Wired and Inspired at the Cebu Digital Influencers Marketing Summit 2012

A group picture with the organizers, speakers and participants after the Digital Influencers Marketing
Summit 2012 - Cebu at SM Convention Center. (Photo from www.reneleandropadilla.com)

Earlier this year, I made a commitment to myself that I will end 2012 right by attending several seminars and workshops that will  shed some inspiration to my passion and personal pursuits. I had two seminars in mind -- Digital Influencers Marketing Summit - Cebu and Mathematical Society of the Philippines - Cebu Chapter First Annual Convention. 

Recently, I realized that I made myself closer to my goal through my attendance in the Digital Influencers Marketing Summit 2012 at SM City Cebu Convention Hall AB. I got more than what I was expecting because aside from getting myself inspired by the speakers of the summit, I also had the chance to share my advocacy through a five-minute pitch. I hope I was able to bring my advocacy of utilizing social media in the learning process closer to my audience.

More than the pitch I did during the event, I was loaded with information and inspiring stories during the day as I listened to the talks from the real influencers and experts in the field. I learned better ways to assuring good content and optimization tips. I was also moved by the real stories narrated by real people who are excelling in their chosen field. A day well spent, indeed. Kudos to the organizers, sponsors, speakers, and participants!

After the summit, I got an invitation to speak for the topic "Using Google+ for Education" at the Google+ Workshop to be hosted by the Cebu Google Business Group at the University of the Visayas New School of New Media and Design on December 1, 2012 (that's going to be tomorrow). I am looking forward to meeting new faces, learning new ideas and discussing passion and advocacy again. 

Cebu Dining Experience: Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant

If there's one thing that I love about Cebu, that must be the food offered within the vicinity. No matter if it's a street food eating adventure or a fine dining experience, food is just hard to resist in the Queen City of the South. For such reason, I have been compelled to chronicle my dining experiences in Cebu in which this post is going to be the first in the long line of food fiesta. 

Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant in Cordova, Cebu, I believe, has earned its place for being  the first to be featured in this blog. Serving a variety of Filipino cuisine matched with local flavors and  delicacies, Lantaw does not only offer a relaxing atmosphere but sumptuous food as well. I happened to ask one of the waitresses their best-sellers and she enthusiastically answered, "For appetizers, we have Cordova Express which is similar to Bicol Express with a mix of seafood and for main dish, we have Garlic Shrimps." I tried Garlic Shrimps with green mango shake for dessert.

It was my first time in Lantaw but I heard good feedback from their customers before. For the benefit of those who would like to check the place, here's my take. If it's going to be a family gathering, a memorable occasion, a team dinner, a mere gathering with friends or anything that speaks of collective fun and dining, Lantaw is a perfect choice. Here are the reasons why:

A relaxing and spacious atmosphere is just few of Lantaw's
offerings to their patrons.  

1. Ambiance. The place is spacious enough to accommodate members of extended family and  big circles of friends. Also, they offer relaxing views especially in the evening when skyscrapers in Cebu City start to light and show a lively play of night life. Sunset is also breathtaking in the place. Sipping a bottle of beer while watching the sun as it sets is just perfect. 

Mayonnaise bottle containers are recycled and are
utilized as drinking glasses.  Isn't it environment friendly?

2. Affordability. Considering that Lantaw is affiliated with Moon Cafe (a Mexican Restaurant chain in Cebu), I was thinking that food would be very expensive. However, as I went through the menu and looked at the size of their servings, I realized that it's just good for a fine dining experience in a floating native restaurant. 

No, it's not the 17B Jeepney where you usually ride on going
to IT Park. It's Lantaw's  restaurant bar.

3. Food. What I like about the place is the fact that food are being cooked in what it seems to be an open kitchen -- customers see how the food is hygienically prepared and garnished by their cooks. The touch of local flavor is also something that would compel people to visit the place no matter if it's a long drive from Cebu City.

Watching the sun as it sets while sipping a bottle of cold beer or munching your favorite Filipino dish is one of the things you can enjoy at Lantaw while letting the afternoon fade away.

4. Friendly Service. I am not sure if you are going to agree with me on this but I just find most of their crew attentive to the needs of the customers. The service is also faster compared to other restaurants in Cebu that offers fine dining. When my order was taken, I was informed (without me asking) that it will usually take them 15-20 minutes to prepare my food but I got my diet served in less than 10 minutes. Setting proper expectations with customers is just adorable.

You may add more but that's all I could generally voice out this time. I think, the four already covers  all the major reasons for choosing Lantaw. On the other hand, for commuters like me, Lantaw Floating Native  Restaurant is pretty accessible transportation wise. From SM City Cebu, you can hop into a van going to Cordova and from Barangay Poblacion, Cordova, you can take a bike going to Barangay Day-as where Lantaw is hiding waiting to be found by food trippers. 

Digital Influencers Marketing Summit at SM City Cebu on November 24, 2012

As blogger and social media fanatic, I have heard of the term digital influencer a couple of times through blogs , tweets and status messages on Facebook. Honestly, I never had the interest to study more about becoming a digital influencer because I always had the aim of maintaining a low-profile blog that could support my irrelevant rantings and my simple passion for teaching. I thought, the word influencer itself is challenging although, being a teacher, I am always considered as one no matter how I disagree with becoming an influencer.

