A lot of SME entrepreneurs doubt the capability of e-mail marketing. Some are afraid they might be wasting their time. But I guess not. According to a Yahoo-Nielsen study in Urban Philippines, 28% of Filipinos use the internet and 63% of those check their e-mail regularly. That’s still quite a number. Connect that to e-mail marketing, is it effective? Partly. Because e-mail marketing does not rely on that alone. There are several tips to a successful e-mail marketing campaign.

For SMEs to start their e-mail marketing campaign, there are 2 paths to take:

1. Start from scratch and build up your e-mail marketing list your own;
2. or acquire consumer mailing lists from reliable list brokers

Building your own marketing list can be tough but can be quite worth the experience. Ask the e-mail addresses of your friends, relatives, colleagues. Ask a favor and let them forward your e-mail campaign to the people they know, and so on. Make your e-mail campaign viral and interesting. Your investment? Time, effort and creativity.

The second item is the easy path but entails a cost. You can approach a list broker and just purchase a mailing list. In this way, gathering of e-mail addresses won’t eat up much of your time. If you think e-mail marketing is part of your investment, then go for it.

In summary, starting your own e-mail marketing mailing list requires time and effort. Procuring the mailing list from a third-party broker requires budget on the other hand. Choosing how to start you e-mail marketing campaign depends on what suits your business and what suits you. The most important thing is that your e-mail marketing campaign must be effective in execution. There are a lot of tips in how to be effective in e-mail marketing but it won’t be discussed here.

Now that you know how to start an e-mail marketing campaign for your SME, you can plan for its execution.

Source of Yahoo-Nielsen statistics: http://www.technobiography.com/stats-facts/study-on-urban-philippines-internet-users-by-yahoo-nielsen/; Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_coates/

Watch the Manny Villar new TV ad: Hindi Bawal Mangarap below.

Here’s the lyrics of the new Manny Villar jingle:

Ipinanganak kang mahirap
Patuloy na nangangarap
Magsipag at magtiyaga
Balang araw aahon ka
Hindi bawal mangarap
Ang mahirap
Basta’t maaabot ito
Sa malinis na paraan
Si Villar ay nangarap
Kahit mahirap
At nagtiwala sa Maykapal
At may paninindigan

Do you enjoy the new Manny Villar advertisement jingle as much as I do? Well, that does not mean I’m not annoyed with his campaign strategies anymore. Just enjoy the song. It has a real meaning anyways. Follow your dreams.

The Google event stage in the UP Conference Hall

The whole morning was spent for the talks of Ms. Songco and Mr. de Lima, including the open forum part where the audience can ask anything from the guest speakers. I have this question in mind: What does it take to become part of the Google team? I didn’t raise that question up though. I find Ms. Songco and Mr. de Lima amazing people. They look and sound really happy with their jobs in Google. I’m glad I was able to hear their talks.

In the afternoon, a Hackathon was held (organized by Devcon). I, together with Odina, Jerson, Jean and James comprise one group and we sort of represent UP Cebu in the Hackathon.

That's our team! Me, Jerson, Jean, Odina and James (not seen in the photo)

The problem: Create a simple web application, a business finder, using Google Maps API. The functions are: add, edit, delete and search plus the usual features of Google Maps.

The problem is actually quite simple but the challenging thing is that we don’t have any prior experience with Google Maps API. Our team decided to use HTML and Ruby on Rails to develop the web app. Odina and Jean are adept in using Ruby (I have no experience though) so they lead the group while James lead the UI part and Jerson and I are supporters . After an hour or so we stopped the developing and had our works checked. After some waiting, it was announced that USC won the first place and we won the second place. I did not expect that since we were competing with some teams from the industry and with the best schools.

Second place in Hackathon! | Photo by Jorich

All in all, that day was amazing! From the Google Innovation Forum to the Hackathon, I learned a lot of new things. I hope Google will be back in Cebu to do more talks in the coming years. The Hackathon experience was amazing. Thanks to my really good groupmates. Til the next Google event and Hackathon.

Jason Castro is a singer-songwriter and is part of American Idol Season 7 together with Cook and Archuleta. Castro was one of the most popular artists in AI history and is well known as the first contestant ever to play an instrument on the show. One of his most remembered renditions is the classic “Hallelujah” which became an instant audience favorite and an iTunes hit (Buckley rendition). Another favorite from him is the “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” unique rendition which also hit the charts. He was also one of those who made “American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008″ successful.

American Idol's Jason Castro (Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/treeclimber/)

Jason Castro will soon release an album. “The Love Uncompromised EP” will be here in the Philippines sometime. This is a prelude to a full album set (under Warner Music Phils.) released on a later date.

