Lifestyle: Martinez finishes 19th at Winter Olympics figure skating finale - Rappler

Congratulations to our lone Filipino Olympian at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics!  The whole Philippines is so proud of you.:


EARLY LEAD. Filipino Michael Christian Martinez performs in the Men's Figure Skating Free Program at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 14, 2014. Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Filipino figure skater Michael Christian Martinez finished 19th at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics men's figure skating finals on Saturday morning (Manila time).

The lone Filipino Winter Olympian Martinez, 17, garnered 119.44 points in his final free skate routine for a two-day total of 184.25. Martinez skated third and held an early lead after six performances.

Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan won the gold medal with a score of 280.09, while Patrick Chan of Canada won silver. Kazakhstan’s Denis Ten, who finished ninth after the short program, moved up to third place to earn bronze honors.

Martinez of Parañaque performed to the tune of "Malagueña" of Ernesto Lecuona which lasted for about 4 minutes and 30 seconds, drawing applause once again from the crowd in attendance.

Martinez, who also ranked 19th after Thursday's short program, had a pristine start in the finale.

"That triple axel went up like a rocket. Super start," exclaimed one of the commentators.

He did have some anxious moments, being deducted a point after a fall, but he fought hard through fatigue to finish strongly.

"He's giving everything that he's got and he's fighting right to the finish," said another commentator.

"A lot to be proud of. He looked very, very impressive indeed," capped the event commentators assessment after Martinez ended a phenomenal performance.

Martinez humbled by support, seeks bright future

Right after Martinez's dazzling performance in the finale, the Olympian said he was in awe of the rabid support he has been receiving while competing in Sochi.

"Sobrang saya. Sobrang nakakataba ng puso," he said in a television interview. (I'm so delighted; the support is very heart-warming)

Martinez, who already made history by barging into the finals, is also becoming the media darling in the event with several interviews from international media outlets.

He admitted there was some pressure as he did such a difficult routine, but it won't stop him from his goal of reaching the 2018 Winter Olympics as well.

"I had pressure. It was one of my hardest jumps," he said.

"My goal is to qualify and compete again in the next Winter Olympics."

Martinez has still made history as the first Southeast Asian skater to perform at the Winter Olympics. -Rappler.com

Lifestyle: Malaysia tops survey of 'halal holidays' for Muslims -Rappler

HALAL TOURIST SPOTS. Arab tourists walk past a sale sign while shopping in downtown Kuala Lumpur. AFP Photo

SINGAPORE – Malaysia is the world's friendliest destination for Muslim travelers, according to a survey released Tuesday, but Japan has shown most improvement as it ramps up efforts to cash in on a growing market.

Malaysia was followed by the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in this year's rankings for "halal" friendly holiday destinations released by Singapore-based Muslim travel specialist Crescentrating.

The survey evaluates countries in terms of their attentiveness to the needs of Muslim travelers, including the presence and accessibility of halal restaurants with meat slaughtered to Islamic standards, and the provision of prayer rooms at airports, shopping malls and hotels.

"An increasing number of destinations are now keen on tapping into this segment and adapting their services to take into account the unique faith-based needs of Muslim travelers," said Crescentrating chief executive Fazal Bahardeen.

For largely Muslim Malaysia, Bahardeen said the country's Islamic Tourism Centre has "continued to educate the industry on how to cater to the Muslim travelers".

"There are now more and more hotel kitchens with halal certification, an increasing number of hotels are also now catering to the specific needs of Muslim travelers," he added.

One hotel even has separate timings for the use of gym and swimming pools for males and females requiring privacy, he said.

Bahardeen said the Muslim travel market was estimated to be worth $140 billion last year, accounting for almost 13 percent of the global total. It is expected to rise to $200 billion by 2020, he added.

Japan was in 40th place among the 60 ranked, but its score is 10 notches up from 50th place last year – the biggest improvement overall.

