Overworked? Sleep-deprived? You might actually be falling apart. Stresstabs’ bold new campaign, “Ibalik ang Nawalang Ikaw,” or Bring yourself back together in English, takes the invisible toll of stress and makes it strikingly – and hilariously – visible.
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.
In the film, we meet Jemerlyn, a Filipino office worker whose day is so tough, long, and stressful that she’s literally whittled down to nothing but an arm and a hand. The weird visual is a relatable metaphor for the way stress depletes the body’s essential nutrients.
The twist? After taking a pill of Stresstabs, a construction crew barges into her room — armed with the nuts and bolts representing Vitamins E and C, Iron, and Niacinamide — to rebuild her piece by piece. The result: Jemerlyn feels whole again, ready to take on the day.
Making the invisible visible
With 87% of Filipino workers reporting job-related stress according to a recent study by AXA, Stresstabs’ striking campaign definitely hits close to home.
Dr. Shiro Ann Noda, Medical and Scientific Affairs Manager at Haleon, Stresstabs’ parent company, explains the science behind the campaign’s message.
“Vitamins and minerals, along with a healthy and balanced diet as well as regular exercise, are essential for your mind and body to always perform at their best. And stress isn’t just a heavy cloud that weighs on your mind—it depletes these very nutrients your body needs,” she says. “Stresstabs is designed to help replenish the lost nutrients that stress takes away.”
A creative shakeup in consumer health advertising
Typical vitamin ads often lean on generic smiles, lab coats, beauty shots, and direct before-and-after imagery, but with this campaign, Stresstabs goes the other way.
This film blends emotional storytelling with a touch of absurd humor, tapping into the lived reality of modern Filipino workers, freelancers, and side-hustlers with a tale that easily resonates with many people’s daily lives.
“With so many Filipinos overworked and under-rested, we wanted to help them understand what stress is really doing to their bodies—and how they can fight back,” says Rein Locsin, Stresstabs Brand Manager.
The film’s creative direction flirts with surreal visuals, making it impossible to forget – and perfect for a generation that loves content with an edge.
“We wanted to visually capture what people already feel — that stress is breaking them. And we wanted them to know—there’s a way to rebuild,” says Dani Rodelas, Senior Digital Marketing Manager. “Who says pharma ads have to be boring?”
Don’t let stress break you apart–take Stresstabs today.
