“Our new realities may be uncertain, but we face the challenges that come with the new normal. Getting an unprecedented participation of entries last year was encouraging and awe-inspiring – proof that the brand-building community remains resilient and will continue coming up with out-of-the-box and impactful campaigns despite the hurdles of the times. This year, we continue to recognize creativity and innovation at its finest,” shares Ken Lerona, PANAta Awards 2021 chair.
The Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) just launched its PANAta Awards 2021, the country’s annual recognition program for effective and creative marketing communication campaigns, continuing its legacy of celebrating brands which have made a difference.
This year’s PANAta Awards theme is “Hilaraya”, a portmanteau of the Tagalog words hila, which means “to pull”, and hiraya, meaning the “fruit of one's hopes, dreams and aspirations; rendered through a creative device of a spectrum where the myriad of colors representing various sectors of the industry meet at a certain point.
McDonald’s, and its creative agency Leo Burnett, once again dominated the stage during the 2019 PANAta Awards as the brand brought home a multitude of recognitions—including five Golds, four Silvers, three Bronzes, and three People’s Choice Awards. Amongst over 130 entries received, McDonald’s campaigns that were recognized for their excellence included “Hope for Marawi,” “Frymoji,” “Doodelivery,” “#WalangPasok Deals,” and “ShaGab Loves McDo.” 
