Being A Nuffnang Blogger is the Hottest Thing Since The Family Computer

When we were still kids the Family Computer (or Nintendo Entertainment System in the U.S. market) was the "in" thing in the world of video games. During those years (in the mid 80's to be more exact), as a kid, if your family does not own one of these cool gaming consoles, you would feel like you were left out in the medieval times.


I remember the day when my father bought one of these for our family enjoyment. We only had a handful of gaming cartridges to choose from but our excitement got the better of us on the first day. From that moment on it was like this gaming console has always been a part of the family.

We had our good times with the good ol' Family Computer. I remember I once played "Battle City" with my dad. I never knew it was so addictive that we started playing late evening, and by the time we finished it was already 6 a.m. the next morning! By the time my dad realized this, the only thing he could say to me was "Ok game over, time to sleep!" and left me to put away the Family Computer while he went off to bed.

There was even a time my brother and I got scolded by our dad because we played Super Mario 3 far too late in the evening while we had classes the next day. Thanks to my idea of not using the "warp zone", we played every level 'til our King Kuppa called us out (lol).

Having this console was so hot because it introduced us with a whole new dimension in gaming. Thanks to the Family Computer we got to experience different gaming styles and genres.



Some of my favorite games include:

Super Mario Bros 3 - this platform adventure games takes hours and hours to complete. With highly imaginative levels and entertaining gameplay, Mario has always been an inspiration to avid gamers worldwide.


Sports games like Nintendo Baseball and Tennis - these casual games allow you to practice timing while having fun with family and friends.

Gradius 2 and Salamander (a.k.a LifeForce) - these space adventure games take you dodging and shooting in captivating alien worlds.



Wild GunMan and Duck Hunt - these shooting games allow you to practice your targeting skills using the gun controller. Wild Gunman is a cartoony way of your Wild west shoot 'em up while Duck Hunt was specially funny and annoying at times whenever the dog laughs at you for missing the duck.


There are tons unforgettable games in the Family Computer, some even touted as legendary, their iterations and spinoffs have been ported to the newer gaming consoles like the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. To mention a few more aside from Mario, we have the Castlevania Series, Final Fantasy Series, Zelda Zeries and the Megaman (RockMan) Series. The legacy of these games is proof enough that the Family Computer was THE hottest thing in gaming during its time.


And while Family Computers were hot during the 80's, being a Nuffnanger is just as hot right now! What gives Nuffnangers its charm is similar to what gives the Family Computer its charm back then for the following reasons...

1) You never run out of variety. Just like choosing a video game you like to play, being a Nuffnanger allows you to participate in different activities inside and outside blogging. Worthwhile activities like special movie screenings and blogger events allow us Nuffnangers to redefine our limits in blogging.

2) You never run out of challenges. What I love about being a Nuffnanger is that they allow members to join in different blog contests sponsored by the Nuffnang advertisers. For me, contests are like video games only better! Contests allow us to hone our skill as bloggers and get a chance to win prizes too!

3) Being a Nuffnanger means you are part of the Family. With Nuffnang's bloggers events, you get a chance to meet and greet other active bloggers in person! Blogging is more than just writing, it's a way of socializing and getting to meet new friends. Just like our good ol' Family Computer we have considered a part of the family, being a Nuffnanger makes you a part of a bigger family in the great new world of online blogging.

* Visit the Nuffnang Philippines website to know more about Nuffnang. You don't need to spend in order to be part of a family. Membership is free of charge.


By the way, aside from Nuffnang being hot, Pizza Hut also delivers Pizza that is sure to be hot! Pizza Hut now offers Hot on the Dot Pizza deliveries: 30 minutes AND hot (as indicated by the thermally activated sticker you place on the pizza box upon receiving your pizza) or your pizza is FREE!



This is my entry to Nuffnang Philippines' Cowboys and Aliens Special Screening blog contest. First 100 bloggers to submit their blog posts get to win free invites to the movie: Cowboys and Aliens. Deadline for this contest is on August 8, 2011 11 a.m.

Also remember to dial 911-11-11 if you want your pizzas Hot on the Dot!

