Stresstabs’ new ad campaign blends emotional storytelling with a touch of absurd humor and weird visuals, tapping into the lived reality of modern Filipino workers, freelancers, and side-hustlers.
Overworked? Running on three hours of sleep? Feel like you’re falling apart? Stresstabs’ bold new campaign, Ibalik ang Nawalang Ikaw (Bring Yourself Back Together), doesn’t just talk about stress—it shows it in the most unforgettable way.
The film introduces us to Jemerlyn, a frazzled office worker whose brutal day has literally whittled her down to nothing but an arm and a hand. The bizarre but hilarious image is a metaphor for how stress silently drains your body of the nutrients it needs.
The turning point comes when Jemerlyn takes Stresstabs. Suddenly, a construction crew storms in—armed with nuts and bolts symbolizing Vitamins E and C, Iron, and Niacinamide—and begins rebuilding her piece by piece. By the end, she’s whole again, ready to face the grind.
Making stress visible
With 87% of Filipino workers reporting job-related stress, according to a study by AXA, this campaign couldn’t hit closer to home.
“Stress isn’t just a heavy cloud that lingers in your head—it also depletes the essential nutrients your body needs,” says Dr. Shiro Ann Noda, Medical and Scientific Affairs Manager at Haleon, Stresstabs’ parent company. “Stresstabs helps replenish those nutrients so you can keep performing at your best.”
Unlike typical vitamin ads that stick to generic smiles, white coats, and beauty shots, Stresstabs leans into surreal visuals and tongue-in-cheek humor. It’s a fresh approach that resonates with modern Filipino workers, freelancers, and side hustlers who know all too well the grind of being overworked and under-rested.
“With so many Filipinos pushed to their limits, we wanted to show—visually and emotionally—how stress breaks you down and how you can rebuild,” says Rein Locsin, Stresstabs Brand Manager.
The result? A campaign that’s impossible to forget and perfect for an audience that craves content with a bit of edge.
Don’t let stress take you apart—take Stresstabs and put yourself back together.