The biggest thing is here!

PASIG CITY – Bloggers, press people and individuals from digital marketing industry gathered at The Decagon, Silver City last Monday, September 17, 2012 to witness one of the Philippines mobile history’s milestones, the official launch of the Perxclub Mobile Application! The guests were filled of anticipation as they welcome the arrival of this mobile breakthrough. Perxclub Exclusive Launch went all out with great entertainment, fun and lots of freebies and surprises!

Introduced by Mobile Optima Inc., a pioneering mobile app developer and digital marketing solutions company, Perxclub is the Philippines’ first and only digital customer rewards program that digitizes your loyalty cards and puts them all in one place you won’t forget, your phone! It gives all those foodies and shop-a-holics the rewards and convenience they truly deserve. How? Just download the app on the App Store for FREE, collect Perxtamps or digital stamps everytime you purchase and you’ll be on your way off to receiving lot of goodies and free stuff from Partner Merchants!

Rio Ilao, Mobile Optima's Corporate Relations Manager, inviting the televiewers to download Perxclub

FEU's DCOY dance group gave a whooping performance of their Youtube hit dance routine.

Asiansation Christian Bautista serenading the audience.

Prof. Behn Cervantes (center), critically-acclaimed director, with Emlyn Olfindo-Santos (left) from UP College of Music and Sarah Balabagan, OFW heroine and inspirational singer, graced the event.

Delamar of RX 93.1's The Morning Rush hosted the event while lucky bloggers and guests wins special prizes from partner merchants.

Perxclub has teamed up with over 60 premier brands in the metro such as BonChon, Wendy’s, Chatime, Taters, Mrs. Fields, Mann Hann, Sumo Sam, White Hat, TechnoMarine, Nike Stadium, Flawless, Ink-All-You-Can and more to give loyal customers exciting freebies and rewards in a more convenient way. It also boasts of interactive features such as Play for a Prize where you can win additional freebies just by playing and winning a game, Leadership Circle where you get to know who’s got the most perks, Specials of the Month where merchants offer special promotion for the month and other fun and exciting features.

The event started as Asiansation Christian Bautista serenaded the audience with his special upbeat performances from his latest album Outbound while Delamar of RX 93.1’s The Morning Rush kicked off the night with her wit and glamour as she hosted the exclusive event. After dinner, Decoy dance troupe from FEU danced their way off with the trending dance craze Oppa Gangnam Style. Perxclub is then officially introduced by Mr. Jerry Ilao, one of Managing Partners of Mobile Optima Inc. and the man behind Perxclub. The said mobile app received several applauses from the audience as Mr. Ilao discusses the basic functions of Perxclub as well as its exciting features.

The guests received a total of over 100,000 worth of gift certificates and prizes from Perxclub and partner merchants. Three (3) lucky guests took home an HP Laser Printer each from Ink All-You-Can and one (1) lucky winner got a Sony Xperia Tipo from the event sponsor, Sony Xperia.


Further, Perxclub is also giving away cash prizes for the following lucky downloaders who successfully register for a Perxclub account:
First Prize: The 1,000th downloader will get Php10,000
Second Prize: The 2,000th user will get Php5,000
Third Prize: The 3,000th who register will get Php2,000

That’s simply for downloading the Perxclub App and registering for an account. Easy right? The winners will be notified via email or SMS and will also be announced via Perxclub Official Fanpage (https://www.facebook.com/PerxClub).

If you’re an iPhone, iPad or iTouch user, you can now download Perxclub on the App Store for FREE. The Android-compatible version is expected to be released within a couple of months.

No more bulky wallets. No more lost points and stamps. Get your own Perxclub now and enjoy the perks of life!
For more information, visit www.perxclub.com.

So what now?

I've been senti these past few days. Most of my thoughts go around the idea of me not having accomplished anything.

It saddens me that I am thinking these thoughts. It's as if I'm not capable of achieving anything (although the fact is, I am capable). I've done a lot of introspection, flashbacks and memory reviews. I even pulled out some of my memorabilia that chronicled my achievements in school. Yeah, that's how desperate I am to cheer up myself.

Well, one of the things I'm most proud of in college, academic-wise, is our Marketing Presentation in Brand Management class. With a team of 6, we're tasked to create the next step for National Bookstore brand, which is quite hard since NBS has been the "national bookstore" since time in memoriam. From humble beginnings, NBS paved its way from a soap shop to supplies store and now, as the education partner of parents and students.

We may not have the best idea for NBS' next step (although many would say the contrary :D ), but what I'm really most proud of this is our execution of ads. With only the 6 of us, we crafted crude commercials to support of marketing campaign for NBS. Well, you have to understand that we're just 4th year business students and none of us had a background on filmmaking so when the class was in awe after the commercial was shown, it was really worth carrying the big red couch 4 plight of stairs up and down.