Finally, I  am accepting the challenge and I will be joining the Digital Influencers Marketing Summit at SM City Cebu on November 24, 2012. At first, I was hesitant because I was thinking that the event is only intended for entrepreneurs, marketers and advertisers. Well, obviously, I am not one of those mentioned but I surely want to become a digital influencer like the speakers who will be sharing their experiences during the summit. I have already met some of the speakers before and I am sure that they have a couple of helpful things to share.

Janette Toral is going to be one of the speakers and she will talk on Blogging and Social Media Influence in the 2013 Elections. I have attended one of the online seminars of Janette before and met her in person during the awarding night of the Pinoy Expats/OFWs Blog Awards 2012 where, as one of the Top 10 Bloggers, I received her book "Blogging from Home." Another speaker who is also familiar is Fleire Castro who will elaborate the topic Bloggers as Influencers and Brand Advocates. Fleire is a Facebook friend I haven't met ever since. This summit is going to be a meet up for both of us, I assume.Joining Fleire is Kevin Ray Chua who, as founder of Cebu Bloggers Society, is also familiar. I met Kevin once during the candle lighting ceremony for the passage of RH Bill held in UP Cebu earlier this year. Aside from Janette, Fleire and Kevin, other digital influencers and brand advocates will be sharing best practices during the summit.  

For further information about the event, please click HERE.

Convergys Launches the First TV Commercial for a BPO in the Philippines

Staying true to the claim of being the best and the biggest Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Company in the Philippines, Convergys recently launched the first ever TV Commercial for a BPO Company in the country. A heartwarming and values-driven TV commercial, the Convergys Pedestal inspires not only the dedicated employees of the company but the many call center professionals serving the BPO industry in the country today.

There is not one person in this country today that can say he has made a difference. Not one who has taken that leap of faith to change his  fate.Not one who has made a sacrifice for his loved ones. Not one who pushes this country forward. There is not one person today we can call a hero. 

Not one but thousands. 

As one of the premier contact centers in the country, Convergys has earned various awards over the past years and is still promising to garner more distinctions as the best BPO company in the country and worldwide.

Dreaming in Davao

I know this post is way too late to appear in this blog. Yes, I could have written about Davao when the travel was still fresh. But please don't stop reading when you'll know that this trip happened six months ago -- the time when the heat of the sun was still hailed by many travelers -- the time of the year called summer.

My first trip to Mindanao was a sojourn I had been anticipating since late 2011. It's not an ordinary travel as there was much better purpose than leisure and exploration. It was my good friend's wedding and it was a beyond usual event because I never expected that this friend (who will remain anonymous) will still be tying knots one day. Nevertheless, I am still happy for her.

Enough said about my friend, I arrived Davao lunch time after my flight from Mactan Cebu International Airport got delayed for two hours. Everyone was getting ready for the wedding so no one could pick me up at the airport. Fortunately, I am good at attempts of getting lost, recalling instructions and eventually asking strangers about places strange to my ears. Eventually, I hit the hotel just in time when everyone was getting ready for the wedding. 

The night after the wedding, everyone was up for a lively night at Matina Town Square. A renowned place for night lovers, the place showcases a variety of entertainment hubs from disco to comedy bars. If chilling is what's on one's psyche, the place has also something to offer. What's interesting about the place are the street arts and the unique Mindanaoan art and culture that seems to adorn the entire scape of the area. Once you're in the place, you could never deny to yourself that you're experiencing night life in Minadanao -- in Davao.

The following day, we ventured for a whole day trip to Samal Island which is just few minutes boat ride from the mainland. We spent almost the entire day at Blue Jazz Resort which welcomed us with a lively band making me feel that we're entering Hawaii (No, I haven't been there but movies told me so). The resort, which was packed at that time with mostly local beach lovers, offered a handful of activities that one can choose to enjoy. Financially wise, we chose not to try any of the activities and opted to bask along the shore and the beach area. The day ended with me and my friend catching for the next boat to bring us to the mainland where another adventure went on.

The night after, I met with comrades from the Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS) for a what seems to be a serious discourse. It was great personally meeting people whom I always see online.  But before such meeting, there was a good adventure that happened. I and my travel buddy walked for a couple of  kilometers searching for a place we both did not know and we ended up lost. Tired, we had no choice but to get a ride to Abreeza Mall which is a newly opened Ayala mall in Davao. 

Our journey ended when we headed to the airport and spent hours sleeping on the sidewalk while waiting for our flight in the morning. Exciting as it was, our feet had to be tied as we went back to our respective destinations for another trek to work. Memories of a wonderful spur-of-the-moment experiences were something I brought back to Cebu. At the end of such budgeted travel, I realized again that travels do not need to be luxurious because, after all, it's not about the places you've been to but the people you've met and the unique culture you've experienced -- they expand one's horizon of perspectives. Travel is not all about leisure -- at times, it's all about the richness of experience one gets. Until my next journey. Thanks for following.       

"A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." -- John Steinbeck