No doubt, if you’re living in the Philippines or you surf a lot of Pinoy blogs or YouTube, you’ve come across that TV commercial, “Makulay ang Buhay sa Sinabawang Gulay” featuring child actors (Sharleen, Aaron and Nash, eh who?) getting jiggy with the tasty and healthy virtues of Knorr seasoning in vegetable soup. And maybe you’re thinking, “Gah, another lame me-too bandwagon post. Been there, done that! Wait… I don’t recall two fat cats and a red bowl in the ad. What is this tomfoolery?” 
Sure, the ad has a catchy yet annoying tune… brainwashing kids into eating more vegetables. Good, right? No, I say! Knorr is bent on getting li’l Sharleen, Aaron & Nash addicted to a white powdery substance… MSG! Take a stand! Just say no!
Makulay ang Buhay sa Sinabawang Gulay = M S G! Evil subliminal message?
First, they get ‘em hooked on MSG and before you know it, Sharleen’s doing booze, crack, tricks and hardcore porn. At the end of the day, don’t we all believe the children are our future? Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Because the greatest love of all is teaching kids this: Whitney Houston = your brain on drugs! 
You just know this post is off to a bad start… when I’m recycling my jokes.
First, I apologize for not replying to the comments with questions for this previous entry. I’ve been on a weeklong semi-hiatus. I am back and I will sift through the interesting ones with questions I have chosen to answer. I’ve had… a weeklong headache… not caused by MSG. Oxygen deprivation. Events in my life are sucking all the air out of me, hence lack of food porn.
Now, I don’t know the Knorr bouillon cube flavour promoted in the ad, but if it’s anything like most Knorr seasonings (yes, even Vegetarian Vegetable Bouillon), it’s got the Holy Trinity of Knorr ingredients: Salt, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and Disodium Inosinate. Mmmm, umami salty goodness. But is MSG, also known as Ajinomoto (a Japanese company trafficking 33% of the world’s MSG crack), Vetsin, Betsin, or Accent, bad for us? Well, let’s quote a Pinoy doctor’s opinion, hmm? Philip S. Chua, M.D. wrote that MSG:
“… could cause a condition known as “Chinese Food Syndrome”, which could sometimes mimic a heart attack. It causes chest pains, facial pressure, and burning sensations throughout the body, sometimes with dizziness or fainting, which are mostly temporary. This phenomenon is a pharmacologic reaction to [ MSG ], a popular white powder food seasoning used in cooking. The symptoms are not really due to an allergic reaction and is dose-related. Most people are not bothered by MSG, but some react to it more severely. Although death is very rare with this syndrome, a surgeon classmate of mine, who was attending a meeting in Nice, France, a few years ago, had so violent a reaction after ingesting food with [ MSG ] that he expired within an hour…”
Note, considerable scientific research has failed to prove any syndrome or any negative health effects related to MSG. But myth or not, for the love of humanity… why would you want to hurt li’l innocent Sharleen, huh?!
Down below, the original Knorr TV commercial featuring chubby, cherubic faced Campbell Soup Kids tripping in a multi-coloured Teletubby-like haze:
In my lame video, “Max the Fat Lazy Cat” (who is on a NEW DIET, BTW) and “Lucky the Beggar Cat” are tripping on vittles served in a “NO MSG NOODLE TiME ramen bowl”, which I’m sure will once again draw the ire of Humane Society / SPCA / PETA types, cat haters, vegetarians, everyone.
Because who doesn’t enjoy getting YouTube comments like, “Choke and die you motherf**ker!” FYI, I rarely feed Max. My parents dish it out. Blame them, not me.
For the benefit of my non-Filipino speaking readers, I’ve (mis) translated the lyrics to English. I apologize for screwing it up as Filipino is barely my 2nd language. My Filipino reading skills are almost non-existent (I studied it in Grade 1). I had to phonetically sound out every word. Painful. According to Alternati, the song title translates to, “Life is colorful… with vegetable broth.” My Mom argues that “broth” should be soup. And Marhgil sez it’s “Life is colorful on the swimming vegetable.” Swimming… uh-huh, OK. And I’m Canadian so I say “colorful” is spelled with a u as in: colourful.
