Thursday, September 27, 2012

Lifestyle: 2012 SURVIVOR: THE PHILIPPINES






The 25th season of the original reality series “Survivor” (US) features the beautiful Caramoan Islands of the Philippines as its setting. It premieres last September 20, 2012, Thursday via satellite at 4PM (PHL TIME) with a primetime telecast at 9PM on Jack TV.

The 15 Castaways
 According to a press release by CBS, this season will feature several new castaways competing with three returning castaways who were removed from their previous seasons due to illness or injury. It will be the first season since Survivor: All-Stars to begin with exactly three tribes (Tandang, Matsing, and Kalabaw) and the seventh season overall to feature returning castaways.

Emmy award winner Jeff Probst returns as host.

The trailer for the 25th season “Survivor” says the Philippines is “it’s most treacherous location yet!” Watch the trailer here:




P. S. As of the latest the second person voted out of Survivor Philippines 2012 is…Roxy! First was Zane last week. :)





Monday, September 24, 2012

Lifestyle: Business - How to Make the Customer Experience in Your Business Unforgettable


‘Unforgettable’ is such an arbitrary word. Good or bad experiences can be ‘unforgettable.’ They can be glib or profound. They can lead to recommendations (free advertising and more business), or they can be warnings that can kill your brand.

However, in the realm of customer experience, it is easier to work ‘unforgettable’ into their vocabulary, and there’s simply one word you should always remember: surprise.

Surprise cuts through the routine and brings fun to an otherwise boring day. It can make disappointment forgettable. It allows you to create, strengthen, and reward loyalty. Best of all, it gets you talked about.

Therefore, don’t forget to connect your unforgettable customer experience back to your brand. The last thing you want to hear is “Unforgettable! Except I can’t remember which company it was…”

Use the experience wisely; communicate your brand’s values; appreciate their patronage; introduce new product or service or endorser; raise interest in an old one.

Question: when is it best to create an unforgettable customer experience?

- When you first open your store?
- When they first walk in the door?
- After they’ve made their first purchase?
- When they’ve entered your contest for the first time?
- On their 10th visit? Third purchase? Second contest?
- When they subscribe to your email list or loyalty program?
- When they blog/tweet about you or like your page on Facebook?

The fact is, you can make any moment unforgettable, at any time, in any stage of your customer loyalty ladder, even online. Depending on whether you want to bump up a ‘prospect’ (not yet bought) to customer (bought once), or from ‘supporter’ to ‘advocate,’ you can recruit, reward, incentivize, or simply reach out to a great, surprising effect.

How easy or hard is it to make an experience unforgettable? Well, let me answer that with another question: how well do you know your customer? We answer this question in another blog post, to help you with writing your customer satisfaction survey.

As always, I would still recommend a full Customer Experience Management consultation. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or inquiries! MP :)

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Lifestyle: The Dolce&Gabbana Summer 2013 womens fashion show.


 
Fresh from the catwalk, check out some of the looks from the Dolce&Gabbana Summer 2013 womens fashion show.

The collection is inspired by the most profound Sicilian Tradition, that can be seen on the prints depicting the famous puppets of the Sicilian street teathers, on the tylical barrows and Clatagirone head-shaped ceramic vases and dishes.

Details always make the difference. Take a closer look at the dresses and accessories from the SS13 womens fashion show:































 
Details and photo courtesy of Dolce&Gabbana official pages:  
www.dolcegabbana.com/store  
www.twitter.com/dolcegabbana
http://www.facebook.com/DolceGabbana

Lifestyle: The UP Pep Squad - UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2012 Champions


The UP Pep Squad members sport shaved heads during their routine
The 2012 UAAP Cheerdance Championship once again goes to UP Pep Squad. Even a major error in its final stunt couldn’t stop the University of the Philippines pep squad from reigning in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition, becoming champions for the third straight year.

The eigh-time champions stayed true to their theme of “freedom and equality” as everyone in the squad, even the women performers, went bald for Saturday’s event at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It was actually the second “three-peat” for UP – the last from 1999 to 2001.

They also tied the University of Sto. Tomas with the most number of titles.

The UP pep squad’s overall performance, with its ingenious dance moves, was enough to bring home the crown despite a fall by one of the dancers in its final stunt.

