World Famous in the Philippines

A Look Back : Google Past 15

2014-02-15T00:00:00.000+08:00

Every few years, the internet enters a new paradigm.

Previously it was social. The era started with Friendster which gave in to Facebook. It was all about having as much friends and connections as possible.

Now the internet is all about sharing. Web pages are “liked”. Videos go viral. Comments are retweeted. With all the connections made during the social period, the next logical step is to share things with each other.

But before all of this, there was search. And the king of search is Google. Google has been synonymous with search as Coke is with beverage.

But what makes Google different?

How did it survive for so long and still remain on top?

The Beginning of Google

In September 1998, Britney Spears debuted in a catholic schoolgirl uniform singing and dancing to “(Hit me) ...Baby One More Time”. And just like the song, another search engine provider entered the scene that same month. It was Google.

Google offered its internet search service amidst other competitors such as Alta Vista, Ask Jeeves, Lycos, Infoseek, and the top search engine at the time, Yahoo!.

Page Rank

All of these companies provided the same service; delivering search results to users. But Google was different from the rest. While all search engines at the time delivered results based on the keywords found on a webpage, Google used a unique algorithm called Page Rank. Page Rank is named after one of the Google founders, Larry Page.

Instead of basing results on the number of keywords on a page, Page Rank delivers results on the number of pages link to the specific page. The more pages reference that page, the higher it is in ranking.

Page Rank addressed the issue of webmasters filling up a page with the keyword to increase its placement in search results.

A Clean Slate

Another stand out feature of Google then was its interface. Going to google.com brings the user to a clean white page with a search bar in the middle. Most, if not all the other search engine pages were cluttered with advertisements and recommended webpages.

Up until now, Google has not deviated much from this design. The clean white page does not detract the user from his primary goal in visiting the page; to search.

Verbifying Google

By the end of 1998, Google has over 60 million web pages in its index and was beginning to be identified as the top web search engine around.

As of 2012, Google has indexed over 30 trillion web pages, with an average 100 billion queries per month.

Google has become so popular and synonymous with internet search that in 2006, the Oxford English Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary added the word ‘google’ and is defined as to obtain information on something or somebody on the internet.

Google has discouraged the use of its name as a verb to avoid genericizing the word and lose its trademark. Google has publicly requested that the use of its name should only refer to the company (Google, Inc.) and its services

Google Earnings

It is estimated that Google earns about $1873 per second. According to its annual report filed with the SEC, Google’s gross profit for 2012 was US$ 50.18 Billion. Over 90% of its revenue is from advertising products.

Google started to sell advertising in 2000. During this time, advertisements were placed on pages randomly. Google did it differently by selling advertisements based on keywords. A particular ad will only show if the user used a relevant keyword.

Keywords were sold based on a combination of price bid and click-throughs, with bidding starting at $.05 per click.

15 Years Later

Google from the beginning has done things differently. Google changed the way search was done. It introduced a clean interface where everyone’s webpage was portal based. Their adopted profit model was also far from the norm.

The company’s ability to be simple, different and at the same time relevant has been Google’s strong suit. Where others have folded, faced bankruptcy, and sold at bargain prices, Google has stayed on top. From a starting IPO of $85 in 2004, the stock price crossed the $1000 mark on the 17th of October 2013.

Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Google as the 2nd most valuable brand in the world.

In 2005, then CEO Eric Schmidt summed up Google’s success strategy when he said, “"We don't do the same thing as everyone else does. And so if you try to predict our product strategy by simply saying well so and so has this and Google will do the same thing, it's almost always the wrong answer. We look at markets as they exist and we assume they are pretty well served by their existing players. We try to see new problems and new markets using the technology that others use and we build."

LinkedIn: A Decade of Making Relationships Matter

2014-01-02T13:49:00.000+08:00

The Philippines is a nation that loves social networks. It boasts the most number of users for then social network giant Friendster. It is the 8th most connected country for Facebook. But ask the average Filipino what LinkedIn is, and most probably one gets a blank stare.

That goes for any average user in any country.

Basically, LinkedIn is a social network.

It is not the usual social network people are accustomed to like Facebook. It brands itself as a network for professionals. People join LinkedIn not to talk about their personal lives but to connect with others to enrich and expand their business and career through networking.

It’s about knowing and meeting people within one’s own industry without leaving the office or attending conventions and seminars. Better yet, it’s connecting with like minded people.

With LinkedIn, people can find job openings related to their core competence, know the latest within their industry, and even ask peers for answers and advice.

As their slogan aptly puts it, it’s about making relationships matter.

LinkedIn Foundations

LinkedIn was founded by Reid Hoffman and partners from SocialNet and PayPal in 2003.

He envisioned a network where professionals from all over the world can connect with each other to make them more productive and successful.

At the time, the leading social network was Friendster. Because of this, their initial name for the website was Colleaguester but they found the name too weird and settled for LinkedIn.

They launched the site on May 2013 with the tagline, “Relationships matter.”.

At the end of the first month, they had 4,500 members in the network. LinkedIn broke 1 million members in 2004 and 5 million by 2006. By 2013, LinkedIn has over 225 million members connecting with each other.

In 2009, Jeff Weiner, an EVP from Yahoo!, joined the company as President, then CEO while Reid became Chairman of the Board.

Inside the Box

Comparing LinkedIn with other social networks may be a bit difficult to explain. LinkedIn is not about sharing personal information like pictures of food, opinions on the latest fad, or even what sports team one is rooting for.
LinkedIn is about sharing about career and industry information.

Features like Groups, where users can join a special interest group (like Excel users) to ask and share what they know about the subject, are what sets LinkedIn apart.

Users also build up their contact network by allowing them to access secondary and tertiary connections of their network. They can be introduced to them through their mutual contact. One cannot simply invite another person to his or her own network. The person must have a level of relationship to the other to be invited or that a mutual contact endorses the person to be invited.

One very strong and important aspect of LinkedIn is that people can find job openings related to their careers. These are posted by companies and other users of the site. Some statistics put it that 48% of recruiters post job openings only on LinkedIn and that 77% of all available jobs can be found in the site. One reason for this is because recruiters and companies are comfortable in finding prospective hires from the site because of how the site is structured; one cannot lie about his or her competency in front of ones own connections.
But then again, 80% of users are not actively looking for jobs.

Moving Forward

LinkedIn is the leading professional network website. It has filled a niche that caters to a user base that is goal oriented and value driven.

It serves as a platform for people to mutually benefit from networking with each other, to share what they know and learn more from others, and discover job and business opportunities not usually found.. The company even understands how its users value their privacy and it integrates that to their principle.
LinkedIn knows that professionals aim to grow and enrich their career. And they deliver in spades.
For ten years, LinkedIn has provided this service and its growing numbers is testament to its quality and value.
It has survived longer than other social networks like Friendster and MySpace. It won’t be surprising to see it still standing another 10 more years and beyond.

The Cat in the Box - Schrodinger's Cat, Aliens, and the End of the World

2013-10-27T12:05:00.000+08:00

Well, it seems we're coming into a slightly quiet season. After the summer, all seems down and droopy. So I just want to share some movies I have seen that may be worth your time.

I know it's all been done to shreds, these posts of interesting things to watch but heck, I still want to jump into that pool and share in the frolicks of pretension and superiority.

MOVIES

These past two months has me watching old movies, a splattering of new and new-ish ones. When I mean watch, I mean watch it from beginning to end without fast forwarding. Any movie I see that I have to wikipedia through the plot and jump to the end does not count.

For oldies, I watched 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Boogie Nights. The two really don't have a common thread except of course they were both set in California (San Fernando Valley for Boogie, San Francisco for Snatchers) but both movies in a way, portend change; how we deal with it. I know it is a stretch to say that an alien invasion and a movie about the porn industry are both saying change is inevitable but for me, it does.

In the new-ish category, I saw A Serious Man. It's a Cohen brothers movie from 2008 i think (too lazy to imdb it just now) and it came right after No Country For Old Men (or was it before?). Anyway, the movie has that calm before the storm kind of feel to it. And after watching the ending, I know why. The movie I guess is about moral choices and how spirituality or at the other end, science plays a big part. For the science geeks, the movie can be summarized as a guys moral choice that mimics Schrodinger's Cat experiment if the cat was God.

Machete Kills is camp good. It's one of the two new movies released this year that I have seen. Not as good as the first one but still good. Nothing really in the way of plot except that Machete kills while trying to save the world. Another movie I enjoyed was This Is The End. Just like Machete Kills, it's a fun movie about actors facing the end of the world. It has that reality tv kind of vibe since the actors play themselves which adds to the humor. THe first movie is about a Mexican Federal agent who saves the world and the other is about actors trying to survive the end of the world (cue Morisette's song). Oh and hey, Danny McBride truly rocks.

Oh and for movies I am on the look out for, I want to watch "In A World...". I hear its a comedy about those movie trailer voice actors. Hope that one's good.

How about you guys? Any recommendations?

