Globe event in Bacolod: Don't stop the party!

Rarely do I take a "tour" of the city where I will hold my event, but this time, I had the opportunity to go to two sites. One is at "The Ruins" and the other one is at "Balay Negrense" in Silay City. Old Bacolod and Silay people are OMG wealthy thanks to the Sugar trade which the Philippines once dominated on a global scale. Trivia: sugar canes grow only in select areas. Not all tropical lands are suitable for sugar cane growing that's why a province/city/country that can grow sugar within its territory can monopolize the trade just like how the Philippines and Negros did at the turn of the century. (I miss memorizing products that the Philippines is number 1 in producing like sugar and abacca.)


This isn't a travel blog so here's a link about the place: http://bacolodphilippines.blogspot.com/2009/09/bacolod-tourist-destination-ruins.html

Above is the interior of the Balay Negrense, the house of the German industrialist who started the sugar industry in Bacolod. In the picture is my team mate Manolo who's also a Bacolodnon and a member of two old Bacolod clans - the Navas and the Locsins.

As an events professional, I make sure to check other brands' events. Hmn. What can I say about the Coke stage? I like the backdrop, very strong branding, undoubtedly Coca-Cola. But it's too small and provincial for the brand. A very fiesta-ish execution. Although the event was in the province, they could have elevated their execution both in set-up and in the kind of show they held. The low stage means they will have a low-tier band performing for the audience. Or maybe they were already defeated or ashamed. Bacolod has boycotted Coca-Cola in its establishments due to the company's decision to use imported corn syrup versus using Negros sugar. Equally, I think the whole country should.

Aah. A rock band stage. High stage for a mosh pit below. Clear branding, although I'm really not a fan of rendering your letters vertically to spell your brand. Good thing for San Miguel, they have an iconic font, so even if it's hard to read the letters, you'd know it's San Miguel. Branding at the backdrop wasn't thought out. The band set-up covers the logo. But the banners at the side and the logos on top of the truss kind of compensate.

Here is our stage. It's 5 feet high so that the DJ's booth can be seen from afar even if a pool of people forms in front of it. It has two flat screens in front of the booth. It also has two projection screens behind, which serve as the backdrop. A LED wall would have been perfect for that purpose but supply and price prohibited us from using one. I couldn't place the screens directly behind the DJ as supply also dictates that we do front projection; the projectors were placed behind the Globe banners on top of the stage. Placing the screens directly behind the booth would have created shadows and the light from the projector would have hit the DJ. Ergo, an empty space was left behind the projector. Out of instinct, I asked the supplier to put scaffolds behind the DJ and place the LED par lights behind the DJ so that it creates a visual background. Took us hours to finalize but totally worth it.

The set up was mind-splitting as the challenges were countless. We did all the construction through a storm. Many of the things that need to get constructed were finished about two hours prior event opening. The front TV panels in front of the DJ's booth didn't function properly until 10PM, my gahd. If I didn't have a Manila agency to work with, I would have either died or committed murder out of disappointment. But I did have an Agency and lives, including mine, were spared. And thankfully, the place got packed around midnight. We even had a sizable crowd of Caucasian tourists and (drunk) Korean students in our party. Coowhl.

Originally, I wanted a ramp that would cross the whole dance floor from the entrance to the DJ's booth but my local counterpart suggested we do a U-shaped ledge which will create a tight space at the center of the dance floor. And so we did and it was effective. Kudos to Pao Garrido, local Trade Marketing Manager of Globe in Bacolod. So the kids partied until 4AM, for two nights. :D

Happy event, cool experience, happy subscribers, loyal customers.

And I get to keep my job. Ayos! :D

Tayo ay manunulat

Tayo ay manunulat.

