Now for sale—the Philippines in a bag

2006-09-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

Vibal Publishing started selling, first at the Manila Int'l Bookfair last month, then at the Catholic educators national convention Sept 13-15, a bag that contains the Philippines.

That bag contains 10 interactive DVDs showcasing the people, history, culture and attractions of each of the 17 regions of the Philippines. It's a product innovation that took a year for my multimedia team to develop. It is actually an improved edition of the VHS edition that we produced in 2001 but providing two language options, updating the contents, audio-video recording and editing and then DVD lab programming sure are tedious.

But onsite sales and queries in the two national events indicate there is quite an interest on the product—are a good consolation.

Or maybe there's actually greater interest on the Philippines! The interactive DVDs simulate virtual tours of the Philippine regions. You pop a disc into a DVD player or disc drive and then you can "visit" the provinces of CARAGA, know the local people there, their culture, livelihood etc! It's intented as a curriculum support material for Philippines studies but it's perfect for foreign and even local tourists who would rather go virtual.

As an archipelagic country, the Philippine islands have varied, interesting facets that someone from the north would want to see or experience in an island somewhere south. You see, I still have to go to Batanes, Bohol and Palawan. And running the DVDs of these provinces, I get more more interested in them.

The Philippines is an interesting country. Put it in a bag err in DVDs and it sells.

Kumanin KNB?

2006-09-22T04:06:00.000-07:00

The hamburger—which is German by origin—just got Filipinized! Not by the Pinoy fastfood giant though but by the American chain...

I've just eaten my second rice burger and must say it's good enough for a meal especially for someone like me who just have to get over and done with lunch for most part of the week. I was convinced to order chicken rice burger at first so just had to choose beef the second time.

I got nvited to the press launch (should have been at lunch time) of rice burgers and I got this big box—unzip it and you don't get a giant rice burger but a green-and-purple jacket to "shout" the green and purple veggy in the rice burger. The jacket has the slogan "the latest news feed" emblazoned at the back so only press members may wear it.

But, the "kumanin KNB?" shirt McDonald's crewmembers are wearing nowadays is really creative. It asks storegoers if they have eaten rice—what a hardsell for the rice burger! And how it shows how dynamic the Filipino language could get in an interesting way. Kumanin is coinage from KUMAin and kaNIN...how neat.

KNB reminds of either a popular TV show and instant messaging in the Philippines.. my take on texting in my next entry.

Peenot

Now for sale—the Philippines in a bag

Kumanin KNB?