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Captain America is My Idea of Nationalism

We all love superheroes. Lively characters wearing colorful costumes and battling it out with evil forces, these protagonists are the fancy of young and old alike. With highly imaginative battles they face in their very own comic book world, they are the stars that tell the common tale that good will always triumph over evil.


Captain America is no exception: a super solider with great strength, cunning and skill. But can we truly relate to this hero?

Clad with the red, white and blue, and the star at the center of his shield, Captain America clearly represents the American flag and its ideals. Americans can definitely relate to him and his heroic acts of honor and bravery.

But in the Filipino context, who or what is Captain America to us? Probably for some, he is just one in a long line of estranged superheroes. We can probably relate more to our own set of superheroes like Captain Barbell, Darna or Panday.



Yet, with all the popularity our Pinoy superheroes have at the local scene, we don't have a superhero counterpart that bears our country's flag.

Our flag is the ultimate symbol of what it means to be Filipino. It is a sign of our hopes and dreams, and our identity as a nation. Our own red white and blue sun-and-stars flag has its own rich and colorful history that we can truly be proud of.

Captain America bears his National Pride. Many of us claim to have it. Yet we are not fully aware of the gravity of its meaning. For some, cheering for our fellow Pinoys who are successful in life is enough to show national pride. But in truth this is not enough.



To bear National Pride takes more. To do that we have to be heroes in our own right. And to be a hero, it takes a lot of heart.

In the simplest of ways, we can show our version of Pinoy heroism. It takes heart to do the right thing, like paying your taxes correctly and on time. It takes heart to give your life for the sake of others, like helping fellow Pinoys in dire need. It takes heart to be brave and stand up for what is right, like avoiding bribery and turning away from criminality and corruption. This is what I believe being Captain America is all about. A hero is one who has desire to serve his nation and fellowmen. As bearers of our own flag, we should do the same.

On a final note, every Filipino is called to be a hero and make our country change for the better. Why is it we only dream of having a country free of corruption and with great economic stature if we only continue to dream and do nothing? It's time we start to bear our flag and take action to make our nation's dream a reality.

Just like Captain America, we are not only asked to raise our flag up high. We are all called to "wear" it as well.



Captain America, The First Avenger will be showing in theaters on July 27, 2011 nationwide.

For more promos and updates Like them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/captainamericaph and visit http://www.theavengersassembled.com

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Digital Filipino: Marketing Philippines Travel Online

Last March 30's episode of Digital Filipino Talks was on Marketing Philippines Travel Online. This episode focuses on the trends of online booking, great tourist destinations in the Philippines and some tips that can help prevent online fraud.


Marketing Philippines Travel Online from Janette Toral on Vimeo.

Interviewed for this episode is Mr. Russell Ri, head of e-Philippines Adventure Travel and Destinations.

Booming Philippine Tourism

In this interview, Mr. Ri said that tourism in the Philippines has increased not only from foreign the tourists but from the local as well. He mentioned that most Filipinos want to travel to other places to look for a different adventure.

To make tourism more attractive, some are packaged with adventure travels. Activities like these include sky diving, wake boarding, surf boarding, etc. While there are few Filipinos who look for hard adventures, majority would like to have soft adventures like the zip line or sight seeing.

Tourist Destinations in the Philippines

In this interview, Mr. Ri mentioned some great tourist destinations that tourists, foreign or local may consider checking out. Some of these include 1) Bohol, where one can experience beaches with less people, the tarsiers and Chocolate Hills. 2) Boracay, where the island-beach is lively and party going, and 3) either Coron or Puerto Princesa, where one can experience island hopping, and the famous underwater cave networks.

On online fraud when booking

Although Mr. Ri admits there is not much control when it comes to booking online because there are some who do not secure any accreditation yet do their business online. But he did give tips to avoid fraud, such us doing your research on where to go and what to do, and find a suitable travel agency that can fulfill your travel needs.

Partnering with travel agencies

Mr. Ri gave some advice to those small travel oriented businesses who offer individual services like hotel accommodations, to partner with travel agencies for better marketing online. He mentioned that these small establishments may try to contact travel agencies so that they can bundle their services along with the travel package they will offer to those interested to book with them.

My view on Philippine Tourism

Philippine tourism is a great way for our country to earn additional revenue. It may be a great substitute to mining. Although it can also boost revenue for our country, there will also be the issue (just like mining) on the destruction of our environment in general.

