HAVING a strong mind and body can get you far in life.

This is what the latest television vignettes of Bear Brand’s "Laki sa Gatas" seek to communicate by featuring the inspiring stories of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, beauty queen Precious Lara Quigaman, and world-class writer and professor Wendell Capili.

In the TV ad, they tell how they achieved their dreams through hard work and determination and with the help of a strong body and mind resulting from drinking milk.

Vice Mayor Isko Moreno grew up in poverty, but he never made this an excuse to overlook his health. He says that his family’s social situation at that time did not hinder him from acquiring proper nutrition.

"Kahit mahirap lang kami noon, sa tuwing may pagkakataon, umiinom ako ng gatas," the actor-politician says, adding that it was his mother who encouraged him and his siblings to drink milk to boost their resistance.

Moreno is never ashamed to say that he used to push carts and gather garbage to make ends meet.

This, however, did not hinder him from dreaming big. He was discovered by a talent scout, and soon became part of the youth-oriented talent and variety show "That’s Entertainment" and eventually became popular in show business.

In spite his success as an actor, Moreno knew that he could do so much more so he ran for a post in the Manila City Council and eventually won. He served his constituents for nine years before finally becoming Vice Mayor of the City of Manila. He is currently taking up law studies in Arellano University and appears in the TV show "Ligaw na Bulaklak."

Another successful personality who cites milk drinking habit as the source of her healthy mind and body is beauty queen and actress Precious Lara Quigaman.

"My mom made sure that I always drink milk. She knew na iba talaga ang laki sa gatas, may tibay ng katawan at isipan at may mararating sa buhay," says the former promo girl who became the nation’s fourth Miss International titlist in 2005.

Lara shares that her mother used to be a market vendor before becoming an OFW like her father, who was a construction worker. Her family then moved abroad when she was still young.

Lara likewise shares that she worked as a promotional model and joined various TV beauty contests while studying. She attended University of Sto. Tomas and later transferred to Filton College in England where she took up Media Production and Communications.

Growing up from a simple family in Sampaloc, Manila, Cambridge-educated professor Wendell Capili had always dreamed of becoming a renowned writer and educator.

He relates that his mother knew that his chance of achieving his big dreams would be better if he was properly nourished with the help of milk.

"Pinalaki ako sa gatas ng aking nanay. Kaya naman, bata pa lang ako, meron na akong lakas resistensiya para maabot ang aking pangarap," says Capili.

Considered as one of the most talented writers of his generation, he has attended different prestigious schools as a scholar in and out of the country including the University of Cambridge, University of Tokyo, and Australian National University.

Capili has four books "A Madness of Birds," "Bloom and Memory," "Mabuhay to Beauty" (as editor), and "From the Editors: Migrant Communities and Emerging Australian Literature" (as editor).

"Laki sa Gatas" is Bear Brand’s nutrition education campaign that encourages Filipinos to drink at least two glasses of milk everyday.

The new "Laki sa Gatas" vignettes were produced by Chris Cahilig Consultancy and directed by Jay Altarejos.