Friday, July 29, 2011

The DTI Sales Promotion Permit Issue: My Two Cents

Jeff
I have been reading about the issue on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sales promotion permit which, according to existing policies is supposed to cover not just businesses but bloggers and individuals as well. Ms. Janette Toral wrote an article about this based on DigitalFilipino Club and IMMAP members’briefing on online promotion with the DTI.

My first reaction upon reading about this DTI sales promotion permit topic was, “Why should individuals/bloggers be covered when there is no “sale” taking place. Thus, there is no seller-consumer relationship. And even though by definition, a consumer is “a natural person who is a purchaser, lessee, recipient or prospective purchaser, lessor or recipient of consumer products, services or credit,” according to the Consumer Act of the Philippines, since online promotions conducted by most bloggers do not require participants to buy anything from the blog (with the exception of online stores), then those involved in the promotion are not consumers or prospective consumers. Therefore, blog promotions are not to be under the sales promotion policy in the first place.

According to the Consumer Act of the Philippines , "Sales Promotion" is defined as techniques intended for broad consumer participation which contain promises of gain such as prizes, in cash or in kind, as reward for the purchase of a product, security, service or winning in contest, game, tournament and other similar competitions which involve determination of winner/s and which utilize mass media or other widespread media of information.

A blog that runs online promotions, whether to increase its own or its advertiser’s popularity and reach through backlinks, fans and/or followers, is just the advertising medium - not the business itself that needs to be under the jurisdiction of DTI. Advertisers of consumer products, services or credit, I believe, are the ones that need to seek the sales promotion permit from DTI.

What needs to happen is that DTI should listen to the voice of more bloggers, whether or not we are organized into a group/organization/alliance/association so they can better understand the different cases of bloggers and come up with a sound policy about sales promotion permits.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Not Using Free Anti-Virus Software

Jeff
I can’t believe that after more than a year of getting a virus on my 1TB external hard drive I still haven’t recovered any important files from it. I have, since then, purchased a virus scanner software and have not depended too much on free antivirus software because I do not want to risk having to lose important files again. I am still hoping though that I would be able to recover lost files from my hard drive.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Shop for a Celebrity’s Pre-loved Item and Help Build Classrooms

Jeff
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to buy something unique because it was once owned by a celebrity, still in good shape but sells at a low price? These were my thoughts after finding out that items like Ogie Alcasid’s Korg Karma Music Workstation is up for bidding on July 15, 2011 at Ogie and Regine’s Celebrity Ukay Ukay. You don’t have to wake up early, travel and wait in line to have a chance to buy this item because it will be available on eBay on the said date.

Ogie Alcasid's Korg Karma Music Workstation

The best thing about this opportunity, aside from the fact that you will be able to get a hold of a celebrity’s pre-loved clothing, accessory, toy, etc. for a low price is that you won’t have to feel guilty when you shop for them or if you bid a high price for them because the proceeds of the sale will actually help build classrooms for students from the poorest and remotest areas in the Philippines. You are shopping online for a good cause.




This is actually a two-fold project of GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) through its Kapuso School Development project which aims to raise funds so they can build at least 50 classrooms every year. GMAKF has already done this in the past when they built/repaired 89 classrooms in Luzon in areas that were affected by Ondoy and Pepeng.


Mel Tiangco sharing and explaining GMA Kapuso Foundation's Kapuso School Development project


GMA Kapuso Foundation's Executive Director, Jeronimo "Henry" L. Perez

But GMAKF not only want to raise funds but also awareness of the country’s shortage of classrooms which can’t be handled by DepEd alone as shared by Henry Perez, GMAKF’s Executive Director, during the bloggers press con yesterday. The Philippines’ classroom shortage is now at 146,946 countrywide. And to give you an idea of how large the task of meeting this need is, one classroom actually costs around PHP 650,000 to build according to DepEd.

For this price, GMAKF endeavors to provide classrooms that are conducive for student’s learning, have proper water distribution and sanitation facilities which most likely be the only properly working facilities in the selected areas where they will be built.

Thanks to GMAKF and the celebrities who donated their pre-loved items, we can now partner with them in investing in the education of children around the country by building classrooms for them. And this can be done in a very fun way – by shopping online via eBay Philippines.

Some of the other items that will be available for bidding on July 15, 2011 are below. (Photos provided)



Christ Tiu’s Team Pilipinas jersey
Starting bid is PHP 499



Dingdong Dantes’ Party Pilipinas jacket
Starting bid is PHP 499

John Lapuz’s Andy Warhol Seiko wrist watch
Starting bid is PHP 5,999


Kris Aquino’s Fire Engine Red Bustler gown
Starting bid is PHP 9,999


Regine Velasquez’s Prada purse
Starting bid is PHP 5,999

There are a few other items available for bidding and there will be another batch of items on July 25, 2011 at www.ebay.ph/ukayukay



Monday, July 4, 2011

Looking at INterior Design Portfolios

Jeff
My wife has been looking around for interior design services. We have been planning on getting a 2nd and 3rd floor built since Ondoy and are working double to save up for this. She has been looking at different portfolios and designs although we won’t really be deciding soon as to what designs to have for the two floors but for sure there will be non-negotiables in certain rooms like television stands, beds and other stuff. It’s just exciting to look at designs and see the variations one can do to a space in the house.