Oh and sorry but I didn't feel like editing this at the moment. I'll probably come back and polish it but right now, I think this one's good to go

Pushing the Limits of Wearable Technology

2013-09-19T03:13:00.004+08:00

"I quit wearing a watch... My cell phone has a clock so I don't need it."
Chuck (Paul Rudd)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Wearable strain sensors

The world is fascinated with modern technology. Everyone has an insatiable need to keep up with it. But what do people look for when it comes to what technology has to offer?

From the early 1970s to the early 2000s, the direction was for portability. Phones now are no bigger than a pack of cigarettes, computers are small enough to fit in a lady's purse, and thousands of files can now be stored in usb drives the size of a thumb. With most gadgets becoming smaller, powerful, and multifunctional, portability has run its course as a selling factor for devices.

As technology approaches the nanoscale, devices are getting smaller and smaller that it can now be integrated into the clothes people wear. This advancement in science and engineering is known as Wearable Technology.

BOND, JAMES BOND

Arguably, the first iconic character to showcase the use of devices and gadgets that has been touched up by technology is James Bond. From his car that can turn into a submarines to a cigarette that can fire a rocket projectile, James Bond captivated audiences with the creativity and technical innovation of his gadgets.

In Roger Moore's first foray as James Bond in Live and Let Die, Moore showcased a watch that when pressed showed the time in digital format. The Pulsar (P2 model #2900), cost around $3000 and had a two year waiting list. In 1973, when the movie came out, it was a glimpse of wearable technology.

Fast forward to 2013 where Google, Apple, and even Microsoft are announcing the development of smart watches. Watches that will integrate computers, information technology, and of course, basic timekeeping.

BEYOND WATCHES

Moore's Law (named after Intel co-founder Gordon Moore and no relation to Roger Moore) states that computing power doubles every two years. Moore's Law has been constantly accurate since it was first introduced in 1963. This means that by the year 2030 or earlier, we will find that the circuits on a microprocessor approach the atomic scale.

What this means is that wearable technology can be pushed further than just developing a smart watch. Just recently, optical fiber, no thinner than a strand of human hair, has been developed with photovoltaic properties which allows fabric to generate electricity. The fiber acts on the principle of solar cells that convert sunlight into electrical energy.

Google Glass is a computer that is built inside the frame of eyeglasses which gives the wearer computer and internet access.

Wearable technology can also be applied within the medical field. A vest has been developed in Italy consisting of strain sensors made of conductive elastomers printed onto fabric that allows doctors to monitor physiotherapy exercises at home, posture, or flexibility during normal everyday tasks of patients.

THE FUTURE

As the world is slowly introduced to wearable technology, what will come next?

Maybe James Bond has the answer to this. In the 2006 Bond movie, Casino Royale, Bond is implanted with a microchip under his skin that helps MI6 keep track of his whereabouts. This technology is based on a new science and engineering field called bionanotechnology.

Using actual DNA to construct devices no bigger than a molecule, bionanodevices can be built to hunt down cancer cells, deliver medication to specific areas of the body, or even repair damaged organs.

There may come a time when people will not need to carry or even wear devices anymore but become one themselves. And when that happens, what will come next?

Longevity Measured In Three Stripes

2013-07-25T10:57:00.001+08:00

Wear the boot that Lionel Messi uses.

A running shoe with foam cushioning material that provides more energy return than any other in the running industry today.
An all around athletic shoe with technology that allows for 36-degree cooling for the entire foot.

Adidas is constantly incorporating the newest in material technology and structural design to bring out the best in sport performance.

Technology evolves continuously. New materials are created that enhance performance and Adidas is always at the forefront. From lightweight and sturdy materials, cutting edge support, and all around style, Adidas is at pace with incorporating this into their products.

But one thing has been a staple that technology cannot change. The three stripe logo of Adidas has been around since the inception of the company and will always be there.

A Study in Logo Design

Three stripes. It is one of the most recognized logos in the world today.

In 1949 when Adi Dassler registered his athletic shoe company in Germany, he wanted a logo on his shoe that is easily recognizable. But the Adidas logo does more than that. When incorporated into the shoe (or even in athletic clothing), the three stripes seem to add to the performance of the shoe. It gave an aura of added structure and support.

The logo has even transcended athletics and has also entered mainstream culture. Presumably started by popular rap group, Run DMC, Adidas clothing has become a fixture in the music scene from rap groups to club DJs. It added a coolness factor to the performers.

The three stripes made sense when incorporated into the shoe or clothing. The placement may be different from how logos are placed on clothes (running from the shoulder to the arms or on the outer sides of the pant leg) but the three stripes added a feel of motion and dynamics without being out of place.

An Amalgamation of time

Despite the logo being more than 60 years old, the three stripe logo has not tarnished or even shunned by the young generation. It is even embraced, a mark of being in style. Wearing the three stripes is as fashionable today as it was before.

It is no wonder that Adidas has not changed their logo more than three times in its entire history. And yet, during these changes, the three stripes has been a fixture.

Acceptance

The young generation has been and will always be fickle. They avoid the old and they are always on the lookout for things they can claim as their own; something that defines their generation.

Adidas has transcended that. All athletic companies boasts of the newest in technology, best in style and comfort, and being in fashion. And Adidas has consistently been in pace with all these.

And being 64 years old, the company still garners acceptance and is part of the current generation. That is a hard feat to do.

It may be because of the athletes who use their athletic wear like football hero Lionel Messi or tennis idol Andy Murray. It may be because of Rap Icons, Run DMC or even fashion designer Stella McCartney.

Some embrace the technology that Adidas offers like its Climacool technology or their BOUNCE running soles.

But as athletes and technology builds on the products, the three stripes will remain there. Adidas is a study on how to remain in the forefront of time, a testament of style, acceptance, and longevity.

Recovering After a Stroke: A Patient and Family Guide Consumer Guide : A review

2013-04-17T13:56:00.000+08:00

Available online, the “Recovering After a Stroke: A Patient and Family Guide Consumer Guide” by the US Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality published May 1995 is a very handy and useful tool to consult about caring for a loved one who suffered a stroke.

As defined in the guide, “A stroke is a type of brain injury. Symptoms depend on the part of the brain that is affected. People who survive a stroke often have weakness on one side of the body or trouble with moving, talking, or thinking. Most strokes are ischemic (is-KEE-mic) strokes. These are caused by reduced blood flow to the brain when blood vessels are blocked by a clot or become too narrow for blood to get through. Brain cells in the area die from lack of oxygen. In another type of stroke, called hemorrhagic (hem-or-AJ-ic) stroke, the blood vessel isn't blocked; it bursts, and blood leaks into the brain, causing damage.”

The first frustrating thing both the patient and family encounter, is how to understand this debilitating disease. Although medical personnel are always around to offer their help and knowledge, there are times when an advice is needed and one is not near a hospital or around medical help.

This is where the guide truly shines.

The guide educates the reader on all the factors that cover what a stroke patient goes through. It clearly explains all the steps needed for the person to help the patient. From after-stroke procedures all the way to home care, the guide clearly lays all this out in a relaxed and understandable presentation.

As such, this guide should be the first reading material people should read when it comes to patient care. It is a handy book for consulting certain areas or situations regarding strokes and stroke related care.

The guide can be broken down into sections as follows:

Definition of a stroke, particularly ischemic strokes
Recovering from a stroke
What Happens after Acute Care (Acute care is the first step after treating a stroke which includes helping the patient survive, preventing another stroke, and taking care of any other medical problems)
Preventing another stroke
How stroke affects people
Depression after stroke
Rehabilitation
Preparing a Living Place
Deciding about special equipment
Preparing caregivers
Going home
Tips for reducing stress
Follow up appointments
Where to get help

The rehabilitation section alone is more than helpful for someone who needs a background in this important step in stroke recovery. It covers everything one needs to know regarding rehabilitation.

And it shows how important rehabilitation needs as this topic has the most coverage in the guide.

It is not the end-all and be-all for a stroke guide but it will address most of the concerns one has regarding strokes. Only 17 pages long, there are more in-depth books around that will address specific issues regarding the topic.

At the least, it gives everyone a good solid foundation on strokes.

Although it has been more than 15 years since it was published, the guide is still one of the top recommended reads for both patients and loved ones on the subject of strokes and after-stroke care.

Recovering After a Stroke: A Patient and Family Guide Consumer Guide is available online

Education and Social Networks: The MOOC

2013-01-09T07:47:00.000+08:00

An often touched upon subject with regards to social networks is its added value to the person. The word "value" in terms of social media is often associated to business and brand building.

Promotions and marketing programs of brands and business, status updates of friends and loved ones, general news and social concerns make up a majority of the content social media delivers.

But what about the well-being and growth of a person? How can social media contribute to this?

Massive Online Open Courses or MOOC may be the answer.

Early last year, MIT and Harvard announced a collaboration to offer free online education to people anywhere in the world. The edX program is an interactive learning program delivered via the web.

The difference with the MOOC and traditional online courses is that MOOCs are usually free, open to anyone and that the enrollment is not limited to a certain number of students. It is also different from previous free lectures offered by universities in that at the end of the course, the student earns a certificate of completion from the participating university.