Tayo ang mga tulay ng iba't ibang panahon at tagasalin ng tradisyon. Sa ating mga akda, napagdu-dugtong-dugtong natin ang mga kwento't alamat ng ating lahi mula sa unang pagsikat ng araw sa ating mga isla sa panahon ni Bathala hanggang sa kasalukuyan, sa ilalim ng ibang ulap na inihip parito ng tadhana. Kung hindi tayo nagsulat at patuloy na magsusulat, hindi na tayo makababalik pa sa lupa at mundong ating pinanggalingan. Yaong mundong may hustisya at kapayapaan sa bawat apak ng paa ng ating mga ninuno, sa kanilang bawat sagwan, sayaw at pagkanta sa mga gubat at kapatagan, sa kanilang bawat paghinga.

Ang ating mga mata ang bintana ng kasaysayan. Hanggang tanaw at saksi natin ang ating bansa, ang kanyang mga mamamayan at ang mga kaganapan sa kanyang mga bayan, maitatala ng ating mga kamay kung ano at sino at naging tuwid, baluktot, mapag-balatkayo, ang mga naging bayani at ang mga pook ng kanilang kadakilaan, at ang yaong mga karaniwang taong tahimik sa pagtulong sa kapwa at pag-buo ng mga haligi ng lahi at bayan. Huwag tayong magpapabulag sa takot o ambisyon; walang halaga ang yaman sa manunulat na tapat sa tungkulin. Huwag tayong pipikit sa dilim kung kailan tayo ang inaasahang hahawak ng liwanag ng katotohanan, dahilan at pag-asa. Huwag tayong kikindat at piliting mang-aliw, kung kailan kailangan ng ating mga matang dumilat sa katotohanang nagaganap sa ating paligid. Huwag tayong kukurap sa ihip ng suliranin. Huwag tayong pipikit, mga manunulat.

Tayo ay mga manunulat. Sa iilang letra, bumubuo tayo ng libo-libong istorya, mga istoryang pinakakawalan natin sa hangin ng buhay. Naway yaong mga makahahagip ng ating mga akda ay makakapit dahil marami sa kanila ngayo'y mga istorya na lamang ang kayang mahawakan. At sa kanilang pagkapit, naway's madala natin ang kanilang isipan sa malawak na himpapawid ng pagkakataon at pangarap. Palayain natin sila sikip ng pagdududa, sa putik ng aba at sa kamatayan ng kawalang pag-asa. Dalhin natin sila sa liwanag. Ipakita natin ang mas malaking katotohanang malawak ang mundo at ang espasyo nito para sa mga taong nagpupursigi. Dalhin natin sila sa taas ng bundok ng tagumpay nang makita nilang mapanganib man ang gubat ng buhay, ang sukal nito'y nadadaanan, naaakyatan, napagwa-wagian. At kapag sila'y nasulasok at nakulong sa patibong ng ibang tao, mapagpanakop na pananampalataya, kasinunangilan, impluwensya at doctrina, magiging malakas ang bagwis ng katotohanang ating sinusulat na aalpas sa anumang paghila. Bigyang lakas natin ang ating mga letra sa bawat kwento, pelikula, dula, tula at lahat ng akda.

Tayo ay manunulat. Tayo ay walang lahi, pamilya, relihiyon at partido dahil kalahi, kadugo, kapanampalataya at kasama natin ang lahat. Walang tayong panig, walang kampi, patron o panginoon kung hindi katotohanan at bayan. Wala nang mas tataas pa, wala nang sasambahin pang iba o paglilingkuran pa, kung hindi ang kadakilaan ng bayan. Wala tayong sisiguraduhin kung hindi ang pagsulong ng lahi sa gabay ng katotohanan.

At sa dapit-hapon, magtipon-tipon tayong mga manunulat sa dalampasigan ng tadhana. Tayo'y magsaya at magdiwang sa ating tungkulin. Hindi tayo mga panginoon ni alipin, hindi bayarang kawani o masunuring utusan. Kaya magdiwang tayo sa ating kalayaan at ipagtanggol ang kapangyarihang ito; kapangyarihan ipinamana sa atin ng mga sakripisyo ng ating mga ninuno. Tayo'y mga manunulat, mga alagad ng bayan, anak ng mga bayani. Magsama-sama tayo sa ating mga mithiin at tungkulin. Sa araw-araw ng buhay, alalahanin at tupdin natin ang ating dakila at banal na layunin.

