Babbling Point

PRESS RELEASE: Coca-Cola Philippines and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) unveiled last 23 June the very first plant billboard in the country - an iconic structure to represent the long-standing partnership between the two organizations to make a positive difference for the environment. The billboard now crowns the Adriano Building, between Buendia and Kalayaan Avenues in Makati City. The 60 x 60 ft. plant billboard, located along Northbound EDSA-Forbes, utilizes a thriving species of Fukien tea plant, which absorbs air pollutants. According to botanist Anthony Gao, each plant can absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year, on the average. “This billboard helps alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, on estimate.” Gao says. (Let me just proudly share that this billboard was conceptualized by Coca-Cola's agency McCann Worldgroup Philippines.) OTHERS SITES THAT H...

WELLA: 6 years ago, it was difficult to think we would end up here since we absolutely hated working with each other. Since we got together, I’ve learned a lot. You’ve introduced me to new things, you inspired me to rediscover drawing and learn painting, you made me start reading, you made me want to stay awake throughout a movie and made me eat more. But more importantly, you gave me a different perspective on life and love. I’d like you to know that because of you, I have learned to love unconditionally. I LOVE YOU FOREVER. Today, these words that we always say to each other will be even more meaningful because this day marks the start of our forever. I promise to laugh with you when times are good and to just be there and hold your hand when they are bad. I promise to take care of you even when we’re old and grey. And most of all, I promise to continue being your friend and to love you even more for the rest of our lives. BUDJETTE:  Wella, my love, my life, my story Writ...

Last October, while I was in the UK, aside from getting to meet Alan Moore , I also got to meet Mike Carey, writer of THE UNWRITTEN , and Vertigo editor Pornsak Pichetshote. They were attending the British International Comics Show and they were in the audience of Yuko Shimizu 's talk, the cover artist of THE UNWRITTEN. After the talk, I tried to find the best opportunity to introduce myself to them. But a lot of other people were talking to them and I didn't want to be rude and just butt in their conversation. I finally saw my chance when they broke away from the crowd and went into the men's room. (No! I did not follow them in there!) I waited for them to come out and quickly blocked their way and blurted out: Hi!I'mBudjetteTanfromthePhilippines!AndIjustwantedtogiveYOUacopyofmycomicbookTRESE!ThankYOU! I gave them copies of TRESE and said thanks again. As soon as I walked away, other people came up to them greet them and talk to them. I looked back and saw tha...

Last Monday, despite having a bad cold and cough that made me sound like a muppet, I got on Skype and chatted with John Amor and Migs Santos of TRES KOMIKEROS about how Trese started, how Trese was inspired by my favorite TV shows and how it was actually based on a rejected story I pitched to Marvel, and about how I got rejected by DC Comics and Atlas Komiks, and about how I really, really hate horror movies. So, if you'd like to hear me babble for an hour and overshare details of my life, download the episode at: http://treskomikeros.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/tk-73-budjette-tan/ Here's the blurb from their blog: In this episode of Tres Komikeros, John and Migs are joined by National Book Award Winner, Budjette Tan. Join us as he talks about the inspiration and research behind his hit noir-horror graphic novel, Trese. In this hour-long interview, we shed light on strange and amusing factoids such as Budjette’s writing process, his “technique” for writing action sequences,...

TALKING FUNNY (HBO) Comedy's biggest names — Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, and Louis CK — sit down for a revealing (and hilarious) chat on this HBO special. The four stand-up legends get serious about comedy, discussing how they first got into the business, the merits of on-stage profanity, and the science behind getting a laugh. 1 http://youtu.be/_V4q-zb2iI4 2 http://youtu.be/W_L5mYlxlXE 3 http://youtu.be/Xc6WbrOoe8I 4 http://youtu.be/LfwZSFsnm9c I first read about this show HBO show TALKING FUNNY from this article: Seven Things Designers Can Learn from Stand Up Comics by Michael Bierut. You can go directly and read the article by clicking the link above or you can watch the show first and then come back to read the article. As Bierut said in his article, he didn't really intend to find any designer-related-lessons from watching the show, but he ended up finding these seven: 1. It's all about the basics. 2. Once you've mastered...

