Free tickets and a ‘Thank You’ to my readers!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at October 5th, 2007
True Faith belting it out. A glimpse of what’s in store on October 20
Some bloggers are giving away tickets for the Toblerone Thank You Day concert at the Mall of Asia. I recently wrote about how October 20 has been declared National Thank You Day, with Manila being the Thank You capital in the Philippines.
I have 300 tickets to the concert this coming October 20 at the Mall of Asia. Bands include (but are not limited to) Cynthia Alexander, Reggae Mistress, Stone Free, Salindiwa, Mozzie and The Dawn!
To claim your free ticket, all you need to do is leave a comment expressing your desire to come. As an added bonus, Toblerone will be giving a special prize to the commenter who posts the most creative way of saying THANK YOU 
After you have left a comment, you will be contacted by Alma. If you wish to reach her to claim your tickets ahead of time, you may do so by texting her at 09175344624 or emailing thankyoudayphilippines at gmail dot com. See you there!
Blogger, remember your roots
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 15th, 2007Every so often it would be good to reflect on your roots as a blogger and what got you started with writing in the first place. Doing this can help put some perspective in your overall goal of blogging whether it be for fun, for profit or for sharing things with others.
Remembering your roots can also help you avoid unnecessary conflict in the future as it puts a lot of things in perspective. I’d like to share you my roots:
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Passing On The Torch
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at April 10th, 2007My first encounter with WordPress with with a humble blog at the time with about 400 unique visitors a day. Back then, we – I say we because there was Howard, Adel, Poch, Jason, Jim, Art and myself with a few guests here and there started what is known today as the Mobile Philippines blog, a flagship blog that has formed part of the stable of the Hinge-Inquirer Publications blog network.
Most, if not all of the original team have moved on in their respective industries. Some still work for the publishing company while others, like me are involved with other projects be it the academe, new media, retail, etc. But that’s life ladies and gents, so it is time to pass on the torch to passionate folk who want to make a name for themselves in the Philippine blogosphere. I got an email from Eva and Upper, who are the “two pillars” of the technology editorial team, issuing out a call for bloggers for Mobile.
The old template was designed by Gary Mercado back in 2004. The 2006 portal-like template was enhanced by Gail Villanueva and now, Mobile has just renovated again. The Mobile blog is a supplement to Mobile Philippines, one of the top 10 technology magazines in the country based on a recent Synnovate Survey.
Mobile is a “well placed” blog in the sense that its traffic has been growing and your involvement with the staff brings you up to date with the latest in Philippine technology, especially cellphones. The site has a PR of 5. It also has a permanent link to the country’s number one news website, INQUIRER.net. Huge traffic value here.
If you’re interested, I would suggest sending an email to Upper at upperviceo at gmail dot com as I’m not privy to the full details.
The good old days of MPH TV
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 9th, 2006
Not a lot of you may know this but MPH, the magazine that is now known as Mobile Philippines used to have a television show many many months ago. We had a couple of episodes that were produced by Poch, Ideal Minds and the staff of Hinge Media Inc (now known as Hinge-Inquirer Publications). We went off the air after a few episodes because we needed to find a better time slot. The show aired (let’s see if I remember this right) on channel 5 at 1PM every Saturday. This was a little scary too, since that time slot was dominated by the variety shows.
In any case, the show was hosted by the trio composed of Jaymee Joaquin, Franco Mabanta and Paolo Soler. There were times when some of the editors would guest appear to talk about some of the latest gadgets out in the market and we would do this in Digital Walker in Parksquare 1.
So, for your enjoyment, the staff of Mobile Philippines has uploaded the first three episodes of MPH TV. Download and enjoy!
Bubbles Paraiso
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 28th, 2006
Today we shot the cover for the next ish of Mobile Philippines. On the cover is Bubbles Paraiso.
What makes this particular shoot a little special for me is that Bubbles used to be my student when I taught NSTP for one semester back in UA&P.
Here’s a little teacher-student moment behind the scenes.
The finished product can be viewed over here. MPH, now known as Mobile Philippines is part of the Top 10 Technology Magazines in the Philippines according to a recent Synovate Survey.
Our third year celebration!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 15th, 2006
New name. New look. More fun, geeky stuff inside. Welcome to transition phase one as we move on to leverage this magazine’s potential.
Holy cow it’s out! Wait, how come the name is different? Well technically it’s not. Part of our efforts to make the magazine more recognizable is to expand the name of m|PH to its full name which is Mobile Philippines. When we came out three years ago, a bunch of folks thought we were a car magazine, for obvious reasons. Three years later, we’re still that same mag on tech you can take with you – but this time more visible, wittier, and we’ve become the preferred read for the geek community. Thank you for three years of support and we sincerely hope that you’ll accompany us on our geeky journey for several more.