Last fall, around 370,000 persons enrolled for the edX program. 46,000 in one subject alone (a course on machine learning).

But how does this relate to social media? Social media is defined in Wikipedia as a "means of interactions among people in which they create, share, exchange and comment contents among themselves in virtual communities and networks".

The way MOOCs are designed, students are encouraged to group and network together through social networking, similar to study groups but it isn't bound by geography, culture, or demographic. It fosters communication and interaction not just with the learning program but with the members themselves, just like Facebook or Twitter.

Granted that it won't attract the numbers social networks have but it is a start. To get an idea of how a social network grows, Twitter took three years before it experienced massive growth. In a New York Times article about Massive Online Open Courses, Andrew Ng of Coursera (a tuition based MOOC) stated that enrollment on the site has reached more than 1.7 million — growing “faster than Facebook,”.

It may take awhile until education and learning enters the mainstream in social networking but looking at it in a different perspective, the goals and mechanics are the same.

It is almost similar to a MMORPG like World of Warcraft but instead of quests and the promise of an epic reward, one gets assignments and a certificate of completion at the end. But an epic reward from WoW is virtual and becomes useless and the quest is forgotten as the game progresses, unlike a real item like a certificate of completion as well as the knowledge one learns from learning something new.

Creativity In Philippine Advertising During The Martial Law Years

2012-11-30T00:50:00.001+08:00

During the martial law years in the Philippines, one peculiar aspect of this period is the presence of free enterprise. “Free” being used loosely in this context. People were allowed to foster and grow a business. Some may say that as long as it is under the radar from cronies and the ruling government, the business is relatively safe. Unlike present dictatorships, such as North Korea and Iran, where images of impoverished citizens completely smothered by government are top of mind, the Philippines had a certain duality in its application and definition of a dictatorial government. Freedom of speech was oppressed yet, in a certain way, freedom of expression was allowed.

Some of the best movies made were during the Martial Law era. As a popular saying goes, oppression breeds creativity. Stories and themes were layered enough that the political commentary, if there was one, was not obvious enough to capture attention.

During the time, television, movies, radio and print media were censored. In fact, the first order of President Marcos when Martial Law was declared was the "take over and control of all privately owned newspapers, magazines, radio and television facilities and all other media communications." With the channels for advertising under government control, did it affect the advertising industry the way it conducted its business? This is in the context on how commercials and print ads are made.

According to Norman Agatep, Managing Director of Euro RSCG Philippines - 4As, government “instructed the private sector to clean its act up” which led to the founding of the Advertising Board of the Philippines (Adboard) in 1974. Its purpose is to self regulate the industry to ensure that government won’t stifle its growth and disrupt the business. The Adboard provided a stronger voice to work for the benefit of the entire industry and to stabilize the relationship between advertisers and the media. At that time, there was not much cooperation among the pillars of the industry.

A bulk of the income of media comes from advertising. But in the time of Martial Law they still have a line to toe. Obviously, there are certain themes and subjects that are hands off when it comes to media. Some of these are the criticism of government, putting the country in bad light, highlighting the oppressive nature of government, etc. But aside from the founding of Adboard, how much did martial law affect the advertising industry?

Channeling Celebrities

The principal goals of advertising are to create awareness, establish presence, maintain an impression, and ultimately increase the sales of a brand or product. Unless it is a Public Service Announcement (PSA), political commentary or social issues are not a component of an advertisement. It can be argued that these could be the theme of the commercial but more often than not, an ad about shampoo, for example, does not include a message to feed the poor.

Most ads during the period were mass consumer goods such as toothpaste, shampoo, milk, and softdrinks. This is not much different to the products being advertised now. Looking at the theme and stories of both hardly show any difference; toothpaste ads promise whiter teeth, fresher breath; soap and detergents guarantee cleanliness, snacks bring joy and fun. It was the same as before, there was hardly any deviation to the formula. Although, one may notice that today’s advertisements carry more celebrity endorsements than ever before.

Pushing the comparison off the edge, it can be said that the martial law era stifled celebrity endorsements. Of course there were some who appeared in commercials and print ads then but not as prevalent as now where almost every product and brand features a media personality pushing it. It is as if everyone were in fear of being in the limelight at the time, even if nothing wrong was being done. But now, the floodgates have opened and having a name and face to the product is almost a necessity.

Commercial Cacophony

But what if there was some political statement embedded deep within martial law commercials? That it was too layered to be noticed by not just the censors but also by the citizens themselves? Suspending logic/belief/reality, the following three television ads can be used as an argument that the ad industry was part of the revolution for change:

Milk Is Not Milk If We follow The Bouncing Ball - Klim is a powdered milk brand that was owned by Borden during martial law. It was later acquired by Nestle in the late 90s. Klim had a commercial where viewers get to sing the jingle by following the bouncing ball. Can this be a symbolic message with different signals being put out? The name itself is a backward spelling of milk, just like democracy at the time. And follow the bouncing ball? That in itself is a strong message.

Charlie Balakubak Is A Subversive - Gard shampoo is a dandruff shampoo (owned today by Colgate-Palmolive) with Charlie Balakubak its central character. Charlie suffers from dandruff and is shunned and ignored by girls until he decides to use Gard shampoo. An interpretation of this commercial is that Charlie is a person who sees the impurities of the government but has to change his ways and accept the norm to be able to join society. Would that be a stretch?

Paul Anka Asks Us To Remember - Kodak had a commercial where Paul Anka sings Time of Our Lives while treasured memories caught on camera were featured. The first few lines of the song are “Good morning, yesterday. You wake up and time has slipped away. And suddenly it's hard to find, the memories you left behind. Remember, do you remember…?” Could this be a call for everyone to remember the times before martial law? That everyone is in a state of fear that no one remembers the time before?

Curtains

There could be internal conflicts and actions going on in the background for the industry during Martial Law. It looked like it worked and self regulation kept the industry safe. Commercials today eschew the same message for the same products as before. It seems the industry weathered through those turbulent times unscathed. For the ordinary citizen, an ad is a call to try a product. And for the advertiser, it is a way to eventually make it a part of their daily lives. Just like the products, martial law is something the government wanted us to embrace and accept as the norm. Maybe they should have hired an ad agency for that.

SOCIAL CAUSES GOES SOCIAL

2012-10-04T22:04:00.000+08:00

Years ago, a social cause starts at the local level and in time goes up the chain of national or even global consciousness. This grassroots movement has been the backbone of most social, political, and environmental projects in terms of propagating the advocacy (the message). That was until social networks such as Facebook and You Tube.

The idea behind using a social network to promote an advocacy is still the same as starting with a grassroots movement. One spreads the message to a core audience and this group propagates it down to their own circles and so on and so forth.

The difference with something like Facebook is technology. Creating content is easy as typing it in and sending it out. No more printing press, media coverage, or even posters needed to propagate it. Spreading the message further is as easy as just clicking the “Like” button. The penetration from grassroots to mainstream using social networks can almost be immediate, Kony and SM Baguio being prime examples.

A Ugandan and Pine Trees

Last March, A group called Invisible Children released a video about a Ugandan war criminal, Kony. In a span of three weeks, the video went viral and garnered over 100 million views, 86 million of that in You Tube alone. The whole world suddenly knew about Kony. World governments, including the US started to take action.

Prior to the video, Kony was unknown outside of Uganda. The Kony 2012 movement shed light on the criminal and it is said that half of the youth in the US alone, knew about Kony.

A month later, in local events, a local mall in Baguio city started operations to cut down 200 pine trees to make room for a parking lot. Overnight, Facebook and Twitter were flooded with messages denouncing the operations. The resulting reaction halted the tree cutting and SM to proclaim their advocacy to green projects.

Voices Carry, Money Follows

The examples above showed the power of social networks. It can accomplish propagation in a manner of days what traditional methods would take weeks or even months to do; at a fraction of the cost to do it. Inversely, social networks garner more donations per user compared to traditional ones.

According to the 2012 Nonprofit Social Network Benchmark Report, the average value garnered from one person pressing “LIKE” is US$3.50 in one month and exponentially to US$214 in 12 months.

A concrete example of this is Karen Klein. Klein, who is a 68 year old school bus monitor in the US was featured in a YouTube video being bullied by the students she was tasked to look after. Hurtful and offensive words were hurled at her in the ten minute clip which garnered eight million views. Max Sidorov of Toronto Canada initiated a donation drive in the website, indiegogo.com. His goal is to raiseUS$5,000 for Karen to take a vacation.

As of June 25, Klein has received US$682,000 in donations from viewers who were touched by her plight. She plans to use the money to retire, go on vacation, and help out her family.

The Science Behind Social

To understand the flow of propagation in social networks, we have to look at three rules; Pareto’s Principle, The Law of Diminishing Returns, and the 1% rule. Pareto’s Principle states that the majority of an action is done by the minority of inputs. It is also known as the 80-20 rule. 80% of an effect is caused by 20% of the action.

The Law of Diminishing Returns in social network terms suggest that the more the message is propagated, the percentage of sharers decrease. It must be noted that it is not the actual of shares that go down but the percentage of people who share it relative to the total users reached. But in time, it will reach a point where there will be no shares done anymore.

