vthefantastic

Without talent - your black leather vest will never rock

2012-02-15T01:02:00.000-08:00

When my Agency told me that the main act was going to be late, program starts at 9PM and Rocksteddy wont arrive until 11PM, we knew we needed a good front act to sustain the energy of people waiting. They said I shouldn't worry as the main band sent a front act of their choice. And coming from a good experience two years ago with Kamikazee who brought a then-upcoming rock band as their front act, I again agreed to be pleasantly surprised.

So the front act band's guitars and drum guys went up the stage as the introduction was being VO'ed. The script talked about passionate individuals grouping together to make music. The VO listed their previews different gigs then I heard that they regularly perform in a casino. Casino? That made me skeptical. The three vocalists went up the stage and to my horror, my skepticism turned into a horrifying reality. Black leather vest over a black shirt for the guy, short denim skirt for the girl in high heels, and a black dress for another girl - the "rock" cliche didn't end. Kulang na lang kumanta sila ng Aegis. And unless the theme was music from the 80's when black meant rock, I was pretty sure that this band would be off-target and will fail to excite the waiting audience. They started singing some slow tunes and when I asked them to sing faster songs, they pulled out a clear book and placed it on a stand. Wow. Videoke ba 'to? If the students walked out due to boredom and lack of connection to the band, I would have joined them. My only solution to add excitement was to ask some student dancers to dance in front of the stage fronting audience. Pampa-dagdag visuals at movement sa harap, dagdag texture and attitude that was clearly lacking from the front act. Pasalamat and banda, libre lang sila or else, I would have asked for them to leave the stage and I would have demanded a refund.

Outside of the dancers, I could not do anything but ask the agency where Rocksteddy was already and the by-minute report of the roadie as to where they were from NLEX to SCTEX to the long provincial road from Tarlac to Dagupan felt agonizingly, eternally slow. When the van arrived through the back-gate of U-Pang situated right behind the stage, it felt like God has gone down on Earth to save me and the rest of the audience from bad performing. Rocksteddy finally arrived - at 11:20PM.

In fairness, the reason why they were late - I think they were shooting a gin commercial - was both a bad thing and a good thing. Bad thing for the obvious reason that we had to wait for them, but also good as alcohol never fails to bring GV to the band. I've seen Rocksteddy do their routine program in our concerts across the country but this time it was different. Teddy, usually boisterous and naughty, was a little different that night as he was more casual, more direct and was just generally funnier than usual. His scripted lines and antics had more oomph last Friday; it had more kick. The sloppy response of the lights guy - the guy who controls the spotlight, pars and moving heads - to Teddy's directions made Teddy's antics funnier as the two didn't always connect creating gaps in the program that elicited witty comments from the vocalist. Just look at his face man; that night Teddy wasn't just a Rock Star, he was a confident sex god.

I'll end this post with a note on another band called J2K. They're a local band, actually from U-Pang, and I must say that they could have a great future ahead of them as a band should they be managed well and should they have the talent to write their own songs. They're young, three members of the band are cute, they connect with their audience and they play really well. It was easy for them to get giggles from the girls and screams from other fans. They knew what to sing and knew what to do and say in between songs, very confident for teens. I heard that the agency has already used them in other events and I encouraged them to get this band more. I hope to see them again in one of my concerts hopefully singing not as a front act, but as the main band. Great job guys! :)

As always sa events ni Ian, walang nasaktan, walang umuwing lugi at luhaan, walang hindi kami (Globe and our messages) matatandaan.

Sa Globe, go lang nang go! :)

So it begins.

2012-02-12T08:27:00.001-08:00

The event season for me has started and like the past three years, I start again in Central Luzon.

It's totally different this year, though on the surface it looks the same. The huge reduction in production budget is the biggest challenge. And this so far has been the biggest cut. It will burden me the whole year, so too will it challenge the people I work with. The people who do the legwork of the event and the people who need or requested the event. But challenges are always welcome. Whether the philosophy behind that decision is realistic or not, strategic or not, will be put to test and I am so ok to see an execution fail because of it - just to prove a point. Just learned a Japanese proverb today - we learn no lessons in victory. How ironic, especially in this season of rejoicing over the past year's successes.

Anyway, I think I can write three posts based on this concert so let this one be a kick-start. It's gonna be a busy week ahead with two more events coming up in two weeks. And some minor, tasks.

2012.

One event down; on to the next.

Sugod sa liwanag!

I write communication plans for a hobby

2012-01-31T04:36:00.001-08:00

While it's not true that I don't have enough work to keep my mind full, I must say that by training, I am accustomed to executing things after a rigorous process of strategizing and I ergo sometimes miss this time-consuming crafting.

Now, since the comm. strategizing is done for my brand by other people - people who are paid to do the strategizing - my input in the comm. process is limited to my executions. Sometimes it is challenging because I have to make sense of the strategy laid down for me, even if I disagree with it. Sometimes it's easy because I only think of natural executional extensions of the original idea, if brilliant and brilliantly crafted. Which is rare.

So sometimes I do my own planning and comm. strategizing for brands for myself, to challenge myself. It's weird. But it's like crafting a beautiful chair you can never sell to make a profit. It's weird that a business function, business being ruled by numbers, can become a craft and art you devote your time to.