Exclusive interview with Hondo Vicente
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at May 5th, 2006
I had the chance to interview one of the newest writers for m|PH. His name is Hondo Vicente. His work has been around for the past two months, spanning reviews of the Sony Ericsson W550i and the Motorola RAZR V3i. He also helps with the on-location WiFi hotspot shoots.
Jayvee: How long have you been in the tech scene?
Hondo: Not too long ago. I learned a lot about tech from my master. He’s always in front of the computer. Sometimes I try to make pa-cute so he will notice me but he seems to be too engrossed with what he’s doing. So what I do is put my paws on the keyboard and try to mess up whatever he’s typing.
Hondo spending some quality time with tech assistant editor Eva Gubat. He is her favorite writer.
Jayvee: What do you do during your spare time?
Hondo: Apart from running around in the garden and playing with my collection of toy balls, I’m usually asleep or eating. Between chasing the stray cat and my daily 7:00 pm walk, I can be found on the rug drafting my plans for the new democracy.
Jayvee: Tell me something that a lot of people don’t know about you.
Hondo: Contrary to how most people see me, I’m actually a dog.
Jayvee: Are you happy with your life?
Hondo: Yes I am. There are a lot of things to look forward to. I consider myself pretty accomplished for my state of being. I mean, I’m a dog, dude. Name me other dogs that write reviews for a gadget magazine.
Jayvee: Who are your idols?
Hondo: There’s Scooby Doo, Barkley from Sesame Street and Pluto.
Jayvee: If you had one wish that you could make come true, what would it be?
Hondo: World peace.
Photos by Rikki
a midsummer geek’s dream
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at April 26th, 2006
Well, it’s here! A few days shy of Labor Day and right on schedule, this issue of m|PH will be the most memorable one in our collection. That’s because something really interesting is happening next month in time for the magazine’s third year in the business.
So if you do get to grab a copy, try to grab an extra one – and laminate it or something. Maybe even turn it into bronze. Because by June, big things will come in small packages.
m|PH, the most visible home-grown magazine on mobile technology is now available in newsstands for the month of May. The jaw-dropping Kelly Misa graces the cover, making her every midsummer geek’s dream.
Travel photography is this month’s focus feature so whip out those cameras and learn a thing or two from the country’s most talented photographers – the young and restless Jake Verzora, the eccentric Andy Maluche, the fabulous Dominque James, and other talented shutterbugs like Kai Huang, Toto Labrador and Chad Samaniego. This month’s issue is also jam-packed with information on understanding the rudiments of operating your professional camera to making a do-it-yourself lens cleaning lab.
Because summer travel is in, m|PH takes a look at the WiFi scene in Cebu. Gadget reviews are abundant as the editors and team of writers showcase the new Motorola RAZR V3i, the 3G capable Nokia 6280, the powerhouse Nokia N80, and the travel-friendly Siemens ME75. There are a lot of notebooks in season this summer including the Fujitsu C1321 and the Sony VAIO TX27GP. Some cameras featured in this issue include the BenQ DC C500 and the Sony Cybershot DSC R1.
m|PH, which stands for Mobile Philippines, is a monthly publication geared towards the Filipino who is always on the go. Faithful readers have always described m|PH as the most informative and engaging among all the technology magazines because of its tongue-in-cheek humor and three years of credibility. m|PH is available at all news stands and technology hubs for just P80.00 per issue.
You can check out the mag’s content here.
Titillating Text Scandals
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at April 12th, 2006As reprinted in my m|PH March 2006 issue column titled The Prodigal Screen Protector and Other Bedtime Stories
There are those rare moments when the demo unit reveals all
There’s a reason why I love reviewing phones for m|PH. In the beginning I ‘d choose to review phones for the pure sake of gadget bliss. Lately however, I’ve wanted to get the last dib on mobile phones, from the long line of people from the press and the rest of the local tech community. You heard that right. I like being the last person to review a press unit. But why, pray tell am I so excited to get the tail end of this month’s tech?
The answer is quite simple – because I like counting on the fact that Filipinos are too lazy to reset devices back to factory settings. Most people think that once they let go of a unit, it will auto-reset itself erasing whatever evidence they left behind.
Evidence may include text messages in the inbox and sent folder, names and contact numbers of loved ones, videos and pictures if the phone happens to have a camera. If I were an ass, I could think of a hundred ways to have fun with these people. If.
On several occasions I get tech feedback from writers from other magazines. I remember the time when one of our editors was fiddling around with a certain mobile phone just last year. True enough there remained some text messages that formed part of a conversation between the previous user and someone who was asking feedback. “Dud, iksi ng battery nya” (‘the phone has a short battery life’) was the first message I read. Thanks for the feedback, Mr. Anonymous.