The 1% rule is similar to Pareto’s principle but is specific to the internet culture. The rule states that only 1% of people who have been exposed to the message will actually participate. Participation here should not be confused to sharing. Sharing in this context means to push the message to one’s social circle (pressing the LIKE button). Participating is being involved actively in the cause which is more than just pressing “LIKE” or sharing, the term “engaging the user” is usually applied here.

To put it simply, a facebook message is shared by 20% of the recipients to their own social circles. As the message spreads, the number of shares goes down. And out of everyone who shares the message, only 1% will truly participate.

It is said that the average shelf life of a Facebook message is 18 hours. Video posts increases shelf life at an average 16% while photos and images at 9%. If that message is not shared within that time frame, it expires and likely to be forgotten.

Propagation should start from the beginning and if it doesn’t catch on within 18 hours, it can be considered a failed attempt.

Sustainability

One thing that is still a mystery with social causes in Facebook is sustainability. The overall theory behind the science shows real low numbers and slow participation. Even with a successful launch and initial reaction, there is a wall that everyone hits; sustaining the message.

Kony 2012 garnered 100 million views and gained worldwide attention. Invisible Children did a follow up video the next month called Kony 2012 Part 2: Beyond Famous. It only garnered 2 million views.

SM Baguio’s Pine Tree Incident is hardly top of mind with people these days. Even if the issue is still in the courts and is not yet truly resolved, there is not much buzz about it anymore.

This does not take away the fact that there were positive changes that resulted in the initial attempts. There were. But there comes a point that even the most important causes will subside from mainstream interest and will revert back to the grassroots.

Social Lessons

Social carries big numbers; 900 million registered Facebook users, Youtube video uploads of an average 72 hours of video per minute, and twitter feeds at 100,000 tweets per minute. Given these, it is a big and important channel to take advantage for propagation.

But to utilize these effectively, one must step out of the box and strategize it outside of traditional methods. Content doesn’t have to be slick and well made, what’s important is substance. Propagation should be almost instant and should be monitored from the beginning. But most of all, users should find something from it they can relate to or find interesting or relevant.

Kony 2012 showed how far a message can go, SM Baguio showed how fast it can hit mainstream, and Karen Klein saw how fruitful it can be.

Digital Marketing: A New Paradigm

2012-09-10T20:10:00.000+08:00

In 1962, sociologist Everett Rogers, popularized the theory of Diffusion of Innovations. This theory tries to explain how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread through cultures. In marketing terms, it’s a theory to predict how the purchase of expensive, durable goods such as cars and refrigerators will spread.

It seems that with the coming of digital marketing, the theory falls short. The diffusion of high tech websites and apps is believed to occur in a different way.
Researchers at MIT believe that the diffusion of these digital products and services are different since

The products are offered either free or low cost
It entails minimal risk to the user in using the product
The product is only useful if people join and share it with others

Further research concludes that even if the medium is digital, the roots and driving force behind it will always be location based social networks and traditional media attention. Popular apps or websites just don’t become popular overnight. It takes time, effort, and the right people to bring it to the forefront.

The most important question for every digital activity is “Who will be the right person or network to adopt the program for it to go viral?”

The Twitter Model

A case in point is Twitter. In 2006 when twitter started in San Francisco, there were only a few hundred users worldwide. That changed in April 2009 when actor Ashton Kutcher challenged CNN to see who could first collect 1 million Twitter followers. On April 17, Ashton won. That same day, he appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s show where she also sent her first tweet.

The next day, Twitter was everywhere. The story was all over the news wires, people started joining the social network and Twitter never looked back.

Sociologists have started to rethink the theory of Diffusion of Innovations in a different way when it comes to digital efforts. Most marketing studies will look at news media as a constant but looking at the twitter model, it wasn’t. Three years after it was launched, news media about it spiked because of the attention it got from the public. And the more the news was shared, the more Twitter grew popular.

Local Efforts

Local companies have also entered the digital fray. Their products expand their service and coverage, entertain, and some even bring friends closer together. Whether the campaign is a hit or a miss will depend on the user/consumer base supporting it.

The clearer the companies can adapt to a new paradigm of Diffusion of Innovations, the faster they can construct a solid viral campaign. The first things to study are the numbers.

How connected is the Philippines?

Looking at the Digits

According to global research company, TNS, 45% of surveyed Filipinos are connected to the Internet. 36% listen to the radio, 12% read newspapers and 4% read magazines. Also, 12% are accessing the Internet through smartphones.

Even communications are experiencing a revolution of sorts. 81% of surveyed families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) use the internet (thru various sites and apps as Skype, Messenger, etc.) as their primary way of communicating with each other. 77% use mobile phones and 24% use landline phones.

The survey covered 1000 respondents throughout urban areas from the ABCD socio-economic classes.

Bank of the Philippine Islands

Looking at the services BPI offers in its websites and smartphone apps, it is easy to surmise that the direction of BPI is to make banking with them easier, accessible, and simple. They already have an existing user base from their depositors.
Online banking with BPI is truly a great experience. Their services range from loading a prepaid phone with credits, ordering food from McDonalds to buying cinema tickets. Paying bills is easy with just one click of a button.

The experience is like having one’s own BPI branch open 24/7 at home.

Applying for the available services requires visiting the bank and filling up a form, a bit tedious but understandable. It adds a strong layer of security that ensures a safe and clean transaction every time. Once everything is set up, it’s all smooth sailing from there.

The services are also available as an app for the mobile phone. It gives the user portability and accessibility to his or her account.

Bayantel

Bayantel’s internet personality is Lola Techie, a computer savvy, hardcore game playing, social network guru grandmother. It’s a clear message that the internet is accessible and can be fun for anyone regardless of age and gender.

In line with this campaign, Bayantel is offering online courses that teach the old (and young) the basics of being part of an internet driven society. From learning what a computer is to sending out an email, the campaign is to reign in the market demographic that although stubborn to learn new things, will eventually become loyal users who will accept no alternatives.

An earlier program that is parallel from this premise is their other service, the GIL@S program. Short for Gearing Up Internet Literacy and Access for Students, the GIL@S program’s aim is to connect all the public schools in the Philippines to the internet by providing free DSL connections.

As an Internet provider, Bayantel is naturally targeting the market who would most want to subscribe to them, the young and the old. With Lola Techie drawing in public attention and media presence, the brand itself is in line to convert subscribers to their services.

NESCAFE

The Internet and coffee will always be linked together at the hips. Coffee shops abound with laptop carrying netizens browsing the internet while having their favorite coffee based beverage of choice.

Even the early places that offer internet services are called Internet Cafes.
Nescafe understands this relationship and increased the user’s engagement by offering apps and services that connected friends and family even more.

The only branded page in the Philippines that was included in the global list of Top 100 Engaging Brands on Facebook, the Philippines’ Nescafe Facebook Page has over 1.2 Million fans. Averaging 1000 likes and 300 comments per post, the Nescafe Facebook Page continually captures attention by engaging fans in joining the conversation in posts but without overtly being too commercial. A recent post asks, “Life is an everyday celebration. What are you celebrating?” It is such an upbeat question that it’s hard not to put one’s comment in it.

Other online applications and promos are the Nescafe 143 app that allows users to say “I love you” to friends online. The Nescafe Hit the Spot app allowed fans to share personal Nescafe Classic cup preparation stories. And the Nescafe Youmeoke brings out the Filipinos love for songs and pictures allowing users to create a slideshow of photos in Facebook with accompanying music.

Understanding the Filipinos love for friendship, song, and camaraderie, Nescafe has achieved a true digital relationship between brand and technology which of course translates to brand recognition and most importantly sales.

Customer Zero

As with all campaigns, the success will always rely on that one person or network that will propagate the message. With Twitter, it was Aston Kutcher in 2009. In the local scene, the face of the internet can arguably be Lola Techie.

Still young in the digital game, local digital efforts will experience peaks and valleys in terms of user engagement. The direction of BPI is to expand and simplify banking, Bayantel aims to educate and propagate internet usage, and Nescafe’s aim is to make the internet experience fun and engaging. Each has a solid platform and a growing user base.

It took Twitter three years to capture 13.5% of the population. 13.5% according to MIT is what they termed as critical mass for a digital campaign. The Philippines is far from achieving critical mass in all its local efforts. But with each step, advertisers and marketing gurus slowly understand the new shift in Diffusion of Innovations when applied to the local scene.

Given the right person and right timing, It may be just a few months before that one true app breaks through the barrier and take the throne.

NASA Terra Satellite Observes New Storm Hitting Philippines

2012-08-14T04:50:00.000+08:00

NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Kai-tak, located just off the east coast of the Philippines on Aug. 13 at 0230 UTC (Aug. 12 at 10:30 p.m. EDT).
Credit: Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Kai-tak affecting the northern Philippines on August 13 as the storm heads toward China for a final landfall.