They say advertising is both art and science. But I guess you'll never arrive at labeling it art if you don't make something beautiful for its own sake as a source and form of self-actualization.

One among billions

2012-01-10T01:45:00.000-08:00

Writing.

I used to love writing. I wrote all over notebooks, back-to-back, cover-to-cover. I wrote on text books and reference books, on tissue paper and on McDonald's paper trays and paper cups that I stare at while waiting for friends. I even wrote on post-its that I stick on bus back seats during bus rides on lonely nights from work so that other people may share what wisdom, theory or hypothesis I have in mind - just to share a feeling. The knowledge that someone will most probably read what I wrote, keep the post-it and bring it home, maybe stick on his own notebook if the message resonates, kept me writing randomly.

It started in high school and college where writing kept me sane and competent. I had bad memory, except for history, so I had to scribble down lessons I can understand in my own language on my notebooks to remember things that pop in my head. I had to support textbook definitions and lessons with my own reflections so I can understand them. I also saw myself at that time as a student, not only of my school, but of the world at large - with nuggets of wisdom and ideas popping in my head uncontrollably I had to write them down to record them. To remind myself of lessons learned and ideas I can call mine. Writing was my head's reserve and my hands' preoccupation. Without writing, I could have been a different me as I would have no recourse to sift through my head's own work. Until blogging came.

The knowledge that whatever I wrote online will be kept online forever was such a comfort. I had confidence that I will never lose a note or idea, or lesson learned through hard work. Always I'd say, whether I get to execute them or not, my ideas are my greatest wealth and asset. To hold them through words is like keeping my hard-earned money in a bank. Ideas to me are the products of one's imagination and creativity mixed with personal observations and experiences, seen through one's own values and principles. You cannot force-produce ideas, they just come to you subconsciously. In the same light, that's why only some ideas come to all while only people of similar minds and experiences produce similar ideas. "Great minds think alike," so they say. That's why to me, ideas are ultra precious worth owning and keeping. Even musings on ideas are ideas themselves.

So why have I lost it seems the desire to write? Many things. I feel the space for expression is overly, overly crowded. Even if no one reads you, the fact that just a few changes in your blog address produces a blogsite entirely different from yours, from an entirely different person, crowds the world wide web of expression. Social media has crowded our personal universe. It has become polluted. The blogosphere is itself polluted with ugly ads, paid write-ups, corrupt writers and know-it-alls with super baaad grammar. Especially among Philippine blogs, the stench of backroom deals, social alliances and petty bickering that make up phony urban "society" here have surfaced on published posts and tweets, crassly, without hesitation nor reflection among the writers and readers. Local blogging had become a picture and expression of the feudal mindset and aggressive mediocrity that have continuously assaulted and hostaged our society.

So I got my notebook back and created my own personal space where I started scribbling and writing again.

I'm not saying that blogging to me has become a lost battle. It is after all, a venue where great ideas still surface and there are still fantastic writers out there worth my time and respect. Gems do lie in heaps of rubble and dirt and diamonds are produced under great weight, heat and pressure, dug through industrious labor. It is in this hope that I will continue to try to be different in the blogosphere whether people read me or not. Many treasures are found by people stumbling upon them. It's a hope that some still stumble upon these thoughts and get ideas or lessons from them. To be read and be relevant are not desires, not wishes nor causes of joy. To be read and understood however is blazingly hoped for, serenely, peacefully, with thoughts of connecting and progressing our society and humanity as a whole.

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

2011-11-02T03:22:00.001-07:00

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

2011-10-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-05T03:30:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-05-19T00:41:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-18T23:09:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2011-04-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

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

2011-02-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-10T21:49:00.000-08:00

Same song, different feel:

Love vs. Marriage

2011-02-09T03:03:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-01-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-01-02T17:26:00.000-08:00

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)!

It's gonna be a vthefantastic year

2010-12-28T03:13:00.000-08:00

After a deserved break, 2011's about to start again and my life in events is going to be, well, eventful again. This morning, as I was haggling with a local counterpart which band will be performing in their upcoming festival, I felt that I've become more of a concert producer than anything. But that's ok. I've welcomed it. I'm actually prepared to use these concerts as activations the way I see how events should function for brands (which really is my job).

True, and it's out there in the open, brands use these concerts as carrots for consumers; it's a basic strategy most especially in a saturated market. But we have to use concerts the best way we could as brand people, even with our limited budgets. That's where creativity has the opportunity to come in. Just like in religion, miracles can never happen without problems. Parallel to that, opportunities to be great usually arise in times of need. But that need only comes if there is a sense of mission or purpose. Anyway I'm philosophizing way over.

So here's to 2011! Cheers cheers cheers to exciting events all around the country!!!

New Year's Resolution

2010-12-27T21:54:00.000-08:00

The best (and hardest) resolution a person can make for himself is this: HONESTY IN ACCEPTING WHAT GIVES YOU JOY. Joy that is not dictated by anyone, any book, religion, philosophy, duty, etc. But Joy that only your conscience can dictate. A life lived without regret is the best life one can live.

The Philippines celeberates Christmas

2010-12-09T20:19:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile, thank you for the music =)

2010-11-22T03:01:00.000-08:00

The happy beat, lights and choreography:

The music, definitely:

I don't have content. Shett.

