Lost of Momentum



Movie Poster
phot credits
(movieposter.com)



It’s Sunday evening, and I have nothing to do. My plan would be to watch RH Bill: The Grand Debate on the television, but I seemed to hear all of the points I would like to hear on the first set of speakers. Instead of finishing the whole debate, I just went to my room and looked for movies to watch. Then I saw a vcd of Serendipity starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.

The movie is all about fate, soul mates, and destiny. I’m a big fan of choices rather of chances. Watching the movie again, bugged me if soul mates really do exist.

After the movie, I lay down on my bed and I asked if destiny is real, where would I be destined to, and to whom? Is there really fate? When two people are not meant to be, no matter how they fight for their relationship, they will not be together, simply because they are not destined for each other. Yes, those over-rated question swarmed over my mind.

I continue wondering then I saw my mobile phone. And asked, what if I happened to knew my destiny and its number is already on my contact list. Ok, I’ll play a game, the one who’ll send me a text message in this point will perhaps be my soul mate.

I continue thinking. Then suddenly, my silent-mode phone lit. There’s a message (excited)! Then I opened the message (anxious). IT’S FROM 8888, MY PRE-PAID LINE’S UNLIMITED TEXT MESSAGING SERVICES saying… You’re unlimited texting subscription expired blah blah.

Screw that Serendipity Shit!

Then I end up laughing about what happened, until I fell into sleep. The End.

THE CREDIBILITY THAT MADE CONSUMERS' SCALP ITCH

"but either way, we know the answer is Clear"

-Cruz on Clear TV Ad

"pero know that found the Best? I will never change."

- Cruz on Head and Shoulders TV Ad

Last night I was shocked when I saw John Lloyd Cruz, a popular actor in the Philippines, in the commercial of Head and Shoulders (H&S). What’s shocking about it? As I remembered, Cruz was a former endorser of Clear, the archrival H&S.

Clear vs H&S

Since the launch of Clear in the previous years, it had some hard competition with H&S. Both of the brands’ television campaigns swarmed each family’s household through television.

Clear then had Cruz and Bea Alonso, while H&S had Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin. Certainly, those pairs were the hottest love teams at that time, until Clear shifted to Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes, and Gerard Anderson while H&S remains loyal with Locsin.

The Real Message of the Ad

So what’s the message of the advertisement? As a consumer, Cruz’s message is “hey, I’ve tried Clear, and it didn’t work for me, that’s why I tried H&S. Apparently, it’s good, or perhaps better”.

If all consumers who saw the ad thinks or see the message like I did. Perhaps they were all be persuaded. But what if they also know my other thought on this commercial?

Credibility on Ads

Credibility on TV Ads’ endorsers is one of the useful tactics in promoting a product. This is an assertion based on experience and opinion.

Who would forget Sharon Cuneta sticking with Mc Donald’s all throught out? It is same as with Aga Muhlach in Jollibee. Perhaps, Jollibee did find a worthy replacement for Muhlac in the personality of Sarah Geronimo, but then Muhlac did not transfer to its rival fast food chain. Instead, he rendered his graceful exit.

So what can be the impact of the Ad on Cruz’s credibility as endorser? As media student before, I see the ad as a lack of credibility on Cruz. As a media literate person, I see the message of Cruz in the Ad as “I endorsed Clear before and I told you that the product is good. Now I’m switching to Head and Shoulders because Clear have new endorsers”.

Perhaps it’s a plus point on H&S that they got the endorser of their rival, endorsing in their side. But, for Cruz? I don’t actually know. Cruz is now endorsing a fruit drink, which happens to have another rival. Now in Cruz’s case, I won’t be surprise if in a month or in a year, I’ll be seeing Cruz in the rival fruit drink TV ad, making his message as an endorser in a product less credible.

Cruz's Clear Ad

Cruz's H&S Ad

A PICTURE OF CONFUSION

“Those people who spent millions in the mall are those people who want to highlight their social class. They are those who want discrimination and want to be valued more than anyone else”

One lesson I’ve learned this night from a Korean drama I’ve watched. It bugged me. Really.

In my country, DSLR cameras are up for grabs now, even for those who are not professional to handle it. They become a social status because of their cost.

This summer, I’ve been pondering on buying a DSLR camera this coming August. Since my credit card bills will be fully-paid then, I can get another item through my dad’s card. So I thought of buying my own professional camera.