Please forgive me but I really would like to share this, even just to myself, to cheer me up and with a tap on the back, I can say, "I did this. I'm a part if this milestone." And I advise you to do the same.

BA177 - Team National Bookstore "Red Couch"

BA177 - Team National Bookstore "Scrapbook"

Eldrin in Business World

Haha, don't think too high of yourself Eldrin, but I just want to share this.
Ok, I admit, I have a hobby of googling my name and everyone else's name (who doesn't, anyway :D ) and I've come across this when I searched for yours.

Apparently, I don't know you yet. I especially like the part when it comes to singing. Haha.
Of course you do! Like you don't! :P

Kudos! Credits to Behn Cervantes and Business World. :D

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-295519181/take-ten.html


UPDATE: I've learned from Eldrin that Prof. Behn Cervantes passed away last August 15. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends, especially to Eldrin who had him as his mentor.

Film: It's a Wonderful Life

I'll post a review of a film din. They might say I don't watch what Eldrin is fighting for. Haha.

Yeah, I know, I've been teasing Eldrin about watching New Year's Eve at this late in time but then here I come with a very, very old film. Hey, that's what classics are supposed to be: to be watched decades after! :D

This was referred to me. Again, like New Year's Eve, it's a holiday movie. HAHAHA. You'd feel a whole lot more when you watch it timely. It's set in a Christmas aura and was released in 1946.

I love the classics if all classics were like this. It's like our cliche films but way more inspiring. It's still in black and white but I love how the movie was treated.

I was surprised to see the scene where George Bailey (James Stewart) asked Mary (Donna Reed) if she wants the moon. Haha, that kilig scene I remember from Wall-E really is cute up until now. No more kilig scenes of that sort anymore. :( Just Friends With Benefits and Good Luck Chuck. I wish we could go back where we can cry with Landon Carter (Shane West) as he do all things for Jamie (Mandy Moore) before she dies in A Walk to Remember. Or we can value our lives with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as they hit their Bucket List. Or even just cry with Toy Story 3. Please let all films be worth watching! Haha. :D

Although it's kinda predictable for me since we've watched so many stories of the same storyline, I'm sure, back then, it made almost everyone cry. I admit, I cried, especially when people came pouring in to help George raise his $8,000. It's really amazing how a single person can touch so many lives, and the absence of whom can mean a totally new world.

We need more of these, inspiring films. Art evoking emotions and provoking actions. I should be more into classics, I think. Then maybe, I'll awake my passion for film. :D

OrgPres

I miss college already! I miss my classmates, my teachers, my orgmates and yes, even the classes. It's really true that life would be a lot different when you graduate.

One of the things I especially miss from college is our activity called OrgPres (Org Presentation). It's a competition between teams of organizations in our college where we prepare a certain presentation (that now evolved into a short play) that mixes what-would-it-be-if-they-are-put-together ideas. I like this since it's the aspect of my college life that dwells with my passion for theater (believe it or not, I do have!).

It's actually cute. You'll see how creative business people can be. In my 3rd year, the theme is CGI films and Nemo and Wall-E were assigned to us. I still remember how we made Eve be an evil robot made by Darla to steal Nemo but Wall-E would save him and change Eve back to the robot he loved by a true love's kiss. I don't know how we made possible cute fight scenes between The Incredibles and Up characters versus Garfield, Po of Kungfu Panda and fishes of Nemo. We had so much fun.

Last year, it got closer to theater. We get to combine a musical play and a performing artist. A lot of story conferences were done to create a story for Lady Gaga and Sweeney Todd. We went so dark indeed. I even get to play Sweeney Todd and sing! Haha. That was really an experience! Well, it's also fun to see how Beyonce would dwell in Rent, how Rihanna would be inspired by Chicago and Britney hitting it off in Hairspray.

Most of all, I miss cheering for my team. I still did cheer in this Orgpres I attended but it's different when you belong to a team and cheering while awaiting the results. I miss performing, too. At least, I can say I performed at least once! :)

Congratulations to UP JIBA (UP JPIA + UP IBA) for winning! Also, hats off to the competitors for nice presentations.

Anyway, I got to see my collegemates naman who wouldn't want to miss this too. Then we went to a very late dinner. We still have that chitchat bonding and laugh we used to when we were classmates. Although now, it's not a presentation or a case keeping us late together, it's our sheer bonding. And I'll always miss that.

Cute little puzzles

While at work, I'm bored by not doing anything. (If you're my boss, please stop reading now and yes, I've finished the weekly report!)

So I surfed through the net and searched for time killers. I found several puzzles that might annoy people but at least it will take up your wasted time. So I've answered a few of them brain teasers. It's actually fun until I saw puzzle.