2010-11-22T01:53:00.001-08:00

Either having a boyfriend is sapping my energy or he gives me ultimate affirmation that I don't need to get it from anywhere else. Like my blog and Facebook.

However, reviewing my About page, and having been reminded by my man-bff, I am compelled to write again. About anything.

The biggest hindrance for me to blog is my self-doubt on my opinions. Do they really matter? Am I too noisy to myself and to others? Am I making any sense? Does writing contribute to anything concrete? I do not doubt the power of words and ideas but I guess what I'm really afraid of is becoming too self-righteous and preachy without doing anything. True that ideas turn the world around, but my many ideas are too detached from my everyday self that their motives become suspect to the jaded point of view that words without action are words without meaning. And meaning is something I will never want to take out of words.

Or am I just lazy?

Or is it because I don't read anymore and have succumbed to the lifestyle/trend spotters' penchant for anything just visual, words being reduced to short copy points of wit, trying to pass off as poetry? Am I becoming more abstract that words are slowly becoming harder to grasp and control versus visual constructs like shape, form and color?

Or I just don't have anything to write? Which goes back to the same question -- does what I want to say/write matter?

I don't have the answers really. Unlike before when I'd always try to end blog entries with witty epiphanies, now it doesn't seem to matter. The fact that I was able to write a few lines already is already a big feat.

Or am I getting old, less passionate, less idealistic, less... preachy? Jaded? Or am I just very content with everything there is with me right now? Maybe. But I shouldn't be; I have to move forward. And meanwhile, as I wait for my momentum to pick up, I am totally singing this song:

I must come back.

2010-11-08T16:59:00.001-08:00

Back to health.

Back to creativity.

Back to productivity.

Back to progress.

Small waterfalls in Quezon Province visit. =)

2010-10-31T01:20:00.001-07:00

My current wallpaper on my BB.

2010-10-25T22:41:00.001-07:00

Why aren't my friends blogging?

2010-10-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

Hoy friends, you guys have got to be some of the craziest, most creative guys on earth. So, why aren't you guys sharing via blogs?

Mag-blog kayo!!!

Love,

Ian V(thefantastic)

Teddy Rocks!

2010-10-18T01:17:00.000-07:00

With Teddy and his crew, I'm very sure the crowd at my concert will have da-amn coowhl time!

Thanks guys for rocking with us!

I met the real Avatar in Zamboanga!

2010-10-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Daa-amn. My next haircut will be the Avatar's. Haha!

Met this guy in the morning of our TM event set-up featuring the Euphonic Band, Cesar Montano and Rocksteddy. He's one of the performers in a segment that showcases local talent. These performances are called "Republic Acts," true to the "Republika ng TM" brand story.

Cool guys, hope they make it to Showtime. =) And plus they wear kickazz Supras. Daaa-amn.

Cool vid

2010-10-12T02:07:00.001-07:00

VITAL - Saying from VITAL on Vimeo.

Fantasizing my event: Coachella Fest

2010-10-11T23:50:00.000-07:00

It seems like this blog is becoming my event wish list, which should be ok as a post-it to the Universe for our doing.

Just saw this from Hypebeast, Coachella Festival is a concert event in the tradition of Woodstock - done outdoors featuring non-stop band performance in front of thousands. In the Philippines, this hasn't been tried before (I think), at least within the years of my memory. The closest would be the UP Fair and NU Rockawards but what differs largely is the atmosphere. Behind the Woodstock fest (and maybe Coachella) is the eco-friendly philosophy of the 70's, severely lacking in the Philippine concerts. The 70's theme is not the difference, to clarify, but the fact that there is an underlying philosophy or purpose.

So what about the Ondoy concert or the Ninoy concert during his inauguration? In all honesty, I think that people attend there to be seen as doing good, ergo they attend concerts that have "good, charitable" intentions. But what about celebrating philosophies? What about sharing ideals? Are there bands or performers here who create their own philosophies outside the populist-leftist (ergo maka-uso) themes of going against the system? Very few.

And what else, on a more on-the-surface context are the difference between our concerts vs. Coachella? The level of art and professionalism. The architectural sculptures here in Coachella are amaaaazing. And the people's respect too of them. And look at the professionalism of the details - from the barricades to the urinals. Everything it seems, at least as presented by the director of this video, is very well-planned. The barricade separation alone makes me cry. I remember our Paramore concert here in Manila where some members of the crowd tried to get over the slanted perimeters (but I'm sure this happens too there in Indio, California).

I hope Coachella becomes a continuing success. But I'm hoping, wishing hard, that we also come up with our own music fest that's worthy of emulation; an event that moves the heart and lifts the spirit.

Gen San TM Recorida

2010-10-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Astig tayo dito sa Republika ng TM!

Creative events

2010-10-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

Looking at my past entries, it saddens me a bit that my events are all corporate/corporate-y (well duh, that's my job. I'm a corpie creative (sounds like corpse-y).).

So, I'm going to start my consultancy extra whatever to expand my work not only in events but in on-ground promotions as well. Human civilization moved because of initiative and initiative is moved by original thinking. Or copying what has been originally thought. ;p Basta (whatever). I'm hoping that I get to do cool things naman.

