Finally, after almost two weeks of sorting through 700+ digital images, I can now post my
Been to
Here are some of the photos. Click on the images if you want a larger view:
From exotic food, cheap clothes and fake watches, to enormous Buddhas and beautiful temples,
Don't ask why, but I have recently subscribed to Astrology.com for a free daily tarot reading delivered to my email.
It's been a week and I admit I haven't really taken the time to read my readings since my automatic response to spam mail is to delete it.
I have seen today's reading though, and it was curiously pretty accurate of the situation I am currently in.
Here is my tarot reading:
The Knight of Swords card suggests that my power today lies in change. I am quick, sharp, and ready for assertive, revolutionary or affirmative action. I overcome obstacles or resolve conflict by getting right to the point, cutting to the chase or confronting challenges head on -- even if this means going against the grain. My communication, style or expectation is on the cutting edge and relies on reason, design, the latest craze or facts. It is my honor to protect and defend my perception of truth. I measure twice and cut once. I am empowered by expectation or duty and my virtue is commitment to the greater good.
Yeah baby, I'm your knight in shining armor.
Critique My Blog for the wonderful review of The Midnight Oil.
"Where's the video record button?"
Enough excuses about work. Frankly, it’s getting old.
Every year, my wife and I anticipate the coming of March with both excitement and trepidation. Excitement, since we both celebrate our birthdays this month (15 and 16 – yes, our birthdays are just one day apart, yes, we were born on the same year, and yes, you missed it) and apprehension because of the same reason – we’re turning a year old, not to mention the cost of treating two sets of friends and relatives on the same day can be overwhelming.
It has its ups and downs, having (almost) the same birthday as your spouse. It was cute when you start dating, learning about it for the first time, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe our birthdays are just one day apart! We must be soul mates!” For which she replies, “Oh my gosh!” and then you realize that when you’re married, your “soul mate” will always steal your thunder the morning after. And all the gifts, cakes, and party leftovers are not yours to hold and treasure anymore. I’m guessing you already know who was born when.
Speaking of birthdays, 2 weeks ago, my wife and I found ourselves willingly participating in an unforgettable and life-altering endeavor. We helped a couple as they go through their IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) procedure. Having tried to conceive for almost 5 years now, the couple is considering this their last shot. Procedures like this can be very costly, mentally and physically taxing, after all. I would not divulge any more details because it’s a sensitive topic. And I don’t want to offend anyone by posting it in this blog, my wife, included. Let’s just say we found ourselves helping an acquaintance in need, and found new friends in return. The couple, who flew in from abroad were sweet and kind souls. They were giving, generous and very thoughtful, despite the fact that the husband, an American, is a stranger in Philippine soil. Unexpectedly, he was warm, soft-spoken and very friendly. And my wife and I tried our best to show them the world-renowned Filipino hospitality. We exchanged views over French cuisine, chatted till the wee hours of the morning about advertising, culture, religion, almost about everything including George W. Bush. And up to now, it still amazes me, how two perfect strangers, of two completely unidentical races can connect on a spiritual, emotional and intellectual level. It’s baffling, really, when you think about it, how everyone and everything in the world is connected.
Unfortunately, the procedure didn’t go as everyone expected. Sadly, the couple went home, bereft of success. Our newfound friends are heartbroken and my wife and I can’t do anything about it. Except pray that they don’t lose hope, and pray that somehow soon, they get what they always wanted.
Like I said, enough excuses about work. Work is such a petty thing compared to all the things that we, people, are often neglecting. There are birthdays, for instance. Triumphs and failures. Friends and relatives. A glass of Pinot Noir and medium-well Fillet Mignon. Conversations over ice-cold beer and a pack of smokes. Gifts to open, cakes to eat and friends to treat. Places to go to and food to eat. Sickness and health. Weddings and anniversaries.
