How ‘May ganon’ turned from being just an expression to copyrighted tagline
I believe in the power of tag lines for brands in that they boost the products’ recall factor (may boosting na nagaganap!).
Even for celebrities, their usual expressions create some sort of a “tag” for their personality. (Pero hindi price tag ha!)
The late talk show host Inday Badiday introduced these tags for herself: “Promise!” “Kilala mo ba ako” and “Saranghameda Bo” (Bo is the name of her partner in life). Congresswoman Vilma Santos used to always say “I love you, Lucky “(name of her son) in the closing part of her defunct variety show (ako rin, I love you, Luis!). Comedy actress Ruffa Mae Quinto has “Todo na’ to” while model-host Ruffa Gutierrez turned the word “Grabe!” into a household expression. (Pero di ko lang sure paano yun i-deliver ni Tita Annabel!)
When I was starting as a radio jock, I wanted to have my own tag (gayagaya lang!). I thought of making a play on my on-air name, Mr.FU. The very first line I used on air was, “Eto na si Mr.Fu.. funong funo ng saya, funong funo ng ligaya!” I used it for one night then dropped it. It sounded like a trying hard children’s show tag! (Chaka!)
I could not think of anything else after that. But one night right after my spiels on air, my boss Mr. Manny Luzon called me up. (Parang si Big Brother lang ng “PBB!”)
Manny: “Gusto ko yang sinasabi mong expression mo. Abuse it.”
Mr. Fu: “Ang alin sir?”
Manny: “May sinasabi ka kanina, paulit-ulit.”
Mr. Fu:“Talaga sir? MAY GANON?!”
Manny: “Yan! Yan!”
Mr. Fu: “MAY GANON?!”
Manny: “Gamitin mo yan.”
Mr. Fu: “Ah talaga Sir, MAY GANON?!”
I was not conscious that I had that expression. But being an obedient talent, I followed my boss’s advice (inabuso ko talaga!). “May ganon” opened doors for me. TV shows and advertisers noticed me because of the expression that I say more than 100 times per show, live! (100 times talaga?! At opo, live! Hindi recorded!)
Eventually, I tried removing “May ganon” from my spiels, but every time I would do that, I would get an endorsement deal or a television show that would request me to say it every now and then (so mga 100 years ko na sya sinasabi!). There were even memes of “May ganon” with my face on it!
(Sana lang current photos ilagay! Puro kasi luma! Hahaha!)
Two weeks ago, some social media followers informed me there is an online game show using “May ganon”
(iba lang daw spelling, pero ganun pa rin ang bigkas!). I kept my cool. I just posted on my social media account that I have a copyright certificate of “May ganon.” Yes, months after “May ganon” became popular, I got a copyright with the help of a lawyer (naisip ko talaga yun ha!).
The concerned followers called the attention of the on-line show. After a day, “May ganon” was no longer part of that show. (Sana kasi kinuha nyo na lang ako, para wala problema! Hahaha!)
I am not sure if I will have another tag soon (kasi ang tagal na nyan ha!). But “May ganon” will always be special to me. It’s one of my biggest blessings. ( Yung iba nga di matandaan name ko, tinatawag akong “May ganon! May ganon!”)