One of the perks in being part of the event industry is that you get to meet accidentally your heroes.

It happened just this Saturday when I was managing one of the events that we had. I stumble into one of the visitors of the event. Its not other than one of our Philippine Business Icon and Tycoon, Mr, Henry Sy.

Of course, being a boy scout I ask one of my colleague to take pics of me and my idol.

Being beside Mr. Sy is an honor and I thank the heaven for allowing me to have a memory, even for a brief moment, of him personally.

Sarap talaga ng feeling.

Yes oh yes the 29th Manila Book Fair is just around the corner. Time to whet our book appetites and search for the sale of the century of our reading lives.

The event happens September 12-16 at SMX Convention Center. Don't dare miss it.

Organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc., this hardworking organizer deserves a big round of applause for continuing to make the book fair bigger and better every year.

All said, Sugod mga Kabook-so!

Competition in our present landscape is fierce. Moreso, when the economic condition is very volatile.

But look what have we, all member organizers and other members of PACEOS staged something impossible possible. We made an event through a collaborative effort. A successful event squeezed in between the busy schedules of everybody.

The Philippine MICE Forum held in Sofitel last month is a great starting point of the potential capabilities of what a synergy of all MICE stakeholders can create and contribute to the country.

Already there is a talk of a Cebu leg for the successful event. EXLINK is excited to being part of making the leg a success for one thing, it is because it will benefit the country and the players of the industry professionalize more.

Again, kudos to all the hardworking people of PACEOS, HSMA, PCVC and DOT.

Al Ries will be here for the second time around to share important Marketing Knowledge that will create impact on your current business.

Al Ries is the famous author of Focus, 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing and Co-author of Positioning: The Battle of the Mind.

Slated this October 1 at Dusit Thani Hotel Makati.

Interested parties who would like to join as exhibitors may call tel # 643-3887 and look for Aireen.

Join the festivities and target the number one nurse in the world as the Philippine Nurses Association holds their first exhibit in October that coincides with the Nursing Month.

Interested parties please call tel# 643-3887. You may look for Aireen.

Capture the 7,000 teacher attendees at Diwa's a Tribute to A Teacher, an annual event of the company that honors our second mothers.

The event is slated September 27, 2008 at SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia.

Interested exhibitors may contact tel # 643-3887 and look for Aireen.

The prestigious Agora Conference of the Philippine Marketing Association is now accepting exhibitors. Limited slots only. Those who are interested please call tel# 643-3887 or visit www.exlinkevents.com.

You may join be getting a booth, being part of the souvenir program, and sponsorship.

Agora Conference is slated October 20 at Hotel Intercontinental Makati.

Feel the cool breeze of the mountain winds in Lipa near the foot of the famous Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

What's more is earn and promote your product and services to the high end market.

The event takes this coming October 11-12 at the new pavillion of Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

Interested parties please call Tel # 643-3887.

EXLINK is an organization that has among its core values:" Family Spirit of Fun and Working Together". We are a business family and we are serious about this aspect in a manner that is light.

One of the ways where we exhibit this core value is that for every successful event WE CELEBRATE WITH A BANG - We do R and R. Try to imagine that we have five annual events every year plus the summer holiday and the Christmas Season. We do R and R six times in a year by going out of town and most of the time, go swimming!

I don't know what is about the water but majority of the EXLINK member is crazy about swimming.

Sharing you some of the pics! Have fun because we did have a great fun just last July 26 and 27.

EXLINK in its vision to help in developing the marketing and events industry recently sponsored 15 deserving and overachieving marketing students from two universities in Metro Manila.

The three schools that benefited are Rizal Technological University - Pasig and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

This is just a start of EXLINK's advocacy to support students who have a bright future in the marketing and events industry of our country.

This year's STRATMARK was a blast! This year's theme is YOUTHENICS: Marketing for the Youth! It's our time to shine.

Five speakers all experts in marketing and belonging to the creative agencies discussed the different attack on how to market to the youth.