Tourism and the environment

Since there are a lot of climate change catastrophes happening recently, we should be more aware of our actions and that it can do to our environment. And tourism, as innocent-sounding as it seems, is one of them.

Most of us would think that tourism will in no way harm the environment, specially when compared to mining. But some tourists do not really care if their actions can spoil the beauty of our land. The most common of their actions is littering. Throwing or leaving stuff behind as they go.

Furthermore, it is a lot of us Filipinos who are undisciplined when throwing away waste. Whenever there is a fiesta or big gathering, most of us simply leave our empty plastic bottles or food wrappers in the streets, or on the beach, hoping someone else will clean up for us. Sad but true.

My advise is that tourists, specially the Pinoy tourists should make sure that as they leave what they have visited, they leave nothing behind in the open - specially trash.

On Timing Bookings

Marketing our tourist destinations online definitely attracts visitors from all over the world. But there are times tourists will find it hard to book their travels. Those are during the big fiestas or celebrations in the Philippines. The Sinulog festival in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan festivals in the Visayas are one of the most colorful fiestas in the Philippines. Because of its popularity, a lot will try to book their travels near the date of the event.

Since Mr. Ri did not mention timing of booking online, I advise travelers to book earlier than usual for big events. If you book too soon, you will find out that you might not get any accommodations left. I heard that some even book 6 months before the event to make sure they get a reservation.

On online fraud

There are other sound tips that can help minimize becoming a victim of online fraud. One is to ask your friends what online site they used to book their travels. As long as they used the service without hassle, you're pretty sure you won't go wrong. Another sound advise would be to book with agencies with some form of accreditation. This can act as a reference that the business you are going to book with is legitimate.

To sum it up, touring the Philippines is a great activity specially during the summer season. But to make our travel fun, worry-free and Earth-friendly, one should book early, book at trusted online sites and make sure you don't mess up the place on your visit. We only have one Philippines we can present to the world, so we should take care of it.

Happy traveling! :)

This is my entry to DigitalFilipino.com's Talks Blog Contest. Be part of the conversation. Visit the contest page to join. Feel free to comment on my blog post about Marketing Philippines Travel Online.

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Digital Filipino Talks: Blog Marketing for SMEs

In a previous February episode of Digital Filipino Talks on Blog Marketing for SMEs, blog marketing, its forms and its current trends were the highlights of this show.


Blog Marketing for SMEs (Blogs as alternative to traditional online media ads) from Janette Toral on Vimeo.

Nuffnang Philippines country manager Carlos Palma shares his experience on this interview.

My views on this episode

Me as a contestant

Wathcing this episode of Digital Filipino Talks, I remembered my reason why I joined the Nuffnang network. It's because they have attractive contests anyone can participate in.

As a once newbie blogger, I never had the chance to earn money through paid posts. I only knew that through blog contests, with a little luck on my side, I would be able to earn a little, or gain valuable lessons and experiences if I join. Blog contests - that's all there was for me.

As I learned more on how to blog, I got the chance to read other people's blogs and gain more techniques from them. And, as determined as I am to win, I tried to emulate them, specially those who already won blog contests in the past.

Me as a blog earner

When I joined the Nuffnang network, I never had much idea that I can also earn through their ad placements. I only found out later on that I can place codes on my blog that will allow me to be paid based on the ad campaign and my site popularity.

I never considered myself as a professional blogger (although some people I know, personally or online call me a professional contestant). I say these two are totally different from one another. A contestant like me can try to join and win in other contests that are non-blogging related like photo contests, video contests, etc.

That aside, earning through Nuffnang ad banners is not that lucrative. I admit my earnings here is not something to brag about, since my blog site is not attuned to cater a vast majority of readers. Most of my posts in Journey of No FERA are contest entries I joined from different sponsors, and some interesting contests I want to blog about.

Because of my not-so-great earnings, I tend to believe that if I were after site popularity and want to earn more through ad placements or paid blogs, I should have at least started a blog that covers a wide audience to begin with like showbiz, or food, not a small niche like contests.