The Far Eastern University’s fierce and wild performance, which gave the crowd the feel of the jungle, was good for first runner-up – an improvement from its last year’s third place finish.

The National University Pep Squad’s Disney-inspired routine, meanwhile, got a happy ending as it barged into the top three for the first time.It was a festive Brazilian carnival-themed performance for the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe that missed out on a chance to remain the only squad in history to bag eight titles.

This year also marked the back-to-back losses for Salinggawi,, which finished fourth again.

The DLSU Animo Squad packed a punch but failed to score a knockout with its boxing-inspired performance, missing out on the top three honors after a first runner-up finish last year.

As far as the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion, with their sleek black, blue and white costume, is concerned, not even Voltes V could save them from a sixth place finish.

The Adamson Pep Squad tried to win the judges over with a K-pop performance “Gangnam Style” but could only muster seventh place.

The University of the East Pep Squad rocked The Arena with their red cape and blonde “do” but ended last.

UAAP Cheerdance Competition order of performance:

Adamson Pep Squad

DLSU Animo Squad 

NU Pep Squad 

FEU Cheering Squad 

UE Pep Squad 
UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe 
Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion forms a Voltes V robot as part of their performance. 
And the last to perform was UP Pep Squad.

UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2012 Winners:

UP Pep Squad's Nikolette Erica Ambulo named 'Samsung Stunner' 

National Univeristy Pep Squad is 2nd runner-up in Group Stunts Competition
FEU Cheering Squad is 1st runner-up in Group Stunts Competition
UP Pep Squad is Champion in Group Stunts Competition
UP Pep's Ambulo chosen as cheerdance 'Stunner'
FEU Cheering Squad is 1st runner-up (2nd place)
UP Pep Squad named CHAMPION

News and photos from Inquirer.net




Saturday, September 22, 2012

People: Thank you message for all my friends who greeted me on my birthday! :)



Thank you so much for making my birthday even more special with all your wonderful wishes! Trust me, it definitely means a lot! No matter how old we get, we’ll always need the support of our friends. Thank you once again, my friends, for being with me on my birthday. Ynan :)

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Lifestyle: Business- 5 Simple Ideas for Delivering World-Class Customer Service Training


Customer service used to be a hotline for complaints. It used to be a reception desk for special requests, and the occasional raffle or the lost child at the mall.

But as we all now know, customer service has evolved. Avis is most remembered for its 1962 campaign, “We Try Harder” (which, by the way, has just been retired! After 50 years!). Yes, this was an advertising line. But what they did was to put the customer in the middle of their marketing efforts to show how strongly they wanted you to go with them instead of the #1 rental company. Does anyone even remember who their bigger competitor was?

Idea #1: Make your customer service your brand

Starbucks personalized their service. T.G.I.Fridays made celebrating in their restaurant something to look forward to. American Express has the black card, which can be used to the limits of human imagination, and all you have to do is call in your request to a representative over the phone.

Customer service doesn’t have to come from a booklet or an instructional video. It should be derived from the essence of your brand. “Familiarity,” “Celebration,” “Power.” These words described the brands I mentioned earlier, and they are seen and felt in their customer service, not simply in a tagline.

Idea #2: Distinguish your brand from the rest

Don’t follow the herd. When you add touches that clue customers in to what you are about, you’re putting surprise in their way. You make your store different, and your shoppers feel different as well. If you instruct your bookstore employees to say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in a different language every week, you position your store as international, and your customers feel international as well.

Idea #3: Infect your employees

Save yourself the money and skip the motivational posters taped to the employee room door. If you have strong feelings about customer service, then live out your feelings during meetings and training. Infect your employees by treating them the way you want them to treat the customers. When they experience your passion and standards, they will understand and empathize, and extend your energy, your heart, and your vision towards your customers.

Idea #4: Satisfy the craving

Your customers have a craving that you haven’t tapped yet. Find out what that is, whether it’s a break from the outside bustle, or strictly a need to eat-and-run, or the latest gadget reviews from the most popular tech websites. Once you find that out, eliminate all barriers to satisfying that craving and get your staff on board. Get them to understand the customers’ desire, so that when your customers get that pang for peace, a quick bite, or a chat about a new OS or hardware, they know where to find it.

