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Thursday, January 31, 2008
Random Thoughts on Branding the Philippines
Download BrandingthePhilippines.pdf (975.8K)
I just want to share with you an interesting article on Branding the Philippines by Junie del Mundo and Robert de Quelen. You can download the entire article here: Download BrandingthePhilippines.pdf (975.8K). I would like to share with you my insights based on that article...
1. A Core Ingredient of the Philippine Brand is the Filipino People.
We need to instill in the hearts of every Filipino the deep sense of pride in our country. We grew up programmed to think negative of our country because of the corruptions in the government and negative publicity about our country. We need to start to be proud of "Made in the Philippines" products and appreciate our country even more. This has been the 3 year crusade of Our Awesome Planet. Each year, the passion to showcase the Philippines grows inside of me and one day I will dedicate my life to it.Some practical tips for the new generation of Filipinos:
-- We literally stopped watching TV already because media is a bad influence to our kids.
-- Align your family to the "good side" of the Philippines and stay away from the "dark side" by choosing carefully the people you interact with.
-- Every Juan should travel and see the beauty of the Philippines. Start with Boracay, then El Nido, Palawan, and then Batanes.
-- Every March, go to Manila Bay and watch one of the Awesome Sunsets in the world.
-- Live a life of passion and fear of the Lord.
2. Filipinos key characteristics: Caring, Colorful, Creative, and Collaborative.
We need to showcase the caring, colorful, creative and collaborative traits of the Filipinos. It does not matter if you are based in the Philippines or in US. What matters is, we touched the lives of the people we encounter each day. Share with them the beautiful traits of the Filipinos.
Some practical tips for the new generation of Filipinos:
-- Let's continue to export nurses, doctors, musicians, IT people, to showcase to the world what Filipinos are made of. -- Develop Filipino websites that showcase the colorful and creative talents of the Filipinos.
-- Attend the Sinulog -- one of the best fiesta in the Philippines and showcases the 4C's of the Filipinos.
-- Appreciate the Halo Halo which is a metaphor for what it means to be a Filipino.
-- Be creative and free!
3. Change our "alila" paradigm instilled by the Spaniards and the Americans.
I hate it that we have this mentality that the Spaniards and Americans are more superior than the Filipinos. We are brainwashed during our childhood and this cycle should stop in this generation.
Some practical tips for the new generation of Filipinos:
-- Stop watching TV to stop the hollywood brainwashing.
-- Listen to OPM music each morning.
-- Buy proudly "Made in the Philippines" products.
-- Blog in Filipino (One of these days I'll launch a Filipino blog)
-- Celebrate the world class achievements of Filipinos.
Any thoughts or reactions on how we can have strengthen the Philippine brand?
January 31, 2008 in 01. My Favorite Blog Posts | Permalink | Comments (51) | TrackBack
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Ultimate Kapampangan Tour 2: Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
We are overwhelmed with the response from the tour and we got 35 reservations to date for the day tour. We are waiting for the payment to confirm their reservation. Also, we are opening up the overnight option so that you can witness the night glow of the balloons. At most, we would only accept 30 people maximum (for both day tour and overnight) because we want to continue to have quality interactions among the people joining the tour.
Well, not quite Manila but STILL close….
Really, another way to pump up your boring weekend and get your spirits soaring as we conquer the high and mighty in Pampanga! Gawk at the giant hot-air balloons at 12th Annual Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta while poking around Pampanga’s culinary secrets. Lounge away in a rustic, relaxing farm retreat while feasting over a sumptuous Kapampangan spread by one the country’s most artistic restaurateurs. A feast for the body, mind and soul!
Tour Experience:
12th Philippine Balloon Fiesta* VFW Outpost * Abe’s Farm* Nurture’s Spa*
*This tour leaves Makati at 3 a.m. (yes 3:00 AM!) and includes front-ticket seats to the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, an authentic American Soldier’s breakfast at the VFW Outpost, an optional five-hour hike up Mt. Arayat and a soothing massage at Nurture’s Spa.
Date: February 10, 2008, Sunday
Time: 3:00 am - 4:00 pm (yes, 3:00 AM!) Times are approximate.
Tour Cost: P4,800.00/head (includes -transfers, meals, tour, massage and others)
SPLURGE!
Go the extra mile…start a step ahead, spend an overnight stay and catch the spectacular ‘Night Glow” (think GIANT light bulbs floating in the sky) . Dine at one of the most acclaimed Italian restaurants this side of the Pacific. And to top it off, a one-of-kind walking tour as we bare it all and take down one of the country’s most famous Red-Light districts!
Tour Experience
*Balloon Fiesta ‘Night Glow’* C Italian Dining* Clark Red and Light District* 12th Philippine Balloon Fiesta* VFW Outpost * Abe’s Farm* Nurture’s Spa Pampanga
Date: February 9-10, 2008, Sunday
Time: February 09 at 3:00pm - February 10 at 4:00 pm
Tour Cost: P8,888.00/head (includes -transfers, hotels, meals, tour, massage, the works!)