Mahirap magbingi-bingihan sa katotohanan; mahirap magsulat subalit kinakailangan.

Next up: In defense of Creativity

Hopefully I can write before Friday's events.

This is in reaction to my church mate's reactions towards my (and the world's) sadness over Steve Jobs' death.

How Esquire Philippines could live up to its brand

I love Esquire Magazine. In the format I got used to reading. In the tone that earned my respect. "The best man that you can be," its motto says. So even if their articles are about the politics, business and culture of another country and another nation miles away from Manila in both physical and financial terms, I was always able to relate. This averagely successful young professional with familial responsibilities despite being single coming from a third-world country, but living in a global city, can relate. I learned about wine and beer and how to appreciate both in different settings; with conversation pieces I can enjoy with like-minded friends. I can really, totally relate. Reading Esquire was like listening to an older brother, the one whom you idolized as a kid for his personality and charm and virtues (spirit of rebellion included), who got to travel around while working for a multi-national in one of the world's capitals. Certainly classy, but never aloof nor snooty.

And that is why Esquire Philippines is still far from deserving its brand. It's like listening to this average guy (in academic and athletic terms), educated in one of Manila's private school for boys, who thought he was cool just because he was already watching MTV when other boys outside his gated neighborhood were still peeking into the grills of a sari-sari store just to watch Eat Bulaga.

"...oh, never mind the peso sign - you'll never be able to imagine that much money with or without it anyway..." The PLDT-Digitel Merger.

Wow. If the article was only truly knowledgeable as it pretended to be about business or the merger (is he an insider?) or the telecom industry, I might have been less irritated. The article only elaborates already-discussed and printed gossips about the subject. It does not educate, like what an Esquire article should; it rather conveyed hear-says and pieces of opinion to the reader without original thought. Or if it were original to the author's point of view, well, that's even more sad and worse because his/her points were already pointed out before. Somewhere. And obviously, if the author works in a corporate setting, sadly the business of his company is too small that they're not used to hearing billions of pesos in their reports, forecasts, or in simple pantry conversations.

And the "skills" Esquire Philippines would like its readers to have include playing "Firework" by Katy Perry, wielding a Katana, handling a 20-foot reticulated python, building a raft and making your bed. I thought I was listening to a classy older brother - not a teenage jackass who just recently learned how to jerk off in front of an old copy of Penthouse. Why not talk about the emergence of Cebu as a financial counterweight to Manila? How about feature - being an international brand in a local setting - Filipino men who are known and who command respect (not because they can belt out "Faithfully") globally? Or since we're talking about skills here, why not talk about doing first-aids and quick home fixes - skills that men can use to become men in their homes?

And Man at his best is Ramon Bautista? Is this Esquire or is this FHM?

But fine, Esquire Philippines is still saved by some good articles.

Articles that fed my mind:

The new brew revue - Erwan Heusaff (and why is the glossary under the Appendix?)

Volcanoes Primer

Shared Esquire History

The Minimalist

The Unquiet American

Articles that entertained:

Making love out of nothing at all - Lourd de Veyra

Maturation of Manny - Gary Andrew Poole (though it sounds like it was lifted from previous Manny articles written by the same author)

Man who beat Pacquaio - Patricia Evangelista (I hate her politics, but I love her writing)

Articles that resonated:

These movies shouldn't exist - Philbert Dy

The man who could not grow up - Charlene Sawit

How to be a real man - Tara FT Sering

What is a man (Although the choices are subjective, I expected that the editors could have been more observing and could have done more research. To give our young men more Filipinos to look up to, the list could have been more extensive to include the men of our times -- for example, Midas Marquez, F. Sionil Jose, Ben Cabrera, Fr. Bernas, Adel Tamano, etc.)

