up between Winnipeg and Edmonton, learning about her culture through the stories shared by her relatives. But learning the culture was not enough. David yearned to see another Filipino face right here in her home.

“I can still remember the first time I saw a Filipino in a TV commercial here in Canada,” David recalled. “It was a student recruitment spot, and they were inviting internationally trained students to enroll. I distinctly remember the ad and the feeling that ‘Ah… I can see myself, my sister, and my culture represented on TV. I was 25 years old at the time. Why has it taken so long for me to see myself reflected in the media this way?”

This question on her mind motivated David to champion the representation of black, indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) in mainstream media. Especially for the Filipino ethnic group that’s the third-largest in Canada. The Filipino population is expected to reach 1M by 2021, representing a 150% growth rate. They’re also the number one source of immigrants to Canada.

Rising to the Challenge 

With the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and call for representation for BIPOC, consumers are demanding diversity and authenticity. Multiculturalism is mainstream. This has been David’s battle cry since taking the reins at AVC in 2019. Aside from keeping its Filipino heritage alive, David is taking the 17-year-old agency to greater heights.

Today, the award-winning multicultural agency has expanded its business globally. Growing international brands and reaching multicultural audiences south of the border (USA), even as far as the Philippines and Mexico.

AVC is also expanding through partnerships and research and development with the launch of its insights platform ETHNIHUB^TM  in October 2020. This project landed David a coveted spot in the Microsoft-backed Women in Cloud Accelerator.

Lead with Diversity. Invest in Multicultural.

David aims to push brands to revisit their brand and marketing campaigns and account for visible minorities in their communications. And though she has shattered Filipino stereotypes through her latest achievement, David knows her work has only just begun.

“It’s time for companies to walk the talk. If they truly embrace diversity and inclusion (D&I) it will be reflected in all aspects of their business, including marketing. When I began in this industry nearly 20 years ago, multicultural marketing budgets were often less than 5% of a campaign budget. It’s now 2021, and unfortunately, we haven’t moved the needle enough. I look forward to the day when a campaign brief LEADS with diversity and puts the right investment into multicultural audiences as well.”

If you would like to talk to Joycelyn about some of her current endeavors, future passion projects or how she can help you boost your brand in the multicultural space, drop her a message at linkedin.com/in/joycelyndavid/