Warnings are already in effect in part of the Philippines. Tropical storm Kai-tak is the fourteenth tropical cyclone of the western North Pacific season. On August 13 at 11 a.m. EDT, Kai-tak had maximum sustained winds near 40 knots (46 mph/74 kmh). It was located approximately 290 nautical miles (334 miles/ 537 km) east-Northeast of Manila, Philippines, has tracked west-southwestward at 11 knots (12.6 mph/20.3 kmh). The storm is called "Helen" in the Philippines, and its close proximity has caused the issuance of warnings.

Public storm warning signal #1 is in effect for the Luzon provinces: Apayao, Cagayan, Babuyan, Quirino, Aurora, Isabela, Kalinga, and the Batanes and Calayan group of islands. Public Signal #1 means winds between 28-37 mph (45-60 kmh) can be expected.

Public Storm Signal 2 is in effect for Isabela and Cagayan, where winds between 37-62 mph (61-100 kmh) can be expected. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Adminstration, known as PAGASA, caution residents living in low lying and mountainous areas that flash flooding and mudslides are possible from the heavy rainfall. In addition, residents living along the coasts are being cautioned against large waves or storm surges.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Kai-tak, located just off the east coast of the Philippines on August 13 at 0230 UTC (Aug. 12 at 10:30 p.m. EDT). Satellite imagery showed that the convection (rising air that forms the thunderstorms that make up the tropical storm) have strengthened around the center of the storm. The MODIS image was created at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. by the MODIS Rapid Response Team.

Kai-tak is moving along the southern edge of a subtropical ridge, which is an elongated area of high pressure. Kai-tak will move northwestward and slowly intensify, passing through the Luzon Strait, while its center stays at sea, north of Luzon, the Philippines.Kai-tak is expected to make landfall north of Hong Kong on August 16. Although forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect Kai-tak to strengthen, it is expected to weaken before making landfall because of cooling ocean heat content and wind shear.

Possible Storm Formation In Philippines Detected By NASA Terra Satellite

2012-07-28T23:35:00.002+08:00

When NASA's Terra satellite passed over System 93W on July 27, 2012 at 10:14 p.m. (local time/Manila, Philippines) the center of the low appeared almost cloud-free, while broken bands of thunderstorms appeared to surround it from north to west to south.
Credit: NASA/NRL

A low pressure system in the western North Pacific has caught the eye of forecasters and several satellites as it continues to organize. NASA's Terra satellite captured a view of System 93W's clouds as they continue to appear more organized.

System 93W appears poised to become tropical storm Saola over the next two days if the organization continues. At 1400 UTC (10 a.m. EDT/U.S.; 10 p.m. Asia/Manila local time) System 93W had maximum sustained winds near 20 knots (23 mph/37 kmh). It was located about 395 nautical miles (454.6 miles/731.5 km) east-southeast of Manila, the Philippines, near 12.7 North latitude and 127.6 East longitude.

When NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead on July 27, 2012 at 1414 UTC (10:14 a.m. EDT/U.S.; 10:14 p.m. local time/Manila, Philippines) the Moderate Resolution Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured an infrared image of the low pressure area. The center of the low appeared almost cloud-free, while broken bands of thunderstorms appeared to surround it from north to west to south. The northeastern side of the storm appeared to be lacking in clouds.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that "upper level analysis indicates the vertical wind shear has weakened as the storm motion became in-phase with the upper level winds." Weaker wind shear enables a low pressure area to strengthen, because it is not being battered by outside winds. In addition, sea surface temperatures are warm enough to contribute to the formation of a tropical depression (over 26.6 Celsius/80 Fahrenheit).

As a result of the weaker wind shear and improved banding of thunderstorms around the low's center, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center gave System 93W a "high chance" for becoming a tropical depression over the weekend of July 28-29.

Meanwhile, another low pressure system in the western North Pacific has a medium chance for development into a tropical depression. That low is located about 360 nautical miles (414 miles/666.7 km) east of Iwo-To, Japan, near 24.3 North and 147.8 East. On July 27, the showers and thunderstorms were being pushed to the east of the center due to wind shear.

LINKS

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA sees organizing tropical low pressure area near the Philippines

Gadgets that Changed the World or Why Popular Mechanics Reads the Gospel According to John

2012-07-12T18:03:00.000+08:00

Scroll down to see what I mean or read the intro to set it up.

I was asked to write about Popular Mechanics’ list of 101 Gadgets That Changed the World and the first thing that popped in my head was, “In the beginning was the word and the word was made flesh...” Not being a religious person despite years of Catholic education, I had to google the verse to see which book it’s from.

First off, I found out that I was wrong with my verse. Between “In the beginning…” and “the word was made flesh..” were 14 verses. It wasn’t just one sentence I believed it was for years and years. Second, the verse was from the Gospel According to John in the New Testament. And third, why is there a bible verse floating in my mind?

It can be gleamed that the random verse I picked up on had something to do with the gadgets in question. The 4 of the top 5 devices have something to do with communication; the PC, TV, radio, and the cellphone.

And there it was, we build things that help us communicate. Communicate across time, communicate across distance, and with the help of translation programs, communicate across language. In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was made digital.
From the printing press to the telegraph, from telegraph to telephone, from telephone to email; our evolution is always linked to a jump in communication technology. Wasn’t the Bible, the first book to be printed? And once again, I am back to The Word.
At this point, we are already near the boundaries of communication technology. Everything is within reach and is immediate. We can know all about the migratory habits of the North American Geese at the touch of a finger. We can email a scientist in the North Pole at the blink of an eye. We can even read a chapter of the New Testament at the push of a button.

Maybe, just maybe, because we are at the farthest we can go, we feel we can go no further?

Maybe that’s why thoughts of the end of the world are sprouting up everywhere.
“When Alexander the Great saw the breadth of his empire, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer”. I didn’t get that from ancient Greek historian Plutarch. I got it from Hans Gruber, Die Hard.

Are we as humans, constantly craving to communicate faster than we can every time? In the next 30 years, what innovation will we bring to further evolve communication, far advanced as it is now? It makes me really wonder. Do we have implants in our heads then? Will we be forever bound in a pod that connects us to a depersonalized world? Or can we communicate volumes with just the look of the eye?
Now back to the Gospel According to John. As a flight of fancy, the conspiracy theorist in me, decided to juxtapose the top 14 gadgets in ascending order with the 14 verses of John:

Typewriter
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Match
2 He was in the beginning with God.

Bicycle
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Dry Cell Battery
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Light Bulb
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Alarm Clock
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Phonograph
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

Telephone
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

Portable Air Conditioner
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Personal Computer
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

Hypodermic Syringe
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

Television
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

Radio
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Mobile/Smartphone
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

To be honest, I got a kick out of this. Who knew John 2000 years ago read the minds of the editors of Popular Mechanics? Or did the people of PM read John and tried to fit the gadgets to the word?
Regardless, our world is always changing. But each step forward, we all have one innate trait that pushes us forward and upward; we want to talk and we want to be heard.

Communication And The Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)

2012-06-07T09:05:00.000+08:00

THE OFW: IF YOU TEXT US, DO WE NOT READ?

In any branch of science, the behavior of the subject is based on how it interacts and communicates with the environment; more so in the social sciences where a social relation or social interaction refers to a relationship between two or more individuals.

Looking at it in this perspective, life is about communication.

And there is no demographic that understands this more than an Overseas Filipino Worker. Working in solitude, away from friends and loved ones for extended periods of time, and surrounded with unfamiliar faces, the OFW appreciates communication.

With 11 Million OFWs spread across the world, it’s no surprise that the latest rankings show SMART and GLOBE ranked first and second, respectively, in global telecommunications in terms of proportion of revenues derived from data. Figures released for 2009 showed that the Philippines ranked number one in SMS messages with 2.63 Billion SMS messages sent.

Communication between OFWs and their families certainly contributed to that.

A Paradigm Shift

In the past two years, the communication platform has changed. Devices have crossbred with different technologies that it has blurred the lines on the limits of what a mobile phone or a personal computer can do. At this point, with cheaper prices, accessible services and powerful devices, there is no excuse in not communicating with someone halfway across the world.

With the advent of smartphones that can access the internet, and telcos providing internet services, there is a growing shift in communication habits. The latest 2011 data by TNS showed that 81% of families of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Philippines use the Internet as the primary communication platform. Mobile phone use is down to second place with 77%. Landline telephones which enjoyed a virtual monopoly a decade ago is down to 24%.

Even services offered are changing. Everyone has access to free VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) services like Skype. Gone are the days of 5 minutes of talk time worth hundreds of pesos. Now, with an internet connection, one can talk for hours on end without being charged for the call.

SMART Philippines understands this. By embracing this technology and being a part of it, they have become relevant to this growing trend. Raymond Anthony Samarista of SMART, says, “With SMART, ensuring that Internet access becomes increasingly pervasive is the key – by making it available in every area of the country, on whatever device is in the hands of our subscribers, and at price points that suit every budget. This is the central idea behind our advocacy ‘Internet for All’, that of enabling every Filipino to enjoy the benefits of the Internet – including access to services such as Skype and Facebook Chat…”

Constant Updating

Social Networks also have a major influence in the Philippines. According to Comscore, there are about 28 Million Internet users in the Philippines. 93.9% use Facebook. This makes the Philippines number 1 in the world in social network penetration.