Personally, I suspect Knorr might have an evolutionist-vegetarian in their marketing division. 1st draft: “Life swam out of colourful primordial soup.”
Life Is Colourful with Vegetable Broth (English translation)
Before, I never tried to taste vegetables
I always avoided it
But I found that vegetables are delicious
If you put them in soup
*Chorus:
Colourful (colourful)
Life is (life is)
Life is colourful
With vegetable broth
Vegetable broth, so delicious
Every slurp is full of joy
Vegetable broth, good to savour
I got stronger, I can do anything
*Chorus
Broth is just so healthy
Add Knorr with vegetables, we’re so very happy
We’re getting so better at school and play
So let’s all slurp some now
*Chorus (repeat twice)
LINK LOVE TIME (say that twice like the Teletubbies):
- Many thanks to Muhammad who nominated fruityoaty as one of the The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2007! If you have a blog and you want to say, “I heart you fruityoaty”, you have 2 weeks left to join Janette Toral’s contest! I’m currently tied for 6th place after 9 weeks. Your blog entry could win 1 of 10 US $$$100 prizes!
- Paolo Mendoza @ KHOOPS.com who named dropped me as one of the “so cool” blogs he stalks. I dig his inclusion of these lovely folks on his list: Zerovoltage, Kubi, Lei, Joyfulchicken, Gibbs Cadiz, REX, Queer Chef, and especially Jigs who is currently my #1 Commenter in the Last 30 Days. Check my sidebar for my Top 10 hollerers.
- Congrats (haha) to Slim whale for submitting the 1,500th comment on my blog! He wrote, “Reading your blog felt like talking to you at Starbucks. Quite an engaging style.” ( I feel rather sheepish… Lovely words from someone who is truly a terrific writer… And I do mean a blogger who can really string words beautifully. Me… I just stream the cacophony of strange voices in my head — no structure.
)
Wow… 1,511 comments (39 are mine). Thank you, everyone! 
Adieu,
fruity cube
You make me laugh with this post. Conspiracy theory, anyone? :0
Hi MASSA P, thanks for the link love! You know I dig your blog, too!
And that of Paolo, of course. Ain’t he a blast, haha. 
No to MSG and yes to link love! Yay!
True story: I know this middle-aged guy who was so worried about his blood pressure that he banned salt from his home. Of course, his salt-free food tasted like paper. So he started to use Knorr seasoning, which happens to contain both salt and MSG… oops. This went on for a few weeks, until his wife noticed and made him read the label on the bottle.
He’s back to using plain old evil salt now.
Do they really think brainwashing kids with that kind of commercial will make them eat vegetables? Not even I, grown up and vegetarian find vegetables tasty and that commercial didn’t in any way change my mind.
MSG huh? I’ve never heard about it. Ever. I guess everything kills you nowadays. To be healthy nowadays, I guess you have to breed your own cattle and grow your own vegetables, indoors, so the pollution doesn’t rain down over them.
Oh my, I can’t believe you translated that jingle to English! It’s hilarious.
That song got sort of stuck in my head from the first day I heard it. Ugh. I have to cover my ears whenever I hear it hoping I could last a day without it reverberating inside my head. Lol.
Wow. I just realized that Makulay Sinabawang Gulay stands for MSG. Basically we have given up MSG (Ajinimoto) 10 years ago… here at home. (Although we get doses of it when we eat out and whenever we munch on chips, but at least…)
Funny vid. NO MSG. Yes… say NO TO MSG, hehe.
Max is cuter than ever.
So is Lucky your cat too?
The closest I get to MSG a.k.a. “Chinese Food Syndrome” is the shifting of my center of gravity to my lower lip, thus starting a head bobbing action accompanied by sleepiness.
Your link love feels so good, thanks.
Hahaha! Vetsin pala pinopromote nila dun.
Tama, no to MSG! Thanks for quoting my translation, hehehe.
HAHAHAHA. I have a ring tone of that song and I’m using it to annoy my officemates because the song keeps on getting stuck in our heads and we end up singing it all day. This post is just so hilarious, I’m going to send it to them. :))
This video is everywhere! The second one, I mean. First of all, I think our food’s got MSG, and I admit, it is a little bit yummier but my mom’s discouraging it now though. Just can’t help it, I guess. I’m gonna die a young age with all the MSG, caffeine, tobacco and iPod earphones. Hahahaha.
