Why Do We Never Learn?
Another pyramid scheme Royal Manchester Five has deceived investors worth of billions of pesos. Cyrus Hao who was at the top of the this Ponzi food chain fled the country leaving investors dumbfounded. Hao apparently worked for Rose Baladjay of Multitel Scam, no less. Read the news here.
Be wary of “investing” schemes that promises high yielding profits and with no real business to explain how they actually make a profit. You know what they say, if its too good to be true it probably is.
You’re still goin’ strong
“I don’t wanna go back working in the cubicle and contribute to someone else’s vision.”
Jillian Lewis
Designer/Illustrator for Ralph Lauren
Project Runway 4 Finalist
John and I haven’t seen each other for a month. I dropped by the school, brought food and we spent the rest of the afternoon just catching up. I was surprised to see him so tanned — “Nice, I love it…I see we’re going for the refugee look.” He me gave a sharp eye and condemned me to go hell. His slightly toasted sun burnt complexion was a result of his first surfing lessons in La Union. He wants me to tag along next time. I was kinda apprehensive because my ex was a surfer and he frequents that area and this was the ex I avoid like a plague that once I had to hide below a bookshelf in a bookstore. He said I need not worry because the waves around this season is perfect for beginners. Right. It was the same thing he told me when we played badminton in Meralco Ave., that people who played there were non-professionals. Non-professionals meaning they were just training to be one.
John was an oracle and he told me - “You looked stressed , and I mean not physically — you’re emotionally stressed”. Told him not to worry as June is almost near. Both of us were busy struggling with our own life complications for the past couple of weeks . His visit to La Union turned out be great and me visiting him gave me a little boost that I needed that day.
John’s aura and life perspectives have been so different these days. He was so just damn positive. The sun, sand, sea and surf had this overwhelming effect on him. We chatted about business, about how everyone starts small and how he made the right decision to stay here in Manila instead of working overseas. We talked about visiting places this year, going back to La Union, hopefully French-Embassy-willing Paris and if Paris doesn’t work out, Australia.
This is the big difference when your talking to single or gay friends versus married friends. Married friends talk about life insurance, educational plans and brands of diapers. When I talk to my single or gay friends, it’s always about traveling, investments, shopping and other random fabulousness.
I also met Jen, one of John’s students. Jen has a small business making customized denim jeans. About a year ago she was also in the same predicament as I am. She just knew in her heart that she was ready to go establish her own business and staying in a confined cubicle was driving her mad each day. She quit her sales job at a top telecoms company and decided to go full time in her business endeavors. It was the one of the best decisions she made in her life. She still encounters business problems every now and then but that’s part of this whole new ball game. Talking to Jen and comparing parallel notes as designers, as business women and quitting a secure job to pursue a calling, was more than enough encouragement and validation that I know I am doing the right thing.
We’re live at last!
Laptop not included…heheh
Yay! I was able to work on this one despite juggling a full time job and a new business venture. We are still in soft launch. Don’t forget to participate in our Laptop Bag Survey to get a chance to win this fab fab laptop bag! We’re hoping to incorporate a e-commerce site in the near future. But do get stay tuned as we have GREAT and AWESOME things coming along this year, including a full featured online shopping site that features the country’s best designers and independent artisans. Watch out for that!
Bookmark! Bookmark!
Plastics
Me and my gang bought a few items today at SM. We took notice of the new color of the SM Plastic bag.
It’s now a bright cheerful blue instead of the old dark blue one. In fairness, this year’s big color trend is blue according to Pantone, so nakikiuso lang naman diva? Inscribed in all caps and bold letters in the plastic bag is the word - BIODEGRADABLE. Huh? Since when polymer become biodegradable? So I did some Googling and found out that there are indeed biodegradable plastic but as always there is catch:
From Wikipedia:
Research has been done on biodegradable plastics that break down with exposure to sunlight (e.g. ultra-violet radiation), water or dampness, bacteria, enzymes, wind abrasion and some instances rodent pest or insect attack are also included as forms of biodegradation or environmental degradation.