I need music. Hmn. I need a DJ. And then a venue. But first off, I need a reason, a purpose. I need a need.

Meanwhile, the photo is a City ID as homage to Manila. See the actual entry here. It's by Heinritzh Sales. Mr Sales, good job sir! (Please don't sue me.)

The Mindanao Week

2010-10-07T04:02:00.001-07:00

TM AstigFest in Gen San and Globe Rock X-pressions in Iligan.

To be very honest, my Gen San experience was waaay much better than Iligan. The Tuna Fest is much grander than Iligan's Fiesta in honor of St. Michael the Archangel (the famous angel you see in a gin bottle, trampling a demon on his feet).

Ok, quick facts. Gen. Santos City is in South Cotabato in Southern Mindanao while Iligan is in Lanao del Norte in the Northwestern part of Mindanao (It's very near my lola's hometown of Kolambugan famously bombed by the MILF after the MOA-AD peace settlement failed due to the Manila-centric/imperialist attitude of many Filipino politicians). (Meanwhile,) Gen San is known for its Tuna industry which supplies the Philippines, and the world, with tuna locally called "bariles." Iligan on the other hand is known for the number of waterfalls that are present in the city most famous of which is the Maria Cristina, which I didn't even bothered going to because I had no time. It's 30 mins. away from the city. The really sad thing about doing events all around the country is being in places of beauty and interest and not having time to visit them because you maximize your time preparing for the event before execution and then leave earliest after. Sight-seeing, if you really want to, should be squeezed in between activities. Like going to the plaza on your way to a meeting.

Anyway, what else did I like about the Gen San trip:

1. The overall TM brand experience was very strong. From the recorida, to the merch, to the spiels, you will only see/hear one phrase: Astig tayo dito! The brand's tagline. The host shouts "TM!" and the people respond by shouting "astig tayo dito!" And that's truly asteeeg my friends. Plus, everything was red from the tents, to the perimeter walls to the hosts' shirt. Red is the TM color and everyone, after going to the event, would have known it after. TM = red + astig tayo dito. Solid brand experience.

2. Everything was much nicer. Gen San has a big airport connected to the city by a big road that gives you a kick-ass view of the bay and the surrounding mountains. The city has better roads, more upscale establishments, and newer and nicer hotels.

3. The Tuna Fest was really grander with huge floats, longer parades, more engaged brands (I saw a Smart parade right after our recorida van which almost got us into a fight, and then on the road we came across a Sun Cell recorida), more people everywhere, more etc. Our concert alone was attended by 12,164 people.

4. Food. Gen San had more food, good food. We ate in a roadside grill with lotsa lotsa sea stuff getting grilled (duh) in front. Funny, remarkably pinoy experience: inside the restaurant named "Bar Ko ("my bar" but put together spells "barko," which means "ship" in allusion to the ships used in fishing tuna, i think)" were two posters displayed: one where the DTI (Dept. of Trade and Industry) gives praise to the establishment for joining a food exhibit and another one where the DTI and the local government gives warning to the establishment of getting closed for having no permit to operate. Funny ha... ;p

But Iligan was surprising.

From CDO, the road to Iligan was long and winding but very scenic. The view of the still and clear waters of Iligan Bay was calming (reminded me of Lamon bay in Atimonan, Quezon province). I was also surprised by the big industries in Iligan. Given its (in my perspective) small population, it had big factories of cement, liquors and others. I also know, although I didn't see, that Maria Cristina hosts either a geothermal or a hydro powerplant.

Also surprising were the Iliganons themselves. First off, they're a happy bunch. Blame the fiesta, but you see people smiling everywhere. In the concert, I remember the crowd booing a game contestant after asking the crowd to keep quiet. But after her performance and after her cheering of "Viva San Miguel!" the crowd responded by shouting "Viva!" too. Goosebumps. Second, maybe because of Urbandub, I saw a more affluent bunch of kids attending this concert versus that in Gen San (maybe because it's Parokya ni Edgar). And the young girls, given that the city is almost always under threat of terrorist violence due to Islamist-secessionist activities in the nearby towns, were unafraid to show their skin. Waw. That's what you call fighting attitude.

(Reflection on Muslim separatist movement in the other blog, soon.)

Mindanao. You are a continent in your own. I hope to continue doing various events in your cities of wildly varying cultures united by the single attitude of strength in adversity. Viva!

The other side of me

2010-09-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

I am more than a marketing-loving capitalist who likes to read about, attend, ideate, plan, produce and manage events and activations.

Just as Alex Bogusky is more than an award-starved ad maverick and who actually is a great father, based on his blog, I am more than a marketing guy. I've already explained that I'm in marketing because it is consistent with my beliefs and ideals.

I'm also a very serious guy who believes in the power of Hope and tries to inspire others to move forward in peace, love and hope; and a nationalist who, knowing a fair amount of my country's history, thinks of how we can make ourselves and our country better. So jumping from this blog is the other blog of me - please click on the picture but you can also click on the click. Lol.

What everyone's going cuh-razy about

2010-09-23T21:23:00.001-07:00

Event in Paul Smith and why lifestyle brands are important

2010-09-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

I had a long chat with my friend Charles, brand manager of Paul Smith here in Manila, about why I want him - and ergo Paul Smith - to succeed in the local market.

Of the many luxury brands that have set up shop here in the Philippines, the hippest for me is Paul Smith. I like the color and the irreverence. The fact they they have ceramic bunnies all over their stores underscores the brand's playful nature which appeals to my own impish impulses. That's why when we launched a concept phone that celebrates a person's individuality, the Modu phone, which performed poorly unfortunately due to the price vis-a-vis its (lack of) functionalities, it was natural for me to do it at Paul Smith's store in Philippines' swankiest Greenbelt 5.

So why, in a country always portrayed by media as poverty-stricken, would I want a luxury brand to triumph? Because the triumph of luxury brands is the triumph of an argument: that the person who works best to better himself achieves the best. Paul Smith to me is not just about aesthetics but the expression of man's dream and achievement to distinguish himself from the uninspired masses (men-sheep) through his own hard, committed and passionate work, his intelligence and creative brilliance. Paul Smith and luxury brands, simply put, celebrates the triumph of man's work, genius and creativity. And in a country that strives to move forward, it measures the amount of achievement this society has fulfilled. The more inspired men who can buy Paul Smith in this country, the more men who put their creative labor into the betterment of their environment and ergo this nation.

I remember F. Sionil Jose. He blames, not the masses who just follow orders (but of course he blames them too but not entirely) for the laggard performance of our country, but the elites who refuse to take charge. The land-backed, indolent elite with no dreams, who sips his buko juice on the back of a farmer who starves. Both are blind. Both have no spirit of initiative and ergo both are doomed to live a life of cyclical struggle.

Ok. That's too serious. =) But that sparks a blog of its own, soon. May reader o wala. HA!

- V -

3rd papercut for the day.

2010-09-23T04:09:00.001-07:00

They come in threes.

Eating at Izume Sake Bar @ Burgos Circle

2010-09-21T08:09:00.001-07:00

Terribly tired, I had to spend 10 minutes debating with myself on whether to give in to my craving as a pat on my back versus dealing with the guilt I will have to contend with for eating expensive dinner alone. Of course, craving won. My tongue is salivating for something light and exquisite - which to me can only be delivered by a bowl of Ebi Tempura on noodles (what d'you call that again?). Yumyum.

Btw, that's my bag and wallet above against the wall lighting. Beautiful things do complement each other. Hopefully, the food delivers

Globe Mall ad

2010-09-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

I really like this ad which complements my on-ground executions. For me, what makes it outstanding as an ad is the context that it creates, immediately followed by the most relevant message. This is super cool.

And that's Super Mikki on my shirt

2010-09-21T06:59:00.001-07:00

I love Super Mikki. I hope to see more shirts. Plus the fabric they use is incredibly soft and light.

Dropping by at Commune

2010-09-21T06:57:00.001-07:00

I met Pox. He's cool. Lucky that he opened shop earlier than usual.

Visiting Paul Smith Manila's Brand Manager - Charles de Jesus

2010-09-21T06:44:00.001-07:00

While wearing my Unschooled shirt that I just bought from Commune on the same afternoon that I visited Charles. I love my shirt!!!

Pimping the jeepney pimp

2010-09-21T03:09:00.000-07:00

In Manila, if you don't know a street corner that serves as a jeepney line, you're either blind or... the tint on your car is at 50%. Jeepney lines, the gallant (but usually futile) attempt by jeepney operators and drivers to instill discipline among themselves crucial for the equitable sharing of passengers, are as ubiquitous as the jeepneys themselves. And when you have a jeepney line, you have a barker - that person with the dogged attitude to get passengers into the jeepney. In hiphop culture, he would've been called the jeepney pimp because of what he does.

So friends, colleagues, students of life and other stumblers-upon-my-blog, presenting -- how we have pimped the jeepney pimp to pimp our product. Lol.

The Four P's of Partying

2010-09-13T02:20:00.000-07:00

As I was enjoying myself and my bottle of beer (or a glass of cocktail? can't remember. =p) at the inauguration party of Bates 141 Manila's new office in Bonifacio Global City, I realized a few
things about parties. That just like in academic marketing, Parties have their four P's:

PURPOSE

A party without purpose is a den of people getting drunk. A party with a purpose is a celebration. Purpose dictates everything - the who, what, when and where of a party. It dictates the theme and mood. At the end, the success of a party is measured versus its purpose.

PEOPLE

Of course. We don't want to party with people we don't want near us. I think, generally, people party with people whom they share something with be it a lifestyle, belief, shared experience, loyalty, etc. If you're not happy with the people you're partying with, then there's no fun to that.

PLACE

It dictates the logistics of the party - what you can and cannot do, what you can hang if you need to hang anything or erect something. It also shapes the cost in a huge way. Just like in concerts, a place with no walls is harder to secure because of the too many physical variables that are set to affect it (e.g. weather, animals, odor, temperature, etc.), and ergo the effort needed to control these variable, which makes it more expensive. Also, and most importantly, the Place sets the parameter and creates the context of moments going to happen. Romantic beach moments are impossible in an ice factory.

PARTYING (!)