My take on blog contests for Blog Marketing

If there was something I would wish from Nuffnang or any other SME who want to tap blog marketing for their online campaign, I would suggest them to hold more blog contests rather than paid posts. This is because blog contests can showcase the creative talent of newbie bloggers.

If SMEs stick to paid blog posts for their campaign, they will try to contact the more popular bloggers to post their ads. This gives newbies less chances to earn through their blog posts.

But if contests are held for a marketing campaign, newbie and pro bloggers alike will be equal under the scrutiny of the judges. With enough talent and dedication, newbie bloggers can outshine the pros through their winning posts, and also gives them a chance to be more well-known in the online world.

The only downside of this is that only a few people will get to be "paid" for their hardwork (through the prizes in case the blogger wins the contest). That aside, joining blog contests can be very rewarding and character building. And, just as what Nuffnang promises, blogging through contests can likewise be fun!

This is my entry to DigitalFilipino.com's Talks Blog Contest. Be part of the conversation. Visit the contest page to join. Feel free to comment on my blog post about Blog Marketing for SMEs.

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Mentos Taste Test Pilot Material

If you want to be an ace taste tester (like me) then join Mentos Taste Test Pilot Material contest. To join, all you have to do is answer the question: "What makes you taste test pilot material?" The answer with the most likes per week wins Mentos gift packs, while the grand winner will win an iPod touch based on creativity and likes.



This contest is open to all Philippine residents with a Facebook account.

Contest Mechanics:

1. This contest is open to all Philippine residents with a Facebook account.

2. Participants must "like" the Official Mentos Gum page on Facebook to join.

3. Participants must answer the following question in 250 characters or less and post it on the Official Mentos Gum Page: facebook.com/mentosgumphilippines
"Why do you think you are taste test pilot material?"

4. The 5 answers at the end of each week with the most likes win a box of Mentos Pure Fresh blister packs )a box contains 12 blister packs)

5. Winners will be requested to PM their contact details to receive their prize.

6. Answers must be submitted between Monday and Sunday (before 12 midnight) to qualify and are only valid for one week.

7. Participants can submit as many answers as they want but can only qualify for receiving a sample pack once.

8. A participant can however win a sample pack and also be the grand prize winner.

9. The grand prize is an iPod touch (3rd gen) which will be awarded at the end of the contest to the best answer of all.

10. The selection of the best answer will be made based on the following criteria:

- Creativity - 50%
- Relevance to the brand - 25%
- Number of likes - 25%

Notes:
- to win a Mentos gift pack, be one of the top 5 highest voted / liked per week. Your entry will qualify for the gift pack only on the cutoff week you submitted.
- as long as you submit an entry, whether you win a gift pack or not, you still have a chance to win the grand prize (iPod Touch)
- last day to join this contest is on April 3, 2011

For more information about this contest, head over to the Mentos Gum Philippines fan page on Facebook.

Click here to read more...

Nescafe Coffee Wiz Trivia

Join the Nescafe Coffee Wiz Trivia Contest and get a chance to win exciting prizes like an LDC TV, digital camera and more! Simply answer the trivia questions about Nescafe Coffee. If you get them all correct, you will be included in the raffle draw.


This contest is open to fans of Nescafe Philippines on Facebook 18 years old and above.

NESCAFE COFFEE WIZ MECHANICS

HOW TO JOIN:
1. "Like" the NESCAFÉ PHILIPPINES Facebook Fan page. You should be at least 18 years of age and
above
2. Register the following:
a. Full name of the contestant;
b. Birthday;
c. Mobile number;
d. Valid e-mail address
3. Answer the 10 questions posted in the application every week. Participants must answer all questions correctly to be eligible to participate in the electronic raffle draw. Answers to the questions may be found in the official website of NESCAFE (www.nescafe.com.ph)

4. Participants will be given 3 chances to answer all questions correctly. If the participant seeks to get 3 more chances, he/she may invite at least 5 unique Facebook members who have not yet joined the promotion for a total of 6 chances for that particular round.

5. There will be a total of 4 rounds for the whole duration of the promotion.

6. The correct answers to the 10 questions posted for a particular round shall be announced through the “NESCAFÉ Coffee Wiz” tab after the end of the promotion period.