Feel the summer with Jason Castro! Again, catch him live on March 20 in Ayala Center Cebu. His other concert dates are: March 18 at Trinoma, March 19 at Glorietta 5, and March 21 at Market! Market!

As part of UP ITTC’s goal in making IT courses and trainings available to more Filipinos, an admission exam for potential students will be held in different UP colleges all around the Philippines (see schedule and venue below). Successful applicants can also avail of the scholarships through the sponsorship of several industry partners.

For those in Cebu, the admission exam will be on March 17, 2010, 8AM-12PM at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Cebu College in Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City. More information at the poster below.

For other venues and schedules, application requirements and other information, please visit the UP ITTC website. Good luck!

Computer spy softwares are usually used for family, corporate or personal use. I’ll discuss, on a personal point of view, the advantages and disadvantages of using computer spy softwares.

Personally, I don’t like being spied upon by some hidden software. It creeps me out. Of course that applies to my laptop at home. Using computer spy softwares for personal surveillance purposes can be intrusive — add damaging. You don’t want to reach school with the news spread out (with screenshots of course) that you watch too much porn, or you stalk your teacher and whatnots. For personal use, I guess computer spy softwares are evil — can be used for stalking, for blackmail and breaking down another’s privacy on a general note. But that’s just one disadvantage.

Computer spy softwares, just like security cameras, are used by companies to track down employee activities. An example would be for a company that has employees using primarily a computer. A computer spy software could be used to track down the productivity of the employee. This being known, the worker would avoid visiting prohibited sites during work hours. For family use, computer spy softwares could aid parents/guardians in watching over what the kids are doing or browsing on the internet (cleaning out the NSFW stuff out of the way).

I guess that’s it. Score is 1-2, so “advantage” wins. Computer spy softwares aren’t the bad after all. It all depends on how we use it. So depending on who you are, a computer spy can either be for good or for bad. I guess it really is just bothersome when used to spy against you. But for work and family safety purposes, computer spy softwares are a thumbs-up! Keep spying! (Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowdwarfs/)

Hachiko: A Dog’s Story is based on a heartwarming true story from Japan about an Akita breed dog named Hachiko and his steadfast loyalty to his owner even after his (the owner) death. Hachi was found on the train station, lost, and was adopted by Prof. Parker Wilson (Gere). Hachi grew up with Parker and he accompanies his owner to the train station everyday and would return in the afternoon to greet him after work (with the train sound as a cue). Unfortunately, the professor died one day and never returned to the station. Hachiko faithfully returns to the same spot at the station the very next day, and every day for the next nine years to wait for his beloved master. Hachiko died on the same spot where he waited for his owner everyday.

Though the adaptation of the true story was shot in America, the real life Hachiko (died March 8, 1935) lived in Japan. Today, a bronze statue of Hachiko sits in his waiting spot outside Shibuya station, Japan. He became the symbol of undying devotion and loyalty to the Japanese.

I believe that dogs are really man’s best friend. Hachiko is one solid proof of that. And there’s more; just search Wikipedia. Anyways, I suggest Hachiko, the movie, for dog lovers out there. And for those who are not, I still recommend it. It’s a really good movie. Marley and Me is fun and heartwarming, while Hachiko, is dramatic and life-touching. Ana, Rose and I cried at the film’s ending. I’m not ashamed to admit that. This movie’s one hell of a really good one.

Watch the trailer below. And be moved.

Sa Ngan sa Amahan is a Cebuano play inspired from the Palanca Award winning play for Literature written by Roberto Jose de Guzman. Sa Ngalan ng Ama in its original title is a tragic story of a family ruined by the autocratic ways of the father. The story takes place within the old household of the Villasante’s. It tackles highly important and relevant political and social issues discussed in the family setting, society’s most basic unit and very foundation.

The story stresses the importance of family relations and how the country is shaped by the families composing it. Conflicts in the story do not only revolve around the family members but also involve the greater circles of the Philippine society. The lives and views of each of the family members carefully reflect the facets of our society.

I highly recommend this play. Aside from the lessons we’ll learn about the society and family, UPSTAGE delivers amazing stage plays as a lot of us witnessed in their play last year entitled Papeles. Once a member, I assure you that UPSTAGE will only give the best. The play would be worth your time and money.

So if you have time on February 27, Saturday, watch the play with your family or friends. It will also serve as a breather for students.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Php100 – regular price

Php85 – student price

Php150 – Gala Deluxe

Php200 – Gala Premiere

Schedule: 10AM, 1PM, 4PM and 7PM (Gala)

You can buy tickets at the cinema entrance on the 27th. So please spread the word about the play. Bring your friends or whoever you’d like to bring.