A potential disadvantage of biodegradable plastics is that the carbon that is locked up in them is released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas carbon dioxide when they degrade, though if they are made from natural materials, such as vegetable crop derivatives or animal products, there is no net gain in carbon dioxide emissions, although concern will be for a worse greenhouse gas, methane release.
The real challenge lies in the discipline of recycling plastics and the accessibility of recycling technology locally. In the office, I’ve been wanting to put a separate garbage bin for the PET bottles. I just hope people will be caring enough to properly dispose it in the assigned trash bins.
Last Friday I scored this book from National Bookstore for P100.00. It originally retails for P1,700 so I’m more than thrilled to purchase the book:
It’s an interesting read about alternative sustainable materials that can be used for hundreds of products. Most, if not all the technology, like various types of recycled polymers are only available overseas in first world countries. But, but, but as a country bountiful in natural resources, a couple of materials mentioned in the book are coconut husks, hemp and abaca are widely available here! We just need a lot of research and most importantly, support from the government.
Remember our very own Coconets won the The World Challenge in 2005. Coconets are nets made from waste coconut husks and are proven effective for soil erosion. The production of this ingenious product also provides income and jobs to many of our countrymen in rural areas.
Located in Ibajay, Aklan is one of the companies pushing forward for promotion of coconuts in a variety of use such as biodiesel. If you take the scenic land route from Kalibo to Boracay you will pass by this town. Aklan is also my mom’s hometown. I have a few ideas of an alternative raw material for one of the products I will be producing soon. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s feasible. So probably on my next visit to relatives I’ll do some research of my own.
Valentino Retires at 75
“There is little creativity and too much business”
Valentino has spoken out about his reasons for retiring from the fashion industry saying he is ‘bored’.
The fashion legend held his last show in Paris yesterday after announcing his retirement last year and no one would expect him to go quietly.
“The world of fashion has now been ruined,” he said after showing his final collection at Paris Couture Fashion week, ” I became rather bored of continuing in a world which doesn’t say anything to me.” more…
Photo: Reuters
If there is one thing common between Valentino and Bill Gates is that they quit for the same reason. Time has changed the playing field for both industries they are in. Valentino is dismayed at the current state of fashion where there is too much competition and luxury doesn’t seem to hold the same value today. These days “affordable luxury” is the buzzword. Top luxury brands have began sourcing their product manufacturing to China.
Meanwhile Bill Gates retired because his company is facing probably the biggest challenge yet to Microsoft. The internet has changed it all and Software as a service (SaaS) is becoming the norm these days like many Web 2.0 utilities. There is also a vast number of OpenSource software available to anybody for free. Does this mean we’re going see more dancing videos of Steve Balmer in future product launches? Not something to look forward to. 0_0
Sneak Peek
The first prototype was finished last week, this is one of the first bags :D. Watch out for them on February 2008 @ desmendoza.com
The End is the Beginning
You’ll meet them all again on their long journey to the middle. Lester Bangs, Almost Famous
Today, I made one of the most difficult decision in my life. I finally decided to leave the great company I have loved for five years. I will be there only until June 2008.
At this point there is no such thing as a happy decision. I loved it at the The Design People and always treated it as my own. The people who are working there I care a great deal about. I was there when we grew from five to over a hundred employees. Most of them I knew on a personal level. I saw people come and go. It is always sad when we see someone leave to look for better opportunities but I remain grateful and honored to have known such talented people. Now, it’s my time to say farewell. But I still have five months to fulfill whatever goals I have set for the company during the start of the year.
I foresee that this going to be a long series of goodbyes.
There is no longer an intention for me to look for a 8 to 5 job. This is the beginning of a long, difficult, crazy yet fulfilling road to entrepreneurship. I am ready. Sabi nga ni Madonna - I’m not afraid of what I’ll face but I’m afraid to stay.
I’m excited to see what the future holds for my one-woman empire. 