Expected sell-out articles written for advertisers are also taste-spoilers:

Gadgets every man should have - Esquire Phil. could have written through a perspective

Things a man should own - Same comment as above

And lastly, does the international version of Esquire curate the ads that get printed in their pages? It would seem so.

Ok. After ranting all these, anyone could say that I'm just practicing the very old Pinoy vice of crab mentality. Totally untrue. In fact, it's the other Filipino vice that got me ranting -- the vice of mediocrity, the vice of "pwede na 'to." Fact is, for its premier issue, Esquire Philippines seems like it was a "pwede na" endeavor. I want Esquire Philippines to live on and set the standard for what the Filipino man should be at his best. Become the rational, tasteful, man that will be the modern voice and opinion for a progressive country.

Esquire Philippines should be true to its promise - become the best that it can be.

Don't allow Pinoy music to die

What's up?



See that? Angas diba? That's why I was super excited when I found out that DJ Academy Philippines is bringing Masta Plann as part of my DJ Lineup for my next event in Bacolod. Poster, below:

However, however, my regional counterpart until now seems doubtful of the quality of show we're producing. He's afraid that the music might be too "deep." That the audience might not like and appreciate our event. He'd prefer canned pop songs taped together by band aids of sound bites which in totality he'd call a mix. Not his fault that he wants to make sure that our events sell because in the first place, that's our objective when we do events - generate business (and of course strengthen brand affinity). Not his fault that kids today like the pop-ish kind of music. I love pop music too, nothing really wrong with that. But what I'm frustrated about is the attitude toward originality and creativity in music. Masta Plann is a pillar of the local music industry, a mega block in the Hiphop pillar of the crumbling house we call OPM, a music hero who fought with other Pinoy legends such as Francis Magalona the Great. How can you doubt such a talent? How can you not notice the sexiness and angas that go well together in his music? Gahd we're too peppered with cutesie-patootsie already. Sometimes we need Angas. And not the jologs kind of angas na puno ng angst, galit at frustration. But angas that has an opinion. A point of view.

And speaking of Angas, who says cute can't be angas?



I find that cute, angas and pop. And original! The problem with Philippine music is that we've stopped to be creative. Who else writes songs these days? Many of the bands are gone. They've disbanded, disintegrated or have felt too comfortable with their old hits. They're pretty okay doing the regional concerts without producing new material. Ehem Itchyworms. And others I can't even remember. Buti pa nga sa Rico Blanco, kahit binayaran para sumulat, at least sumusulat. Our great bands should remember, wala silang pera when they started. They only had dreams, messages and talent. They can't use lack of funds now to justify their laggard creative production. Magalit kayo kung gusto niyo pero sa tingin ko, 'yan ang totoo.

And our divas? They're busy out-performing each other. Nagi yatang ongoing reality contest ang kantahan ngayon in our shows. It's not about performing for the audience anymore - to enthrall, inspire. It's not about messages of songs anymore. Now it's all about vocal power. Have we as a people become too hurt and numb with our problems that messages can't get through with songs anymore? That only through being awed by vocal power can we appreciate music? Sad, sad Philippines if that's the case. Our musical spirit seems to be dying while we are plastering on our surface a plastic kind of music manufactured only to be consumed. It's like eating without tasting.

Anyway, my event is pushing through. October 14 and 15, Flow SuperClub, Bacolod's only SuperClub. I've listened to some of the DJs and truth be told, I'm not too excited. My regional counterpart will be happy however - yes, we'll have the pop DJs playing the top 40s. But I'm hopeful that when Masta Plann starts spinning, girls will be grinding and boys will be drinking their beers as they wave one hand up in the air. We're in Bacolod. We're sexy boys and pretty girls and this party is ODK super.