HOW TO WIN:

1. The participant who garnered a perfect score for that particular round will be qualified to participate in the electronic raffle draw for that particular round where prizes will be awarded to the winners. The electronic raffle will be conducted in the presence of an FDA representative. The cut-off period, draw dates, number of winners and prizes are those specified below:
The cut-off period, draw dates, number of winners and prizes are those specified below:

Round Cut-off Period / Prize

1st (Feb. 28 –Mar. 6) Mar. 6, 2011 / Canon Powershot Pro Series SX 130 IS

2nd (Mar. 7 –13) Mar. 13, 2011 / HTC CP Wildfire Red (Android)

3rd (Mar. 13 – Mar. 20) Mar. 20, 2011 / iPod Touch and Urban Ears Earphones

4th (Mar. 21 – Mar. 27) Mar. 27, 2011 / SAMSUNG 22" LCD TV

2. A participant can only win once per round. If participant does not win in the electronic raffle for a particular round, he or she may join the next round

3. 4 winners will be announced in the Nescafe Philippines Fan Page. The prizes will be delivered to the winners at the address they indicated during registration.


WINNERS:
1. The winners may claim their prize from Monday until Friday during business hours at the office of Nestlé Philippines, Inc. located at Nestlé Center, #31 Plaza Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City, 1200. In claiming their prize, winners must present:

a.) at least two (2) valid identification cards each bearing the same name as that used in registering for the promotion

b.) clear printout of the email notification sent to them.

MUST KNOWS:

1. Promotion period is from Feb. 28 – Mar. 27, 2011.
2. During the duration and at any stage of the promotion, organizers of the promotion may disqualify participants who fail to qualify with the qualifications specified in these mechanics and their decision on the matter is final.
3. Announcement of winners via NESCAFÉ PHILIPPINES Facebook Fan Page: April 4, 2011
4. All entries received after the deadline will not be included in the count.
5. All prizes are non-transferable and not convertible to cash.

For more information and/or to join, head over to NESCAFÉ PHILIPPINES Facebook Fan Page.

Click here to read more...

Digital Filipino Talks: The Need for a Philippine Bloggers Association

Do We really need a Philippine Bloggers Association?

Last February 25, 2011, Digital Filipino talks about the Need for a Philippine Bloggers Association (PBA). Interviewed for this topic is Tonyo Cruz of http://tonyocruz.com.


The Need for Philippine Bloggers Association from Janette Toral on Vimeo.

Tonyo Cruz in this interview elaborates the advantages of having a Philippine Bloggers Association and why we need it.

My views on this topic:

Before writing this, I read some of the views of other bloggers regarding this topic. Now, I would like to state my own.

Representation

Some bloggers argue that there can be no specific person or group who can represent the entire Philippine blogging community. The reason would be that bloggers have different niches for their blogs, and with different beliefs. My response to this is that even if we have different niches and beliefs, we all still have something in common - we're Filipinos right?

Do we need a PBA?

One thing is certain. We need unity. An association like this can make us bloggers unified for a certain cause, specially on national crises and emergencies. It can also help bloggers communicate more through this association since blogging is also a form of socializing, not just expression of thought.

Freedom of expression

Some bloggers argue that if a Philippine Bloggers Association exists, its members will be forced to adhere to the principles and guidelines, or standards for blogging.

I totally agree with them that there is no standard for blogging.

That's because each of us want to express our own thoughts through our blogs - whether we want to rant, rave, opine, inform, etc. But here's what I think... Why should an association set standards anyway? I was thinking this PBA is supposed to be a large group of Pinoy bloggers with unity as a common goal. That's all there is.

What's in a Name?

And some will argue that this PBA should be called something else like Philippine Blogger's Club, or Philippine Bloggers Org, etc. Bottom line is this is going to be a big group of Filipino bloggers even if you call it an org, association, club, league, sect, cult or whatever.

Blog Association Politics

Some bloggers argue that if a PBA exists, it might be used by politicians to promote themselves or their advocacies in cyberspace. And most bloggers wouldn't want an association they joined that supports a candidate they don't like, or an advocacy they don't believe in. My take on the issue is that the PBA should make it clear that it is a non-profit, non-religious and non-political group whose only goal is unity and overall well-being among Filipino bloggers. These types of advocacies outside those ideals should not be supported by a PBA.