And this is where I end this post. Speaking of anniversaries, I have to search for a travel agency. My wife and I are celebrating our 10th year wedding anniversary on April 19, in
Have you ever thought, one day in your life that you are, or things are, moving too fast? Beating deadlines, chasing promotion, climbing the corporate ladder, marrying or just plain moving in with someone. Chances are, all of us have been, once, twice, or countless times in our lives, guilty of hurrying. It’s an endless race, like Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner.
I am. And while I did remind myself and everyone who reads this blog to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the silence
And that is why, when my PC crashed almost a month ago, I was devastated. It felt like a part of me crashed too, and like a writer without a pen and paper on his hand, I felt disabled. I had many fears. True, we will probably never run out of pens and papers but in this day and age, who needs them when you have computers?
My biggest fear was losing important data. Years of moments captured on photos and videos from my trusty digital camera, 4,000+ songs diligently ripped, labeled and categorized, business files, sidelines, personal files – all important files – gone. Vanished. Kaput.
And while I was unscrewing the last screw in my CPU trying to find out what went wrong, it hits me. I may not be able to do many things for a long time. And that includes playing video games, downloading torrents, doing sidelines, surfing the net and updating my blog – my midnight routine. You may say that I can do those things in the office, but I don’t. I am a night owl (obviously) and my PC is what keeps me company when everyone else is in deep slumbers.
But that was over. My PC has been up and running 3 weeks ago. I’ve lost some files*, but was able to retrieve some from my spare hard drive, DVD backups and iPod. Nonetheless, I spent almost a week trying to restore it all. The question now is what took me so long to write a new post? I don’t exactly know the answer, but I believe it has something to do with this post’s title. I got too fast, too fearful.
I was moving too fast that when my PC broke down, all of a sudden, I have nothing to do during midnights. Everything came to a complete halt. At first, I dug out my old PS2 games and started playing again. I got bored sooner than I expected. I watched DVDs that I already saw. I read magazines, books, scribbled down poems, and struggled to write a script for a short film, all just to keep my brain and hands from being idle. But then, just like before, silence prevailed. Once again, I was captured by the serenity of my own thoughts, and it’s telling me not to rush. It’s telling me to enjoy the lull. However, it is also the same reason why I became fearful.
Not being able to update for almost a month now, I feared that I cannot write an interesting post anymore. I feared that no one will give a damn to visit and check if I have finally updated. Most importantly, I feared that I was beginning to like not being able to post. It’s new to me, the feeling of suddenly spending midnights without thinking of the next topic that I should write about. Not worrying who to visit next and whose comment I should reply to. Not spending hours just to write, search and download photos to make my latest post interesting for visitors.
We are taught that the human brain is designed to handle new experiences with either anticipation or apprehension. Oddly, I began to feel both. I was excited that finally, I don’t have to depend on my PC when my insomnia kicks in, but I was also fearful that this is not what I want to happen.
For almost a month, I was in limbo. But not anymore. I know the answer now. Like I said, it’s been more than 3 weeks since my PC was restored. I could’ve written a new post during those days but I didn’t. I could’ve visited your blog, or simply post a comment. But I didn’t. Instead, I used those days, actually midnights, to ask myself, “Do I really want to do this?” And if the answer is yes, I have to make sure that this time around, I’ll know when to stop. What I learned in this experience is that there is nothing wrong in moving too fast. You just have to know when to stop. That way, you won’t have to fear if you come face to face with a wall. Don’t be the Coyote. Be the Road Runner. Run as fast as hell but stop when you need to.
So will I set foot on the race track again? I think the answer is pretty obvious.
I am back. Hopefully now, I’m neither too fast, nor too fearful.
* I also lost the bookmarks in my Internet browser, so if I haven’t been to your blog, that means I can’t find a way to reach you. Please leave a comment so I can visit you again. Thanks.
The following story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously… Ok, this is already the third of the installment. You know how it goes.
Dear Diary,
So it’s been 10 days, huh? I’m guessing this is probably the longest time I’ve lagged on my posts (I’m too lazy to check). Anyway, the migraine’s back. Yes it is. And it’s a lot more awful than MC Hammer’s comeback restyling himself as a gangsta rapper.