With Social Networks, OFWs are constantly in touch with their families. They have immediate access to the latest uploaded photos of their loved ones, they get to see videos of family gatherings, and they get the latest happenings in and around the household.

But even with all this. Sometimes, a phone call is the right kind of medicine to an OFW.

Despite being fierce competitors, both GLOBE and SMART are putting up infrastructures all over the country to increase communication coverage and internet speed. Partnering with other telcos in other countries, GLOBE and SMART are stretching out, covering the world to the benefit of everyone, not just OFWs.

In 2011, Globe formed the International Business Group—a unit dedicated to growing the international business of Globe. Through partnerships with some of the world’s largest telecommunication companies like Hong Kong’s CSL, Maxis of Malaysia, Guam’s IT&E, Lebara and Taiwan Mobile, Globe offers SIM cards and prepaid call cards with the most affordable call and SMS rates to the Philippines. Globe also has a wide range of IDD and international SMS offers that enable families in the Philippines to stay in touch with overseas Filipinos.

It’s Everybody’s Game

It is not just the telecommunications companies that hold the OFW dear to heart. Even Coca Cola understands their importance both to the country’s economy and the loved ones waiting for them.

Last year, Coca Cola and their communications partner McCann Worldgroup Philippines collaborated to to launch a viral video contest, “Where Will Happiness Strike Next: The OFW Project”. It featured the stories of three OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) who came home in time to celebrate Christmas with their happily surprised families.

In a release, Coca Cola and McCann Worldgroup Philippines, articulated the OFW sentiment, “It is perhaps this familiarity, and the sincere happiness of the OFW families in the video that rocked Filipino netizens to the core. Barely 72 hours after two versions of the video (one in original format, and one with English subtitles) were posted on Coca-Cola’s YouTube channel, a combined total of 1,015,641 views were recorded, with almost 14 thousand likes and 3 thousand comments. The video content was a Trending Topic in Twitter for two days, with people actively sharing it on Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Reactions are mostly positive, describing it as heartwarming, touching and a tear-jerker. Messages of thanks and congratulations for Coca-Cola comprise most of the comments on social sites. It was on the country’s major news sites- even featured in the country’s leading primetime news show…”

The Filipino Touch

It’s safe to say that the majority of the population have embraced and understood the technology. Everyone anywhere is just a phone call or mouse click away. Cost for the first time, is not a major factor anymore.

The Philippines and our culture have a creative flair in our blood. We tend to see other uses for things that are a bit outside the box. After World War II, the boring army green Jeeps the US left was turned into colorful passenger jeepneys. In the early days, instead of wasting rocks used to hunt prey, a string was tied to it for easy retrieval; the yoyo. And with this far and advanced tool of technology, eBurol was conceived.

St. Peter eBurol is a service where the OFW can virtually attend the wake of a passed on friend or loved one. Because of contractual agreements or the element of time, not all OFW can just leave and go back to attend a funeral. Hence, with a webcam, a microphone, and an internet connection, an OFW can pay his or her last respects to a dearly beloved one.

Of the offered service, Rona Lucas of St. Peter Life Plan says, “Fortunately we have only had positive reactions to eBurol. Our clients attest that the wakes of their loved ones have been livelier, much less painful, and less sorrowful through the St. Peter e-Burol. The wakes have become a reunion among families who have not seen each other and been together for a long time. Our clients also tell us that the eBurol has been a great help in monitoring wake activities while they are at work.”

It goes to show that even in death, there is still no excuse not to reach out and touch someone.

The Big Picture

One must not forget the prime goal of an OFW; to earn and provide for his or her family. It cannot be argued that this is the main reason for leaving friends and loved ones behind.

Most if not all OFWs will cite financial reasons for working in another country. And with that being the case, banks also have services that cater to this market. Aside from standard programs such as overseas remittance and OFW loans, there are also services that are beneficial both to the bank and the OFW.

Philippine National Bank for instance has the Global Filipino Card. It is a reloadable debit card that can receive remittances from the OFW and can be withdrawn in any ATM with little or no charge at all. They also have a bills payment service where the OFW can pay for household and utility bills from anywhere in the world.

Bank of the Philippine Islands has the BPInoy Learning Series. The program, on its seventh year, continues to go around the country as it reaches out to the OFW families and provides them with the knowledge they need to take charge of their future - from the basics of saving and financial planning to managing their lives abroad and enabling them to take care of their families like they never left.

From hassle free and immediate banking services to long term financial planning, banks have always been around for the OFW. With the OFW being the largest dollar remitter for the country, it is assured that the banks will always provide support and help for the OFW.

The End Game

This started out as a study on communication and its importance to the OFW. And looking at all the companies and how they interact with the Overseas Filipino Worker, we see that communication is varied when it comes to services rendered.

It can be as straightforward as a phone call, a picture sent thru SMS or Facebook, or even a video posted on a website.

We also saw how emotions that an OFW and his family experiences thru a video and how this was communicated to millions across the country.

A new service was born to cater to those who lost a loved one.

Banks have come out of their shell and reached out to give additional support to them.

With the sacrifices and pitfalls the OFW goes through, there is an uneasy feeling to think of them as a consumer market. And even if they really are a demographic that is not to be ignored, it feels good to see that there are companies who don’t take advantage of their situation and give them the best service that they deserve.

In the end, to make an OFW smile, all one has to do is reach out and say hello.

THE DIGITAL EXPANSE: Digital Media and It's Role in Brand Building in the Philippines

2012-05-01T00:00:00.000+08:00

Pauline Lao and Manolo Almagro both work in Jollibee, she as the Director for Marketing Communications and he, as Digital Initiatives Consultant. In a recent webinar, they talk about the digital media and its role in brand building.

Pauline Lao used to be the Director for Consumer Connections for Procter and Gamble for 17 years before she moved to Jollibee. She sites that the two companies have different requirements and setups when it comes to digital.

Manolo Almagro, who recently developed an integrated digital advertising strategy for Globe Telecoms, says that the movement is moving three times faster here than it is in the U.S. And as such, some of the brands are going to be left behind. The challenge is in investing in digital programs, which is a closed system.

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Pauline explains that digital has changed the game for brands such as Jollibee and those under P&G. The digital landscape is undergoing an evolution. Technological innovations in internet, mobile marketing, and out of home programs are moving the medium’s boundaries.

Although 70% of the Philippine population still is not connected to the internet, this is rapidly changing. In three years time, Pauline sees the Philippine digital movement to be that of what Japan is today in terms of its digital campaigns.

Jollibee’s digital marketing is dependent on the campaign and the target audience. If the market is sophisticated, digital is the viable option. The ad spend of digital is less than what it is thought of to be, she adds.

She cites, Procter and Gamble’s Oil of Olay Total Effects. They included a digital component to the program such as an email and website but it was still heavily tilted towards PR. At that point, they were still learning about digital. Since Olay was a new category at that time, they had to be extra careful in the use of digital media. She concedes that they should have used more of it but were not as aware and educated with the medium to do so.

PREPARING TO GO DIGITAL

The role of digital in the overall marketing and the brand objective should be very clearly communicated to the agency partner working on it.

She notes that they are gearing up to doing more digital and it is a priority that will be taken up in a few short months. She thought it pretty cool to play a game like Bejeweled (a popular puzzle game like Tetris) but with Jollibee themed icons.

In preparing to go digital, a campaign’s success is always measured against its objective. If the objective is not clear from the start and no clear measure, then there is no clear measure of success.

Partner agencies in a digital campaign should have people who have strategic expertise and knows the brand position. The agencies themselves should have the capabilities to fulfill the requirement. Expertise in the digital field, thoroughness in execution and follow through is important. An excellent plan but with shallow or no execution will not work.

As such, familiarity with digital marketing is important to a marketer’s career today. Media is getting fragmented. Television may not even be the primary medium anymore; it could be mobile or the internet. Technology is running across and spreading and even becoming easier to handle. The priority is to capture the audience’s attention and make them fall in love with their brands.

EVOLUTION AND TRANSITION TO DIGITAL

Pauline adds that she is not a digital expert and is still learning as fast as anyone can learn it. It is an exciting channel and touch point. It’s even fun.
Partner agencies must go back to basics in understanding brands and objectives in the digital world.

Manolo adds that television is still dominant. But he sees that this, just like Pauline’s observation, will change.

For one, digital is actually cheaper than traditional media. It can work for small budgets. Digital campaigns can be adjusted to be big with a wide scope of services or a boutique type with small but targeted programs.

The important thing is not to wait for digital to go mainstream before investing in it. Now is the time to start learning digital and to start going to digital.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work

2012-04-16T08:51:00.000+08:00

Quick Reminder: 27 April is World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

27 April will be the best day to review and talk about safety and maintaining healthy environment at work. Share some safety and health tips with your co-workers, address problems that may put each one at risk.

And most of all, don't just do it on that day. Everyone must be aware of safety and health at work each and every day.