See you there!

Earth Hour is a global call to action to every individual, business, school and community to take a stand against climate change.

Show your support for Earth Hour by turning off your lights 8:30PM of March 27 (Saturday).

You can support Earth Hour by:

1. Turning off your lights at 8.30PM on March 27
2. Showing your support and adding yourself to our world map
3. Adding Earth Hour widgets, logos and banners to your blog or website to help us spread the word
4. Talking about Earth Hour in your social network by updating your Facebook status, grabbing a Twibbon, tweeting about your support, and more
5. Get together with your friends and family, by hosting an Earth Hour party or holding your own candlelit affair
6. Rally your local council or community group to run an Earth Hour event for your community
7. Encourage your employer and workmates to take part in Earth Hour and make energy savings every day
8. Make an Earth Hour Lantern as a symbol of hope for the future
9. Be creative! Find a new way to mark Earth Hour and let us know all about it!

If you really care about saving the environment, participate in Earth Hour 2010.

Plantation Bay Resort & Spa

I expected a very grand entrance. What surprised me is a homey, humble facade of a 5-star resort. Mica’s uncle Mr. Gerry Rodriguez who is the Executive Housekeeper, welcomed both us. And he initiated the day tour. He was with us the 3 hours plus we were touring on the resort. And so, here’s my own list of the ten things you’ll love about Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

1. The place is simply a paradise

When I was younger, I’ve always dreamed of going to Plantation Bay. I always see it in TV and the place just looks amazing. Personally experiencing the place is another thing. I’ve been to several resorts in Cebu and Bohol but Plantation Bay just has its own distinct feature. It’s really paradise — though not natural, but it is made to look and act like one.

2. The people are warm and accommodating

Aside from Mr. Gerry, the other staff of the resort were welcoming. They were smiling and friendly. I tend to observe a lot and what I noticed is that the staff will never fail to greet you when you pass by them. With matching smiles. But my biggest gratitude goes to Mr. Gerry for spending his time with Mica and I, touring us around the resort like we’re VIPs.

3. High-class amenities and facilities

I haven’t experienced a lot of their amenities but I know that they do have a lot of aqua rides, a gym and a game room (where the Korean kids were staying), diving, wall climbing and sports amenities. Plus the wide crystal clear swimming pools, left and right wherever you go. They also have a dedicated area for spa and wellness.

4. Many, many swimming pools

This is a bit biased because I personally love swimming, meaning I love swimming pools. A lot. Plantation Bay has lots of them. So if you love swimming, this is the place for you. By the way, most of their pools are seawater. They get it under the ocean so it is guaranteed fresh. They also change it regularly. As proven by the photos, the swimming pools are crystal clear. Someday I’m gonna get myself wet there.

5. Food is good

Mr. Gerry treated us to a snack break in Kilimanjaro Kafe. We had the pancit canton and the burger plate (forgot the name). It was good, yummy. Just look at the photos. That plus a good conversation between Me, Mica, Sir Gerry and his wife, is the perfect snack session.

Dishes next?

6. Place makes you feel relaxed

Of course it is paraiso! If you just sit under a tree there, and read a good book, then you will probably regain the energy you lost with stress. The place is built to freshen you up, to keep you away from the bustling noise of the city (literally) and to let you experience a place where worries are not allowed. THIS is the place to relax. I WANT to relax.

7. Huge place, huge resort

The resort is very huge, so if you like running around, biking, catching each other’s breaths or just walking, then this is the right place. Some resorts maybe grand with high-rise buildings but the ground area may be small. Plantation offers a wide area and that means a possibility of an endless array of activities.

8. Amazing room ideas and cottages

I’ve known this since I was a kid. Some of Plantation Bay’s rooms are on the pools. When you jump out of your room, you see water. I love this concept. And I want to try it! This is one of the features that I like about the resort. I just kept it to myself until I saw the real thing and went inside that type of room. Awee.

9. High-class room details

We’ve talked about the exteriors. Let’s take a look at the room details:

Judge the room by the picture. By the way, this leads to the wide swimming pool!

10. Plantation Bay is Plantation Bay

Lastly, I love Plantation Bay because IT IS Plantation Bay. I won’t forget the childhood dream of experiencing the place. Getting there last January 23, 2010 was my first time. It wasn’t bad. But I wish I could have swam. I love swimming. I promised to myself that I will be back not just to tour the place (I’m done with that) but to experience paradise in its fullness.

Again thanks to Sir Gerry for the tour. And Mica for inviting me to the place. I shall return to Plantation Bay soon.