So where are we? Oh yes, we’re on a witch hunt, trying to figure out who among the people I work with has triggered my migraine the most. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are a lot of possible reasons for this, like my chronic insomnia (if there is such a thing), or my balding neighbor’s miserable attempts at aping Garth Brooks on karaoke. (Don’t break my head, my achy-breaky head. I just don’t think you understand… Who-wee!) But if you think about it, I’ve been an insomniac all my life and yet I never had migraine until I entered the world of advertising. So go figure.
I just think it makes perfect sense. These are the people I spend the whole day (and night) working with. And for those who are unfamiliar with the experience, think of it as going to work with the cast of Seinfeld. A typical client would be like George. Mean, neurotic and slow-witted. Elaine, however, would make a great Account Executive. She has, after all, an IQ of 151, and is often referred to by Jerry as “The queen of confrontation”.
And so it goes. I’m already done with clients and AEs. And now, I am down to one department. It has to be done. In the interest of being fair (and due to my colleagues’ constant nagging), I have to do Creatives. No stone should be left unturned in this witch hunt.
Who are we in Seinfeld, you ask?
Most people (including the clients and AEs) would agree that the creative department is surrounded by witty, eccentric and crazy people. Think Kramer and multiply that by 30.
But that’s too stereotypical, hence the reason why I’d like to think of myself as Jerry. The 'only sane man' in the stage. The figure who is "able to observe the chaos around him but not always be a part of it.” Yeah, yeah. I’m being safe. But this is my blog so bite me.
On with the show, err, post. Below are some unforgettable verbatims I have collected in my 6 years of experience working as an advertising creative.
A conversation between a Creative Director and an Art Director regarding a client revision request:
CD: "You need to add a line on the cover of the invite that says how to open it"
AD: "Huh? But it’s a tri-fold.... How do they not know how to open it?"
CD: "The client can’t figure out how to open it. Just add ‘open here, moron’"
Same project. AD asks the Copywriter to revise the copy based on the client’s inputs:
AD: "Client wants it to be simple. One word. But it has to convey everything in the brief."
Copywriter: "Oh, they must want those secret magic words that mean four things at once. Tell me man, do I look like J.K. Rowling?”
A Creative Director briefing a Production Designer regarding a sample of the casts’ costumes:
CD: "I don't like the colors, violet and black don't work together"
Designer: (Scans the CD from head to toe) "But you're wearing them!”
The same Creative Director, calling his Copywriter in the middle of a presentation after going on vacation leave for 2 weeks:
“I call you because I’m watching the ads with the client and I’ve just realized I don’t understand them either.”
Here’s more:
"I need awards! get me awards! If you don't get me awards, otherwise I will make sure you get fired before I do."
- an incompetent CD yelling at his team after being told by the management that he hasn’t won a single award in 5 years during his evaluation..
"Why not fold this up until it has sharp corners and shove it up your stupid college bum."
- the same CD criticizing the work of a nervous intern. The intern turned out to be an award-winning Art Director in a multi-national agency 4 years after.
"Listen to me people! I don't want any of you in here working on All Saints Day."
- An Executive Creative Director, thinking he's being generous.
“Guys, I’ve been told that some of you are avoiding work. I’m really disappointed. Please be reminded that in order for us to get our bonuses, we have to make an effort this quarter.”
- Same ECD, sent via text message while he was on vacation at a beach
Yet again, the same ECD doesn't show up for a client presentation, leaving his CD and a junior writer to present a major campaign:
CLIENT: "Where’s your ECD? Shouldn’t he be here?"
CD: "He can’t make it, he's out on an unbreakable out of agency commitment."
CLIENT: "Huh?"
Junior Copywriter: (Butts in) "Don't tell anyone, he's playing golf with his brother."
Talk about juniors:
"You don’t get it! It’s not what I have in mind!”
“Hey, I just followed your script!”
“Oh yeah? Then why did you make it a cartoon?"
- A junior Copywriter after an Art Director shows him his storyboard.