The more viable political question would be, in case it formed, who will lead the PBA?

Making an issue of a Non-Issue

In case a Philippine Bloggers Assocation will be formed, let us try to ask ourselves, is there any way for us to stop it from happening? My answer would be a big NO.

A PBA can be still be formed by those willing to make it happen. For those who do not want to take part in it, simply don't join. This is a free country anyway.

The formation of the PBA will only be a BIG issue if joining this group is MANDATORY for all Filipino bloggers. I hope not, or all other arguments from anti-PBA bloggers will add to the issue.

So, am I for or against a PBA?

It depends. As long as it's not mandatory, it's free of charge, non-political, non-religious, non-profit, with no specific guidelines on how to blog, with no strings attached on what or what-not to blog, and open to all Filipinos, Why not?

To all the Pinoy bloggers out there, do we really need a Philippine Bloggers Association? Share.


This is my entry to DigitalFilipino.com's Talks Blog Contest. Be part of the conversation. Visit the contest page to join. Feel free to comment on my blog post about My view on The Need for a Philippine Bloggers Association.

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Digital Filipino Talks: Using Text Messaging for Business Operations Support

Today, March 3, 2011, digital Filipino Talks about Using Text Messaging for Business Operations Support. Interviewed for this topic is GiveMe Unlimited CEO Mr. Erick Kalugdan (http://myinfotxt.com/) on how text messaging (SMS) is used today to support various business operation functions.



Mr. Kalugdan shares his insights on how to implement SMS applications for businesses to reach out to their customers by either using the 4 digit telco services or using their own.

Many uses of SMS services to promote businesses

Mr. Kalugdan mentions the following uses of SMS which makes it a valuable tool for business:

1) blast texting - sending messages to mobile phone users for information about a product or promo.

2) notifications - sending messages that notify a customer of the status of his service.

3) customer service - allows customers to communicate with product agents about concerns on the product or service.

4) management - allows businesses to communicate internally on product inventory, etc.

On spamming and scamming

Mr. Kalugdan shares his insights on spamming and scamming via SMS.

He mentions that a text is considered a spam depending on how businesses acquire your cellphone number for their text blast. Cell numbers should be gathered legitimately by the company. If it is acquired randomly or from an outside source, then it is considered spam.

A text is considered a scam if any text message from an unknown number asks you for something in order for you to get something in return. (like payment or cellphone load)

The special 4 digit code.

Special 4 digit codes can be used instead of a normal cellphone number by a company to send SMS promo messages but they have to be acquired directly from telcos or other firms selling their 4 digit codes. Using this service is more expensive at 2 pesos or 2.50 pesos per send. Mr. Kalugdan advices companies should avail this service depending on the target number of customers.

My views on the issue

On SMS Updates

Most of the time we get SMS messages from the telcos themselves, specially their ongoing promos and contests. I know there are ways to turn off the SMS updates. All you have to do is send a phrase to a specific number to turn them off.

However, most of us do not know how to unsubscribe those services. And there are some who even complain that they already sent those commands to unsubscribe, yet they still receive those unwanted updates. Telcos (or any company using SMS updates) should make sure that people know how to unsubscribe to their updates, either through text, or through their official websites.

On contests and promotions

All of the 'contests' (I rather call them raffles) by telcos offer big cash prizes, with sums of 5 digits and up. And some contests say that they will be raffling off winners per hour. The only thing is how do I know if this contest has legitimate winners? That's the thing with electronic raffle, you are not even sure how the winners were picked. Companies who promote these contests via SMS must make sure they announce the winners' names as soon as possible in their official websites to prevent people from doubting the contest results.

On scamming

In my opinion, if companies want to offer a promo or raffle contest, they should avail the 4 digit code. This is because anyone can use a normal cellphone number to scam. As for 4 digit special codes, I don't think scammers will dare borrow those numbers from telcos to do their trade.

Reporting scammers

I was truly blessed to get notifications of winning 850,000 pesos and a Honda Civic from Philippine Information Center years before. Obviously it's a scam. You'll know it is when you win a contest you never joined. However these people behind these scams should be stopped so that other people will not be victimized. We should do our share in reporting this to the NTC (or any authority) so that these scammers can be put out of business for good.

