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.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Nescafe Coffee Wiz Trivia
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Oishi Ridges Tambayang Magiliw Video Contest
If you want to have a cool summer getaway then why not join the Oishi Ridges Tambayang Magiliw Video Contest and get a chance to win a free trip to Boracay with your barkada! Other cool prizes also await to those who join!
All you have to do is create a music video interpreting Tambayang Magiliw a.k.a. your favorite gathering place with your barkada.
This contest is open to all groups of friends from four to eight members residing in the Philippines.
Oishi Ridges come in a variety of flavors, which include: Onion and Garlic, Cheese, Cheese and Garlic, Barbeque, and Wasabi.
Contest Mechanics and Guidelines:
How to join:
Check out the complete mechanics (in Filipino) here...
Criteria for Judging:
There are two categories for winning the video contest - the weekly winners and the grand winners
A. Weekly winners' criteria
Creativity – 35%
Originality – 30%
Relevance of your "Panata" – 20%
featuring Oishi Ridges product – 15%
B. Grand winners' criteria
Score from the judges - 60%
Online votes - 40%
* the judges will grade your video as follows:
Creativity – 35%
Originality – 30%
Relevance of your "Panata" – 20%
featuring Oishi Ridges product – 15%
(same as judging for weekly winners)
Weekly Prizes at stake:January 29, 2011 Island Cove Day Tour February 5, 2011 Manila Ocean Park Oceanarium February 12, 2011 Dance Workshop (1 Class) February 19, 2011 TGIFriday’s Gift Certificate February 26, 2011 iMAX Movie Pass at SM Mall of Asia March 5, 2011 Red Box Trinoma Primtime KTV with Buffet March 12, 2011 Island Cove Day Tour March 19, 2011 Blue Water Day Spa Foot Reflex March 26, 2011 Splash Island Day Pass April 2, 2011 Enchanted Kingdom Weekend Pass April 9, 2011 Ace Water Spa April 16, 2011 Zensho Buffet Dinner April 23, 2011 Red Box Trinoma Primetime KTV with Buffet April 30, 2011 The Spa Massage May 7, 2011 Zoobic Safari May 14, 2011 Treetop Adventure in Subic May 21, 2011 CWC Wakeboarding Half-Day Pass
Main Prizes:
1st Prize - Boracay Trip with lodging
2nd Prize - Barkada photo shoot (complete with styling make-up and prints)
3rd Prize - one night hotel accommodation
Additional reminders:
- your entry will consist of a photo, a video and a pledge. (see above mechanics)
- to lower the file size of your video entry to the accepted 30MB, you might want to lower the resolution of your video or lower the frame rate. You may also convert your video to certain video formats that have smaller file sizes (like .FLV or .3gp).
- make sure you ask your friends to vote your video to have a better chance of winning the grand prize.
- last day to submit your entry is on May 21, 2011.
To get some cool ideas for your music video, check out this full-length MTV...
For more information and/or join this contest, head over to the Oishi Ridges Tambayang Magiliw website (www.tambayangmagiliw.com).
Monday, March 7, 2011
Muzikademy Free Sports and Music Clinic
Janice Hung and Muzikademy is offering free music, wushu and taichi to interested youth (kabataan) who want to learn the craft and become champions in life.
Janice Hung and her advocacy to help the youth develop their full potentialPersonally, I would like to invite the youth to enroll and try this out! It's actually fun to learn something new this summer.
For those who are not familiar with taichi and wushu, taichi is a form of exercise that stimulates form, balance and full control of one's body. Wushu on the other hand is a martial arts sport that showcases speed, power and flexibility, similar to kata (martial arts demo) in karate.
Joining these kinds of matrial arts activities will help children develop character and winning values like patience, determination, cooperation, humility and respect.
If opted to join music classes, the youth can learn creativity, patience, cooperation from fellow music learners (like in a band) and develop hidden talents waiting to be discovered.
Here is what the Muzikademy advocacy is all about:
VISION
A passionate community of artists, athletes, and professionals who are proactively committed in sharing opportunities to the youth through music, visual arts, sports, and other creative undertakings. The creative talent of the youth must be properly nourished, developed, and enhanced for them to become assets of the community and builders of the nation.