For me, the event is more than a marketing event. It is for me an event that will hone future marketers and leaders of this country. It is a national event that gives color and excitement to learning. It is a concert where the stars are powerful speakers in the marketing industry.

Bam...boom...kabaam....looking forward to more explosions next year.

Last August 1, the last day of the 17th Metro Manila Business Conference, held at SOFITEL, has a variety of topics that were presented to the different city business chambers attendees. All are worth remembering. But as always what caught my heart and mind is the statement : "Shape Your Environment".

Businessmen and entrepreneurs most of the times must SHAPE THEIR ENVIRONMENT. Almost always the DANGERS are BIGGER or the same size as the OPPORTUNITIES that accompany it. Therefore a mastery of the environment or the GUTS of shaping the environment is one of the requirements for a businessman or entrepreneur to succeed.

Shape Your Environment! The legend of the vituperian male continues!

I recently attended a gathering and one of the speakers is Gardenia's President Mr. Simplicio Umali ( I hope I got the name right).

He was talking about the story of Gardenia how they, at first, found it difficult to convince the market that Gardenia is synonymous to a delicious bread. For one, at first, they are always identified to a motel in Sta. Mesa and/or a landscape company in Metro Manila.

But you cannot put a good product down. So after a few months or a year, the public (including me) begin to take notice of Gardenia, a delicious bread, which if my hearing is correct, has a gross sale of 1.2 Billion a year !

Another brand story that is lovable and worth emulating!

For those who would love to hear the famous author of books like POSITIONING AND FOCUS, he will be here again in Manila this coming October 1. Yes! Al Ries will be here to share another cutting edge marketing knowledge that we all can use in our companies, products and services.

Call Salt and Light for more information!

By the way, the picture here is not the official poster of the event. Thanks!

Events make tourism in our country robust. Events that creates B2B opportunities makes the robustness longterm and with deep economic impact.

Learn the MICE Industry attend this summit!

All prices are going up but the booming property expo seems unaffected by these backdraft. As the saying goes, Opportunity is a thing riding in Dangerous wind. For those who would love to own a home or invest in a property, I guess, now is the best time. So hope you visit the event.

Congratulations to one awarded business show in the country ASENSO PINOY, shown every Sunday, 11:30am at ABC 5.

This business show is the voice of SMEs in the country as they tell their success stories and challenges in surviving their business.

To Sir Francis Cardona, Ana, Mabel, Ramil and the rest of the staff CONGRATULATIONS!

May your program continue to be one of the beacon in inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit of our nation.

Mabuhay kayo!

The spirit of entrepreneurship continues!

This FIL-NEGOSYO EXPO, October 14-19, 2008 at Megatrade, SM Megamall we will be having the first Women Entrepreneurs Congress (WEC).

They say women is are best fitted to be entrepreneurs because of their inherent multi-tasking abilities.

So see you there!

After having experienced my unforgettable date with Discovery Suites Ortigas, we went to Astoria Plaza.

I am a frequent guest of this Hotel. First, it is at the outer area of Ortigas and the facilities are great and the room spacious and comfy.

I have no booking there, and they are fully booked. But they did an extraordinary thing, the were avail to do a magic to allow my family to have our overnight sked with a hotel.

Yes! They were able to give us a room and its more sweeter because they did it with all the difficulties that went to it just to give us a room.

Kudos from the management of ASTORIA!

This is a service worth a toast!

I had a very bad experience with Discovery Suites Ortigas. It was bad because it happened during my special day - my birthday.

My family and I booked for an overnight stay as way of celebrating my birthday at the Hotel. We booked via internet and phone. Alas, when we are already there the reception people told me that I was not booked.

The matter was aggravated because after saying this, they never said any apologies and left me their like I was invisible.

I was looking forward to having a good time at Discovery Ortigas but it was turned into a horro story.

Service...damned hard to give.

The event is very enlightening. Corporate Social Responsibility is a must and it is a growing concern among big corporations.

