PRESS RELEASE: Something B’lue, something new

It’s been a month since the school year began. There’s no denying that everybody gets some sort of back-to-school jitters, along with the strangely unsettling feeling of settling into the term. From anxious and excited frosh slowly getting the hang of life in Taft, to upperclassmen seeking something out of the ordinary routine, everyone’s looking for a break in the monotonous cycle of college.

Last week, the usual green and white halls of De La Salle University welcomed hues of something very blue and definitely new.

Constant conversations

On September 15 and 16, the breezy Henry Sy grounds saw clusters of students huddling together in the B’lue Water Philippines pop up booths. In front of a big B’lue billboard, students could send messages to their friends on tablets and leave doodles on a freedom board. On the opposite end, there stood the B’lue vendo machine. Unlike ordinary vending machines that accept cash, the interactive vendo accepted selfies as a form of currency instead.

Students got a kick out of the concept as they took pictures of themselves and posted them online with the hashtag “#DLSUFullyAliveWithBlue”. The smart machine would then come to life and roll out bottles of the refreshing drink. It complimented passersby and caught the attention of onlookers too; starting conversations on a screen like, “Hello, guy in white” and “Nice green backpack”.

“When my blockmates and I saw it, I instantly got excited and asked how to get the drink,” says Vanessa Ong (I-BS MGT) who was just one among the hundreds of students who participated in this treat. After the freshman block snapped a couple of selfies and posted it to Instagram, “We all chose the lychee flavor,” she recollects. “When I drank it, I immediately loved it and I was so amazed it tasted delicious and I had to keep drinking it,” Vanessa adds.

While some bonded over the selfies, others found the B’lue vendo itself more captivating. “Oh it was a nice experience,” Tim Ngo (IV-BSME) says laughing as he recalls his encounter with the talking vendo machine. “We talked to the person trapped inside pa. It was something really different, you don’t see this everyday,” he explains. Altogether everyone had a blast—a drink in one hand and an encounter to smile about in the other.

Stationed against the row of green benches and stone tables along SJ Walk were two eye-catching B’lue benches. Curious students sat on each bench in groups of threes and a surprise would instantly shoot out from the side—bottles of the water-based drink in orange, lychee, and a local favorite, calamansi. But the fun didn’t end just yet. The mix between students, strangers, or long time friends, and the quirky bench stirred up the most random conversations about anything and everything hilarious and even a bit intriguing. Little had anyone known they were voiced by SPIT, Manila’s acclaimed improv group.

Making waves

B’lue also left surprises in some of the lockers around campus. From little notes to tablets and USBs, these prizes and installations were all part of the brand’s advocacy to bring people together and embrace life. The immersive activities gave students something to be excited about. Just in time for the UAAP season, comments about showing Animo pride flooded online as Lasallians fondly completed the phrase, “You know you’re in Lasalle when…” Safe to say, B’lue made a splash in the green and white community.

Celebrating the movement, Live to Feel, B’lue encourages our generation to experience life and to take in every memory and feeling. Undoubtedly new memories were made during the two-day visit, which quenched the thirst for the extraordinary in student life and gave everyone that healthy dose of laughter in the middle of a regular school week. We’re looking forward to making more waves with B’lue.

You can grab a bottle of B’lue water based drink in all three flavors, orange, lychee, and calamansi at supermarkets and convenience stores around Metro Manila.