Omg, I think I have Chinese Food Syndrome…
Absolutely brilliant!! Got to send this to everyone I know!!
Keep em coming!!!!
This is funny. Yeah, foods with (lots of) MSG is really delicious, but there are side effects. Now, I’m wondering why it’s not yet banned.
The English translation was hilarious, mas maganda na yung Tagalog version.
Hehehehe! Our family is proud to cook without MSG since time immemorial.
Max owns, on so many levels of cat. Does that even make sense? The picture of him with the bowl on his head should be the new face of an MSG-free Knorr. I was wondering who the black cat was until you clarified. That’s how we got Billy who looks just like Lucky… Maybe it’s a black cat thing to beg?
Good luck fending off those loathsome vegetarian PETA cat haters (
) on YouTube.
I’ve heard about MSG, but it’s never really affected me? I don’t like salt whatsoever, I think it drowns out the flavour of food. Or maybe that’s just my parents way of cooking ( they by comparison love salt
).
Take care!
Oh my gosh, to be honest, I have not seen this commercial before in my life.
I don’t watch TV unless it’s tuned in to one of the TV series I watch occasionally. Hehe, what a hermit noh?
Max is so cute! And yeah as much as possible, no to MSG!
Max is so entertaining! Hahaha! I love the picture with a bowl on his head! I think I’m allergic to MSG. I always get headaches if the meal contains MSG. Even bouillon cubes have MSG! Convenience can really be deadly in so many ways.
The translation was hilarious! Do you remember when bubble gang WAS funny and Michael V translated popular English songs word for word! Haha!
OMG! MSG! We always add MSG into our food. Can’t live without it, I guess…
What happened to all that talk about food? Lol.
This entry, like all your others, cracked me up.
Nice topic of conversation though, it’s a keeper.
I was just talking to hubby about the headaches I get after eating food with MSG in it… YUCK. It’s funny the crap people can actually get by with putting in food that we eat. *rolls eyes*
I always love to see anything regarding your fat cat Max. I am not a cat person, but seeing him makes me want to have one and fatten that cat!
I use sugar instead of MSG. When I cook, I usually add some sugar like half a teaspoon.
Okay, what kind of song / jingle is that anyway? Haha. Well, can’t blame them for trying to be creative.
Maraming salamat sa pagbati! Advance happy anniversary sayo!
The song “Itaktak Mo” also kinda refers to Ajinomoto. Methinks MSG is the fuel of Asian countries.
Hey, that song is pretty catchy. The lyrics are so cheesy though. I wonder how successful that commercial is in getting kids to eat vegetables.
LOL, MSG! A lot of Chinese food has MSG in it. I don’t think it’s really known how bad it is for us. Most restaurants still continue to use it.
LMAO, this is a really funny entry. I never expected someone would actually dissect that song about broth cubes. MSG. Yuck. Now kids here will demand Knorr on their veggies.
Wow, that’s a really, really happy song.
Hmm… Max and Lucky seemed to like whatever you put in their noodle bowls. LOL! Neat… hmm… and no animals were abused when you made that video, right?
Keep the pics & vids of Max / Lucky coming. And oh yeah, more food pictures please!!!!!!!!!!!!
My friends are crazy about this song. Haha! Personally I don’t like Knorr in my food. Too much preservatives and as much as possible, I avoid them.
Wow! That was fun, hehe… Kudos to Knorr for coming up with such a catchy song. And I must say, your cats are cute. Hmm, why do I have this sudden urge to eat sinabawang gulay for lunch today?
God. I didn’t even know those kids had names.
Believe it or not, this is the first time I have ever seen and heard that commercial! I’ve always heard people got LSS because of that jingle and I couldn’t relate, hehe. Anyway, it’s cute!
I’ve always told my mother to stop using “vetsin” on any of our food because that’s bad for us. Well, what can I say, some things are really hard to unlearn…
I don’t think anything is safe to eat anymore, seriously. Between the stuff they give to animals to make them bigger and the sprays they use on the plants, nothing is really safe to eat. The saddest part is they don’t care. It’s all about money when it comes down to it. It’s a sad world.