MISSION
With the youth as the foremost beneficiary regardless of social and economic status, we are dedicated in organizing, promoting, and sponsoring nourishment missions or feeding programs, music camps, athletic events, musical concerts, art endeavors, and other related activities. Participating in these events shall provide the youth with social development, higher self-esteem, and multi-dimensional support system thereby having positive life skills as bridges to their dreams. These programs are realized through the support of local government units, business companies, and other civic organizations.
OBJECTIVES
To organize, establish, and maintain an institution for the promotion, development, and support of sports and arts activities through the:
1. Conduct of sports clinics, tournaments, and art workshops;
2. Sponsorship of sports tournament & games and art exhibits for and similar initiatives;
3. Marketing and Promotion of sports & arts;
4. Publication of arts and sports journal and other media intended to inculcate awareness and appreciation of the sports and arts;
5. Establishment of the athlete and artist development and livelihood fund;
6. Act as conduit, and/or manage, financial assistance to athletes and artists;
7. Conduct of sports training and art workshops and other outreach programs for indigent communities.
Janice Hung in a TV commercial showcasing wushu
For those who want to avail scholarship for music lessons, wushu and taichi you may visit the Muzikademy Office at...
lot 2 block 6 Jordan Plains Phase IV,
Don Mariano ave., Quezon city
You may contact their office at: (632)-5853200
For more information, you may also visit the Janice Hung Website.
Click here to read more...
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Ako, Mapanghingi Nga Ba?
Mapanghingi Nga Ba Ako?
Tuwing umaga, ako ay babangon. Bago tuluyang makaalis sa kama, minsan inisip ko na gusto ko pa matulog ng mas-mahaba.
Pero kailangan na bumangon. Kailangan ko pumasok ng maaga para magtrabaho. Dapat lang... Gusto ko maging malaya. Ayoko sana umasa sa pera ng iba.
Pagpasok sa trabaho... ang hirap naman! Ang trapik sa EDSA! Sana di ako ma-late. Ayoko pa naman humingi ng paumanhin sa boss ko.
Pagdating ng lunch... Salamat at break time na! Bibili na ako sa canteen. Meron naman akong pambili mula sa sweldo ko. Hindi ako pulubi at hinding-hindi ako hihingi ng pagkain sa iba.
Pagakatpos ng lunch, trabaho ulit.
At sa pag-uwi mula sa office, sasakay na ako ng taxi para mabilis. Ok lang yun, kaya naman ng budget ko, ayoko mahuli sa paborito kong palabas sa TV. Wala akong balak makisakay sa iba.
Kung iisipin, parang nakakahiya humingi. Hindi ba nagsusumikap tayo para hindi tayo humingi sa iba? Nagtatratabho tayo, nagsisipag, nagpapakahirap.
Kaya lang... saan nanggaling ang ating
magandang trabaho,
masarap na pagkain,
kalusugan,
pamilya at kaibigan
???
Di ba minsan humingi tayo sa Kanya?
Kung hindi sa biyaya ng Maykapal, wala tayong matatanggap.
"Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: Humingi kayo, at kayo'y bibigyan; Humanap kayo at kayo'y makasusumpong; Kumatok kayo at ang pinto'y bubuksan para sa inyo.
Sapagkat tumatanggap ang bawat humihingi; nakasusumpong ang bawat humahanap; at bubuksan ang pinto sa bawat kumakatok."
- mula sa Bibliya Lucas 11:9
Kaya, hindi masama humingi. Hindi nakakahiyang sabihin na umaasa pa tayo na makakuha ng mas-maganda. Humihingi tayo dahil kailangan natin Siya.
Aaminin ko, mapanghingi nga ako. Kayo mapanghingi rin ba?
Ang blog post na ito ay isinali ko sa contest ng Mapanghingi Ka Ba? Para sa karagdagan na kaalaman tungkol dito, maari lamang bumisita sa kanyang contest page. Deadline nito ay hatinggabi ng Marso 7, 2011.
Sulit Cars Video Contest
Join Sulit Cars Video Contest and get a chance to win 25,000 worth of car accessories or 10,000 pesos worth of gas cards/certificates weekly.