NOOK Color "Read Forever™" Anthem http://youtu.be/xVFqiiRrpdw READ FOREVER Til all the books I read are read and all the pens are put down and everything there is to learn is learned Til tears are no longer shed and the ziggers have all zigged and the irony is all ironed out Til the heroes retire and the monsters return to their dens and all the plots are wrapped up Til there are no more twists and turns No more guns in drawers No more shaggy dogs Til rhymes stop rhyming and pots stop boiling and everyone is happy and there’s nothing more say Til that day By hook or by crook By book or by nook I will read CREDITS FROM : http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/barnes_noble_read_forever_anthem Advertising Agency: Mullen, Boston, USA Chief Creative Officer: Mark Wenneker Group Creative Director / Copywriter: Dave Weist Group Creative Director / Art Director: Tim Vaccarino Copywriter: Tim Hanrahan Executive Director of Integrated Production: Liza Near Executive Pro...

Donald Lim, managing director of MRM Worldwide shared the latest e-commerce data comparing market developments from 2009 to 2010 at the DigitalFilipino E-Commerce Summit 2010. Despite growth being flat in this period, Donald shows optimism for 2011 while encouraging market players to address the issue of trust. ORIGINALLY POSTED IN THE BLOG OF JANETTE TORAL http://e-commercephilippines.com/state-of-internet-and-mobile-commerce-market-growth-in-the-philippines-2010.html Picture from Norelyn T. Babiera's Facebook Page .

Let us be grateful  to people who make us happy;  they are the charming gardeners  who make our souls blossom. --Marcel Proust

MRM Elite Team (From L to R): Amiel Uy, Tonico Maningat, Jim Guzman, Mabie Encarnacion, Rachel Chua, Debbie Bereber, Nicole Sy, Pat Cortes, Mae Uy and Mattel Soliven MRM Philippines, the digital relationship marketing discipline of McCann Worldgroup, now holds the most number of individually certified Google AdWords professionals in the country. This was after 10 out of the 15 team members passed the Fundamentals and advanced-level exams covering search, display, reporting, and analysis. As individually qualified AdWords Professionals, members of the MRM accounts and production team are now equipped with specialized knowledge in Google Advertising. AdWords ads are placed in Google partner sites and display networks, widening the scope of MRM clients’ ad placement in relevant sites online. Managing Director Donald Lim says, “The Google Adwords Certification solidifies MRM Manila’s authority in the digital marketing arena by ensuring that we are capable and knowledgable in ...

Before me and Brandie started collecting Star Wars action figures, my parents bought us Fisher-Price Adventure sets. These action figures and vehicles didn’t come with any backstory, they didn’t have any animated series, they didn’t even have names.  So, we were free to create stories about that. We were free to think up of brand new adventures using them as the cast and our bed, blankets, pillows as the surface of a new planet. Of course, when the Star Wars figures started to come out, all those Fisher Price toys got put aside. They were sometimes brought out to play when we needed an extra space ship for Han Solo or Luke Skywalker. When the G.I.JOE action figures were released, the Fisher Price toys became the Joes’ back-up unit and were used to transport the assault unit to Cobra’s base. Aside from the Alpha Probe spacemen sets, we also had the safari sets. The safari set had a little boy in blue which my Uncle Jimbo named Johnny Quest, which I thought was the coolest na...

With a new logo emblematic of the changing face of the agency network, McCann Worldgroup has embarked on a new route towards a "transformation agenda" on the local, regional and global levels. On his recent visit to Manila to formally announce the leadership changes at McCann Worldgroup Philippines, Charles Cadell, Regional Managing Director, McCann Worldgroup SEA and Australia, sat down with adobo to discuss the structural changes within the agency network. Beginning with the agency identity, developed by Futurebrand, with variations on binaries—analog and digital, fire and smoke, flowers and bees, to name a few—there is a refreshed focus on collaboration, and changes in approaches to talent and product. Cadell described McCann Worldgroup Philippines as a "star operation across Asia" and expressed his excitement about what is happening in the Manila office: "The vision is one I find terrifically exciting specifically how it applies to the Philippines be...