Whether it’s promoting MSG or not, we just have to admit it caught our attention, right?
The jingle is torture, it traumatizes. Whoever wrote the lyrics and music must sure have a way of torturing us. Just like the Rejoice commercial, both just repeat and repeat in our brains.
Now that I think about it, your mom is right. Vegetable broth is soup made from vegetables… but “sinabawang gulay” is vegetables in soup… Anyhoo… Vegetable broth sounds phonetically better in the translation! Hehehe…
The (M)akulay ang Buhay sa (S)inabawang (G)ulay = MSG is genius! I never thought of it that way.
Sure, the ad can get infuriating when you’ve heard it for the Nth time but I must say, for the first time in a long time, a commercial has had a positive influence on children. My niece and nephew are eating vegetables like rabbits lately. We used to need IVs to feed it to them.
Ahaha… we made all our male groupmates wear vegetable cutouts and dance to this for a presentation in pharma.
Ack two weeks left? Damn… it shall be my first entry after my evals tomorrow. I should be studying, but right now anything is more interesting than drugs and bacteria.
Your site rocks. Love your blogs.
WAHAHAHAHA! OMG, that commercial went as far as Canada? I swear, that jingle could poison your head. Hear it once, and it just plays in your head all day, it’s crazy.
My kids love the commercial but man, it’s like 3 million years long, sooo long you forget that you’re actually watching a show after it has been aired. And you should see the promotional booths Knorr built in supermarkets. There would be at least 3 promotional people dancing to the jingle over and over and over… Creepy man!
I like the analysis that you did, MSG. That’s very keen of you to notice.
SANCTIFYINGMOTHEROFCHRIST, no wonder those kids are so freakin’ high! They’ve been overdosed with that white crystalline substance. And what’s next, human zombies draped in curtains while humming “The Sound of Music”? Argh.
Hey, fruity! I just finished my Top Ten Emerging Blogs list and guess who’s in it! Hahaha!
It was a long time coming! Hahaha!
Haha! The Sinabawang Gulay craze lives on!
Nice conspiracy theory! I’ve noticed that you left the letter B though. Haha! Anyway, it’s still a fun read!
Wow. I never would’ve thought about the MSG thing. Love the site, by the way.
MSG can cause cancer ?.?.?
This commercial sure is as deceiving as those infant formula milk.
I’ve seen bits of the video before. I thought it was cute. I didn’t realize it was an ad. The tune is so catchy, I bet it’s very popular in the Philippines.
Only fruityoaty could connect Makulay ang Buhay sa Sinabawang Gulay to MSG.
But yeah, I agree with you — MSG is NOT GOOD for our bodies.
NO TO MSG…YES TO FRUITYOATY!!!
MSG is a sin! But I still love it.
I don’t care what they do, they’ll not get kids to eat their veggies!
The video was hilarious, thanks for sharing.
Nope, I’m not the same Morgan as the one from heartbot.illicit-love.org. XD It’s not a very common name though, is it?
Oh my god, I feel like I’m living in another planet! Believe it or not, I haven’t seen this damn commercial yet! (Maybe because you don’t watch TV, you idiot.) Sorry, that was my foul-mouthed alter ego speaking. Shut it, you!
I hate MSG. We don’t use it at home and I prefer eating at restos that claim they don’t use it. But of course, there’s no way of knowing. As to these kids, well, they’ll turn out to be drug junkies anyway, so, let’s train them young (kidding).
Wow, such an honor to be the 1,500th person to comment here! And thanks for the kind words.
I really wonder what goes on in ppls heads when they come up with certain commercials.
That commercial implies that it’s not the vegetables that are yummy — it’s Knorr. *sigh* Oh well. Makes me wonder what future advertisements will be up to.
Hello there! You have a great blog. I love it!
Saw your link in the Top 10 Influential Blogs and got curious. Well, you deserve to be recognized! You write well. More power!
Lol! I first came across Makulay ang Buhay ad at “Heneroso Bistokya” blog. Then I started singing! It’s a viral jingle!