Two designers on a phone conversation discussing a client's logo in Photoshop. Guess which one is the junior:
"This logo isn’t the right size."
"Well, I have the file open in Photoshop and the dimensions are correct."
"That can’t be right. I’m measuring it and it’s about 1/8. Too small."
"How are you measuring it?"
"I’m holding my ruler up to the monitor."
A junior artist, after spending 6 hours on one storyboard, was confronted by the Art Director:
“Hey man, what’s taking you so long?”
“This is hard. I want to make the thought bubbles as realistic as possible.”
The same junior artist, asking a senior designer about a logo:
"Uhmm… sorry to disturb you man, I’m quite new here. This being my first job and all… So… uhm… tell me… what does the Red Cross logo look like?"
A junior copywriter, sitting in for his first radio ad recording, tells the sound engineer:
"Can you tweak the sound effects further? I want it to sound like a brick hitting a parachute."
The same copywriter, asking his art director about the copy he wrote in the layout:
“Whoa! Dude, I didn’t know you write Spanish!”
- The layout is a draft with Lorem Ipsum placeholder text
How about the oldies:
"Yeah, just make something fresh and new. Something like the Beach Boys."
- Creative Director briefing a sound designer for a jingle.
"I need you to find a blonde model…. Hmm…someone like that Carmen Diaz."
- Same Creative Director to a Talent Caster
"We are zigging when the rest of the market is zagging..."
- An Associate Creative Director in the middle of his speech for a client presentation.
"Well Lisa, after all this time you know how we work."
"Jim, my name is Susan."
- Creative Director to long time client
"I like it. It makes me want to come. I mean, to the event! It makes me want to come to the event!"
- A late fifty-something Executive Creative Director to a twenty-something AE, reviewing an invite to an event a day after flyers of the “anti-sexual harassment law” was passed in the office.
"She’s a great writer but she needs to figure out which is more important to her: this account or her sister’s wedding."
- Executive Creative Director / Agency Owner discussing the evaluation of one of his writers
"What project? I didn’t hear about that project. Two weeks ago? Oh, it was in my email? Kaya naman pala (That’s why). I don’t read my emails eh.”
- Art Director to Account Executive
AD: "Make it look like Prada... lots of young, bright, pastel colors!”
Designer: (Thinking about it for a moment) “Uhm… Don’t you mean Benetton?”
CD: “No, Prada! Don’t you watch Queer Eye?
- The AD has often denied rumors that he is gay.
"What we give you is what you get."
- Print Producer to a disgruntled Client
“Can’t you make that dog smile? Don’t you have a smile filter on this expensive machine?”
- Ex-creative Agency President and Owner
“And now… the ice cake!”
- Same owner during a pitch, meaning ´icing on the cake’
"We need something that has never been done before. Find out how everybody else did it - and do that."
- Creative Director who wanted a promotion
"Can you make the design 17% better?"
- Creative Director giving comments to his Art Director
"So you have two breaks on your bike! Whats the other one for?"
- Receptionist, flirting with a hunky Copywriter.
“Can you ask the announcer to produce a whispering scream?”
- Creative Director, during the recording of a radio spot
“I just thought of an original idea I saw in
- Executive Creative Director
“Brief? Why should I read the brief? Creativity comes from here!”
- Creative Director, pointing at his intestines
“It’s actually a dog… (snickers)… and he’s got this funny bark… (snickers)… no, actually it’s a bitch… you know, like a female dog… (snickers)… and she goes… (snickers) Woof! Woof! (Bursts into uncontrollable laughter)
- An Art Director explaining a storyboard to a client during a late night presentation. Turns out, he just came from a party and he’s smoked 3 joints. Yup, he’s stoned.
The following story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, yada-yada-yakity-yak…
… the verbatims are all REAL, though.
Dear Diary,
I’m sorry it took me this long to follow up on my last entry. My migraine is gone. Thanks to my friend, and her wonderful, wonderful drug called “Exedrin”. I just took one pill and it hit me like an anvil.