There was another time in 2004 when I kept a certain handheld device for a couple of weeks. Because it was a PDA-phone, it had an almost unlimited amount of space for messages. As a bonus, I had a ball reading the text conversation between two lovers. I had found out that the guy, perhaps from the media, had no time for his girlfriend. The girlfriend, insecure most likely, would ask him to send pictures from the phone just to prove that the guy was still at work burning the midnight oil, and not with friends. Alas, the trials and tribulations of young love.
Sometimes though I find interesting gems – like familiar numbers of people I know in the industry as well as camera phone shots of writers’ pets, children and the occasional “I love you Daddy!” that makes the heart melt. Sometimes I also grab interesting quotes and jokes, which people leave behind, on purpose I would guess.
There are many things one can learn from a person by just browsing through his or her mobile. It’s that human element that makes me want to see how individuals put their gadgets to use. Of course, in the real world, no one in their right mind would let me read their message inbox. Let’s just say that during these rare moments with the demo unit, I get to know a little bit more about the lives of our happy little tech community.
The moral of this bedtime story is obvious – be the last in line!
m|PH is sizzling this April (and the thing about boobs)
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at March 21st, 2006
This is perhaps the most “daring” cover we did for the magazine featuring Phoem Baranda with a swimsuit. There’s an ongoing discussion in the advertising and magazine industry (mostly in the latter) of how putting sexy women on the cover becomes an effective marketing tool to sell. This comes from the notion that the largest demographic of mag readers are male.
Apparently, this formula seems to work because some statistics show that putting women in the cover of magazines contribute to better sales. The formula goes:
Increase in women’s cleavage = Increase in sales
The general question therefore is does sex really sell?
Though it may be a sweeping generalization, there actually may be a direct relationship between putting a an outrightly sensual image of a woman on the front cover of a magazine. However, my boss did once say that if this were the case, then why are the top five magazines in the world not sexy mags? Though there may be some differences, here are the top five mags according to the Chicago Tribune:
1. WIRED
2. Real Simple
3. The Economist
4. Cook’s Illustrated
5. Esquire (perhaps the “sexiest” you can get among the 5)
Other magazines that made it to the “top 5″ survey include Wytch (a children’s mag), Reader’s Digest, TIME, and Men’s Health. Where is FHM? Where is Playboy?
But consider this point:
Outside creative director Hannah McCaughey says artistic inspiration rather than newsstand calculation is responsible for her magazine’s recent spate of scantily clad covers.
“We always meant to shoot [Carlson] with the garden variety rock climbing clothes on but … I was worried I’d come back with super bland film,” McCaughey says. “For whatever reason it just felt so pedestrian and not like a cover should feel. Then the photographer tried some things with just her shirt off and it instantly became something beautiful and pure, just her skin and the texture of the rock made such a gorgeous contrast–the dopey spandex clothing seemed to interrupt all that.”
The best way to describe “wrong context covers” is to take the Boobs in Your Face approach (this may not be a good example because it uses Esquire. But for purposes of illustration … let it be so!).
“As a woman I find it so much more appealing and tastefully done than the boobs-in-your-face-stuff Esquire’s always doing,” McCaughey says. “I love it and think it’s just a normal part of us delivering surprises and beautiful photography to our readers.”
So when is it okay to put a “sexy” lady on the front cover? The guideline we live by, at least here where I work, is that everything should be in context. Phoem is wearing a sexy (but elegant) swimsuit because it’s summer. She’s holding an Olympus mju series camera, known to be an all-weather resistant model. Hence, she took it out to the beach.
So how does this all stack up? Well, as I’m writing this, Elbert Cuenca of PhilMUG arrived for our meeting. I showed him the issue and told him, “so what do you think of our first sexy cover?” And Elbert looks at the cover, brings it closer to his face and exclaims, “Uy, Olympus!”
Sex sells. Yes. But so do other things.
I rest my case.
* “Top 5 Magazines” argument actually came from my boss during a media presentation. I think it was a Wednesday.
getting to know Ala Paredes
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at March 1st, 2006
We took a trip today to shoot Ala Paredes, daughter of the legendary Jim Paredes of the APO Hiking Society. While Dario was helping out in the photo shoot at The Westin, I took the opportunity to grab his Canon 300D and do some of my own shooting.
She said something really interesting about how we Filipinos have changed in the past several years. Music can tell a lot about a People. The Brazilians for instance love singing about their country. They sing in Portuguese – not in English. Which means that they sing to each other. And the stuff they sing about — it’s all about Brazil. Brazilians singing to each other about Brazil. What love!
We used to be like them.
Ala is a true artist – she is a painter, a writer, and lead singer for Hiraya. She’s also a little bonkers in the head, which is a good thing. Because nowadays, it’s hard to keep sane in this eclectic country (But that’s not why she’s migrating).
Soon to come in the next ish of m|PH.
