Ogilvy: CIMB You-Sang, We-Sang

CMIB bank has decided on humour as the route to people’s hearts this Chinese, as it tells a story mocking the competitive claims over the origins of Yee Sang (or Yu Sheng) in its festive ad.

In a cinematic style, set stylishly in the 40s, the ad tells the story of an impeccable restauranteur that kept customers waiting with his attention to detail. The fable tells of a family who, in their rush to eat the delicious food, mixed together the ingredients the chef would painstakingly put together himself.

Yee Sang is a dish mostly eaten in South East Asia among the Chinese community during Chinese New Year. Each ingredient represents good luck in different areas of life and a ritual has developed around the creation, and eventual destruction, of the food and is now a core part of Chinese New Year celebrations for many.