This contest is open to members of Sulit.com.ph
Contest Mechanics:
For 30 to 60 seconds, make a short but FUN and FUNKY video clip with you and your car in it. Tell us your name, show us your car, and describe it briefly (brand, model, year, etc.).
Then, in a few sentences, answer the question: “What makes your car sulit (or worthy and unique)?”
Don’t forget to use the spiel “My car is sulit because…”
Take note of the following vehicle specifications:
* Must be your own car or vehicle;
* Can be brand new or second hand;
* Can be any type of vehicle (car, SUV, AUV, van, bus, owner-type jeepney, passenger jeep, or motorcycles);
* Can be bought from Sulit.com.ph or other sources
You can use any filming device of your choice, such as camera phone, digital camera, camcorder, or webcam as long as the quality of the video output is clear,
2. UPLOAD IT!
Upload your video on Youtube. Use the following details as your guide:
Title: My Sulit Car: [Add Your Own Title Here]
Description: [Write your personal description here].
Sulit.com.ph presents Sulit Cars - Buy and Sell Cars Philippines. Find affordable car deals at http://cars.sulit.com.ph.
Tags: sulit cars, cars philippines, buy and sell cars, sulit.com.ph, [your additional keywords]
Category: Cars and Vehicles
Privacy: Public (anyone can search for and view - recommended)
3. SHARE IT!
a. Sulit Cars Forum
In the Sulit Cars Forum (Introduce Your Sulit Car thread), post a new topic and embed your YouTube video. Use your YouTube title as the Subject of your forum post. You may add a short description or story below your video if you wish to. Make sure you are logged in to the website to be able to post a new topic.
If you need help embedding your YouTube video, click How to Embed Widgets to Your Post below Related Brands.
Once you're done posting, take note of the forum link or URL as you will use this in your Twitter and Facebook post. Sample URL: http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+topic/id/77746
b. Twitter
Follow @SulitCars on Twitter and post this as a tweet:
I just joined @SulitCars Video Contest! View my #sulit car video entry on [forum link]
c. Facebook
Like Sulit.com.ph fan page on Facebook. Then on YOUR wall, post this as a status message (where Sulit.com.ph should be tagged):
I just joined @Sulit.com.ph’s Car Video Contest! View my Sulit Car video entry on [forum link]
4. SEND IT!
Once you’ve done all the steps above, send an email to promos@sulit.com.ph with the following details:
Subject: My Sulit Car Video Entry
YouTube URL:
Forum URL:
*Facebook URL:
*Twitter URL:
Complete Name:
Sulit Username:
Email Address:
Contact No.:
*NOTE: Make sure that your accounts are open for public view so we can open and check your posts.
Contest Period and Schedules:
Submission of entries will run from March 1 to March 27, 2011.
Weekly cut-off is as follows:
* Week 1: Mar. 1 - Mar. 6, 2011
* Week 2: Mar. 7-13, 2011
* Week 3: Mar. 14-20, 2011
* Week 4: Mar. 21-27, 2011
Voting period for final round is from Mar. 28 to April 3, 2011
Announcement of grand winner is on April 4, 2011.
Weekly and Grand Winners:
1. Only participants with corresponding YouTube video, forum post, Twitter tweet, and Facebook post will be qualified.
2. Every week, the Sulit team will choose one outstanding video that will compete for the final round. Weekly winners will receive P10,000.00 worth of gas cards/certificates.
Sulit team’s criteria for judging are as follows:
* Compliance to the 4-step mechanics above (filtering)
* Ingenuity and creativity of answer – 50%
* Presentation and execution – 20%
* Content quality of video – 20%
* Over-all impact – 10%
Weekly winners will be announced one working day after the weekly cut-off (Monday afternoon).
3. The four (4) weekly winners will be competing for the final round. This shall include internal screening from the Sulit team and voting from the Sulit community.
4. One (1) winner will take home the grand prize of P25,000.00 worth of car accessories of the winner's choice.
Click here for full contest mechanics...
Notes:
- you have to be a member of sulit.com.ph to join. Joinig this is free! Just register on their site.
- there will be 4 weekly winners of 10,000 gas gift certificates. Check out the cut-off dates above.