"Japan has definitely been the most active destination during the last year to focus on this segment of travelers," Bahardeen told Agence France-Presse.

"It has launched a number of initiatives – from awareness programs to the local industry to releasing the Muslim travel guide to Japan."

Some airports and hotels in Japan have also started offering halal food and prayer rooms, he said.

Singapore placed sixth in the global rankings, and was the only non-Muslim country in the top 10, followed by Morocco, Jordan, Qatar and Tunisia.

The tiny island state touts its man-made attractions, a vast array of local food and reputation for cleanliness and order to travelers, and "does better than even some of the Muslim countries" in enticing those who follow the Islamic faith, Bahardeen said.

Italy, Belgium, Ireland and Mexico were the bottom four countries in the rankings, as they had "not really focused" on the possibilities of the Muslim market, he added.

The top ten in order were: Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Morocco, Jordan, Qatar and Tunisia. – Rappler.com

Lifestyle: Business - Olivia billboard mystery solved by Ira Agting of Rappler

So the message that makes passerby in edsa was just a marketing strategy for a condo in mandaluyong. Read the details below:


SHE SAID YES. The Olivia billboards are part of a marketing campaign. Photo by Ira Agting/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Mystery solved, and Olivia said yes.


The "Olivia, will you marry me?" billboards are part of a marketing campaign for Pioneer Woodlands condominium in Mandaluyong.

A new billboard appeared on EDSA that says, "Olivia Said Yes! So we bought our first investment together at Pioneer Woodlands Mandaluyong City."

On the week of Valentine's, mysterious pink billboards with the words "Olivia, will you marry me?" popped out accross main thoroughfares in the metro. Also written on the billboards were the numbers "21414," that many assumed to be Valentine's or the proposal date.

It turns out, "21414" refers to the weekly price of a unit in the said condominium. "For as low as P2,141.4/week," said the new billboards that recently popped out.

For the past week, the billboards have created a buzz among curious citizens, with many taking to social media to share theories behind the mystery.

Many believed the billboards were part of a real proposal. Actor John Prats, they said, was the romantic behind it, given that the actor's girlfriend, actress Isabel Oli, is named Olivia Daytia in real life. Adding to this, the two revealed in recent interviews that they are ready to settle down.

Others, however, were right to believe that the wide campaign could have been the work only of a major company.

There were some who believed the billboards were part of a marketing campaign for television showScandal, which has as main character someone named Olivia. Others speculated the campaign was for a feminine wash product.

Did you guess right? – Rappler.com

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, we would still recommend a full Customer Experience Management consultation. Feel free to leave your comment!

Business: Stakeholders from action team vs. Manila Truck Ban

This is to share the news about the coming Truck holiday this coming February 24, 2014 in Manila

Stakeholders form action team vs Manila truck ban
portcalls.com/stakeholders-form-action-team-vs-manila-truck-ban/

Liza Almonte


PHILIPPINE transport stakeholders have formed a team that will take action against the Manila City government’s implementation of a daytime truck ban on Feb. 24.

The team, comprising members of organizations that attended a meeting on Feb. 10 called by the Port Users Confederation (PUC), will write letters to the departments of Trade and Industry, Finance and Transportation and Communications as well as Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to explain the adverse effects of the truck ban. They will also meet with Manila City Hall officials and other government agencies.

In attendance at Monday’s meeting were representatives of port operators International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Asian Terminals Inc., and Manila North Harbour Port Inc.; Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Ports Authority.

It may be recalled that on Feb. 5, Mayor Estrada signed Ordinance No. 8336 amending certain provisions of City Ordinance No. 8092 (otherwise known as the “Traffic Management Code of the City of Manila and Appendix V thereof and for Other Purposes”). The ordinance bans all trucks with eight wheels and more with gross weight of 4,500 kilograms from plying Manila streets from 5am to 9pm; they will only be allowed from 9pm to 5am on designated truck routes.

