MOUNTAIN DEW Exhibits Surf Inspired Pieces For Siargao’s Recovery

The Philippines’ surfing mecca, Siargao Island, has been working to recover from the destruction caused by Super Typhoon Odette last December 16, 2021. Mountain Dew, a company that celebrates the spirit of adventure, teamed up with BBDO Guerrero to establish Project Re-Dew.

This design effort turns the devastation into signs of rebirth and optimism for the local people and the island’s tourism industry.

Project Re-Dew transforms discarded PET plastic bottles into a resin that binds Typhoon Odette debris to produce artworks inspired by famous spots in the surfing community of Siargao.

Five “Scrapboards”—surfboards constructed of resin and wreckage—and other works inspired by surfing created by BBDO Guerrero will be on display in the The Astbury, Makati gallery. These will virtually be auctioned off the following week, with all proceeds going to Green Project for the benefit of the most impacted Siargao villages.

 On December 16, 2021, the island of Siargao was devasted by Super Typhoon Odette leaving damages in both infrastructure and livelihood. BBDO Guerrero and Mountain Dew Philippines – known for championing the spirit of adventure, partnered with ReMaker Space and Rise Siargao to help rebuild communities and revive the island’s tourism through Project Re-Dew.

Project Re-Dew: Scrapboards is a design initiative that upcycles used Mountain Dew PET plastic bottles into a resin which binds scrap wood from the wreckage left behind by the typhoon to create Scrapboards—symbols of Siargao’s -resilience and hope. The first Scrapboards debuted as trophies for the first local surfing competition since the island reopened for tourism. 

On the upcoming anniversary of super typhoon Odette, an additional five Scrapboards were crafted in the shape of full-size surfboards, with each one inspired by an iconic location in Siargao.   

To showcase and turnover all the design pieces, a gallery event was held on December 9 at the Astbury, Makati to display all the items that have been produced from the project. The gallery also featured the photographs of Pilar Bonnin, a photographer based in Manila and Siargao, and featured the film “New Religion – A Life of Ocean” of filmmaker, Gaps Sabuero.

“Mountain Dew is honored to have worked with ReMaker Space and Rise Siargao for this project. This initiative has allowed us to meaningfully contribute to the recovery of a nature paradise and one of our country’s most popular adventure playgrounds, while staying true to our brand promise of fuelling crew adventures.” says Gutzee Segura, PepsiCo’s CSD Marketing Lead in the Philippines. 

“We really appreciated the concept of these Re-Dew Scrapboards because they are made from upcycled materials like plastic bottles and scrap wood that would be otherwise left to waste. It intermarries the idea of hope and sustainability for coastline communities like Siargao.” says Jhet Discher, Project Manager from ReMaker Space. 

“The creatives were inspired by the beauty and spirit of Siargao. We wanted to use design to honor the surfing community’s story of recovery. We’re grateful for the opportunity to have worked with our partners at Mountain Dew, who share the same passion for supporting all kinds of adventure and creativity for good.” says Nikki Sunga, Creative Director at BBDO Guerrero.

The Scrapboards, fins, and other surf-inspired pieces were handed over to Rise Siargao – an NGO that helps rebuild homes for victims of super typhoon Odette, and ReMaker Space— a facility that uses upcycling machines on recovered plastic wastes for sustainable solutions.