McCann Worldgroup Philippines CEO retires, announces new leaders Adobo Magazine PHILIPPINES, MARCH 29, 2011 McCann Worldgroup Philippines Chairman & CEO Patricia “Ricki” Arches announces her decision to retire from her top-level post at the agency effective April 30 this year. Arches departs McCann after 24 years of steering one of the most successful and best performing McCann offices in the world as well as consistent local market leader since 2007. She joined the agency in November1986 as VP- CFO, overseeing McCann’s finance and administrative service functions. Her management role expanded quickly to include supervision of the client service function and the agency’s business operations with her appointment as EVP and COO in 1992. In 1999, she was appointed President and has served as CEO of McCann Erickson since 2002. Arches is credited for transforming McCann into what is now the country’s biggest multi-discipline marketing communications company, McCann Worldgroup, launche...

What Teachers Make, or Objection Overruled, or If things don't work out, you can always go to law school by Taylor Mali http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers: Those who can, do; those who can't, teach. I decide to bite my tongue instead of his and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests that it's also true what they say about lawyers. Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company. "I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor," he says. "Be honest. What do you make?" And I wish he hadn't done that (asked me to be honest) because, you see, I have a policy about honesty and ass-kicking: if you ask for it, I have to let you have it. You want to know what I make? I make kids work hard...

Love the artwork of this new AT&T campaign that talks about their superior international coverage. Advertising Agency: BBDO, New York, USA Chief Creative Officer: David Lubars Executive Creative Directors: Greg Hahn, Ralph Watson Creative Director / Art Director: James Clunie Creative Director / Copywriter: Pierre Lipton Designers: James Clunie, Paul Wagner Illustrator: Snarlik Ads found at http://adsoftheworld.com/

When our dad was just 27 years old, he was already the General Manager of a TV station. Under his management, many of today’s great actors and singers were discovered and to star in their own shows. When he was 32 years old he left the TV station and set-up his own business as blocktimer, buying shows from the US and Japan and aired them on different Philippine TV stations. When he was 45 years old, he finally got to run his own TV station, SBN 21, the first local UHF TV station. It’s been 12 years since our dad passed away. Below are 12 shows that he brought into the country; shows that shaped our childhood and made us want to make our own stories. Thanks dad! Buddy Tan: January 28, 1945 – March 2, 1999

As a VDay treat, here are some romantic scenes (as romantic as we can get in the world of Trese) from Heubert Michael Khan and from Kajo. Art by Heubert Michael Khan Art by Kajo And here are some old stories from the Diabolical about love, lost, and magic. I CARRY YOUR HEART http://diabolical13.blogspot.com/2010_02_13_archive.htm l COFFEE BLACK http://diabolical13.blogspot.com/2009_04_13_archive.html THE USUAL SPOT http://diabolical13.blogspot.com/2009_02_13_archive.html Enjoy!

Photographer Marc Nicdao and the Tattoo Team from Harrison Communications having too much fun at the shoot with Alodia. Jello is no match for Alodia's sword skill. Yes, Marc Nicdao and Alodia can really fly! Just believe!!! Pahate pretending to act cool, but he actually peed in his pants. See the new Tattoo TV commercials at: http://babblingpoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-tattoo-tvcs-2011.html

While I was away in Manchester, the team had a lot of fun putting this campaign together. For the Globe Tattoo campaign of 2011, the team got to work with marathon runner Coach Rio de la Cruz , singer and real-life tattoo artist Sarah Gaugler , and the Philippines' cosplayer goddess Alodia Gosiengfiao ! Director Stephen Ngo and the special FX / CG team at Underground Logic did a great job in producing these FX-heavy TV commercials. I was told that the Alodia shoot took two days because of all the costume changes! But it was all worth it, I think, because after a only a couple of days of airing and being put online, it already got over 29,000 views.  These TVCs were recently featured in Adobo Magazine: http://www.adobomagazine.com/global/module.php?LM=news.level1&id=1296797455996 See behind the scene pictures at: http://blessmybag.com/2011/02/06/behold-the-cosplay-queen-pt-1/#more-2677 CREDITS Client: Globe Product: Tattoo Agency: Harrison Communications Con...