Hard Times

2012-04-16T02:36:00.001+08:00

It's really hard to put on a happy face. It's been so long since I could even say I was comfortable in life.

Mind you, these past few years have taught me to tighten my belt and constrict myself into imaginable positions just to get through. But the funny thing is, why am I not losing weight?

I read somewhere that the body starts to adjust and accumulate fat when one has an irregular eating schedule. Maybe that's the case. I guess, poverty isn't really a guaranteed way to lose weight.

But I'm digressing. Whenever I get into those periods of despair and desperation (wait, that's the same thing, right?), I just turn to writing it out. Truth to tell, I don't even know why I still have hope and faith that things will get better, cause from where I'm standing, it doesn't look good. We're talking of Titanic proportions here. No more lifeboats and the ship is sinking.

Every man for himself.

But I'm not built like that. I have to hope. I have to keep getting up. I have to keep living.

Despite everything that's happening, people say I have a very positive outlook. If they only knew. I can't afford to wallow. No one can help. These are hard times, everyone else have their own problems. We all have to be strong.

Sorry for the rant, I just have to let it all out cause again, I can't afford to let all this negative vibes accumulate. It's like a boat that has taken on water, you have to keep pumping that water out or sooner or later, it's all gonna flood in.

Tomorrow's Monday. Hope I get through the week with minimal problems.

The Overseas Filipino Worker: If You Text Us, Do We Not Read

2012-04-09T16:11:00.000+08:00

In any branch of science, the behavior of the subject is based on how it interacts and communicates with the environment; more so in the social sciences where a social relation or social interaction refers to a relationship between two or more individuals.

Looking at it in this perspective, life is about communication.

And there is no demographic that understands this more than an Overseas Filipino Worker. Working in solitude, away from friends and loved ones for extended periods of time, and surrounded with unfamiliar faces, the OFW appreciates communication.

With 11 Million OFWs spread across the world, it’s no surprise that the latest rankings show SMART and GLOBE ranked first and second, respectively, in global telecommunications in terms of proportion of revenues derived from data. Figures released for 2009 showed that the Philippines ranked number one in SMS messages with 2.63 Billion SMS messages sent.

Communication between OFWs and their families certainly contributed to that.

A Paradigm Shift

In the past two years, the communication platform has changed. Devices have crossbred with different technologies that it has blurred the lines on the limits of what a mobile phone or a personal computer can do. At this point, with cheaper prices, accessible services and powerful devices, there is no excuse in not communicating with someone halfway across the world.

With the advent of smartphones that can access the internet, and telcos providing internet services, there is a growing shift in communication habits. The latest 2011 data by TNS showed that 81% of families of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Philippines use the Internet as the primary communication platform. Mobile phone use is down to second place with 77%. Landline telephones which enjoyed a virtual monopoly a decade ago is down to 24%.

Even services offered are changing. Everyone has access to free VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) services like Skype. Gone are the days of 5 minutes of talk time worth hundreds of pesos. Now, with an internet connection, one can talk for hours on end without being charged for the call.

SMART Philippines understands this. By embracing this technology and being a part of it, they have become relevant to this growing trend. Raymond Anthony Samarista of SMART, says, “With SMART, ensuring that Internet access becomes increasingly pervasive is the key – by making it available in every area of the country, on whatever device is in the hands of our subscribers, and at price points that suit every budget. This is the central idea behind our advocacy ‘Internet for All’, that of enabling every Filipino to enjoy the benefits of the Internet – including access to services such as Skype and Facebook Chat…”

Constant Updating

Social Networks also have a major influence in the Philippines. According to Comscore, there are about 28 Million Internet users in the Philippines. 93.9% use Facebook. This makes the Philippines number 1 in the world in social network penetration.

Last year, Coca Cola and their communications partner McCann Worldgroup Philippines collaborated to to launch a viral video contest, “Where Will Happiness Strike Next: The OFW Project”. It featured the stories of three OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) who came home in time to celebrate Christmas with their happily surprised families.

In a release, Coca Cola and McCann Worldgroup Philippines, articulated the OFW sentiment, “It is perhaps this familiarity, and the sincere happiness of the OFW families in the video that rocked Filipino netizens to the core. Barely 72 hours after two versions of the video (one in original format, and one with English subtitles) were posted on Coca-Cola’s YouTube channel, a combined total of 1,015,641 views were recorded, with almost 14 thousand likes and 3 thousand comments. The video content was a Trending Topic in Twitter for two days, with people actively sharing it on Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Reactions are mostly positive, describing it as heartwarming, touching and a tear-jerker. Messages of thanks and congratulations for Coca-Cola comprise most of the comments on social sites. It was on the country’s major news sites- even featured in the country’s leading primetime news show…”

The Filipino Touch

It’s safe to say that the majority of the population have embraced and understood the technology. Everyone anywhere is just a phone call or mouse click away. Cost for the first time, is not a major factor anymore.

The Philippines and our culture have a creative flair in our blood. We tend to see other uses for things that are a bit outside the box. After World War II, the boring army green Jeeps the US left was turned into colorful passenger jeepneys. In the early days, instead of wasting rocks used to hunt prey, a string was tied to it for easy retrieval; the yoyo. And with this far and advanced tool of technology, eBurol was conceived.

St. Peter eBurol is a service where the OFW can virtually attend the wake of a passed on friend or loved one. Because of contractual agreements or the element of time, not all OFW can just leave and go back to attend a funeral. Hence, with a webcam, a microphone, and an internet connection, an OFW can pay his or her last respects to a dearly beloved one.

Of the offered service, Rona Lucas of St. Peter Life Plan says, “Fortunately we have only had positive reactions to eBurol. Our clients attest that the wakes of their loved ones have been livelier, much less painful, and less sorrowful through the St. Peter e-Burol. The wakes have become a reunion among families who have not seen each other and been together for a long time. Our clients also tell us that the eBurol has been a great help in monitoring wake activities while they are at work.”

It goes to show that even in death, there is still no excuse not to reach out and touch someone.

The End Game

This started out as a study on communication and its importance to the OFW. And looking at all the companies and how they interact with the Overseas Filipino Worker, we see that communication is varied when it comes to services rendered.

It can be as straightforward as a phone call, a picture sent thru SMS or Facebook, or even a video posted on a website.

We also saw how emotions that an OFW and his family experiences thru a video and how this was communicated to millions across the country.

A new service was born to cater to those who lost a loved one.

With the sacrifices and pitfalls the OFW goes through, there is an uneasy feeling to think of them as a consumer market. And even if they really are a demographic that is not to be ignored, it feels good to see that there are companies who don’t take advantage of their situation and give them the best service that they deserve.

In the end, to make an OFW smile, all one has to do is reach out and say hello.

Nothing Compares 2 U

2012-03-13T17:11:00.000+08:00

This song was one of my favorite songs in the early 90s. I just like her haunting voice and the lyrics is awesome. It brings back so much memories. From my first job, my dog, my old room. It totally brings me back.

It's a Prince song but Sinead totally owned it.

Nothing Compares 2 U

Underage

2012-02-12T06:55:00.000+08:00

In 1980, Regal Films released the film, Underage. It starred former child stars of the Philippines, Snooky Serna, Dina Bonnevie, and Maricel Soriano billed as their first mature role. It caused quite a stir because of the poster showing the girls in bikinis. To add to the controversy, the filipina girls were really underage, the youngest Snooky was just 15.

The story is about three young sisters (Snooky, Dina and Maricel) who grew up in the province, about to face a whole new world in the big city. Dina who plays Celina, the most confident among the three sisters. Maricel plays Cecilia who is the toughest and confrontational while Snooky plays the meek Corazon.

Because of the provocative poster depicting these young girls, another poster was released with a safer theme with the girls on a bicycle but still wearing skimpy outfits. It's tagline was "Goodbye candies and lollipops. Hello boys!" The original poster was not pulled out though and still remained in circulation because of the popularity and notoriety it carried which helped bolster the popularity of the movie. The three actresses were so adored as child stars that the poster offended their fans.

The Philippine movie was a big hit and Underage catapulted the three young (and underage) stars into stardom.

The film was directed by Joey Gosengfiao and also starred Gabby Concepcion, Mark Gil, and Edgar Mande as the male leads. It is basically a simple country girls get to live life and discover maturity and love in the Philippines.

Underage was remade into a tv series in 2009. And in line with the original movie, the actresses involved were also underage. A teaser photo also was released showing the new underage girls in provocative poses and schoolgirl outfits.

The TV series only lasted one season before it was pulled off the air due to low ratings. Probably because the network could not live up to the hype of having underage Philippine actress doing inappropriate scenes.

Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines is the New Wonder of Nature

2012-01-28T23:48:00.002+08:00

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas of the Philippines. It features a spectacular limestone or karst landscape that contains an 8.2 km long underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower half portion of the river is brackish and subject to tidal influence. The area also represents significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. It contains a full mountain to the sea ecosystem and protects forests, which are among the most significant in Asia.