Roman posters vs. tubero signages

Last July, I had to go to Madrid to do an event for Filipino immigrants in Spain. Since the date was near my birthday, and upon the urging of my bosses, I collected all my savings and took the opportunity to visit Rome, the eternal city, one of the ancient cities I read about and marveled at when I was still a kid. And while in Rome, I took the time to walk around my inn's neighborhood to observe the locals. As in Madrid, it was frightening for me to roam around since I felt foreign (compared to when I was in Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong where everywhere I went, I felt safe in looking like a local). But still, I went through the side streets and back alleys of Rome and saw the vibrant young economy under the marbles of the centuries old city. These newsprint posters for example. They were just pasted on apartment walls near community convenience stores. Wish we could do this in Manila too but the hypocritical society of the Philippines would not allow it.

We allow "Tubero for hire" signages practically anywhere from lamp posts to street signs but other commercial and legitimate posters wouldn't be allowed. A permit will have to be secured. I wonder if those tuberos pay for permits. And I wouldn't be surprised to find out that your tubero is actually the Barangay Tanod's brother. Oh well oh well. :)

And oh, graffiti. I think some communities in Europe actually welcome graffitis as they brighten up otherwise bland sheets of metal or dirty cement walls. Some graffiti add character and texture to the community. And those who did graffiti were still KINDA respectful for the need of other signages to exist like "no entry" and "no parking" signs. Here in Manila, people deface civic-oriented signages. Graffiti, as it was before, is still a tool for civil disobedience and not a form of self-expression as how it is becoming to be in other parts of the world, except for some bright spots in Visayas in Mindanao. I'll post next time cool graffiti in the streets of Bacolod and in some back alleys of Manila where graffiti becomes a welcome art more than a visual nuisance.

DJ Funk Avy

There are many great songs out there from great artists but I like how they are being re-interpreted by DJs. Mixing shows that you don't need to sing or to play a musical instrument (although it immensely helps) to show your creative inclination towards music.

Posting my current favorite mashups by Funk Avy.

Bulong ng hininga

muli akong tutula

ng mga salitang titindig sa mundo ng araw-araw

upang kapitan, hawakan, maramdaman

ng mga matang naghahanap ng pangarap sa maulap na langit

mga matang nagtatanong

"kaya ko ba?"

"kaya pa ba?"

ng mga labing humahabol sa dampi ng pag-asa

ng mga hukot na likurang pasan ang 'sang libong

daigdig ng pag-ibig, pamilya, karera

ng mga kamay na kumakapa ng init ng yakap

na humihingi ng akbay, saklolo, ng ilang salita ng pangako.

hindi kaya ng aking braso ang bigat ng pag-salo.

bagsak din ako gaya mo.

kaya hayaan mo akong tumulong sa paraang alam ko.

kaibiga, ito ang ilang berso para sa 'yo.

My ears are now tuned to...

One of my best finds on YT, Do it in the AM from Frankmusik featuring the Far East Movement (who, with BEP, is one my hero bands lately):



And speaking of BEP, it's time to switch up!

War against the mundane

There's an internal conflict within me that God answers in whispers.

Right now, facing two very real challenges that anchor me to the safety of the mundane, the safety of the familiar and the ordinary, I am fighting to continue to discover who else I can be. I admire the men who charted their own paths in the world without regard to the challenges their families will face because of their own journey.

Do I love my family too much that I am willing to sacrifice the prime of my life just to deliver their needs? Do I put too much importance on a romantic bond that I'd want to promise forever, but I cannot because forever means getting tied with limited access to life options? Are my current conveniences holding me back? For example, am I willing to lose my car in favor of battling it out again and hopefully get another one (which should be leagues in upgrade) in the process? But maybe, I'm asking the wrong questions. The leader in me asks me, shouldn't the question be, how I can move forward with all of these in my bag of responsibilities?