Kiss
Fendi
During the Taste Asia event, they kept on talking about that Makulay ang Buhay stuff. I just smiled because truth is, I had absolutely NO IDEA what they were talking about!
In fact, I don’t think I’ve even seen that ad! I do watch a lot of TV, but mostly on cable channels. The only programs I watch on local TV are the news & current affairs ones. Still, I’m surprised that I don’t know what that ad is. I don’t even know the kids you’re talking about. Maybe they’re from ABS-CBN and the ad only airs there? Coz I only watch GMA7 (because it’s TEH authority when it comes to news broadcasting).
Whew. Glad I got that out. :p
Promoting MSG, LOL! Nice one. You’re a very observant person, Massa P That’s funny, har. Glad that I don’t know that ad though. I love veggies anyway.
Interesting blog.
Link exchange on my main site? pinayl0ve.com
I see that commercial on TFC all the time. Lol, my son loves it.
Those were some great videos.
Keep posting things that make me laugh, and I’ll keep coming back!
Congratulations kabayan - one of 2007’s Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs!
First of all, congrats for making it to the Top Ten.
Magaling akong buena mano. (Di ba dapat buena mana?)
As with the ad, I hear it over the radio at DZMM… lalo na pag si Neil Ocampo na ang sumasabay sa ad with his alter egos, nakakatuwa. Dun kasi sa kabila, si Rene Sta. Cruz ba yun(?), eh masyadong high blood sa umaga, pati si Mike Enriquez… nakakairita kahit matagal akong mairita. So pag radyo, Kapamilya… pag TV (which wala naman kami), Kapuso.
About MSG… yung tatay ng stepfather ko, nabuhay sa MSG… namatay at 98. Hindi makakain ng walang Ajinomoto yun. Pati ang asawa nya, 96 yata nung namatay. Basta over 90 yun. Ang step father ko, 68 namatay. Hindi kaya dahil ang mama ko, ayaw ng MSG samantalang gustong-gusto naman ng stepfather ko… eh sino nagluluto? Hanggang reklamo lang yung isa.
Yung mga Chinese, generally, mahahaba ang buhay ng mga yan…
Sino kaya ang pakikinggan ko?
Ito naman kaya ang tignan nyo…at wag bias ha…
http://www.msg.org.au/main.html
By the way, I’m thinking of holding a contest… paki-check nalang sa site ko… $200 ang first prize… up to ten prizes… Just look for the Contest link sa right side bar.
Interesting how commercials are done and the things people say. Very interesting videos. You have a very unique site.
Number 7 on the Top Ten Blogs, eh?! Whoo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I love your NEW emoticon set…
… especially: 
You really know how to play with us honey!
We miss you… please hit some new entry!
Kiss
Fendi
Dear Miss Kitty Fantastico. “You cannot have more catnip! You have a catnip problem.” (Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
P, what were you smoking when you wrote this? And what’s with the 2-week disappearing act? Jeez, EMO’ing through your blog music player again? How… dramatic. Bleah. Like, really.
MSG is unhealthy!! It’s a good thing you figured that subliminal message there… cuz most people wouldn’t even notice its existence in the commercial.
Hayy nakakamiss yung mga commercial sa Pilipinas.
Nakakabrainwash.
Ahehe, hey again!
I feel intimidated commenting here coz I feel like no one notices me, hahaha. Anyway, just joking. So yea, anyway I’ve seen that video and yea it was pretty catchy. The tune has a good beat and it makes you want to dance along with them… And yea MSG… no thanks. I need to be healthy and watch my BP… Oh man hypertension already at such a young age!
Yeah FruityOaty! Na check ko din yung list kung sinong twice nanalo! At ikaw yun! GRABEEEE! Kasali na sa top 10 emerging blogs, kasi pa sa 10 lucky winners! Weeeee!
I lurk around in my stalkerish
(?) way because I love your entries! And your cat’s über interesting. So expect my icon to often pop in your MyBlogLog. 
I’m off to find your Brat Pack entries now! Is St. Elmo’s Fire a John Hughes film? I haven’t seen that yet.
Wow! Congratulations for landing 7th in the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs and winning the $100 prize as well! Ain’t you very lucky? Well for winning the cash prize. Coz you really deserved to be in the Top 10! Congratulations again.
