Almost a month ago, I ranted about some SPAM comments. I was only mildly irritated then, but irritated enough to know that I would probably use some bad language if I wrote about it. I opted to limit my words and let Rico do the talking on the BBN.

I could have let the issue go then - after all, I didn’t expect to receive any more SPAM comments on the topic. Damn! I was wrong. Just this morning, I found another comment - no, I found the same comment in my inbox.

Yup, the commenter, a certain Pian Sarmiento, writing from the IP address 122.53.136.228, had the gall to leave a comment on my birthday post endorsing a political candidate.

Again, expletives are flying through my mind, but I’ll try to avoid them. Instead, I’m just going to pick apart your comment. [more…]

Pauline Gevaña, 10 years old, has to undergo chemotherapy this June and would appreciate any help, financial or otherwise. This is her story, taken from my sister’s blog.

Back in August 1999 when she was 3, Pauline was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Her mother, Yolly, had to give up her job to be able to give her the full attention she needed. At the height of the medical crisis, her father left and ran to the arms of another woman. For the past 7 years, Pauline’s life has been a series of trips to and from their home in Sta. Rosa and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City for testing, medication, therapy, and sometimes hospital confinement. Her hair had fallen off and grown back many times; strangers would stare or say insensitive comments. Her treatments sometimes made her weak, disabling her from playing with her friends from the neighborhood. Her frequent absences have forced her to miss school, and even drop out many times.

[more…]

Yesterday I ranted about the quality of political ads in the Philippines. Today, I’m sharing some information I have on elections. It might not be much, but my point is this - I shouldn’t rant if I don’t offer some sort of solution or some kind of way to improve the situation.

Now, the things I will mention will not necessarily improve political ads, but I think they just might give is more information about our candidates - at least more information than they can (try to) sing to you in a jingle.

So, here goes:

[more…]

I wonder why our own political ads couldn’t be more like this. I admit - it doesn’t really present any tangible solutions to Argentina’s ills, but it’s still so much better than any crappy jingle Philippine politicians use.

Silver - Cannes Lions 2006.

_{Category: Public Awareness Messages
Title: TRUTH
Advertiser: RECREAR
Product or Service: POLITICAL MESSAGE
Entrant Company, City: SAVAGLIO\TBWA, Buenos Aires
Country: ARGENTINA
Creative Director: Ernesto Savaglio
Copywriter: Ernesto Savaglio - Alexis Alvarez
Art Director: Pablo Carrera
Agency Producer: Eduardo Suárez
Production Company, City: AWARDS CINE, Buenos Aires
Country: ARGENTINA
Director: Jojó/Bosco
Producer: Fernando Rambo Damiano
Editor: Awards Cine
Music: Fernando Sorín
Account Supervisor: Ricardo Martino/Diego Campos Galante}

Tags: political ad, Argentina, Philippines, truth