I was going to take Wizard's advice and buy Imatrex but I forgot the name when I went to our pharmacist...
“Miss, do you have Ime--- Imi --- Imu --- (running out of vowels) Imo ---
“Imodium?”
She blurted out, loud enough so everybody in the room would know that I have diarrhea. I was gone faster than she can say LBM.
I hate it when they do that. I remember when I was still in college and I’d go to the drugstore to buy me some “protection”. I’d sneak into an empty void from a sea of sweaty customers, patiently waiting for a pharmacist to notice me and take my order. I never waved my hand to call their attention. I just waited. (Hey, I was only a student then, and I happen to be in a very conservative country, where talking about premature sex in public always raise an eyebrow or two. Ironically so since single parenthood statistics are going through the roof.) And when finally one of them pharmacist approaches, I make sure I whisper clearly, yet very discreetly, what I want to purchase. Almost always, the pharmacist would yell back to make sure they heard me right.
“AH… CONDOM!”
“ANONG FLAVOR?” (What Flavor?)
I shriveled in embarrassment and slowly retracted my footsteps. Could you imagine my grandma buying vaginal wash from the same pharmacist? Or my grandpa buying a box of Viagra?
Anyway, like I was saying, I finally got rid of that pesky menace called migraine. However, I have yet to find out the source. Who triggered my migraine and what did he or she do, better yet say that made me dizzy and nauseous?
I was done listing some unforgettable conversations with clients. I, however, felt that I have to give them the benefit of the doubt. What about our own? The same people who inhabit the place I work? Why not? I spend more time with them than I do with my clients.
Hmm… the witch hunt continues.
Could be it be our Account Executives?
Don’t get me wrong, Diary, AEs are such wonderful colleagues. They are, most of the time, very efficient, hardworking and resourceful. (I really have to say this because Blair Mitch, Gorgeous Noelle, and Celine - God forbid, she's a futsal player - might kick me in the balls). No, seriously, they're great AEs. And I have worked with a lot of good ones too. Some of them even carry a powerful, yet rare weapon in their arsenal – Beauty & Brains. However, in advertising as well as in life, there are some bad apples.
Take this AE, for instance:
AE: “I can’t see the website from my laptop, all I see is numbers.”
AD (Art Director): “What kind of numbers?”
AE: “I think it’s one of those HTML codes.”
AD: “Have you tried connecting to the Internet?”
AE: (Defensive) “You think I'm stupid? You think I don’t know that I need to connect to the internet before I can access the website??”
AD: “So, you’re connected. Can you read the message from the browser?”
AE: “What browser?”
AD: “Internet Explorer. Or Mozilla Firefox. The one you use to open a webpage!”
AE: “I’m using Microsoft Word…”
How ‘bout these guys:
“Wow, your web banner design looks great! Let’s print a copy to present to the client. Make sure it’s animated!”
“Woohoo! Guys! Good news! The client has agreed to shoot on a bigger budget! We have HIV!”
- Account Director, announcing that a TV spot would be filmed in HD (High Definition) Video.
“What a coincidence! I have the same sticker in my computer at home!”
(Account Executive to a copywriter, pointing at the newly-installed CPU in his desk. The sticker reads: Intel Inside)
“Please, I need the design for a circular sticker. Measures: 20 x 40 centimeters.”
(Agency, Account Executive)
“We need your help. According to what I understood from the client, we have to put subtitles on the radio spots. Is that doable?”
What about the AEs who have Arithmophobia (fear of numbers)?
AE: “Can you print the logo and send it to me?”
AD: “Sure thing. What size?”
AE: “As big as you can so we can use it for other assignments.”
AD: “8 X 10?”
AE: “Hmm… how about… 70 meters?”
Another incident:
AE: “If we do the poster 40 centimeters wide and the height in proportion, will it look awful?”
Media: “No, it would still be in proportion.”
AE: “OK. What if do it in 20 centimeters wide and the height in proportion?”
And yet another:
AD: “How do I layout the copy?”
