3 foursquare items I want for Christmas

Foursquare, the geo-location social application has an online store that sells branded merchandise and I think I want to have a shirt, buttons and stickers so I'll be adding these items on my Christmas wish list:

1. Limited edition I Heart Badges Shirt

2. Badge Buttons with the Swarm

3. Badge Stickers

You can also vote for the next limited edition Badge T-shirt Design, just look at the button at the bottom of the website. I voted for Swarm badge, of course because of the bees.

So, which badge would you like to see on a shirt? I'd like to see a Ladybug Badge someday.

Avon Voices: Avon's First-ever Global Online Singing Talent Search for Women and Songwriting Competition for Women and Men

In celebration of Avon's 125th anniversary in 2011, Avon Products has launched its first-ever global singing talent search for women, and songwriting competition for women and men called Avon Voices, which will be running in more than 60 countries.


Avon Philippines President and General Manager Mike D. Gudgin formally opened the competition during the press launch last December 2, 2010 at the Little Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.


Make sure you register first to be part of the Avon Voices Global Community.


How to join:
1. Sing. Women at least 18 years old are invited to participate in the online Singing Talent Search by choosing a song from the website and uploading a submission video from December 1, 2010 until February 13, 2011 at www.AvonVoices.com. This is also open to amateur and professional singers as long as they don't have a contract with any other music labels.


2. Vote. Everyone can watch the videos and vote for their favorite Avon Voices contenders at the website.


3. Write. Both women and men may enter the Songwriting Competition by (1) writing an original song that inspires and shares hope and optimism with the world and (2) submitting a digital file and lyric sheet at the website from May 20, 2011 - July 1, 2011.


How to win:
1) Singing contest. Videos with the most number of votes get to move up each level. Voting levels are Round 1, Round 2, Semi-finalist and Finalist Voting.


2) Songwriting competition. Songwriting entries will be evaluated by a panel of Avon Voices judges and industry experts on the following criteria:

• Creativity
• Relevance to the themes of inspiration, hope, and optimism
• Appropriateness to the image of the Avon brand
• Quality of composition and lyrics
• Public appeal
• Sincerity

Panel of Judges: Fergie, Diane Warren, Delta Goodrem, Sheila E., David Pack, Ivete Sangalo, Valeriya and our very own Lea Salonga.


Lea also gave a performance during the press launch and answered questions from the press.

To learn more about Avon Voices:
>> go to the official website at www.AvonVoices.com
>> like Avon Voices on Facebook
>> follow Avon Voices on Twitter (Don't forget to use the hashtag #AvonVoices)




It's nice to see companies provide a venue for people especially women to tell their stories, share their dreams and showcase their talents.


So good luck to all Filipino participants, we're all talented and let's make the Philippines proud!

Things I Learned from the Baguio Jam

Last November 28, I had quite an experience speaking and sharing about Social Media Trends in front of almost 1,500 student delegates at the Baguio Trade Marketing Jam. Yup, more than a thousand attendees. I was sooo overwhelmed! As a newbie in this kind of engagement, I could say that that talk marked a beginning in my career. I felt like I was a teacher, sharing what I learned from the business, from my colleagues & superiors and just like what a teacher of mine in the past said: When you teach, you also learn. 


So here are a few things I learned from the Baguio Jam:


1) North Luzon is bursting with promising, talented students and it is a privilege for me to speak in front of them. 


2) If there is one thing I might have missed in college, it's not just being part of an organization like the Philippine Junior Marketing Association, it's being active in that org. They are a group of creative, fun-loving people and I'd really want to thank them for taking care of me when we were in Baguio.


3) Holding conferences in Baguio is a very nice idea especially this time of the year. Loved the cold weather!


4) Students who want to pursue a career in marketing, advertising, social media and/or public relations should attend events like Baguio Jam to expand their horizon and increase their knowledge on the field.


The 30 minutes allotted for me was my time to share and give back things I learned to the academe.

(Counter clockwise from the top left)
Venue of the Baguio Jam: Baguio Convention Center, President of Marketing Mixers and President of PJMA with me in the middle, my Plaque of Appreciation called Bulol, the Rice Gof

Great job to PJMA and Saint Louis University- Marketing Mixers for organizing the Jam! Looking forward to your future events!

Baguio Jam

I have been invited to speak about New Social Media Trends at the Baguio Jam, The Trade Marketing Jam on November 28, 2010 at the Baguio Convention Center. Thanks to my colleagues JP Palileo and Misty Belardo for making this possible.

Baguio Jam, a catchy name for the student conference given the popularity of the delicacy in the City of Baguio is presented by the Philippine Junior Marketing Association and Saint Louis University - Marketing Mixers (Junior Marketing Association) for North Luzon students to learn topics and new trends in marketing.


I am actually excited for these kids because it makes me look back my university years and North Luzon has very high potential in developing into a very competitive market.


So let's see how tomorrow goes and hope the students learn a lot from my talk.

A Google Chrome theme with Ladybug

Screenshot of the Blond-Amsterdam theme thumbnail on Google Chrome

Screenshot of the Blond-Amsterdam theme thumbnail on Google Chrome

I have switch internet browsers a few weeks ago and started using Google Chrome. Aside from the fact that it is faster, it also has themes that you can use (although Firefox also has their own version called Persona). So again, I found a theme with ladybugs from Blond-Amsterdam. So cute! 


According to Life Broad, Blond-Amsterdam is a brand of cool and affordable home decor for your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom in Amsterdam.

http://www.blond-amsterdam.nl

You may download other themes for Google Chrome here.

Ladybug mobile wallpapers from Zedge

Download for free at Zedge.net

I was doing my regular surfing and came across a website that provides free stuff for your mobile. My default keywords for search are bee and ladybug, no doubt about that. So when I saw this mobile wallpaper with ladybugs on cupcake, I couldn't resist but download right away.


So if you want free themes, wallapapers, ringtones or games for your mobile, just go to www.zedge.net.


So, what's your favorite download for mobile?

La Photo Cabine, your online photobooth

Just found another tool for photos, thanks to Misty Belardo for posting this online photobooth called La Photo Cabine on Bit Rebels. I just love photobooths!