Actress and social media personality Ashley Rivera was revealed as the 2026 calendar girl for White Castle Whisky during a launch program held on December 19 at Rampa Drag Club in Quezon City.
The liquor brand is known for its calendar tradition, widely regarded as the longest-running of its kind in the Philippines. Being chosen as a calendar girl has long been seen as a career milestone, with past muses including Evangeline Pascual, Lorna Tolentino, Techie Agbayani, Carmi Martin, Maria Isabel Lopez, Cristina Gonzales, and Glydel Mercado.
While public interest in the calendar waned for a time, it has experienced a quiet resurgence in recent years. The choice of calendar models has also evolved, reflecting changing tastes and attitudes—from Roxanne Guinoo and Ria Atayde to unexpected picks such as Ninong Ry, Sassa Girl, and Angelie “Pench” Andanar.
Brandon Jon Limpe-Aw, Vice President for Administration of Destileria Limtuaco—the country’s oldest existing distillery and the maker of White Castle Whisky—said the brand has consciously reimagined the calendar as more than a glamour or sexy platform.
“We try our best to leverage our calendars as a platform to raise social issues, such as LGBTQ rights, body positivity, and tattoo acceptance,” he said. “This time, we wanted to take a lighter approach. We wanted to go back to having a classic sexy endorser, but with a good sense of humor. We wanted to have an endorser that could emulate the persona of White Castle Whiskey, especially on social media.”
Limpe-Aw added that Rivera was a natural fit for the brand’s tone, especially online. “If you visit White Castle Whisky’s social media pages, you’ll see that the brand voice is very humorous. Most of our content are memes and funny videos, so we wanted an endorser with the same attitude and personality.”
Destileria Limtuaco Executive Vice President Aaron James Limpe-Aw echoed this direction, noting that the brand has shifted its messaging in recent years.
“Since 2020, we’ve really been trying to use our platform. Susubukan namin gamitin ‘yung (We’ll try to use the) platform of White Castle as a means to get out the message,” he said. “Right now, our message is more on how to find joy in the lighter moments. That’s why we have our White Castle Light. If you look at our social media pages, it’s really more about having fun in everyday life. So we find the most mundane things and we make light of it. So that’s what we’re trying to do. Previously, we tackled more serious issues. But right now, kasi we realized na not everything has to be serious. Sometimes people resonate with something more simple, more relatable. We’re all about having fun now, and that’s what you can expect from the brand… We’re going to continue to champion being lighthearted and being fun.”
Before entering mainstream television, Rivera built a following on TikTok and YouTube through her comedic persona, Petra Mahalimuyak. She then became a Sparkle GMA Artist talent and a regular cast member of the comedy sketch show Bubble Gang. In 2024, she co-launched the podcast “Chicks 2 Go” with fellow comedian and social media personality Hershey Neri, where they share humorous takes on everyday experiences and relationships.
Rivera is now adding being calendar girl to her growing list of career milestones. She cites actress and 1984 White Castle calendar girl Carmi Martin as an inspiration.
“I’m incredibly honored and thrilled,” Rivera gushed. “White Castle Whisky has such an iconic place in Filipino culture. To be chosen as the 2026 calendar girl feels surreal. I’ve been dreaming about this after being inspired by Tita Carmi Martin, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we created.”
The idea came to her when they were shooting an episode of the sitcom “Happy to Get Her” in Boracay with John Lloyd Cruz and Carmi Martin.
“Tapos sabi nila ulitin natin ‘yung White Castle mo. So doon ako nagka-idea. Sabi ko, oo nga, napaka-classic, napaka-iconic. Sabi ko, oo nga no, kasi not everyone gets the chance or the opportunity to be calendar girl. So na-mention ko lang siya, and I didn’t know na ‘yun pala ‘yung magiging isa sa reason kung bakit ko nakuha itong project na ‘to (Then they said, let’s bring back your White Castle look. That’s when the idea came to me. I thought, yes—it’s so classic, so iconic. Not everyone gets the chance or the opportunity to be a calendar girl. I just mentioned it casually, and I didn’t know that it would end up being one of the reasons why I got this project),” she shared.
Brandon confirmed that Rivera had already been on their radar. “We actually had our eyes on this girl after some of our friends shared a short clip from a podcast featuring her,” he said. “In that podcast, she talked about her dream of becoming a White Castle Girl, which piqued our interest to learn more about her. So, we explored her content and realized that it aligns perfectly with the branding of White Castle Whiskey. Plus, the girl has good looks and personality. So, pasok na pasok sa brand talaga (She is a perfect fit for the brand).”
For Aaron, the decision ultimately came down to authenticity. “It’s really her just being herself,” he said. “That’s what aligns with us. We want to be a brand that’s authentic, engaging, and fun.”
As White Castle Whisky continues its calendar tradition, Rivera’s selection reflects how the brand balances nostalgia with changing tastes, keeping a familiar institution relevant to a new generation.