There was a very indepth discussions by different companies the like of Hapinoy, Ayala Group of Companies, Chevron, IBM and other proponent of CSRs.

Seeing and listening the AVP of different companies in the first day of the event, make me conclude the corporate greed is nearing its death ( I hope). Since the bigger companies are all drumming about how we can be SUSTAINABLE!

With the havoc that we did to Mother Earth, I wish CSR is the answer for the business communities mismanagement of Earth's resources and I pray that we don't suffer the fate of the people in the movie "THE HAPPENING" of Director M. Night Shyamalan.

Entrepreneurs see the good in the bad.

So no matter what the political and economic challenges that we have the vision continues. A country of entrepreneurs to achieve the First World Country Status.

So those who are going into business the PFA Expo is a must see!

Paceos Lifestyle Bazzar will take place next week alongside the Flora and Fauna show at the World Trade Center.

This event is for the benefit of the M.I.C.E. Industry (Meeting, Events, Convention and Exhibiton). I would like to invite you all to visit and be part of this event.

Thanks!

Hello guys telling the story is different from seeing the story.

FILNEGOSYO EXPO June is uploaded youtube. Hope you see it to give you a clearer picture of the event. Thanks.

Investing in tradeshow promotion is a winning experience. It gives you the opportunity to increase your BRAND Recogntion, and Sales and Lead Generation.

"Experience the Brand" is only achievable in events, one of which is tradeshows and exhibition.

But we would like to up the ANTE, make the delicious more delectable, that is why we are offering a chance to WIN A LAPTOP 3X by joining EXLINKEVENTS.

Yes we are. So for all those entrepreneurs and owner who would like to try tradeshow as part of their promotion strategy. The time is now and the reason is more compelling. You can be a DOUBLE WINNER.

For every event, we will be raffling off one laptop.This means that you can have three chances of winning a laptop by being an exhibitor of EXLINK in its 3 events. Cool!

EXLINKEVENTS has three upcoming tradeshows left this year, they are FILNEGOSYO EXPO, October 14-19,2008, ASIAN BUSINESS EXPO, November 28-30,2008 and MEGABALIKBAYAN EXPO AND BUSINESS CONGRESS, December 10-14,2008.

Besides the Laptop we are also giving away 10 consolation prizes in each event.

So what are you waiting for call us now at tel# 640-1280 / 643-3887 or email me at ex_link2001@yahoo.com.

Before anything else, events can only be said successful on the number of visitors and the happiness of the exhibitors or participants in the event.

FIL-NEGOSYO EXPO is a successful event because of the number of visitors and happiness majority of the exhibitors felt after the event ended. Our data shows 80% of the exhibitors are very happy about the result FILNEGOSYO EXPO produced for their companies. While the remaining 19% are happy about the results. There is a 1% of which said they failed to achieve their goals.

The data only shows a room for improvement.

Lastly, the data shows that majority of you blessed us by being their during the event.

Therefore, our heartflet thank you goes to all of you who supported the event and use it as your tool for making your journey to entrepreneurship faster.

Barely six months left before we end this year.

For myself, I am thinking how far have I gone in accomplishing my goals. Did I di the right things during the past six months to make me closer to my goals.

Barely six months and I can feel the BER months cold hands wrapping in body and reminding me that I must hassle and paddle more to reach my goals.

They say that TIME is the greatest equalizer between the rich and poor, for both group have only 24 hours to do their things.

Six months my friends, let us go back to our January Goals and try to make the most out of our time and achieve what we set to do this year.

Kudos to Mr. Ardy Roberto and, his Philippine Marketing Icon Dad, Dr. Ned Roberto for the successful book launch of their book "The Best of Marketing RX for Entrepreneurs", yesterday at Powerbooks, Greenbelt 4.

The book is a compilation of the best articles the Roberto's write in their famous and well loved Philippine Daily Inquirer column carrying the same title.