AD: “Hmmm... just make it centered... to the left.”
These two however, deserve special honors:
AD #1:
AD: “We can’t use this painting for the print ad.”
AE: “Why not? We have money. We can buy the rights!”
AD: “Wha—you don’t understand! This painting is…”
AE: (Feeling smug) “Nonsense! I will contact the artist now! What’s his name?"
AD: (Nonchalant) "Vincent Van Gogh"
Silence. The AD waits for the Ae’s reaction. Instead, she picks up a notepad and writes.
AD: "Ok, I will call him now and get his approval."
(Next post: The (M)Adman Diaries Part III: Crazy Creatives)
(Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
However, the verbatims are all REAL.)
Dear Diary,
I was on leave today. Migraine – had it for the longest time. They say it’s a common disease for admen - people working in advertising - especially creatives. We deal with a lot of stress, that’s why.
I spent half the day catching some long-lost sleep. The other half, thinking what triggered my migraine besides the lack of it. Pardon my rambling; I’ve had four Advils already.
What could’ve caused it? Better yet, who? As I ponder and recall previous discussions with the people I deal with every single day at work, I began to wonder…
Could it be my clients?
Could it be the high-maintenance client who makes demands as if he owns our souls even though he only contributes to 1/1,116 of our billings?
“It’s just a minor revision. We’re just changing the copy and layout of the whole print ad. And, oh, the concept doesn’t fit so we might want to change that as well.”
Asked what exactly he wants and when he needs it, the humble client replied:
"It’s simple really: I want you to come up with something that’s never been done before; something that touches hearts and minds all around the world. Oh, and I need it by 11 tomorrow morning."
Could it also be the client who knows what he wants, so much that he wants everything present in his ads?
"We love option 1. It is by far the cleanest layout. We'd just like to add a little contact information. Just the call to action, website and 8 of our partners’ logos. You guys are the artists. Just do your thing to make sure it’s not too cluttered. I mean, hey, you really can’t read all that information in a billboard, can you?”
What about the client who can't make up his mind?
(From a client’s email):
Could it be the unprofessional ones?
Client: (Raging) “You always send me the layouts too late. I will not approve them like this!”
Creative: “But we sent them at 2 pm…”
Client: “Yes, but I just got to the office at 6pm!”
Or worse, those that are just plain stupid?
(Dumbfounded) "You guys are giving me a hard time here. How on earth do you expect me to put the link on my desktop when you know I only have a laptop?"
(A telephone conversation:)
Client: “There’s a little spot on the HTML.”
Artist: “Where?”
Client: “Between the pictures and the description. I move around the little arrow and the spot stays there. Is it a mistake in the HTML code?”
Artist: “I don’t know about a spot, it’s very strange. Maybe your monitor is dirty?”
Client: (Pauses for a while, then shouted) “Oh, yes! Yes! You’re a genius!”
“Ok, here’s what the problem is. Our bank is losing many clients, especially the retired senior citizens. The main reason for this is their death. Our objective is simple: get those clients back.”
Worse, stupid clients who act smart or those who won’t admit they have any idea how advertising works:
“I asked for the photo in high resolution! I can’t work like this! A photo is in high resolution when I can’t see it in my computer!”
Client: “Can you change the word ‘exquisite’ on the ad? I personally think that any words including the letter X are way too complicated for our market to comprehend.”
Copywriter: (Sarcastically) "You mean like, axe... and sex?""This flyer is urgent! I don't know how you do it but just do it so it fits an envelope. Just like the one I'm holding now".
(Client to creative... on a phone conversation)
You see, dear diary, I’m at a lost as to what or who caused my migraine. To make it worse, clients are not the only smart people in the world of advertising. Sometimes, skull-cracking comments like the ones above are caused by the same people we work with. That’s right. People from advertising.
But I'll just save that for my next entry. It’s getting late and it’s time for my 5th pill. I better hit the sack early as I still have to figure out what to do with those darn flyers.
Good night.
(Next post: The (M)Adman Diaries Part II: Account Executives)