I want to produce events, but how without money? I want to study interior design so I can design spaces and things, but how without time? I want to design experiences, but how without the means? I feel like my true life, the one I should be living, the one I am here for to live, is living under the surface of my regular life as a brother, as a loving partner, as a manager. And sometimes, I wish I'm in one of those movie reveal moments, when the character realizes or finds out that he has powers and privileges unimaginable in his ordinary life, that turns his life around in an instant. I wish that. In every door knob I turn, or letter I open.

I wish I am taken away from the mundane and taken to live a life and world of fantastic. But the reality is...

...dreams are worked on before they get fulfilled. Luck sometimes happen but to heroes, it's their decision that turns their life around. The single decision when they say, "this is enough;" "I have to do this now." I'm tired of announcing to the world the cliches "I've found me," "World, here I come," or "Finally, I am here." There are no fantasies here in this world. There are just actions. And sometimes, in moments like this, I just have to write to document the status of my mind and remember why or why not I am living the life I want.

I've been hella busy!!!

What the Fuuuudge.

That was a cuhraaaazy schedule - events from Feb to March non-stop, ending with a week full of events and meetings, happening everyday all over the country! Just to paint a picture, here's my recent schedule:

March 22 - Preprod in Antipolo City, Rizal (drove solo)
March 23 - Preprod in Manila
March 24 - Event in Manila
March 25 - Preprod in Tanauan City, Batangas (drove solo)
March 26 - Event in Antipolo City, Rizal (drove solo)
March 27 - Preprod in Davao City (flew)
March 28 - Event in Davao City
March 29 - Event in Tanauan City, Batangas
March 30 - Preprod in Cebu City (flew)
March 31 - Event in Cebu City

Crazy right?

And I also had events outside of those, some of which are in Tacloban, Leyte and Zamboanga. Here's a picture of a bar in Tacloban owned by the manager of the Azkals who's from Tacloban.



Cool right?

And in Zamboanga City, we flew two celebrities I didn't know were dating. The guy's a dancer and the girl's a singer, and they're from rival networks. But what's cool? They promoted each other's show from their warring networks. Cooowhl.



That's John Pratts above and here's Rachel Ann Go below:

And this is their stage, one of the best so far I've had. I really like to challenge my event agencies and I especially like it when they deliver.

More photos in the next post. :)

Ears on Sound Cloud 9

Super Cool Beats.

Hopefully, this year, I can produce my own show that will be a success - financially and PR-wise. Daaamn you cool event, I want you. Hehe. And these beats will set the tone for it.

This one by dqmusikero has something that's very elegant, sort of royal. I don't know how to explain it, maybe it's the feel or tone. Basta.
Run by dqmusikero

This naman, by a dutch duo, is very mysterious, very dark and very sexy. I can imagine boys and girls in suits and dresses staring at each other, fully clothed, but with nothing but nudity and sex on their minds. Haha. Let the games begin!
Bazen & Helden - Fingerpaint (Available soon on Beat Rude Records) by Bazen & Helden

This is another cool vid by whom I call, the Prince of Mashups DJ McFly. Put your hands up in the air!


And then these will be the colors, the feel:
Lavenham-x-Cassette-Playa

San Fernando Super Slam Concert

Featuring Wilabaliw, Itchyworms and Sponge Cola, it was my first time to do a concert with three big bands in one night. Wilabaliw (ang cute ni Isok at ang baliw ni Ian Tayao), Itchyworms (the best entertainer) and Sponge Cola (cute ni Yael, pero old songs) in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Backstage, I saw this. It caught my attention because I was taking a photo of the program posted on the wall (we were holding the concert on a street beside the provincial high school) and then tadaaa... inprisonment. I don't want to get inprisoned... Lol.

And ooh. Cool shoes! It's from one of the staff of Sponge Cola. It's adidas, cool!

