Not Everyone Ends Up Worm Food

Incorupptibles - it's an interesting and bizarre phenomenon, definitely has divine intervention here. When I was in elementary, the priests told us a story about this guy named Don Bosco whose body has been lying in Turin Italy completely preserved and if we are to do our ordinary duties extra-ordinarily well, then maybe we can be like him.

There is a way to thwart the process of decomposition. For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church held that individuals of the purest faith remain in a lifelike state after death, their bodies resisting the decay of the grave.

Another good example here is St. Bernadette Soubirous, who saw Our Lady at Lourdes and who now lies in a glass coffin at her convent in Nevers, France. Though she died in A.D. 1879, she is as lovely as she ever was.

This phenomenon of incorruptibility is often accompanied by a sweet fragrance, known as the "odor of sanctity," which has been described as being unlike any known perfume.

I'm just curious, is incorruptability the result of a person's spiritual or religious life? Because if it is, then I'd better start giving alms to the poor and helping old people cross the street. It would be such a waste for a body like this (referring to my body) to be decomposed after death.

And this is just plain scary... and sad.

Future of TV Advertisements

An in-prompt-to survey was conducted to see where people watch their TV shows often and it wasn’t surprising to see that half of the respondents view it via YouTube or through torrents. In an age where there is an increasing trend of people spending more time online than watching in their television sets, where will TV Ads be? It will and has to evolve.

Ironically, with the on-the-go lifestyle of viewers, they are planning to make TV ads longer – ten to fifteen minute short films or even into feature films. The logic here is that they will shift from the “will the audience love it?” to the “will they actually look for it [online]?” That’s a fresh way of looking at it since advertisers now have to target a lasting effect that is minimal or even subliminal to its branding and more on the message which will then fuel the recall of the brand. In this sense, it’s more challenging and demands more creativity on the part of the advertisers to really stand out among the millions of brands out there.

It took a notch higher with the suggestion of TV advertisement series. A good local example of this is the Surf mini series where Lumen is shown facing the everyday challenges of being a housewife and mother in the face of her mother-in-law, of course with the help of Surf. But did this generate enough impact on society? Another good example is the Smooth E advertisement series in Thailand that was run for a whole month with different scenes each week.

This generated enough awareness because at the end of the third week, virtually everyone inThailand was talking about Smooth E and their speculations on what will happen to the characters.

TV Ads can be also in the form of documentaries which touches more on the emotional appeal. The message of Adidas – brotherhood – was broadcasted well when they got this famous NBA player who went to the suburbs and interacted with adolescent basketball players. Brotherhood was highlighted when he gave them sports attire, taught them some basketball techniques and fed them to an expensive restaurant, basically treating them as his equals.

The documentary on Coke was very appealing because it showed the oldest living man in Spain meeting and giving his message about life to the youngest baby in Spain. I guess the message of Coke there was to just enjoy life to the fullest (even though that was the time when the global financial crisis hit Europe hard.)

I’ve seen a lot of advertisements in the form of games and it’s very effective since once a consumer enjoys the game, he’ll stick to it and always look for it so brand recall is definitely sure to follow. A local example for this, and something which I find really weird, is the game of Mar Roxas racing his “padyak” against obstacles like corruption, poverty…

The Samsung example used shows a series of situations where one has to decide on which option to follow. The good thing about this is that everything is incorporated on YouTube so you just have to click the links on which option you choose: Follow Your Instinct or “something else”. The main message of Samsung is to always follow your instincts since all the good consequences are achieved there.

TV ads in the form of events got me really excited because creativity was at its maximum just to get the people involved. To illustrate my point, T-Mobile was able to make everyone in a train station dance with only a series of people leading the steps. They were so synchronized that people started taking videos of the dance and posted them on YouTube (which I think is the main point of the exhibition – involving their consumers in the process, life is for sharing.)

Honda had a bold idea to spell their brand while sky diving. It was televised live and I’m certain that it got a lot of attention and applause. I think they're the first brand to actually do a live advertisement where a lot of people are tuned at their homes.

Marc Ecko had this brilliant idea of vandalizing the Air Force One (at Bush’s time). It showed a video of a guy breaching all the securities and spraying graffiti that says “Still Free.” It got the attention of CNN, Fox News and other national press. It would have been better if the act were real, but it’s message was clear that Ecko is for the rebels of society.

Finally, technology was utilized well when TV ads can now be presented in Interactive TV. It’s difficult to explain because I was mind boggled with the how much you can manipulate every element in the Philips Carousel advertisement – you can explore the physical landscape in any angle and they said that you can also view the background story for every character.

Overall, it was a very interesting talk. He effortlessly glided through the different forms and exhibited lasting examples. What the advertising sector suggests is a very good innovation because there’s virtually zero cost to post an ad online and people will start looking for you, not the other way around. “There’s only one thing sure with the evolution of TV Ads, it won’t look like a TV Ad.”

(The speaker yesterday was Mr. JJ Henson, some guy from Nescafe. He's the reason why they have such great tv ads.)

Empathizing with Grizabella

Although Cats was the first musical that I've watched, the role of the glamour cat - Grizabella - has always stuck to my mind.

