Ex-FCB affiliate links up as TBWA Philippine shop

<p>MANILA: TBWA has signed up a Philippine partner, the former FCB </p><p>affiliate Santiago & Puno, which lured ex-Ace Saatchi & Saatchi </p><p>vice-president and executive creative director Melvin Mangada to add his </p><p>name to the shop. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Mangada, who was with Saatchis for 14 years, joined the group after it </p><p>became evident that TBWA would merge with the agency and incorporated </p><p>Santiago Manganda & Puno. The agency will join TBWA in June. The plan is </p><p>to develop the Philippine operation to absorb clients such as Nissan, </p><p>Apple, Sony Play Station, Absolut and Seagram. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>TBWA/SMP managing partner, Jaime Santiago, said: "We have been operating </p><p>as a TBWA agency since late last year." According to Mangada, the </p><p>agreement will allow the Manila shop to work with the agency's global </p><p>clients. "This is why I left Saatchi. I wanted the challenge of </p><p>establishing a small firm into a global network backed up by a good </p><p>creative shop." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The venture is now preparing to align Sony and Apple as both accounts </p><p>have yet to be included on its roster. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>