Now, the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) is now officially one of the New7Wonders of Nature, the founder of global campaign announced on Saturday.
Bernard Weber, founder-president of New7Wonders, congratulated the Filipinos as the 8.2-kilometer Palawan river joined the Amazon rainforest, Vietnam’s Halong Bay and Argentina’s Iguazu Falls as among the world’s new seven wonders of nature.

Video: Puerto Princesa Underground River

“When your very own President Aquino came out in support of the PPUR campaign, I knew that this country was taking the New7Wonders of Nature seriously,” said Weber. “Fans of PPUR all over the world responded to his call for action by voting in record numbers and today’s confirmation is the well-earned reward for this extraordinary display of enthusiasm.”

Aquino even sailed the river last year on board a paddleboat as he urged Filipinos to help push the Philippines’ bid for a spot in the New7Wonders of Nature.
Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn welcomed the news, saying it would help the country’s renewed campaign to boost tourism.

“This confirmation is wonderful news for Puerto Princesa, and a great example of how now it’s more fun to be in the Philippines,” said Hagedorn, in reference to the Department of Tourism’s “It’s more fun in the Philippines” slogan.

“World-wide exposure of our natural beauty on this level is critical both for tourism and for our image nationally and internationally,” he said.
The Puerto Princesa Underground River, about 50 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City, consists of a limestone karst mountain landscape, several large chambers containing significant formations of stalactites and stalagmites.

This navigable underground river winds through a cave before flowing directly into the West Philippine Sea. At the exit, a flawless lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge.

The campaign organized by Swiss foundation New7Wonders has attracted great interest, mobilizing celebrities including Argentinian football star Lionel Messi calling on fans to pick his home country’s Iguazu Falls.

Provisional results of the final seven were released last November 12 after a long consultation process lasting from December 2007 to July 2009, when world citizens were asked to put forward sites which they deemed were natural wonders.

More than a million votes were cast to trim the list of more than 440 contenders in over 220 countries down to a shortlist of 77.
The group was then further cut to 28 finalists by a panel of experts.

Anyone in the world was then able to vote for the final seven via telephone, text messages or Internet social networks.
Founded in 2001 by filmmaker Bernard Weber in Zurich, the foundation New7Wonders is based on the same principle on which the seven ancient wonders of the world were established. That list of seven wonders was attributed to Philon of Byzantium in ancient Greece.

New7Wonders said its aim is to create a global memory by garnering participation worldwide.

Official DFA List of Countries Filipinos Can Go To Without A Visa Requirement

2012-01-19T10:47:00.000+08:00

The Philippine Government's DFA's Office of Consular Affairs released an official partial list of countries that Philippine citizens can visit that do not require a visa.

According to data compiled by the DFA's Office of Consular Affairs, the following countries fall in the visa-free category, followed by the length of allowable stay by Filipinos:

Bolivia - 60 days
Brazil - 90 days (for holders of diplomatic, official, and service passports, visa-free for (a) duration of tour of duty or (b) 180 days for official business or tourism)
Brunei - 14 days
Colombia
Costa Rica - 30 days
Ecuador - 90 days
Hong Kong SAR - 14 days
Indonesia - 30 days
Laos - 30 days
Malaysia - 30 days
Palau - 30 days, visa upon arrival (provided that the Filipino national has a return/onward plane ticket)
Peru - 60 days
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Singapore - 30 days
Suriname
Thailand - 30 days
Tuvalu - 30 days, visa upon arrival (provided that the Filipino national has a return /onward plane ticket)
Vanuatu - 30 days, visa upon arrival (provided that the Filipino national has a return / onward plane ticket)
Vietnam - 21 days
Zambia - visa upon arrival; 3 months for tourism, 1 month for business

This is just a partial list and DFA will be updating this. There is a facebook post that lists 60 countries but that is not released by the DFA.

Luneta Park: One of the best parks in the Philippines

2012-01-01T04:40:00.002+08:00

There's a real nice article about Luneta Park in the Inquirer today. It talks about the history of the park and other lesser known facts about it.

As a kid, I used to go there often with my brother to roam around. It is a huge place and always brought me memories of fun and good times. I even remember that then US President George W. Bush and wife paid a visit to the monument to lay a wreath there. Conspiracy theorists take note, Jose Rizal was known to be a freemason. hehe.

Anyway, here's an excerpt from the article:

How well do you know Rizal Park?

Here are 30 little-known facts about Rizal Park as culled from interviews with officials of the National Park Development Committee (NPDC), park attendants and guides, frequent visitors, history and architecture hobbyists, old news clippings, and other reports, both print and online.
Vatican City can fit inside Rizal Park. The Vatican has an area of 44 hectares compared with Rizal Park’s 58 hectares.

Valencia Circle, which surrounds the Lapu-Lapu statue, is Metro Manila’s biggest rotunda (defined as a circular road with no road inside). It has a diameter of 42 meters. The circle is named after Teodoro Valencia, the longtime head of the park who initiated and maintained the beautification reforms that put it in top shape.

Rizal Park was neglected for decades, feared and avoided by the public as criminals and prostitutes wandered the place. The NPDC was created in 1963 to clean up and develop the park.

The park’s other popular name, Luneta, was derived from the lunette or crescent-shaped outworks or minor fortifications surrounding Intramuros, the old walled city of Manila.

Another name for the park, Bagumbayan, literally “New Town,” was one of the towns surrounding Intramuros. Bagumbayan was torn down because British invaders mounted cannons on its buildings during the attack on Manila in 1763. A marker lies on the spot where the town’s San Juan Bautista church, which housed the Black Nazarene, used to be. The open area left was known as the Bagumbayan Field, which became the execution ground for criminals.
The Rizal Monument’s real name is “Motto Stella (Guiding Star),” the title of the entry submitted by its sculptor, Richard Kissling of Switzerland. However, Kissling’s obra was only the runner-up. Italian Carlo Nicoli’s entry, titled “Al Martir de Bagumbayan,” won the international design contest for the monument.

There is no single official explanation why the contract was awarded to Kissling. One account said Nicoli had failed to post the required performance bond, or that he had failed to show up at the contract signing. Another said Kissling’s entry was chosen because his quotation was lower than Nicoli’s.
There is also no official explanation of the meaning of the monument’s details. The monument depicts Rizal in overcoat holding a book. The obelisk is usually taken to mean Rizal’s masonic background while the three stars are said to stand for Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. The figures at the back of the monument, such as leaves and a pot, are said to symbolize the country’s natural resources.

The consensus is that the figures beside Rizal—a mother rearing her child and two young boys reading—signify family and education, said Federico Edos, NPDC cultural and public affairs division chief.

Source

What is PisoBid and how does it work?

2011-12-21T17:46:00.000+08:00

PisoBid is the #1 entertainment shopping site in the Philippines and is the country’s fastest growing website with over 10 million page views, 75 million post views and 188,000 Facebook fans. Consumers can save over 99% on brand new and luxury items such as gadgets, television sets, game consoles, designer brand items, beauty and fitness products, vacation packages and more. With its Facebook fans growing by the hundreds every day, it continues to feature incredible deals where more than 2,300 members have already won.

Auctions at PisoBid can be found at the main page www.pisobid.com.

The price of the auction item starts at 1 peso ₱1.00.

For standard auctions, the price goes up by one centavo (₱0.01) for each bid. Some auctions may require 2 bids or more for each click. The second item below (iPhone 4S), for example, requires 2 bids, whereas the first one requires only 1 bid

Products to be auctioned are loaded on the main page ahead of time and the countdown timer indicates when these auctions are about to end. In the example above, auction for both items are ending in 02:34:12 (hours: minutes: seconds).
When the countdown timer reaches 00:00:00, bidding officially starts and the timer will now indicate the number of seconds that bidders must place their bids for the chance to become the last bidder and thus, the winner.
In the above examples, auctions are set with 10-second timers. The timer varies with each item and may have 8 seconds, 12 seconds, 15 seconds, etc. This timer resets every time a user bids to allow other members to place their bids (as compared to a traditional offline auction where the host announces: “Going Once, Going Twice… Sold!”).
If you’re the last bidder when the timer runs out, and nobody else places a bid after you, you win the auction!

Venting

2011-12-21T00:37:00.000+08:00

My daughter was near death when out of the blue, I was blindsided.

It occurred to me that some people are just downright mean inside. And no matter how sincere the gesture is, it will always be wrapped up in darkness.

I always believed that everyone is good and all they need is just understanding and patience. I have friends who have at times taken advantage of me but when push comes to shove, they were there to help. And there are some I have no strength to understand or even be patient with but overall, I feel that they aren't that bad. Just misunderstood.

No one would deliberately hurt anyone without reason. But I was wrong. It's not everyone. There will always be some that are just plain bad and evil. Regardless.

I had to go through a real harrowing experience just to understand this. But as my hands are tied, I have to eat crow for a real misjudgment of character. My fault totally. No one to blame but me. I have to carry this cross until all is settled.

Still, I feel sorry for the person. A whole life to live to spread malice and pain is not one I would wish on anybody. Because as anyone would say, you get back ten times more than what you dish out.

What I cannot forgive is making me doubt my core belief about the goodness in everyone.