This ADVENTURE tour is co-organized by:
Our Awesome Planet
Manila Boy
Ivan About Town
Old Manila Walks.
January 29, 2008 in 18. Ultimate Philippines Tours, Pampanga | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Monday, January 28, 2008
Hot Air Balloon Fiesta FAQs
1. Do we really need to leave by 3am in the morning?
Yes you do. At the latest you should leave Manila by 3.30am. The Hot Air Balloons are inflated at around 5.30am and all of them fly out before 7am. If you arrive late, you will already experience the traffic going inside Clark and the parking queue would have build up by that time. I see people arriving in Clark at around 7am and they don't see the balloons anymore. I don't want that to happen to you.
2. Can we ride the Hot Air Balloon?
There are only 5 ways you can ride in the hot air balloon.
-- You can pay $150/ head for the ride
-- You win in the daily photo contest and win a ride in the balloons courtesy of SM
-- You are part of Media and you request to ride the balloon. You have higher chances to do this on Thursday but definitely not on the weekend.
-- You hosted the balloonist in Manila and they give you a free ride as a token of their appreciation.
-- You own a balloon or you have a relative that flies the balloon.
For the last two years I have been attending the festival, it continues to be a dream for me to ride a hot air balloon. I might just pay the $150 one of these days...
3. Can we get close to the Balloon?
The entrance fee to the festival is P100 and this will give you access to the general viewing area where you can see the balloon from a distance. Usually, they issue 100 special shooter's pass per day so that you can have a close encounter with the balloons. This year, the photo contest is sponsored by Epson and One Workshop. They sold the passes for P350 which includes, EPSON signature cap and a FREE entrance to attend the glamour fashion shoot and daily photo / digital retouching workshops. As of now, the passes are sold out and we manage to get the passes for our Ultimate Kapampangan Tour on Sunday Feb. 10.
4. Any recommendations on where to stay in Clark?
The most popular places are Clark Holiday Inn and Fontana. During our tour, we will have people stay in Oasis Hotel outside Clark.
5. What are the mechanics of the Photo Contest?
EPSON Photo Contest Mechanics
The EPSON Photo Contest Marathon is open to all visitors and guests of the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.
Students, amateurs, hobbyists and professional photographer are welcome to use any digital SLR, digital point-and-shoot or cell phone camera to interpret the given theme for the day.
DAILY CONTEST THEMES
Day 1: Happiness and beauty:
e.g. nature, beautiful people, family, colors, camaraderie, hot air balloon formations etc
Day 2: Triumph, passion and love:
e.g human interest, event activities, decisive moments etc
Day 3: Majestic view:
e.g sunrise, sunset, landscape, cloud formations, nature etc
Day 4: Creative moment:
e.g Hot Air Balloons and Clark and Pampanga landscape in focus etc
Photos for all daily themes are allowed to show entire or partial logos, signage or references to the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and/or EPSON.
Participants are allowed to submit multiple entries per daily theme.
Participants may win multiple daily prizes and compete for the Grand Prize.
6. What can you do in the festival?
The highlight of the festival is the take-off of the Hot Air Balloons in the morning. After all the balloons left, you can watch the micro light demonstrations, sky diving, small plane fly-bys, helicopter exhibitions and kite flying exhibitions. There is also a display of military tanks, planes and aerospace exhibits. Usually, we would go out after the balloons left and have a Pampanga food trip around the Angeles area. If time permits, we go back to see the night glow of the Hot Air Balloons. The only problem with the night glow is that everyone leaves after that and it creates a traffic jam going outside of Clark.
Do you have a question? Let me know so that I can answer them and share with you my experience regarding this festival.
January 28, 2008 in 18. Ultimate Philippines Tours | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack
Friday, January 25, 2008
Our Classic Confections
Nono’s Chocolate Oblivion (P145/ P895). Two light layers of chocolate filled with whipped chocolate cream and walnut praline bits.
Almond Crunch! Toffee candy ,made with whole roasted almonds and semi-sweet chocolate. Definitely, a crunch and a must try!
Our favorite dessert place in Greenbelt 5 is Classic Confections! We heard of them from the Pink Kitchen event and we are glad that they opened their first retail store in Greenbelt 5. I will let my wife Rache who is the blogger-of-the-week in Sanrio Town this week to share with you our experience:
GB5: Classic Confections by Mrs Awesome Planet
I'm proud that she is starting to be recognized as a blogger in her own right.
We love it so much that we decided to buy Aidan's Birthday Cake with a design of Lighting McQueen (P1,450) for his 3rd Birthday Celebration. We also bought Classic Confections' signature sugar coated cookies (P45/each) as a souvenir for the kids on Aidan's Birthday. Rache was disappointed with the size of the birthday cake (I did not intend to make it bigger in the photo above).