I knew this is not a puzzle; it's too easy to be one. Yet, somehow, it intrigued me. Whoever is behind this got the interest out of me. Haha. Good job there, strategy guy!

Anyway, here's the puzzle for your perusal!

MRT Experience!

Put the blame on my alarm clock, I'm now forced to take the MRT.

OK, haha. Sorry, but let me just explain my situation. I'm claustrophobic and really, I can be a withheld Hulk when put in a very cramped situation. So to go to work on time, I must leave the house quarter to 6 and take a bus ride. Even though it's long and pricey, it's worth it than punching people around you (who sometimes is also pushed to push you).

Anyway, my alarm clock (and yes, I'm sticking with "it's his fault") did not wake me up. To reach the office on time, I must take the faster MRT in rush hour for the FIRST TIME from North Avenue station. I dread to do this since everytime I pass by this station, I can see the line going all the way down the streets. (I'm actually writing this while waiting in this LONG line.) I really salute Filipinos for being so masipag and matiisin for their families and work. But, hey, I'm now one of them! Or not.

The siksikan starts from the streets. Good thing MRT management decided to let passengers by batch so the station doesn't get too crowded and dangerous. Although, this now makes long lines and creates very eager passengers that result to siksikan and ipitan.

I have long been thinking of a solution for this and recommend to President Aquino. Haha. But seriously, I can't think so far of an immediate solution even just to ease the long lines and siksikan. Adding trains could be a solution, but I think MRT already has enough trains since trains come one after the other. Seriously, for the passengers, it can really be degrading naman if the situation is always like this. I hope the administration would find a solution and my alarm clock would wake me up on time.

Hey, that's my stop!

Hope fades?

Remember me telling you that given a one-film budget, I would watch Hope Springs? Well, i just found out that it's not in the cinemas anymore! Not even SM or Ayala Cinemas. I'm planning to watch it this weekend since that's my only free time this past weeks. But now, while waiting for the DVD copy, I'm forced with The Campaign or Expendables.

It's really sad. I mean Meryl Streep averages like one film per year and it's really a mission to definitely see this one also in cinema. (As I mentioned in my previous blog, I really am sold to films with best actors and actresses. You don't need to sell me the best visual effects or the beautiful faces/body, just the story and the actors in it.)

My theory, and this I have observed, is Hope Springs did not sell as it should be. Like StepUp 3 (and even our own flop, cheesy films), which some of its cinema slots was pulled out days after its grand opening, Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones (even with Steve Carell) didn't appeal to the Filipino public.

It's natural that Filipinos would want a film they would enjoy for their hard-earned money. It's just sad that this changes our general taste for films. Even with a cliche, so-so story and unable actors, basta there's kilig or fad it banks on, people watch it.

When was the last time we had a great award-winning film like Himala or Markova that's also available mainstream for people to see? Almost all of the great films are now in the indie film cinemas and only few can watch it. Film, like painting and singing, used to be an arm of art expression and is valued therefore on its relevance and quality. Don't even get me started with our local award-giving film bodies and singing contests.

I'm still hoping for Hope Springs, though. :D

Chose to be Snow White than a Vampire

Hey, whatever happened to the Robert Pattinson-Kristen Stewart brouhaha? It came at us shooting through the skies then disappeared like a comet in a glance.

Last time I checked, Robert would try to patch up things daw. So not Kristen?

Come to think of it, adultery and dishonesty set in a relationship tone should be a big deal for everybody. Especially here in the Philippines where we strongly believe in monogamy and trust. But weeks after the news popped, it's as if almost nobody cares anymore. (Well, add to the fact that it's Robert and Kristen and nobody really seem to care.)

Also, it's the double standard system playing here again. We so look at the girl's fault that we overlook that there's adultery at play here, too. If Rupert Sanders (director of Snow White and the Huntsman) remained faithful to his marriage (which is more binding than a bf-gf relationship), she would not be tempted to cheat.

There are people who say that Stewart has the control of the situation the time it arose. She's the girl kasi so she should have stopped Sanders, or at least dropped any signs that show motive. Hey, what about Sanders? Isn't he liable, too...and should take the blame more than Stewart since he is married? And what about him being a director? Does he really go around, using his position to sleep with the cast or staff? And who knows if this was not the first time? Some would argue, "he's a guy kasi." That's it? We would relieve some blame from Sanders because he thinks with his penis and is supposed to act that way?

Hey, hey, hey! I think I need to defend the guys here... I...

Anyway, haha. After all that ranting, my view here is this is just a staged issue to promote their upcoming movie Breaking Dawn part 2. Let's accept it (though I am not a big fan of Twilight books or films) that people have created this magical couple (with Stephanie Meyer's help) loving each other forever so they both have to be vampires. If the real-life tandem is experiencing some troubles with their relationship, the fans would be sympathetic. Then at the end, maybe they will try to patch up things and the ending of a love-is-sweeter-the-second-time story is the finale of the film in November. 
Wow, a nice imagination you have there, huh! If this is true,  that's a helluva lot sacrifice just to promote the film. :D

Blogging about Blogging

Hello!

Our first time here at the writing world! (don't worry, it'll get better :D)

So since, we're new here, let's talk about blogging itself.

Wow ha, how clever for a first article. We blog about blogging? Haha. Well, admittedly, the reason I want to blog because I want to read and recognized. Maybe some of the bloggers had this reason, too. But of course, the "reason" is to 'influence lives" and "share two-cent ideas that may enlighten others". Haha. :D

Yeah, coz nowadays, bloggers are quite being popular. Some of them are that influential with what they blog, they get treated as a celebrity.

But breaking pieces here, what really make them very famous? I think, the way they critic everything negatively, then just comment one or two good items so they have that "exquisite taste". Or they're just good. :P

Maybe, they had a following na right before they started blogging. Or blogging is a way they thought to be effective in communicating with their following.

There are those who really start from scratch. I mean, going to a number of food places and restaurants to become a food blogger or traveling a lot and posting pictures to their travel blogs. You must be prepared for the money you'll be spending! Haha, it's so expensive to create a following. But once you get *that*, oh, you can even close a store with a nice whipped article.

Bloggers are being invited to parties and conventions and sometimes, they're viewed as more powerful now than printing press writers. Gone are the days that people buy newspapers for the hard-hitting comments and nice reviews. Those can be accessed with few clicks and a good connection. (which I'm having trouble about now)

Us? We're starting from scratch and we may never have that power to influence your dinner plans our your weekend getaways. But no matter what, we'll just say anything. :D We'll comment on anything. After all, we all think of blogging as our own editorial column.

Haha, first article... Should get better, honey. Haha, we'll get better. Then we'll just laugh about this.

Film: New Year's Eve

Quick lang, Steph. Haha, I just thought that our font size should be smaller. Wow! OC sickness it is! But hey, I looked at it, it's really small naman.

Anyway, haha. I'm a big fan of star-studded films. I mean, films that really feature so many actors like Valentine's Day (which I've already seen) and Love Actually (which I'm dying to see). You don't have to sell me the "sikat" celebrities in a film. With just a few really good actors and a story, I would love to spend my hard-earned money to watch it in cinemas. Just to illustrate, given a one-film budget, I would definitely see Hope Springs than Bourne Legacy or that teen chick-flick GMA had produced. Hey! I want to watch Just One Summer! You're totally biased! Haha.

This may be a super late review but I just watched it. Where was I during the time this film was shown? I don't know. Still, not late to talk about it. You just watched this? So how did you find the film, grandpa? :D

Although it's cliche, the story of intertwined lives affected by a single holiday event (very much like Valentine's Day) still sells for me. Not only did it involve the traditional kissing at midnight (Why can't we have that tradition here?) and unfulfilled love stories, but it also included familial and friendly relationships.

Robert De Niro is a classic. To think that he has nothing to do but lie down and talk sickly, he did a pretty amazing job portraying the role of a dying father who may have achieved everything in life but has earned a few regrets on the way. Add to the ensemble Michelle Pfeiffer who did splendidly the role of Ingrid, a regular employee who wanted to fulfill a list of resolutions.

I'm surprised to see Jon Bon Jovi. I'm a big fan of his music, but not of his acting. Still, it's a relief to see him in a new light. I just met Katherine Heigl in the Ugly Truth but I never thought how beautiful she is until I saw her in this film. Not a stunning performance but she definitely added value in the film. So is Halle Berry. A far cry from Catwoman days and 007 lady era.

Sarah Jessica Parker was the mom she needs to be for the role. I just didn't like the "Sex-and-the-City" ending where she came in very high heeled shoes and glittery dress as Josh Duhamel's partner.

Ryan Seacrest definitely added some star value and comic relief, but then again he's a spectacular host, so no surprise there. 

I can't comment any further! I forgot the film na, it was like ages ago... :D

This was also full of songs (maybe because of the inclusion of Bon Jovi and Lea Michelle). One song I liked is Michelle's version of Auld Lang Syne. Lea and Josh look so cute! I think all the 'love' love in this film was centered on them.

I like the twists and the stories intertwined in this film. From competing expectant mothers to a teenage puppy love even to the depths of understanding the essence of New Year and how it's done in Times Square.
Speaking of which, this made me crave more to see (even live in) New York. Or maybe I'm watching too much Hollywood films and Friends.

To cap it off, I have one word. Hope. New York, or even the US, is living in a very fast-paced life that sometimes, people forget to stop and reflect. And as the ball drops, a new year starts with a must of a new hope.