Idea #5: At all times, have eyes and ears open

The most valuable asset to your company is your front line. They are the people in the store all the time, interacting with the buyers and clients, suppliers and delivery guys. Teach them to be sensitive to regular customers (and suppliers!). Have them visualize their day and describe it in detail, and see if they can recognize service bottlenecks. Teach them to take note of returning customers and their favorite products. Make it their mission to change customer attitudes for the better, by noticing facial expressions before, during, and after purchases.

Customer service must be exciting, world-class, and differentiating for your brand. Dig deeper into your company’s ethos. Know the character and personalities of your brand, your employees, your suppliers, and your customers before you start the customer service training, and find solutions that are inclusive, memorable, and most importantly, human. MP :)

People: Cris "Kesz" Valdez - This year's International Children’s Peace Prize Awardee


Pinoy Street Kid Cris "Kesz" Valdez, 13, was awarded this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize held at Ridderzaal in The Hague, Netherlands last September 19, 2012.  Kesz Valdez was handed the peace prize for his “Championing Community Children” charity aimed at giving street children hope and showing them that they can take their future into their own hands.

Kesz was selected by the Expert Commitee among three nominees from India,Ghana and the Philippines. He received a College scholarship prize as platform for his advocacy.

Kesz, who was once a victim of abuse being left to scavenge on the streets at the age of two, goes to underprivileged communities together with his friends to teach children about hygiene, food and children’s rights. Their charity also raises funds to distribute gift parcels like toys, slippers, candies and clothes to the destitute.

Kesz has so far helped more than 10,000 children in his local area in Cavite. This was according to KidsRights Foundation who organized the International Children's Peace Prize,

“My message to all children around the globe is; our health is our wealth! Being healthy will enable you to play, to think clearly, to get up and go to school and love the people around you in so many ways. To everyone in the world, please remember that every day, 6,000 children die from diseases associated with poor sanitation, poor hygiene, and we can do something about it! Please join me in helping street children achieve better health and better lives.” - Kesz Valdez

Congratulations Kesz and more power to you! You are truly an inspiration not only to Filipinos but also to the whole world.  :)
Photo courtesy of Kesz Valdez Facebook Page



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

LIFESTYLE: COSMO BACHELORS BASH 2012




Last September 18, 2012, the Cosmopolitan Bachelor Bash 2012 was held at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City.

Girls and girls by heart (the Beckies) troops the WTC to witness this year's 69 bachelors in the flesh. Except for Paulo Avelino who was no show due to previous commitment abroad.

This year's theme is Cosmo Men Unite. The program started when the host, Menchu Antigua (a.k.a. DJ Scarlet of 99.5 RT), brought onstage a blindfolded muscular hunk.

Check out the photos from the Cosmo Bachelor Bash 2012 below: Hot! Hot! Hot!



At the entrance of the WTC .

People waited for the show to start..
with my friends Val and Duchesz..:)
One of the 69 models

Models paraded their hot bodies

Alden Richard

John Hall


Andrew Wolfe

Anton Del Rosario showing his butt. The crowd goes wild!!
Anton Del Rosario

Daniel Matsunaga

Val Spotted Dominique Roque at the event!

Enzo Pineda

Fabio Ide


Fabio Ide
James Blanco

James Blanco almost fell. .

John James Uy

Roco Nacino

Mikael and Alden

Tom Rodriguez
Men of Carrera

Men of Guess

Andrew Wolfe

Luke Landrigan
Men of Antonov
Men of Lick Condoms
John Spainhour



Markki Stroem

Aaron Villaflor





Century Superbods models

Baron Geilsler

Joseph Marco

Mikael Daez w/ a lucky girl..

One of the Semerad twins.

Ian Batherson

JM De Guzman

Alden Richards

Semerad twins


Aaron & Eric Tai








with Sam Adjani



Photo grabbed from Val!
 
CONGRATULATIONS COSMO AND MORE POWER! TILL NEXT YEAR! CHEERS!:)

For more information, you may check their website at http://www.cosmo.ph/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Cosmopolitan.ph
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cosmo_ph