- you have to upload your video on Youtube. See complete upload guidelines above.
- you need to have a Facebook and twitter account to promote your video.
- don't forget to e-mail your details to promos@sulit.com.ph. (see step 4 above)
- to get a chance to win the grand prize, you have to win in one of the 4 cut-off weeks.
- last day to submit your entry is on March 27, 2011
For more information about this contest, visit te Sulit Cars Video contest page.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Craziest Things
Join the Samsung Galaxy Tab Craziest Things video contest and you may win your very own Galaxy Tab! Just submit a 30 to 90 second video showing the craziest thing you can think of just to have a Galaxy Tab.
This contest is open to Filipinos residing in the Philippines aged 18 years of age at the time of joining.
Contest Mechanics:
1) Promo Duration is from February 22, 2011 to March 22, 2011.
2) Promo is open to all Filipinos residing in the Philippines aged 18 years of age at the time of joining.
3) To participate in the Craziest Things Video Contest, interested and qualified individuals must comply with the following:
a. Getting Started: Accessing the Fan Page and Becoming a Fan
i. All participants should have a valid and existing account in Facebook, where they need to access the fan page via:
1. Typing in: www.facebook.com/samsunggalaxytabcraziestthings on the URL or Samsung Galaxy Tab Craziest Things on the search bar, to visit the fan page
2. Click on social ads within Facebook or standard/video ads from other sites where they see the ad
ii. Once there, users should click the “LIKE” button to access the Samsung Galaxy Tab Craziest Things Facebook Page
iii. Make sure to read the full mechanics and register to join.
b. Create a Video
i. Create a minimum of 30 second to a maximum of 90 second video using your camera, phone or video recorder. Make sure that video is audible and viewable. Save this on video format.
ii. In the video, you need to outline how far you will go to get a Samsung Galaxy Tab
iii. Make sure to impress us in the video. The clearer the concept and the video, the better.
iv. We will NOT ACCEPT videos that violate the following things: as we don’t advocate too extreme and too racy videos, especially if it promotes violence, profanity and discrimination:
1. No sexual innuendo and malicious advancement
2. No profanity
3. Too extreme stunts are not encouraged; safety is highly encouraged.
4. No illegal and abusive demonstrations
5. No racism or attacks to faith, organized institutions and societies
6. Unoriginal, whether reenacted nor clipped from existing footage
v. Samsung has rights to all videos submitted. Samsung will exercise full control and volition on the materials.
c. Upload the Video
i. Log online and go to YouTube to upload the video. You have to have an account to upload.
ii. Give a title to your entry and make sure to tag the entry with keywords -- Samsung Galaxy Tab Craziest Things
iii. After the upload, Copy/Save the URL link and post it in Samsung Galaxy Tab Craziest Things Wall and please don’t forget to vote.
iv. Share your post (video in the fan page) to your profile page by tagging your name. (e.g. @name) in the field before clicking Share so the entry is submitted. Entries not successfully posted to the fan page and shared with your name tagged are not qualified. Double check the fanpage and your profile page to make sure your entry has been posted in both pages.
v. You can upload as many DIFFERENT VIDEO ENTRIES, for more chances of winning.
vi. Ask your friends to “like” your entries. However, that will not be the sole determinant of the contest. (See Criteria for Judging)
d. Make sure to register your details to validate your account
i. Full Name
ii. Facebook Username
iii. Date of Birth
iv. Email Address
v. Mobile Number
vi. Home Address
e. Criteria for Judging
i. All entries will be judged, if they do not violate the guidelines.
ii. The panel will be composed of the following:
1. 2 Samsung Brand Representatives
2. 2 Agency Representatives
3. 1 Celebrity Guest Judge
iii. 2 winning videos will be chosen based on its creativity, following and scale
1. 25% will be based on the number of likes
2. 35% based on creativity
3. 40% based on overall impact and x-factor
iv. Three (3) Winners get ONE Samsung Galaxy Tab each.
Click here to see full mechanics...
For more information bout this contest, visit the Samsung Galaxy Tab Craziest Things Facebook fan page.
Friday, March 4, 2011
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.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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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