I recommend that you add this book to your personal library. Definitely, its one of the best book that will give you pieces of the puzzle in being a successful entrepreneur.

For those who wanted to try tradeshows and get more than the value of their investment. We are now accepting bookings for FILNEGOSYO October 14-19,2008.

There are still booths left.

For inquiries call tel # 643-3887 / 640-1280 or email ex_link2001@yahoo.com.

Congratulations to the organizer of this event,bringing the Former Mayor of New York and the opportunity to listen and learn from him on how he handled the 9/11 is an experience that will definitely enrich the leadership of the event attendees.

I read his book on leadership through it I felt how it was to be near the World Trade Center when it was destroyed. I believe hearing him tell the story is another experience I would relish to have.

The ticket price is steep but it is Rudy Giuliani so still reasonable!

The event is this coming July 29,2008 at Makati Shangri-la Hotel.

I watched yesterday the movie Kung Fu Panda with my family.

The movie will definitely make you laugh at the antics of the Panda. But besides the humor is a valuable lesson that I would like to share for those who haven't watch the movie.

The sea turtle in the movie said this beautiful line, which I felt was taken from a book,anyways here is what he said, " The Past is History, the Future is a Mystery but TODAY IS A GIFT that is why it is called THE PRESENT.

We have to live each day. Create moments, actual moments. For entrepreneurs and society builders, it means we must create opportunity and not be afraid of future or fear that our past failures will resurrect with our present endeavors.

Hope everybody enjoy their gift daily!

So it ends.

An event that has taken our team, the EXLINK Team, six months to put into completion has ended.

I am speaking about FILNEGOSYO EXPO an event surrounded by other colorful events, the World Marketing Conference, Typhoon Frank, Sinking of the the Ship Princess of the Star, Another Oil Price hike, and Manny Pacquiao winning his 4th World Title.

There are other events that unfolded - noteworthy and worth remembering but that I reserve for another blog.

The duration of the event is not the end of the event. It is my opinion that end of the duration of the event is just a beginning.

Questions like did the visitors benefited from the event, are the exhibitors happy about the results of the event, what is the economic impact of the event. These questions are begging to be answered. In the coming weeks it will be answered by our research team.

While they are working on it, another FILNEGOSYO begins this October and before that other EXLINK involved events will unfold.

So we are ending to begin another story.

To all that visited the events and shared their time and expertise THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Our world is being challenge by 3 Fs. The rising cost of FUEL, the scarcity of FOOD and the spiraling value of our Financial Market.

Despite these 3 Fs we still have a hope and a chance to get our of this predicament. Easier said than done but I will still say it, we need to create business. We need to create opportunties. Most of all, we need to work together as a TEAM, a group of individuals who are working for the benefit of other people.

Let us all join hands and buckle down to work. Let's go TEAM PILIPINAS!

The internet is a great tool for our growing business. No doubt about it. No debate about it. But adding additional cost effective tool is not bad but a must.

Having said this, let me invite you to join the PACEOS Lifestyle Bazaar, July 18-20, 2008 at the World Trade Center.

Tradeshows are a great tool in getting targeted and interested clients.

For just P5,000 plus 12% vat, you are given an opportunity to promote your products and services for three days in the World Trade Center.

This is a great deal and a great promotion opportunity. So friends if you are interested please call 640-1280 or 643-3887 or give me a buzz here.

Lastly, PACEOS means Philippine Association of Convention, Exhibition, Organizers and Suppliers. Its the Philippines organization of tradeshows, exhibitions and convention as the name suggest. You may visit the website for more info.

If you want understand what the heck is FILNEGOSYO EXPO the June 26 - July 2, 2008 supplement of the FOREIGN POST explains and analyzes it in a light and easy manner.

The articles of the supplement will grab you in the hands and take you to a walk at the current events and the reason for being of the event.

You will be surprised, and I will let the cat out of the bag, that the event is not all about the MONEY! The event is all about conquering yourself, in the business side of it.

Nuff talk. Hope you will visit the event!