I’ve been fascinated with photography, but not that hooked with it. But what made me decide to spend money in a thing that’s not necessity? So that when I go to parties, I will have my share of fame or in any gathering. In short, to amplify my social class or even raise into another level.

Oh my, I’m a social monster already. I’ve turned to a creature that I’m not when I was still having a simple life.

Now I have to sort things out. I have saved enough money until August for my down payment for the camera. A part of me wants to purchase the camera for photography, but part of me wants the camera for display in social events.

I can also save my money instead of using it for a camera. Or even use the money for pursuing a post graduate course.

How can such a quotation from a drama, caused me dissonance now? Is it too much to handle for me because it’s true? Or is my mind closed to ignore such truths. Well, good thing that I have 2 months more to decide.

A Vision that Came to Life



Dae Jang Geum




Jumong



Hwang Jini

I remember back then, when I’m still teaching exchange students from South Korea, that I told my students that Filipinos are amused watching Korean Epic Series like Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum), Jumong, and Hwang Jini. Instead of being flattered, my students wondered why we Filipinos got amused, wherein its Korean history that those series are entailing.

Then I thought that: why the giant networks in our country won’t produce such epic series that tells the richness of pre-Hispanic Philippine culture? Instead if remaking these over-rated Mexican dramas, and producing fantasy series. Why won’t they invest in a show which caters the history of the Philippines? Perhaps the story of Urduja, a warrior princess, will be of great topic.

In the last days of December 2010, GMA7, a frontrunner network releases its upcoming shows for 2011. I was surprise that Marian Rivera, perhaps the country’s most famous primetime star, was wearing a sort-of a Philippine warrior-like princess attire, then the caption says “Amaya”.

Amaya

There it is, my vision of an authentic Filipino epic series came to life. Amaya is the first Epic Series to hit the Philippine primetime television this coming May. Amaya is a princess back in the pre-hispanic times, where she created difference in the society ruled with men.

After that teaser, I see to it that I will update myself in the production of the series. According to my research, it will be the most expensive production of the network so far. The staff also researched about the history of Amaya and carefully plans the whole production in accordance to the history itself.

The second teaser of the show was released and photos circulated the net. As I can say, the production did well on the costumes and set design, very Filipino indeed. However, my apprehension is that the production might be focused on the details and forgets about the story itself.

True enough, Filipinos were fascinated in Korean Epic Series, not only because of the costumes and set designs, but to the authenticity and great stories that this foreign series tell the viewers. I certainly hope that the story of Amaya is authenticated and possesses a good plot, which in my opinion, the network lacks in its well publicized and big-budgeted projects like Darna 1, Code Name: Asero, Ilumina and others.

Suggestions and Hopes

My suggestions for the production are… inculcate more politics in the story; remember the success of Encantadia and Kung Mawawala Ka before? It will happen again on Amaya if my advice will be heed.

Also, the lines in the script must be unforgettable; I guess its one of the weakness of the network, is producing unforgettable lines from the characters of its series, as compared by its rival network.

I hope this time, they should eliminate stereotypical characters. Remember Danaya of Encantadia? Not the normal protagonist, has a fierce attitude, and that made the show more interesting.

Make every Character a Character. Sometimes, a roster of big stars is a good press release for a series, but when the series is aired, it seems that the main character only gets the credits. Remember Monica and Angelica in Marimar? They are unforgettable because of their exposures and trademark wardrobes. The script must be well rounded so the other characters will have equal opportunity to show their acting prowess.

Lastly, I’ve read on the net that Amaya is a powerful princess in her time, I hope the story won’t inflict magical powers in the main character. Please, Filipinos are fed up with this fantasy series with characters that possesses extra-ordinary powers.

Having these apprehensions and suggestions in mind, I am still clinging for high hopes for this milestone. May the press release of this first ever Epic Series be real… that it will change the landscape of Philippine television.

photo credits:

Dae Jang Geum(http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_5_1_6.jsp)

Jumong http://www.showwallpaper.com/exshow.php?exname=Jumong_100005)

Hwang Jini (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Hwang_Jin_Yi)

Amaya (http://startriga.blogspot.com/2010/12/marian-rivera-wala-paring-mahanap-na.html)

Mother's Day of 2011

This is the day that you must feel loved and appreciated, we love you so much Mom!

Mom and Joyce--our Queen and Princess

Nico-Dad-Me

It's your day Mama :)

Good food

Too bad Kuya Carlo is not around

Big enough,right Joyce??