PUC president Rodolfo de Ocampo said the convenors expect a result —negative or positive — of their action by Thursday at the latest.

At the meeting, it was suggested that a designated truck lane be kept open 24 hours a day.

As early as Feb. 6, stakeholders, specifically truckers, sent letters to different government agencies explaining the effects of the ordinance on the economy.

De Ocampo described the ordinance as “very harmful” to businesses. PUC immediate past president and now director Dominador de Guzman said the ban is “detrimental” even though its intent is “noble”.

He said the ban will have adverse effects, considering all main ports are located in Manila along with empty container depots, off-dock container yards, and government agencies such as the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Customs.

De Ocampo noted that in a sense all stakeholders are business partners, a statement seconded by Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) general manager Christian Gonzalez.

“Without each one of us performing efficiently, you’re not going to see a 7% growth… In fact, what we’ll see is recession,” Gonzalez said.

“What do you think is going to happen to the 7% economic growth? It’s not going to be cut in half but (will) get to negative territory,” he said.

Gonzalez, citing EDSA, even asked: “Why is the worst traffic in Metro Manila on a stretch of road that has a 24-hour truck ban?”

The solution to the problem, he said, is “more capacity” and more investment.

“We should lobby for a no truck ban, period,” he added.

Malou Ronquillo, PUC director and president of the Association of SEIPI (Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines) Logistics Managers, told PortCalls the ordinance will greatly affect the semi-conductor and electronics sector, the country’s dominant export grouping.

With the truck ban, she said, deliveries would be limited, noting that most electronics companies have 24/7 production with “most of the time (materials coming in just-in-time).”

Delayed deliveries would also impact on other industries that rely heavily on deliveries of raw material, she added.

Ronquillo said one alternative would be the use of airports, but that would be expensive plus some goods, such as those classified as dangerous commodities, are not allowed on airplanes. Some products, such as batteries, can only be shipped via sea, she noted.

As for using vans instead of containers, there will be added costs since products are going to be stripped from containers and transferred to two or more vans.

In the end, Ronquillo said the additional cost will only be passed on to consumers.

A separate meeting called by the Aduana Business Club attended by representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and Integrated North Harbor Truckers Association also on Feb. 10 discussed resorting to legal remedies, with a warning that if nothing happened, a trucking holiday could be held on Feb. 24.

The Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL), meanwhile, wrote a letter to Estrada saying it is particularly concerned about Section 2 of the ordinance, which prescribes the details of the ban.

“The Philippines has just transformed from an agriculture-based to a newly industrialized country status which depends heavily on services and manufacturing,” AISL said, and a tight 8-hour window will “inevitably take its toll on the steady supply of raw materials to manufacturers.”

Shipping costs will also shoot up as container turnaround suffers because of limited movement of trucks, and will “pose a big burden on the business community as increased prices will be passed on to the ultimate consumer/user without mentioning its impact on the competitiveness of Philippine exports,” AISL said.

The short window for truck movement will also congest container yards, the association said.

“The problem will be compounded when the MICT and South Harbor decide to limit the delivery of empty containers for repositioning out of the country,” said AISL, a grouping of 42 international shipping lines.–– Roumina M. Pablo

Lifestyle: Business - 5 Secret Ways to Check for Customer Satisfaction

One of the more culturally challenging business processes is checking for customer satisfaction. It is all too easy to look for answers that we want, and ignore the undesired ones. Furthermore, if you haven’t set a customer service standard within the entire company, it will be difficult to assess customer satisfaction.

Imagine everyone in your company asserting they’re doing a great job in terms of customer service, yet have different standards for “best practice” and what “customer satisfaction” means. You could even find inconsistencies in monthly reports, and have trouble in getting repeat business.

Sound familiar? Keep reading. Here’s how you can effectively check for customer satisfaction.

1. Establish a Customer Service Standard Within Your Entire Company.

Customer service doesn’t only concern front liners. This is an ethos to which all must adhere, so that assessment standards will remain consistent and any feedback can be treated equally. Any customer interaction, whether on the store floor, at the register, and at the receiving end of the “Contact Us” section on your website must adhere to the same standards of customer service.

It’s difficult enough that each customer has different expectations and levels of experience in dealing with your company. Let’s not compound the issue by having different standards for delivering customer satisfaction.

2. Use Listening Tools Wisely.

You may think that appearing on top of search results is a sure good thing, but you might be wrong. Social media and online message boards may mention your company name, but not for the reasons you want. Running a digital scan and quantifying the online perception of your brand is a good first step in assessing customer satisfaction.

If you’re savvy, you can address the issue short-term by contacting disgruntled customers online, and asking them to participate in a survey with the aim of addressing their concerns and with the long-term goal of improving your company’s offering.

3. Know What They Want.

How do you know what your customers want? You can close that knowledge gap with a survey that asks them to rank satisfaction levels with the service, the store itself, the product experience, and whether they would come to your store again or repurchase your product.

Making the survey easy to fill out means using a weighted scale, ranking opinion and experience from 1-5. Putting specifics like what they bought at your store and their satisfaction with the specific items can clarify their opinion. It can also open the possibility of an isolated complaint amidst a generally good regard for your service as a whole.

Have space on your survey for personal and voluntary comments, and you can crack the case of what your customers want from you.

4. Be Honest with Yourself.

Getting the truth requires an open mind that can see its own creation objectively and acknowledge where disappointment occurs. The places it can possibly reside are: in the product—is it not worth the value they paid? The employees or sales force—are they overselling or overpromising your company’s services? Customer service—could they be inadvertently rude, dismissive, or ignorant of how to reassure irate or dissatisfied customers?

Knowing your company’s weaknesses and strengths makes it easy to plug holes in your brand reputation, and actively mending your customers’ broken perception will make a big impact.

5. Survey the Competition.

Finally, knowing how your competition works gives you an edge in improving your products or services. Ask your customers to come in and describe their experience with other merchants. Ask them to compare and contrast your offering with theirs. You may be surprised with the results, and with that knowledge, you can maximize that knowledge to your advantage. In the worst case, you will be one step closer to delivering ultimate satisfaction with your customers, who will see the lengths you go to to maintain your relationship with them.

Lifestyle: Business - Comparing mangoes to mangoes : Customer Engagement

Service Quality is a term that many know but only a few understand the true science behind it. The business environment today is so much more dynamic compared to the days of our baby boomer parents. Today, messages travel across cyber space within a fraction of a millisecond, which means businesses can flourish and can also close out very quickly. The “service” industry is often misclassified as food and beverage-related. Fact is that, any business involved in any form of selling, is considered part of the service industry. This is where the real competition comes to play.


Quite literally, comparing mangoes to mangoes, I buy mangoes from a certain “manang” (old lady) near where we live. Manang’s mangoes cost more than if I were to buy from the closest supermarket. Here is why I choose manang: manang is honest, when the mangoes are not 100% to her liking, she will inform me and present other fruits as options. Manang recognizes me as a person, not just another customer, she knows how I like my mangoes (as a peculiar practice, I like to buy my mangoes free from blemishes, which means they are not completely ripe, more like 98% ripeness). Manang is very knowledgeable about her mangoes and where they come from, the varieties and even serving suggestions! A simple buying experience will turn into a warm and fuzzy feeling — I am a valued customer. Shift in paradigm: now I am at the fancy grade supermarket, the mangoes are blemish-free, the price is 15% less than manang’s mangoes, it is a very convenient location, very comfortable atmosphere, the staff are very courteous and well-groomed. When I asked about the mangoes here, the answer is very corporate, almost as if I am prying into the industry’s secret to ask where those mangoes come from. It is a hit or miss shopping experience. I would rather pay the 15% price premium for manang’s mangoes and be recognized as a valued customer.