Not to be philosophical, but like youth being a mindset and not the number of years counted on the calendar, partying is the mood to party. Without that mood, you can be with the most beautiful people on the best place on earth and still have a sucky time. Partying, the spontaneous spirit of fun shared with other people, is the modern word for an age-old ceremony - that of communal celebration. Partying is the manifestation of the purpose.

And just like in marketing, each P has its own set of elements. But that's for the next blog.

Lastly, let me share a message (not verbatim) from Singapore-based Mr. Sonal Darbal, Regional Executive Creative Director of Bates 141 about renewal, Manila and the Philippines -- that the opening of the new Bates 141 office at Bonifacio Global City is symbolic of the renewal Manila is going through. In an urban district with wide roads, functioning traffic systems, efficient mass transport and submerged lines and cables, in an area where everything wrong in the old Manila is being undone, corrected and renewed, the arrival of an agency that triumphs change is a testimony to the resurgence of the country. OR something like that; I might have made it more dramatic but that's how it sounded to me. And then he sang a song from Bollywood which, though we couldn't understand, didn't feel alien at all. A truly global experience of change. Cheers to the Change Agency!

Let's keep on partying folks!

The sunset that made me stare into the sky

2010-09-12T17:24:00.001-07:00

It was magical, I'm glad I caught a glimpse of it. The Fort skyline was already beautiful at sunset but I marveled at how it was made more beautiful by something far greater, far more majestic than any human mind can conceive nor human hand can build.

I stood at awe at one of Earth's glorious moments.

Only music could have completed its perfection.

Tired in Baguio

2010-09-08T04:06:00.000-07:00

I actually forgot to say that I hated the local producer here. They actually caused much of the stress. But I always, always have to go to Oh My Gulay along Session road. One of the quaintest, most authentic and artistic dining experiences in the world which will leave you saying OH MY GULAY. Plus of course they only offer veggie food. Or food without animal content. Haha.

This is an old video that I only got to upload today. Maybe a few months old when we started touring with Sarah Geronimo. This was the first.

You know how it feels?

2010-09-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

When as if a person you've just met seems to be at the exact same situation where you're in. It's as if you've found your soul in another body. And it feels like you've met, hopefully finally, a worthy companion.

Sa aking rosas ng digma, sana dire-direcho; marami tayong magagawa.

Experiencing Mindanao through concerts

2010-09-06T02:06:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't want to travel? Not me definitely. I'm very lucky that since the first year of my career, I've been asked to go to different places both abroad and around the country. And it's truly exciting to see what makes a place unique, from its architecture to its food to the habits and values of the people living in it. But it's equally exciting to find out familiarities and similarities that you find in places where you go. This is true most especially when you visit a foreign land.

This year, I've gone around the country and visited the Philippines' top urban areas (ergo commercially viable for our business to be in) and towards the end of this month, I'll be crisscrossing Mindanao as I do events in Gen. San (Sep 26), Iligan (Sep 29) and Zamboanga (Oct 1). This is very unplanned and I just realized it as I was lining up my events. Tiring man... From Gen San, I will take a bus (or hopefully a van) to Davao then CDO then Iligan. And then from Iligan, I'll go back to CDO, fly to Cebu and then fly back to Mindanao via Zamboanga. I imagine that would be most grueling. Gaah. But the adventurer in me is also excited. I already have visions of mountains, farms, forests and seas and everything beautiful that makes Mindanao the land of promise and equally, consequently, a land of dispute, rivalry and contest.

Speaking of dispute, I've never been afraid of secessionist hostilities affecting my events since I'm usually in areas where there seems to be genuine peace among the local population. But what I'm usually afraid of is the volume of the crowd that we usually attract. The youth of Mindanao I noticed, are not really wild (compared to what I've experienced in other parts of the country). They generally follow harmonious etiquette towards each other but still, the usually large number of attendees scare me and my security team. In a sea of people, it feels like something's bound to happen. Fortunately, we've not yet (hopefully never would we) encountered a problem with securing the band and the crowd and sometimes, it's actually the band creating problems for us. Being rebels, I think it's natural for them to stretch the limits of our security's resources and test 'til where they could go. Ergo, you have this lead vocalist who rips his shirt off and then throws himself to the crowd, outside the safety barricades we've put up, but to the delight of the crowd of course. Was I delighted at that sight? Hmn. I wasn't totally amused but I get his act.

So Mindanao, a land of my roots, I shall come home to you again. =)

It's me on the Philippine Star's YStyle! Fantastic!

2010-09-03T04:29:00.000-07:00

I look like a retard but it's still me! Haha! (Please click on the photo for a clearer version)

Pardon the excitement. I totally thought that the picture taken by Smokey Delfino, an ex-client from British American Tobacco, was just going to be part of the usual clutter of pictures in a photographer's file. I didn't think it would end up getting printed - ergo the weird smile. And I was holding a tissue, nice.

It's a little something that made me smile today. This was taken in Paul Smith's "Dance to the Nines" event last Tuesday at Amber Lounge at the Fort Strip. My friend Charles de Jesus, Paul Smith Brand Manager in the Philippines, took the lead. Actually, I had some suggestions but they came in too late. It was all planned. ICharles had always been supportive of me so I thought to return the favor (Last year, I did an event inside the Paul Smith store in Greenbelt, awesome!). But yun nga, the favor came in late. Argh.