Classic Confections
2/F of Greenbelt 5
4/F 87 West Capitol Drive, Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig City
+632.746.2773; +632.490.7896 (Kat) ; +632.729.9243; +63917.524.5892 (Baba)
January 25, 2008 in 04. Restaurants that are worth to try once | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack
The Tirta Spa Difference
What is the difference between a P250 Massage on the white sands beach of Bora and a P4,000 Massage in Tirta Spa in Boracay?
This debate went on and on in my mind. But the practical side of my brain is already losing the debate to the adventurous part who is yearning for a new spa experience in Boracay. Unfortunately, the debate happened when I was already in the main reception of Tirta Spa. At that time, all of my senses are now excited with the serenity and peacefulness of the place. Meeting the lovely owner, En Calvert, just fueled my desire to experience the unique spa packages that I have not seen even in Mandala Spa. It is the irrational side of me that won finally in the end because I can't resist how awesome this place is.
Let me share with you the Tirta Spa difference in Boracay...
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I've never seen such drama in any of the Spa in the Philippines. The Tirta Spa difference starts with its "contemporary old" gates guarded by two ugly guards. They are there not to scare you but to scare the evil spirits, evil thoughts, and evil intentions surrounding you. As you step past the yin yang and ascend into the gates, this entire scene reminded me of the time portal in Star Gate where it will transport you to a sacred paradise. Then you'll hear a gong to further remove the bad spirits clinging into your soul just like the scene in Spiderman 3 where the sound of the bells were used to drive away the evil Spiderman.
After the cleansing drama, 10 balinese guards holding a torch and an umbrella welcomes you to Tirta spa. I can just imagine how impressive this scene would be at night.
Tirta Spa is the manifestation of En Calvert's passion to bring the benefits of holistic spa experience to the Philippines.
"In 2001 I took the plunge and decided that I would commit the next stage of my life to becoming more holistic and helping to improve not only my own quality of life but also that of others and enrolled in college in Hong Kong. Thereafter followed four years of intensive study, graduating with diplomas in Physiology, Anatomy, Holistic Massage techniques, Aromatherapy and Spa Management, receiving certification from both ITEC (International Therapy Examination Council) and CIBTAC (Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology), the world's two most respected bodies in these fields.
"During that time, I also made several trips, with the aim of developing my holistic principles. Some of the more interesting experiences are worthy of mention. First was a retreat to Sedona, Arizona, organized by world-renowned aroma-therapist and psychotherapist Michael Scholes, where one was encouraged to delve into the deepest recesses of one's mind, problem-solving by focusing on root causes, rather than the conventional practice of treating only the symptoms. Another involved spending time with the doctors in Kerala, India, learning about the practices of Ayurvedic medicine. I have also visited Cape Town, South Africa, a recognized centre of holistic treatments where I studied crystal healing and Reiki and have spent time in Hawaii where I studied hot lava stone therapy." (About En Calvert)
I love meeting a Filipina who decided to establish her roots here in the Philippines and show the whole world how we can create the finest health and wellness spa in Asia.
I recognized these egyptian perfume oil bottles which contains the oils you can use for the massage. You have three options: Uplifting oil composed of rosemarie and grapefruit; Healing Oil composed of eucalyptus and lavender; and Exotic oil based from lemongrass. I chose the healing oil because of its pleasing smell on your skin.
The buddha centerpiece gives an overall peaceful aura to the garden with the hilltop view of the Sibuyan Sea.
Tirta Spa is a young spa with three royal suite villas designed for couple with thai or indian themes to choose from. Each villa has full amenities of a private bathroom, an outdoor bathtub, a vichy shower, and a Koi carp pond to complete the serene ambiance. There are two outdoor Thai pavilion seated on top of the Koi pond where you can enjoy your preferred massage amidst the surroundings.
You will appreciate the careful attention to details in the villa -- from the indian doors, to the intricate trellis surrounding the villas, the traveler's palm carving, and the skills of the masseuse. You'll never want to leave this place. Just see their official website: www.tirtaspa.com where I appreciated the attention to design, usability and completeness of information. Each of the villa houses the personal collection of En Calvert from her travels all around the world.
I chose the Herbal Compress massage where a special blend of herbs and spices wrapped in a muslin cloth are heated and the oil extract are massaged into your body. They create their own herbs used in their massage which includes the cinnamon scrub, cucurma, and galanga from the ginger family.
One of these days I would like to surprise and bring Rache here and enjoy this outdoor bathtub. If you are on a honeymoon in Boracay, I suggest you give Tirta Spa a try.
The massage begins with a foot massage and a healthy drink of ginger tea...
and this is the last scene I saw as I felt the herbal oils from the muslin cloth massaged on my back...
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After the massage, I did not want to leave the place and I want to enjoy every minute. Unfortunately, we have to fly back that afternoon. The Tirta spa experience is not complete without Rache so I firmly resolve to go back with my lovely wife. I'll save up for Tirta Spa's 3 hours pampering treatments for us...
January 25, 2008 in 22. Awesome Spas, Boracay | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack
