http://www.makepovertyhistory.org the shadow laboratory: November 2005


Saturday, November 26, 2005

Bench Stick Hairwax

Our Bench Stick Ad: BoyToy
Made by me and Karla

Arrgghh... copywriting class is like a pop idol contest... the atmosphere, heartbeats, nervousness... we made mistakes, but we sure better make sure not to commit them again, in terms of the copy, ideas, execution, visual devices, strategy, and effectivity.

Well, im quite happy despite the unhappy events like the economic crisis, the death of Eddie Guerrero (who i dont watch anyway), political struggles, and the break-up of Martin and Pops. tsk. Anyways, i was glad that i made above-mediocre graphic work. I was glad some of my classmates liked our work for Bench Stick. I was happy that 2 of our 3 judges picked ours as their best choice. weeeeeh... next time should be better....

_________________________

Song of the Month:

Love Team

Itchyworms

‘Di, di naman talaga

Tayo magsinta, pero gusto nila.

Kahit ayaw mo

Bagay raw tayo.

Di naman totoo

Mga yakap mo

Pang-eksena lamang ‘to.

Di mo lang alam…

Na nababaliw na ako sa iyo

‘Di ko na yata kaya ‘to,

Ang aking lihim na pakay

Ay ang lahat ng ito’y gawing tunay…

Sana, wag mo kong sisihin

Kung ‘di ko kayang pigilin

Sabi mo na mahal mo ko

Ngunit ‘di naman seryoso…

Sana’y magkasingkulay

Ang drama at tunay na buhay ko

Ang tanging pag-asa ko

Ay nasa tambalang ito…

Si, sinungaling ka, kapag may tao

Ay nilalambing mo ‘ko

Pero pag wala

Ay sumasama

Turing mo sakin

Ay parang hangin

Bitin na bitin

‘Di nila alam…

Na sa dulo ng tagpo

‘Di na patok mga linya ko

Nag-iiba ang iyong asta

Hanggang sa susunod na eksena…

Sana’y magkasingkulay

Ang drama at tunay na buhay ko

Ang tanging pag-asa ko

Ay nasa tambalang ito…

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Ode to the Nice Guys

This is not written by me. But I can relate much. Now that my heart is in chaos. This is just the beginning.


This rant was written for the Wharton Undergraduate Journal
by
Fu-zu Jen, SEAS/WH, 2003


This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.

This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they’re at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.

This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn’t worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you’d ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: “oh, but we’re just friends!” And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.

The nice guys don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don’t seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as “oh, he’s too nice to date” or “he would be a good boyfriend but he’s not for me” or “he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn’t possibly ask him out!” or the most frustrating of all: “no, it would ruin our friendship.” Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.

So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Parang Takeshi's Castle


My song for the moment... lagi naman songs pinopost ko. ewan ko ba. im quite bothered lately for the wrong things but seemingly right reasons. anyways, the fight continues... even if the fight seems in vain. Ika nga ni Naruto, no turning back. No regrets.

Takeshi by Kiko Machine

Tuloy pa rin ang pagsuyo sa iyo
Kahit na 'di mo napapansin na nariyan ako
Kahit pa 'pag sa telepono iniiba ang boses mo
Sasabihing wala ka


CHORUS 1
Kahit anung mangyari, tuloy pa rin
Kahit na ang hirap mo namang ligawan
Ang daming pagsubok na dapat daanan
Daig ko pa ang sumali sa Takeshi's Castle


Kahit pa 'di mo sinasagot
Ang lahat ng sulat ko'y basura sa 'yo
Lalo na sa mga kaibigan mo
Naging libangan ng ipahiya ako


CHORUS 2
Kahit na magmukang tanga, tuloy pa rin
Kahit na ang hirap mo namang ligawan
Ang daming pagsubok na dapat daanan
Daig ko pa ang sumali sa Takeshi's Castle


BRIDGE
Lindol at kanyon, handa kong labanan
Kahit alambre, handa kong daanan
Para lang manalo sa iyong Takeshi's Castle


Ang hirap mo [5x]

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Akin Ka Na lang

This is my LSS for the moment aside from the song from Sugarfree. The song is funky, catchy, and funny. I love the tune and the lyrics. :) Enjoy.


Akin Ka Na Lang
by J. Nicolas
from the album Noontime Show
performed by the itchyworms!

Verse 1
'Wag kang maniwala d'yan. 'Di ka n'ya mahal talaga
Sayang lang ang buhay mo kung mapupunta ka lang sa kanya
Iiwanan ka lang n'yan, mag-ingat ka
Dagdag ka lamang sa milyun-milyong babae n'ya

Chorus
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Iingatan ko ang puso mo
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo

Verse 2
'Di naman ako bolero katulad ng ibang tao
Ang totoo'y pag nandyan ka medyo nabubulol pa nga ako
Malangis lang ang dila n'yan, 'wag kang madala
Dahan-dahan ka lang, baka pati ika'y mabiktima ('Wag naman sana)

Repeat Chorus

Refrain
'Di naman sa sinisiraan ko ang pangit na 'yan
'Wag ka dapat sa'kin magduda, hinding-hindi kita pababayaan!

Repeat Chorus

Akin ka na lang
Liligaya ka sa pag-ibig ko
Akin ka na lang
At wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo
Wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo (akin ka na lang)

Makita Kang Muli

i didnt know that this was the theme from Panday, nevertheless, I like the songs from Sugar-free. It kinda gives me inspiration. 100% confidence from now on. Arggh... gonna miss her... argghh...

Makita Kang Muli
Sugar-free

Ohoooohohoooohhh....... Ooohhoohh

Bawat sandali ng aking buhay
Pagmamahal mo ang aking taglay
San man mapadpad ng hanging hindi
Magbabago aking pagtingin
Pangako natin sa Maykapal
Na tayo lamang sa habang buhay
Maghintay

Chorus:
Ipaglalaban ko ang ating pag-ibig
Maghintay ka lamang ako'y darating
Pagka't sa isang taong mahal mo ng buong puso
Lahat ay gagawin
Makita kang muli, Makitang kang muli

Puso'y nagdurusa nangungulila
Iniisip ka pag nag-iisa
Inaalala mga sandaling
Nang tayo ay magkapiling
Ikaw ang gabay sa akin tuwina
Ang aking ilaw sa gabing mapanglaw
Tanging ikaw

Chorus:
Ipaglalaban ko ang ating pag-ibig
Maghintay ka lamang ako'y darating
Pagka't sa isang taong mahal mo ng buong puso
Lahat ay gagawin
Makita kang muli
Makitang kang muli, Makita kang muli

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Nang Dahil sa Isang Milkshake...


Rish and I tagged along with Liz, Karla and Macy to the airport to get their airline tickets to Cebu. When we came in, they were serving #19, and our number was the unlucky #69. Hmm... it was a long wait, but a fun one, I guess. We had the puns, funny faces, laughter, and the oldschool "pendong" and "keso" jokes.

On our way back, due to the call of our tummies, we decided to order food and Milkshakes from McDonald's Macapagal, since they are the only branch in Luzon that offers milkshakes. Then the adventure begins... we didn't know the U-turns, and we ended up passing a tollway, a roadsign saying "Welcome to Cavite", and eventually having our U-turn in Cavite.

That was some unexpected road trip. Fortunately, we are back in our respective homes. Cavite and Milkshakes... what a lovely combination.

Friday, November 11, 2005

The Hungry Hulk


Bruce Banner transforms into the Incredible Hulk when he is angry. The madder Hulk gets, the stronger he gets. As mentioned in the Hulk movie by Ang Lee, "You won't like me when I'm angry." Once transformed, Hulk can be the ultimate machine for destruction. When he is pissed off, he acts as if he was pissed on. To make it short, don't make him angry.

Similarly, I have this Hulk complex, but on a different aspect. "You won't like it when I'm hungry." I tend to be irritated easily when I'm hungry. It's like as if I have PMS. It's like as if I'm mad at the whole world. I really can't work on an empty stomach. Mental note, don't make me hungry. You can make me stay up late or make me not sleep at all, but don't make my hungry. You can make me wait forever, but don't make me hungry. When I start talking in Spanish, "Tengo hambre... vamos a comer," I mean it, and watch out.

As mentioned by our professor in Consumer Insight, "Tipirin mo na ang lahat wag lang ang pagkain." Generally, I buy affordable food. But I won't hesitate to buy more expensive ones as long as I see the value and satisfaction I get. Cheaper food, means more frequency to eat. When I buy cheaper food, I can buy more, so I still end up consuming more money for food. Money for Food... tudididup... tudididup... tudididup...

For some serious global issues: There is enough food in the world to feed everyone. Yet because of hunger and related causes over six million children die every year. Related to the International campaign against poverty, we should also fight against hunger.

Moral of the Story:

"rationem patitur, nec aequitate mitigatur nec ulla prece flectitur, populus esuriens"
A hungry people listens not to reason, not cares for justice, nor is bent by any prayers.
-De Brevitate Vitoe (XVIII)

Panalo!

Hmm... i was just reading through the pages of yesterday's edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and I came across the Special Project section featuring the Agora Awards. Then I saw the picture of our professor in IMC, who is also the program director of our course. He, Dr. Jerome Kliatchko, bagged the Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Education of the 2005 Agora Awards.

I can't develop some of my blog ideas so i will only post current events. :)

Monday, November 07, 2005

My Planet... My Brain

Just tried on some quizzes on www.blogthings.com which I saw one on my prend's journal. Oooh... just found it interesting. I guess I should wake up now... sembreak is now officially over.





You Are From Neptune



You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability.
You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea.
Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion.
You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone.
If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.





Your Brain's Pattern


Your mind is a firestorm - full of intensity and drama.
Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time...
But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you.
You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Print Ads

Note: These are not official print ads. But these are the creative outputs we made in school during the last semester. We were tasked to do IMC strategies with creative outputs including print ads. Ad agency people and real clients were part of the panel who judged us. They liked these ads... I think. These are some of the winning ads during the pitch, except the KFC ads... but they are still good for me. Our groups did the brainstorming, while I did the executions. (The image quality is trimmed down for faster loading.)

Philips:
In our Direct Marketing class, this is the direct response ad we did. We used Onion bulbs as the visuals with they copy "Do your bulbs stink?" The second ad shows a Philips bulb in the form of a perfume, showing the benefits of using one. Philips. Experience the Difference.


KFC:

The concept of our ad is "My Rules" or "Ako ang Batas." Related to the "Finger lickin' good" idea of KFC, we did our "Rules" or "Laws" for a more enjoyable chicken eating experience. We played with road rules making it our "chicken rules."


Katinko:
Body Pain Reliever. Isang Pahid Ka Lang. Ads showed hand signs to symbolize the use of Katinko.



Hello:
Hello Choco-Wafer. We did wordplay and came up with these ads using "Hello" literally. We used the tagline "Fun starts with Hello." Relationships are fun. These relationships start with Hello.


Sterling:

Spotlight Group did a brilliant job of coming up with this idea. This is a PR/Advocacy print ad they were tasked to do. After they gave me the ideas, I was more than willing to execute it. Kudos to the Spotlight PR group!!!

Credits:
Clients: Katinko Group (Katinko), Hello Group (Hello), KFC Group (KFC), Philips Group (Philips), Spotlight PR (Sterling)
Ad Agency: Katinko Group, Hello Group, KFC Group, Philips Group, Spotlight PR, and the All-around Impromptu ad agency composed of Brainstormers and Copywriters: Ria, Kiko, Roger, Sam, Pat, Jonathan and Yomz; Art Director: Yomz
Models: Katinko Hand models: Ria and Roger; Hello models: Nicole, Kiko, Chii, Doti and Apple

(Disclaimer: Brands and Brandnames belong to their proper owners.
Say... who owns the brands??? The corporations, or the consumers? Hmm... back to readings of Don Schultz)

Rebranding

Hmmm... though the design of this blog is not yet finished, I've been thinking of making a version 2... or even rebranding the whole blog itself: the content, design, title, layout... Hmm... or maybe i'll make another blog on another site. This old one will be dedicated to my art and making sense out of nonsense. And the other one will be the more philosophical, mushy and serious side regarding my sentiments about love and life. Hmm.. interesting.

P.S.
I love you...

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Graveyard Shift


I miss drinking/eating Taho. And when I saw one magtataho, I immediately bought one glass. Then I realized, this magtataho just started selling around 9PM. Say... a magtataho on a graveyard shift. That made me think... it was literally a graveyard shift since he is selling on the cemetery. What a sight... a magtataho shouting "Taho!" amidst the graves.

P.S.
Everything seems the contrary. Magbabalut selling early in the morning. Magtataho selling at midnight. Almost everything is getting blurred. Blurring of lines between meanings, time, and space... haaay... parang ganun pero hindi...

...