Anyway, I had a very good time at the event, the vibe was truly Euro. And my experience was authentically British as I talked to an intern from the British Embassy whose stay here in the country is focused on the study of Human Rights and Mindanao issues (he came in with the UK Embassy's economic attache in Manila). I cannot help but share my points of view on Mindanao given that the complexity of the subject cannot be understood by observing the surface, the obvious and reading what's written on the press. What should be read, if you're going to read Mindanao, should be what's written on books.

But before I get totally political here, here are two articles about the event:

Let's hear it for the boys in dapper garb
TALK SHOP By Anne Bella (The Philippine Star)

Great Looks for Men: How to be stylish, forward and well-groomed this season
SHEER APPEAL By Jake Galvez (The Manila Bulletin)

TGIF!

Wow Urbandub!

2010-09-02T04:04:00.000-07:00

Hahnep (no translation meaning ohmy-awesome; also expressed in moments of disbelief due to incredibility)!

I know Urbandub has a following most especially in the Visayan-speaking regions in the Philippines but I didn't know how HUGE they are among students until I heard the whole audience (or pit) sing along with the band. Maybe it's my age or preference (or lack of knowledge in Pinoy rock music), I honestly didn't know a thing. Their music sounded nice though, I liked it. But when it comes to Filipino bands, I prefer songs sung in Filipino not English. Maybe it's the band's way to bring down the language barrier as Cebuanos (Urbandub is composed of Cebuanos, yupyup) generally speak English better than the Tagalog-based Filipino. (Down to Tagalog colonialism! (Although I am a Tagalog-loving Tagalog))

Anyway, Lalay, the female basist, was the biggest star in the band. She sure is pretty and ergo a sure hit among a generally male crowd. AND she literally rocks! With a bass guitar! Daamn. Her name is the only name actually being shouted by the crowd. LALAY!!! And then she smiles a most charming smile and the guys melt. She rocks.

So it was another event by our brand for the youth of Dumaguete City. Truly, the youth rocks in Dumaguete, a city that seems to be created around the mission of educating the youth. Dumaguete is known for hosting four of the best schools not only in the Visayas, but also in the country. They are Silliman University, Foundation University, Negros Oriental State University (popularly called as NORSU) and St. Paul University Dumaguete. Silliman, where the concert was held, is a very romantic campus. I think it's the only university in the country that is literally in front of the beach. It reminded me of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus because of it's openness and the trees that line its main avenue.

Anyway, back to the event, we were actually just part of Silliman's Founder's Day celebration. The concert ground looked like a fair with the different booths of school orgs all around. They were not booths actually, they were nipa huts in different designs, sizes and variations. My favorite was the ROTC hut that had three levels. I assume a person would be able see much of Dumaguete from the top-most level of their structure. Actually, it might be more proper to call it a Nipa tower because of its height. Hehe. The whole concert went pretty well. It started with our hip hop dance competition and ended with the main act. The kids were happy, I was generally ok (I still had problems with the set-up due to expectations on standards (I hated the coco lumber stage with tons of merchandising from other sponsors so I had them taken out. Sorry Samurai Energy drink.)), no one got hurt, it helped our sales. SO... it was a good run. =)

Thank you Silliman. Thank you Dumaguete. Ok fine, thank you too Eventscape. And thank you Urbandub. Oh, btw, watch their full concert here; the only online concert in the Philippines (among the few in the world. WOW!). Also from Globe! Double Wow (Oh my, we can do these things? Wowowow!)!

PS
My company doesn't pay me to write nor promote our company, our brands or products on my personal page. But since my work is part of my person, surely bits of promotion will find their way here. And speaking of promotion, here is our latest text offers! Tadaaa!

evil hostage taker

2010-08-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

Evil has no nationality, nor class nor race. It has no country.
But the recent event shows that there are issues here in the
country that need to be addressed because evil flourishes.
And so does incompetence and general stupidity.

I hope we rise again.

none i tell you

2010-08-23T04:14:00.000-07:00

none i tell you; none so far i think has anyone used a jeepney barker* to promote anything (other than the crammed ride).

activations is about making people feel a message, a proposition, your main sell. and whether or not actual selling is happening in your area of activation, i think that if you drive the proposition so hard - you make that spatial ad so daaamn good - it will still lead to that sale. because the message is remembered and understood. that's why i believed in our strategy - drive the unlimited-to-more-people proposition in an instance where a big number of people are crammed in a tiny space. because that's where they'd get it. "lot of people here? lot of people to text, too, when you're on the Globe network." ergo - the jeepney barker whose job is to push as many people as he can inside the jeep.

although it's true that it would be harder working if there was actual selling, i don't think this activation is all fluff. it's not just a TV ad; the message is made more relevant by the context of where it was received. it's more than an additional TARP that will cost you the entire run of this jeepney program.

but of course the big kahuna (i still love and respect her) thinks otherwise. she thinks that on-ground activations should always lead to a sale. if it doesn't produce the numbers, it's not worth doing. and the problem with being on client's side, is that i understand where's shes coming from. i don't totally agree with the direction but the safety feeling numbers give is very hard to argue with in an industry with declining profits. it's seems like it's too dangerous to gamble.

however, in the long run, i still believe in the power of brands. and i think that it's the gutsy brands who do their share of adventure (entrepreneurship is a calculated adventure), the daring brands who lead, are the brands who will last. we can always go into a price war and i agree that price wars can kill brands most especially in a market that's all about price value. but, marketing classics point out - prices, promos and offers don't last but strong brands do.

but i will remember lest i get murdered again in the boardroom - as much as possible, bring in the sale. i get that ma'am! but of course, i'm stubborn. i'd still do it in an activations worth remembering. go go!

