When you describe yourself as a 'fan,' it may mean that you are devoted or have that special bond with a particular item or can be a movie or sports or even a person or group.
For Shem (32 yrs old), "To be a fan is to be a member of a community. A family." From its dictionary meaning, to be a part of this subset of a community- also called a fandom- means that you become a member of a group with a shared love for a particular interest. Be it food or pop culture, fandom behavior has spanned generations, but it continues to live until now, though in different shapes and forms.
For Shem, she's been a fan of Harry Potter since she first laid eyes on the book and then watched the movies. From thereon, she started collecting Harry Potter merch and even visits Harry Potter studios and such. And even if she has now a daughter daughter of her own, Harry Potter's adventures and going to a magical school remains close to her heart.
"It's a little bit different for me because I grew up reading the book and it's part of my childhood. There are fans who are so dedicated they really keep up to date with everything. I consider myself lowkey simply because I feel like Harry Potter is just part of me- not a trend or something that will pass," explained Shem. "Whenever I have a chance, I make sure to visit Harry Potter-related studios. I still find myself fan-girling when I see items dedicated to it. I buy merch. I guess no amount of adulting will ever erase your love for the book if you are a true blue fan. If I can explain it using a different analogy, it's like having your favorite ice cream flavor when you were a child. You might have grown up, but it still brings you joy."
Felma, on the other hand is a 27 year old who is a fangirl of several KPop groups, and considers herself a poster child of a modern fan. "I've attended several concerts, bought albums, collected photocards, and the like. I think it's just part of the culture of being a KPop fan. There is no shortage of materials for consumption and it's so easy to connect with others with the same interest, so the community is really alive."
"It's not my first time being a fan din. Before, I used to fangirl a lot sa Western boy groups. I made so many friends during my elementary days because of it. Now, it still feels like you are a part of a community. Nag-iba lang yun interest," added Felma. "What I can say though is that once you find your favorite or bias, as we call it in the fandom community, you will stay loyal to it talaga. Different flavors, but same level of dedication and love."
Meanwhile, for twenty-nine year old Joshua, he reconnected with his love for Gundam just two years ago. As a child, he grew up watching the anime TV series Gundam. But it was his gf who ignited his passion for it when she gave him a random box to experiment with. From that one box, he now has a shelf full of models that he has assembled, and even has a dedicated socmed account for his collections and also as a way to connect with other Gundam fans.
"I like the feeling of creating something from scratch. It's the process for me. Also, it's pretty cool to see that other people appreciate what you do, kahit di mo sila kilala."
So what is the common factor between Shem, Felma, and Joshua? For them, it's all about connecting with other people, getting in touch with your childhood, and staying loyal to what you love while creating new memories.
"It's similar to when you enjoy your favorite childhood treat," explains Shem. "You love it when you're young because it brings you happiness and even as you grow up, you still find new ways to appreciate and enjoy it. It's like your comfort food."
All three agree that ice cream might be one of the best example of an iconic comfort food. Spanning generations, the icy treat is something that young and old enjoy equally. These three fans, in particular, share another similarity beyond just being a part of fandom culture: they all love Oreo Ice Cream.
Known as the brand of iconic cookies, Oreo has now set the gold standard for cookies and cream flavor in the world of iced sweets. "I have a sweet tooth talaga. I love Oreo kasi super fun yung the way you eat it. Meron silang twist, lick, and dunk commercials, right? But I'm a big fan of ice cream kahit noong bata pa ako so I remember, when Oreo Ice Cream was first introduced, talagang hinanap ko talaga so I can try," shares Felma.
"When I was younger, I wasn't allowed to eat too many sweets. Naalala ko, pag may natira sa baon ko, sa ice cream talaga ako nag-splurge," said Joshua. "So when I got older and had my own money, I made sure to indulge. Oreo Ice Cream is my favorite because it's creamy and I love the crunch of the little cookies."
"I'm a mom now and I can say Oreo Ice Cream is one of the favorites of my daughter. She's a big fan, so much that we made it as a sort of reward for her every time she does well at school," added Shem. "I love that for her kasi, the same way that I had something reminiscent of my childhood- I love the cookies- I know she'll have Oreo Ice Cream as that for her, too. Parang you're making a new tradition, ika nga."
Similar to fandom culture, Oreo has mastered the art of creating a loyal following for its flavors, thanks to the masterful way it plays with the concepts of 'new' and 'nostalgic.' Iconic for its cookies as it already is, the brand has sustained being a favorite of many by creating other ways to enjoy it.
Oreo Ice Cream is currently available in 1-liter tun, pint, cone, and sandwich ice cream versions. Similar to fans that come in different forms, anyone can surely find a favorite in the way they can enjoy this iconic treat.
You can grab your Oreo Ice Cream treat from leading supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.