Sounds and Lights: the cornerstone of "feel" in your event

Same song, different feel:

Love vs. Marriage

An office mate one day asked me how I would know if the person I'm dating or I'm in a relationship with is indeed "the one" of my life, the question referring to gay relationships. I told her that I'll never know. We'll never know.

Rational gay men, I think (lol), have a different context versus straight couples when it comes to lasting unions. To straight people, dating is a process of finding the right person to marry. But marriage only locks people together, marriage is not a promise of successful relationships. As most would say, marriage is a product of work. If marriage is that then why would one want to get into that? Well, because we're culturally wired to do so. Because marriage has societal and economic benefits. And so married people usually maintain marriage without looking after the real cause of the union - love. Straight people who rush themselves in dating are rushing themselves into their own prisons.

For me, how I see it, growing up with parents who struggled to keep their marriage until they became true friends, you know, how lovers become enemies and later on become friends out of respect for each other's relentlessness, marriage is a societal cage. You keep the marriage because it's "wrong" to dissolve it. Because God will get angry. People forget that marriage is founded on love. If love is lost, marriage will inevitably follow. On the other hand, married people who find bliss at the end of their marriage found bliss not because of the construct of marriage but because of the love they find in each other. Love is always the stronger institution, the stronger argument, the highest belief.

So from that context, how do I proceed then with finding my "the one." As I've said, I'm not looking for it. Whoever I'm with, if love stays, will be my "the one." And I'll never know if love will last until I've proven that love has lasted. Either at the end of it, or at the end of my human existence. Love, I think, is always the better marriage.

The relentless

I never thought I'd be inspired by Justin Bieber but yeah, hell I am. Success is reached by the relentless. Never say never.

Wake up people! The boards are flying!

I have yet to see a brand in the Philippines which capitalizes on Skateboarding. Aside from the obvious brands affiliated with the sport, other "cool" and "youth" brands have not taken notice. Hello Milo? Your energy is needed here. Hello Jollibee? Ito ang bagong kabataan.

Philippine marketing is too safe!!! Argh. It's so hard to argue with bosses who don't know a thing about being cool, while trying so hard to be cool to a market who's given them so much.

Skateboarding in the Philippines is growing. People should delight in that fact. It means we're paving more roads, our kids are appreciating the outdoors and are appreciating progress because only in areas with considerable progress is skateboarding possible.

It's a simple equation here in the country. Concrete = progress. True marketers, especially the "cool" marketers should take notice.


Funny, even Fort Bonifacio Global City where this sport is growing is not taking notice. So much for being "home of passionate minds." BGC has this golden opportunity to be not like Makati and start building a culture of its own. Where true passion lives in the hearts, and boards, of the passionate young.

My edge

Since I sported it years ago, I've always loved having a short Mohawk. This was years ago when I was an Account Manager at Ace Saatchi & Saatchi:

However, recently, due to the popularity of Glee (specifically the character Puck), everyone's doing a Mohawk. From faux-hawk, tall spiky Mohawks to short shaved Mohawks. A few weeks ago, I finally surrendered and said NO to my favorite hairstyle when I saw an office mate having the same do. Uchk. I told myself that I can surrender my look but not my individuality.

But, true love is strong. So with the help of the my stylist, Ricky of F Salon in Greenbelt 3 (the best stylist for men in Manila no doubt), I decided to bring my Mohawk back - with an edge. A literal cut on the corner makes all the difference (actually, the inspiration was from a porn site. heehee). So, proudly sharing, my Mohawk with an edge:

Game on!

The day starts for Work Year 2011. It's like it's another season at school as I have the same giddiness as a freshman in college. New projects are in the horizon, new opportunities to do great things, and improved way of doing things from work processes to personal filing of documents. I actually used the break to clean my table and it super feels good to work in a clutter-free desk.

So, let's do this! Year of the Bunny - hump, hump, hump and work, work, work for all-year-round cuteness and fuzziness (waw, sounds sooo gay. lol)!