GSM honors Filipino spirit, frontliners, and freedom

This year's annual Ginumanfest organized by Ginebra San Miguel in time for World Gin Day took time to pay tribute to the Filipino spirit and frontliners fighting the health pandemic.

Streamed live on Facebook on Saturday night, June 20, basketball stars, popular OPM bands and some candidates of Miss Universe Philippines pageant offered a toast to freedom, frontliners and the Filipino spirit during the "One Ginebra Nation" online concert.

For Filipinos, drinks are meant to be shared and enjoyed with friends. This same feeling of camaraderie, friendship, togetherness and unity is what Ginebra San Miguel aims to cultivate further as it celebrates World Gin Day as One Gin Nation.

Some of the basketball stars who graced the online event were Mark Caguioa, Scottie Thompson, L.A. Tenorio, Joe Devance, and Japeth Aguilar. The three-hour show was hosted by DJ CJ and DJ Suzy. It was also broadcast on Magic 89.9 FM. More than 3,000 people watched the live online concert.

Musical performances were rendered by OPM bands December Avenue, Silent Sanctuary, and Banda ni Kleggy. Jamming with them for special numbers were 2020 Calendar Girl Sanya Lopez and actress Sue Ramirez.

Now in its 12th year, World Gin Day was founded by British blogger Neil Houston and is celebrated every 2nd Saturday of June. What started as a day to bring his friends together to drink gin has grown into a worldwide celebration. Aside from the Philippines, World Gin Day events were also held in the UK, Australia and the US.

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) is the producer of the world’s no. 1 selling gin Ginebra San Miguel and other quality liquor products including GSM Premium Gin, GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, Antonov Vodka, Vino Kulafu, Don Enrique Tequila, Añejo Gold Medium Rum and Primera Light Brandy.

The story of Ginebra San Miguel is the story of a drinking culture that began on March 10, 1834. From its humble beginnings in a small distillery in Quiapo, Manila, Ginebra San Miguel, the first-ever gin in the Philippines, was initially produced to cater to the affluent and colonial elite who stayed on in Manila and later shared with other wealthy Filipinos. Back then, Ginebra San Miguel was bottled in 20-liter glass jars wrapped in rattan weave called the dama juana.

The brand, already an award winner as early as the late 19th century, became the most sought-after liquor drink by Filipinos. As Ginebra San Miguel grew in demand, it also became more affordable to the working class Filipino when it was bottled in 1 liter glass containers called the frasco.

Along with modernization and improvements in production technology, Ginebra San Miguel introduced in the 1950s the image of St. Michael the Archangel vanquishing the devil, painted by Fernando Amorsolo (who would become the first National Artist), in its Bilog and Kwatro Kantos bottles.

Since its creation, Ginebra San Miguel has been a witness to the changes that shaped and defined the Philippines. It has withstood the test of time, the challenges of war, the transitions of governments, and even technological developments. Ginebra San Miguel evolved from being a drink of the elite to winning the hearts and taste buds of the masses. 

Today, Ginebra San Miguel is considered as one of the country’s most respected and iconic brands and has become part of Philippine history, culture and tradition. - Robert R. Requintina