Manang has successfully created her own “brand” and a loyal customer base, her mangoes are sold out as soon as she puts them on display. Why businesses neglect the basic fundamentals of customer engagement is beyond my comprehension. As businesses grow and the many tiers of management are created, customer engagement level diminishes.

If you have any customer service story or insights on service, please share a comment.

Lifestyle: Business - Customer Satisfaction Insights: 3 Things you Need to Understand about your Customers

Before you can even make your customers happy, you need to understand their psyche. It is through this that you can actually find the ways on how to best serve them which will lead to you being able to give the most memorable experience you can to your customers. So what are the three things that your market is usually thinking? Read on below and find out.

Mindset 1: Convenience rules!

Value hunters, fanatics, and early adopters will wait in line for hours for a new product. But unless you’re pushing the newest iPhone, you need to put yourself in the customers’ shoes. How long are you willing to wait for cable installation? How many forms will you voluntarily fill out to return an appliance under warranty?

Has pushing back deadlines become normal for your service company? Do you have a script for asking customers to come back the next day? Even having to wait at home for the cable company to send someone over is maddening. Eliminate the hassle where possible, and find a way to lift your customers’ minds from the hassle by giving value to their time.

Online, user experience (UX) specialists advise you on how many clicks your customer needs for transactions. A login can be either beneficial or detrimental to your customer. If the benefits are clear, like recommendations based on their shopping history, your login might not be a hassle. Make sure you communicate your company’s value proposition in each step they have to take.

Customer Experience Measurement allows you to review how your customer sees a sign-up form, or a validation procedure over the phone, and to see whether the time they spend waiting in a queue has any relevance to why they came to you in the first place.

Mindset 2: The smart shopper.

Dollar stores in the US boomed in the housing crunch, and mega-stores took notice. But have you wondered how dollar stores work and turn a profit?

Marketing the value of thrift attracts practical spenders. But for every one of these penny pinchers, there’s another who just can’t resist a set of Dwarf Condiment Dispensers when they actually just came in for a bottle of dishwashing liquid.

There are multiple ways to upsell. Offering great value is one of them.

In contrast, some restaurants in the US did the opposite. They reduced the size of their portions and kept the prices high. They also imitated the fancy, Michelin restaurants that put plate design high on the list of ingredients. These restaurants also did well. Why? Because diners wanted the experience of high fashion dining.

The point? Don’t limit yourself to offering practical value. Offer things that can’t be easily quantified, like personalized service, partial donations to charity, rush jobs without added cost, or your customers’ photos on the wall of your restaurant.

No matter how smart, we all respond to emotional stimuli, like the wait staff’s eagerness to please us, the memorabilia on the wall, or winning instant freebies.

Mindset 3: The loyal

Service makes the transaction. Great service transcends it.

Today more than ever, brands, including yours, are fighting for the loyalty of consumers. It’s not enough to sell coffee. Now, it’s a plus to call your customers by name, have comfortable chairs and play commercial jazzy tunes that you can buy at the counter.

Also, it really scores loyalty points to call out the source of your coffee, whether it’s fair trade or shade grown, and whether the potato chips sold at the counter have an artisan, rustic packaging.

It’s wise to take a look at other businesses, find one that mirrors your ethos, and see what route they took. Do they have a CSR (corporate social responsibility) program, like do they have a favorite or local charity? Do they take principled stands against public issues like whaling or the war on plastics? Do they support the local youth teams or do they source their supplies and ingredients locally? Does the owner frequently make announcements on their website? And can you find them on twitter, and do they have a perfectly talkative community manager?

Your Mindset

All told, there are lots of ways to extend the spirit of customer service to match the lifestyles of your consumers. Just remember that the first thing you need to do when applying for the hearts and minds of customers is you need to strike a balance of sensitivity to what they want out of a business like yours, and the strong sentiment you and your employees share, if any.

To delve deeper into what your business can provide in terms of customer satisfaction and more, you may leave a comment for further details.