In fact, in all of the characters in fiction, she's become my favorite. There's something in her sadness that I find attractive. There's so much beauty in so much sorrow and tragedy that screams to be remembered.

Is it her song, Memory, that continues to hunt my entrails? Her sorrowful departure from the Jellicle tribe and eventually the yearning to belong again? Or can it be the idea of rebirth that was gifted to her by Deuteronomy at the end of the story?

Years ago, I've written about how I was able to empathize so much with the character of Grizabella because I felt that glamour has somehow escaped me. (No, not because I weigh more than *gasp* 100lbs!)

Does man really need to experience these emotional trenches in order for them to see what comedy, joy and beauty really is? But then again, as I've said, there's beauty in sorrow and tragedy.

"I remember the time I knew what happiness was, let the memory live again."

Is happiness really that subjective? How about beauty or perfection?

(The name Grizabella was derived from two words: Grizzle which means disheveled, and belle which means beauty. Disheveled beauty.)

Happy Birthday Mama Mary!

There may be a hundred and one ways to call her, but she'll always be our number one mother.

The creation of Perfection - what we should become, what we ought to be.

Happy Birthday Mama Mary:D

PS: Do yourself a favor and pray tonight!

Manic Fashion

This one's so sharp, it poked my eye out. Such inspiration. And then, I remembered it would be Mikey's birthday this month. It will be a glitz and glamour night out so I need something fierce and fabulous.

And since I'm a peasant kid in the third world, I might ask Guido to merge these two lovelies.

Rick Owens elbow wing cropped front leather jacket

Kris Van Assche draping canvas jacket

It would look more like a vest than a "coat." And only half of my back will be covered, the scarf-like detail will be longer at the front.

Right now, I'm researching if there's a fabric that will reflect light 10times more powerful. It will be used as the built in scarf.

PS: For more interesting fashion reads, visit

http://www.manicfashion.tumblr.com/

The September Issue

Here's an idea: Barbie Doll inspired by Anna Wintour, with the trademark bob and sunglasses.

Like, Karl Lagerfeld has one.

I think it's time to dedicate one foot square of space for "my mirror, my light, my comfort" (as Pigafetta would have said).

Icon, legend, feared, revered. The single most important figure in the 300 Billion dollar global fashion industry.

Most children were inspired by the Disney Princesses. Well, Anna Wintour was my Walt Disney.

The 2007 September issue was and remains the biggest ever, weighing over four pounds, selling thirteen million copies, and impacting the fashion industry more than any other single publication. And I have one right here in my bottom right drawer.

I need to watch The September Issue! "Fashion is a religion, there is the bible."

PS: To my friends there in Europe, especially in France, watch the fall/winter 09 collection for me:P

Morality Detrimental to Progress?

This night was poker night with my cousins (because there's a family occasion), and the topic of entering the pawnshop industry sparked up a fruitful discussion.

My cousin (late 30's) asked us what is the most feasible and profitable business for a three million peso capital. Remembering my law teacher Mr. Valdez (campaign manager of Chiz Escudero), I told him a pawnshop is considerable because it virtually has zero lost and cost is at its minimal.

Based from the economic trend for the past 5 years, more and more people are depending on these "uncomplicated loan firms" since the banks are starting to have a bad reputation and these money insurance firms cannot be more untrustworthy.

Basically, there's not much competition if we are to set up the business in cities in the provinces - that's what our uncle did when he launched these chain of rural banks in the north. No pawnshop chain yet for us - just one shop and if it clicks, then we'll take further steps.

BUT

The main problem was raised when morality was put into question. Is it "right" to lend people money with mortgage (jewelries) and interests? If you're not familiar with the transactions in a pawnshop, I believe that the jewelry you mortgaged won't be given back unless you pay the right amount by the end of a given deadline.

We are a traditional Catholic family and there are ethics to be followed with these kinds of ventures. The usual LaSalette priest guest we have was not around so there's no one to ask. (By the way, this priest consented eating meat on a Friday - Lenten Season)

Since a personal gain is at stake, I've been starting to question these set of "morality sources" that were taught in high school and how they are now reexamined and applied in college.

Maybe people have a narrow and limited understanding towards the moral principles that the church has set, that's why they give up on their faith altogether. I mean, it's not as if they just invent these morality principles without consulting the social sciences or doing (not only exegesis but also) actual research. Obedience (to laws) is a value that the Church and society prizes but there are values higher and more noble than that, like truth or life or humanity itself - the development / spiritual growth of the person. C'mon guys, let's not be ritualists here. Let's not follow rules for the sake of following them and eliminating from our consciousness the end goal/bigger picture.

So is morality detrimental to progress? In our case, no - in the sense that the progress I'm pertaining to is our growth in exploring new investment opportunities, like the pawnshop industry. Although yes, if we are to talk about the financial progress. But hey, that's like a minuscule portion of what it is to be human, in my definition.

Eulogy to Man on 2012

I decline to accept the end of man. It is east enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged and faded from the vast worthless rock hanging tideless in the last red and dying evening, that even then there will still be one more sound: that of his puny inexhaustible voice, still talking.

I refuse to accept this, I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion, sacrifice and endurance.

What if the Mayan Prophecy was correct? The world is about to end in 2012, what will become of us?