Mom and Joyce

RELEASE

Since I’ve got nothing to do in the office, I searched in youtube, episodes of one of my favorite cartoons when I was young: Pokemon.

My search leads me into a video of Ash’s (main character) release on some of his Pokemon. This video actually made me sad. That in everything you went through with the ones you love, still, no matter how deep is your relationship, it will always come to an end.

I guess, my story and everyone else’s have to go that way.

THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES

Commencement Exercises of 2011

“Sir, salamat pu neh.(thank you sir)”

Last Tuesday, our 2-year program students graduated, and I am the masters of ceremony on their Commencement Exercises.

When their names were called to get their certificates in the stage, I assist them, and congratulate them as well. Randomly, there is this one student who thanked me. I wonder and asked him why. He said that if not because of the knowledge I’ve shared with him; his graduation will not be complete.

As I read my script during the event, I reminisced the day when I still taught the graduates in front of me. One time in my teaching career, I even thought that I have a kindles job. Working past time-out, reviewing lessons and all that, made it hard for me to teach, plus the attitude of the students.

Then in the end of the ceremony, some students also thanked me. After all, teaching is not kindless job. Actually, it is where I drawn one of my greatest fulfillment so far, that all the hardship I went through in teaching them, was all worth it. 

l-r: Mam Cora, Me, Mam Beng, Mam Connie, Mam Joy

l-r: Sir Jeff, Mam Veron, Mam Cora, Mam Joh

Graduates' Parents

graduates

graduates

Graduates on their tribute to their parents

with some of my students and CP staff

Publicly Acclaimed Fairytale

The Royal Couple
photo credits(http://news.ph.msn.com/photogallery.aspx?cp-documentid=4809230)

        
        Royal Wedding me this, and Royal Wedding me that- last week, all what I’ve saw in the television and all what I’ve read in the news papers are about the Royal Wedding in a power house country. In fact, in a teaser which I’ve saw in the television, the wedding was tagged as “Real Life Fairytale”. The publicity of the wedding was indeed sensational. Actually, I guess it is bigger than the wedding itself. What’s with that wedding after all?

Last year, I’ve been teaching Sociology in my work, which eventually gave me knowledge about the discipline. Social Stratification and Communism are some of the few topics in Sociology that I’ve learn to favor.

The wedding is ordinary. The bride is in a white gown, the ceremony was celebrated in a church, there were visitors etc. In short, it was just another moment when two people decided to be together in the eyes of the society and church. Ah! I remember, the groom is a prince and the bride is very pretty. I guess that made the difference.

 So what does the publicity of the wedding implied? It implied that media has the power to sensationalize issues where people might think that what they cover and put in their headlines is important. It reminds of the Agenda-Setting Theory in Mass Communication.

Actually, it doesn’t make any sense in my country’s economy, much less than my family’s monthly income. But because of the power of media, people speculated that this event is of importance. Everybody in a social networking site posts something about the wedding, and in the office, everybody pranks that they were invited in the said event.

Also, I’ve noticed how media can further differentiate the strata of each person in the society. If you don’t have a royal blood streaming on your veins, would you have the same attention on your wedding day? If you are a not so pretty bride that happened to marry a real-life prince, would you have the same media coverage on your matrimony? I guess not.

I guess all those people who are bound at home watching the wedding, especially, the girls out there, tends think that they are the bride walking down the aisle, and being married to a prince. If that’s the way they think, perhaps I might as well assume that they are gazing upon a rare falling star, that one won’t get that attention from the crowd if it weren’t for the circumstances that the royal couple is into.

In short, the media only amplified that people who are in the top of the food chain only deserves a huge amount of attention on a wedding day, and how it made a clear classification on the social classes. Making me realize on how boring and less sensational the weddings of middle and low classified people will be.

Summer of 2011

The sun's rays are getting hotter everyday, that's just a clear implication that the Summer Season arrived. So here are my activities during the summer of 2011.


Monasterio de Tarlac - April 22

Dad, Me, Kuya Carlo, and Joyce



Henson's :)



Visita Iglesia -April 22

6th Church--xevera

Henson's at Xevera Church

Procession of the Holy Rosary Church- April 23

Tuazon Highlands Resort- April 24

food

Jump shot!

Pawikan Conservation Center - April 30 and May 1

:)

 

 

beach jumpshot

The Tree Top Adventure - May 1

Taking a taste of water coming from a bamboo stalk

Hensons at treetop :)