On a final note

I hope companies who use SMS to promote their product or service would be sensitive to the consumers as well. Imagine if a lot of companies resort to SMS promotions, our cellphone inbox will be swamped by unwanted ads. So even though all these companies acquired cellphone numbers legitimately, they will still be treated as SPAM.

My take on this is that, even if companies know that SMS text blasts can reach their clients, I hope they won't overdo it. Anything in excess is will always lead to negative results.

This is my entry to DigitalFilipino.com's Talks Blog Contest. Be part of the conversation. Visit the contest page to join. Feel free to comment on my blog post about My view on Using Text Messaging for Business Operations Support.

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Digital Filipino Talks:Promoting Love of Country Online

Last Feb 28, 2011, Digital Filipino Talks on Promoting Love of Country Online. Interviewed is Mr. Alvin Gale Tan of 7107 Reasons to Love Pinas!


Promoting Love of Country Online from Janette Toral on Vimeo.

Mr. Alvin Tan shares his insights and challenges on maintaining his advocacy through his blog. An encounter with an elderly foreigner in one of his trips abroad prompted him to start this advocacy. It seemed that foreigners compared to us can give us a lot of reasons to love their country.

Reading through his blog and what he shared in this video, if I asked myself now, what would be my reason why I love the Philippines?

My views on the issue:

A. The Filipino identity

As Pinoys, whenever a fellow Pinoy achieves something great, we rally behind his greatness. But when a fellow Pinoy does something grave, we right away denounce our being Pinoy - as if the reason behind our failures is that we are Pinoys. From here, what I can say, our love for the Philippines is kinda shaky. In other words, not planted on solid foundations.

Let us take the hostage crisis situation that happened August last year. As I came across some comments from fellow Pinoys, there were mentions: "Sana hindi ako Pinoy, nakakahiya..." (I wished I were not Filipino, because of the shame) and similar comments. Our fellowmen made such comments even though the reason why it happened was the decision of the hostage taker alone. The whole country should not take the blame.

B. Is this really our Lupang Hinirang (chosen land) ?

Majority if not all Pinoys know our National Anthem. But do we really take this by heart? The title, "Lupang Hinirang" means Chosen Land. But how come a lot of us Pinoys are leaving our home land? Obviously for better money making opportunities and more jobs abroad.

And because of this, the more skilled and talented Pinoys leave the country. Who's left behind? Either the ones who cannot pass the world's standards - in short, 1) the latak, 2) the martyrs, who try to survive the country's poor political and economic conditions, with smaller pay and more work, or 3) the well-off, which are the rich or those who already have good income.

I read a column about this once and called the writer called this scenario the brain drain.


And that is why Professor Solita Monsod, told her UP students in her lecture to serve the country first, and not emigrate immediately after graduation.

If a lot of talented Pinoys leave the country, who then will help make our country a more lovable place to live in?

C. My contribution to why I love the Philippines

I am proud to be Pinoy (and I believe most are proud because) we have...

1. Manny Pacquiao

A lot of us Pinoys cheer for him in his fights because he possesses a lot of positive values. These traits include: courage, perseverance and dedication. He also shows humility, sportsmanship and being humane to his opponents. That is why our 8 division champion of the world deserves to have a spot on why we should love our country. He represents the best in us.

2. Tita Cory and the EDSA Revoultion

Thanks to Tita Cory Aquino, we enjoy the freedom we have today. Although we still have a lot more to do for real change to take place, the EDSA revolution was a good start. It symbolizes that for change to take place, all of us must make a stand to change for the better. That is what I believe EDSA is all about.


Postscript

Sure, our country is not perfect. We have dirty politicians, imperfect judiciary system, poor law enforcement, corrupt high ranking military officials, small wages, underemployment, etc. Funny, but we might be able to come with our own 7,107 reasons to hate the Philippines (hehe). But kidding aside, we must develop our reasons to love our country before it's too late. This is where we get our strength that unifies us as a nation.

Our personal love for our country defines us as Filipinos.

This is my entry to DigitalFilipino.com's Talks Blog Contest. Be part of the conversation. Visit the contest page to join. Feel free to comment on my blog post about My view on Promoting Love of Country Online.

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