*jeepney barkers shout (ergo bark) to get passengers into a jeepney in streets where other jeepneys (that are not lined up) poach passengers. jeepney lines are found in urban areas in the Philippines, most especially in Metro Manila, usually in university and commercial districts. it's a device depended on by jeepney drivers to ensure equitable share in their market of passengers within a certain area.

i wet my pants watching this

2010-08-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

what i like about events is the possibility of making people FEEL something - from the feeling of high to remembering happy memories. the best one can feel is an emotional climax. there have been many times when people cry on the dance floor because of the all-out feeling of happiness happening, going around in the place. and that's what i want to achieve in my dream event - trigger happy emotions that celebrate love, friendships, that celebrate life. emotions that make you smile as you shed your tear just because of what you hear and see; because of what the hair on your skin feels. that's what i want to do. and if i can create an event just like what's in this video, i'd get closer to that goal because that's what i want people to say - "the club can't even handle me right now."

oh

2010-08-20T03:10:00.000-07:00

i wanted to post a cool blog about an event at the la salle college of arts in singapore. but i cant.

ergo, ill just post the link.

guarding a celebrity

2010-08-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

"nay, huwag niyo pong kukurutin."

that's my usual opening line when i give my roll call of rules among subscribers who'd want to have their photos taken with sarah geronimo. plus other guidelines - no pulling of sarah's hair, no extra poses, no pulling of sarah's clothes. i honestly dont get it why fans would want to touch their idol's skin. she doesn't sing when they do, anyway. i guess that's what being a fan is about. in fairness to the kid (sarah g), she's very professional about it. she waves, talks to her fans. it really feels genuinely real when she says hello, as if she's a close friend they've known for a long time. charisma indeed belongs to the stars.

but whatever the effect, it seems like its my job to literally stand in the way of having those dreams fulfilled just because i need to make sure that our celebrity endorser, an investment on our part, is safe most especially when under our control. that's why i have a phalanx of 15 security guards whenever she visits a business center. and that's usually augmented by the mall's own team. i actually feel like a celebrity when i'm walking with her with all the attention. well, behind her actually together with viva's manager for concerts and other members of the staff who trails her presence.

so, until her concert tour ends, i'll be there around sarah in her mall visits to make sure no one gets a kick out of pinching her. hah.

soldiers of a new age, we are.

2010-08-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

timely called soldiers of the new age, this song by Salamin is an epic. i'd surely want to see them in one of my concerts in the future. and only if i can add performers behind them, that would be the bomb.

i remember this band called Cally Lily who performed in our Davao show and i hated the vocalist to my guts. he really wanted to headbang; his music was melancholic to the point of wailing. and failing to break into climax, he ripped his shirt as a finale. sad. i'll post the pic when i see it.

flash mob is so 2 years ago

2010-08-19T19:35:00.001-07:00

and yet i'm doing it again. =) with much pride.

i don't think flash mobs have been executed well in the Philippines. i remember participating in a Greenwich Pizza mob wherein we were asked to stare in front of a Greenwich store. i thought it was a good idea only that, it looked too staged. we were asked to wear green shirts, yes, the brand color, and carry Greenwich paper bags. and we were asked to act as if we were all random people just noticing something at the restaurant. randomly uniformed people, right.

anyway, so the intent in our flash mob was to coincide with a promo we're doing in a mall that visually shows how many people a Globe subscriber can text and call, unlimited, within our network. so we asked people to wear Globe headgears from the MRT to the LRT or vice versa with the promise of a reward to show who are on the Globe network. and to add oomph to the traffic, i threw in truly random people to show that there's really a lot of guys to text and call.

i wont say it's genius but i'd say, it got conversations going and elicited the effect that i wanted. people asked "bakit ang daming naka hat na Globe?" (why are there lots of people wearing Globe hats?). marami, lots --> target response.

achieved? achieved. and more to come.

my life in events

2010-08-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

life in events is never easy and simple. the many logistical details that need to be covered, the documents that need to be prepared before and after, and the egos and personalities that need to be managed (hello ms. passive-aggressive) are more than enough to turn me more insane than i already am. but then, i, like the many of us, find joy in creating and doing something that people feel, not just look at or read or listen to. if copywriters are faux poets and novelists and art directors frustrated designers and painters, then events people are your sell-out theatrical directors. because at the end of the day, that's what we do - shows, in school gyms, supermarkets and now, in my newest stage, the jeepney line, that elicit an emotional response and hopefully ultimately lead to a sale.

oh my is the expression that we are after. it's the people's gasp of awe or amusement that makes us know that our message will be remembered. that a step towards the goal has been achieved. and equally, it's the same reaction we give to those who deserve our attention. hopefully with an extra quip:

it's so good, it's so bad.