Oh yeah! Biggest congratulations to you. You nabbed the hundred dollars and the 7th spot! Will you spare us the hundred bucks instead?
That theme song rules! I’m gonna have it in my head ALL day now!
I am a food tech and I avoid MSG. Besides, we can get the glutamate in natural forms like tomato. I wish they would remove MSG.
Ah! That is ridiculous!
Gave me a good laugh, thanks, haha.
Hi po uli, ako po ung blogger na nasa Canada.
Thanx sa replya ha! 
Kakagawa ko lang po ng WordPress account. 
Yun nalang po ang ilink nyo. Thnx. Ingatz lagi.
Ew, veggies. I for one, only like broccoli and maybe sometimes carrots, but all that other stuff I won’t mess with it.
Those were some extremely fat cats. I’m tired of looking at cats now. We have wayyyyyy too many of them already in our house.
Ahahaha. That was so evil!
And you really translated it, huh?
BTW, congratulations for being one of the influential blogs. You really are. 
And woot, for the $100. Haha. Lucky you. Share your blessings, haha.
BTW, I closed Go Elyen. Please change your links if you have time. And I don’t know that you don’t understand Tagalog that much, hehe. My apologies if sometimes I comment here using the Filipino language. LOL. From now on, I won’t. It gives you hard time. TC!
I think it just goes to show that bad production turns good kids bad. I’m just glad I don’t have to watch it on my TV.
Hey fruity! No new post yet?!
Anyway, I just wanted to extend my congratulations for winning! You don’t have a tagboard, so I’ll just place my greetings here! Hehe!
Oh, no, this is like another one of those Asian commercials with little kids and a catchy song. IYAAAA! *Starts singing the Tarako Tarako song*
FRUITY, YOU’VE POISONED MY MIND!
@Mari: OK, I’m usually too lazy to reply to comments, but I must right now! Those Tarako girls are hilarious!
@Gean: Hi, thanks! PLEASE feel free to continue commenting in Tagalog… whatever makes you feel comfortable. I enjoy reading your blog and receiving comments from you. Well, I frequent sites written in Filipino for the purpose of improving my reading skills… One of the reasons WHY I lurk on your site.
@Rad: You’re welcome here on FruityOaty Island anytime! FYI, I’m an infrequent lazy blogger and I may not always reply to all comments, but I do visit my commenters’ sites as a rule… so expect me to visit your blog casbah. And St. Elmo’s Fire is a Joel Shumacher film… which I also enjoyed.
The People Eating Tasty Animals and my startup org — Vegetable Rights International — are appalled by this discriminatory display by Knorr!
I never thought anyone would pay that much attention to that song. Then again, I am one of the unfortunates who hears it daily… and no, I don’t watch TV. Would you believe everyone’s been singing that song???
Now, I wonder why do they call it “Chinese Food Syndrome.” Is it really related to their food? LOLz.
For “Reading Filipino Challenges”, let my blog serve that purpose. Nyehehe.
Happy Rakenrol Congratulations on your spot on the Top 10. Well-deserved. I also hardly made it in at #10. LOLz.
Linking you up on my blogroll. Rakenrol.
Wow! Natuwa naman ako sa English version! Wehehehe.
You’ve got an eye for mystery. Well, I was in the grocery yesterday and thought of visiting the stalls where MSGs are. And I’m surprised that the majority of seasoning products contain the highly debated three-character ingredient. Which means, sticking to eliminating the use of MSG is as good as removing my freedom of tasting good food. I guess the best measure to prevent harming one’s health is to control too much consumption.
Cheers to you fruityoaty! Congrats for being one of JT’s influential blog awardees.
This is truly a threat to our National Security!
Fear not, me and my fellow FBI agents are working on the case.
LOL @ your reference to subliminal messaging. But the campaign did get kids to eat their vegetables, at least a few I know of.
Just leave out the Knorr/MSG.
Hello hello. Congrats on winning the award and the $100!!! ;p Miss your posts. Hi hi.
Wow… I was reading your ‘About’ page… and I read that you’re a proud Fil-Can.
Niicee. 
They say MSG gives out bad side effects