Take Time for IFEX 2011

Calendar May 12-14 2011 for next year's IFEX Philippines.

This is one food trade show I really enjoy and look forward to.  Like last year, we will be exhibiting side by side with Alaminos Goat Farm in the retail area.

See you there.  Remember May 12-14.

1st PINES

Philippine International Eco Show, running from today until 29 August at the SMX Convention Center.

This is the first time CITEM and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) put together this kind of show that is for goods and services that are ecology, green friendly. Interesting exhibit. Construction, food, packaging, machineries, solar panels etc. The seminars are eye openers and interesting mix of information. Glad I chose a booth right beside the Activity Area.

Good exposure for the market we are focusing on :)

You like our look? Using handmade paper, I have to thank my friend Gigi Gonzales for taking time to think, travel, carry, tape and cut up those rays for me! She also conceptualized our eco friendly packaging of bayongs and pulp paper.

PINES

Am not going to Baguio...but it would be a nice idea in this heat :)

Am talking about joining the 1st Philippine International Eco Show (PINES), organized by CITEM and DTI.

August 26-28, SMX Convention Center (beside Mall of Asia). All three days will have good conference programs.

Read about Philippine International Eco Show (PINES), Eco-Solutions for a Greener Tomorrow.

Join us there, if you are interested in ecology and green friendly goods, produce and services :) Find us around the activity area, booth B13.

IFEX Philippines 2010

Right after we set up on opening day, good that I decided to take a picture, as there will be hardly time after as we got busy. Talk talk talk....time to rest a little, then a flurry of activities again. Thank you to CITEM's Doris, Luz and Pia for promoting IFEX 2010 well.

Co-branding, co-ordinating, co-marketing....Alaminos Goat Farm and I met in IFEX 2008, since then we had been helping and supporting each other. Great decision to show side by side. Without borders :) We have the same market profile and it suited us well to be associated.

I won't push a product that I don't believe in. Doc Rey and I consume 20lts of milk a week. Alaminos Goat Farm supplies us with 10lts while I get my other 10lts of milk from Philippine Carabao Center. The best milks I can say. The Carabao milk gives me the cream I live for, the Goats give me the best milk, closest to mothers' :)

Best opportunity to bring out our Sunshine Sausages for intro to the general public. Did pretty well. People who had bought from us had already reordered them, just a few days after. I can't say what sold best. All sold equally well. Salve of APDC, the developers of Sunshine Sausages was there the last day. She saw how the response to the product was, and will be scheduling processing dates again.

Totie and company of Alaminos Goat Farm assisted us from ingress to egress.

Rocky helped during Summer schedule breaks...must be the two good looking men that attracted and brought in the sales? It may have helped, but it is really the healthy goat and chicken products that pulled them in :)

Full support is important from suppliers to media partners and co brands. BTW, Louis Perrault of SASSO was behind us too.

I tell you.....am not yet done posting this and we got a lot of calls from institution accounts already for Sunshine Sausages. I love IFEX :)

Umagang Kay Ganda, May 5

Set the alarm at 2am this morning, so I can roast a chicken for the table set up for Umagang kay Ganda guesting today. Chicken done by 3:30, so we met the call time of 4am.

The morning variety news shows are harder to do because set ups are done early. Shoots are done earlier than interview time. Then, more often than not, you stay until "goodbye" time :)

Today was no different. Set up by 5am. Photos were taken for background showing while interviews at about 5:30. Actual interview was at 6:30.

Nope...I am not complaining. Nice to sit around the studio and grounds. There is a different world there. A corner or a garden becomes an instant set up for the "traffic guy"...a meter away, with a tarpaulin background, transforms to the "weather man's" stage. You think we were far away? Uhuh....an arm's length, drinking coffee :)

Winnie Cordero has interviewed Sunshine Chicken several times for Agrilink events. This time, she sees us with eating chickens and not live dayold chicks. She instantly noticed the new line of sausages.

After that, we went to World Trade Center for ingress of IFEX Philippines 2010. I like doing the booth early, before everyone gets there. The official contractors are everywhere busy, but they can still attend to you for your needs.

Pays to be settled early...you know.

Wake Up Early

Normally up by about 5:30 to go to the farm, if we are in Isabela. In Manila, 6am is our lazy day. When there are farm visits or out of town seminars, we get roused by the alarm at about 5am.

We get a call today for guesting at Umagang Kay Ganda, a morning show over ABS-CBN. Call time is at 4am...that means up at 3am, May 5.

I can't complain. Thank you for these opportunities :)

May1's Radyo Negosyo

We are guesting tomorrow at Radyo Negosyo. Hosted by Carl Balita, this is over DZMM-Teleradyo, at 7pm.

See you on air :)

ANC's Shop Talk

We got a call from ABS-CBN today for a guesting at ANC's Shop Talk for Friday, April 30. We had a previous commitment for a visit to friends' farm activity on that day. But, it is a very good opportunity to be invited to Shop Talk. We can split that day and Doc Rey and I can go separate tasks.

This show is hosted by Pia Hontiveros, and is geared for those who want to succeed in business, yet live balanced and fulfilled lives.

Come to think of it...yes I am happy and generally contented. My needs are met. My wants? Well, hmmmmm I can have it if I want to :)

Please join us for April 30's Shop Talk. I hope it gets shown over TFC too. This interview will be our promotion for IFEX 2010.

IFEX 2010

Booked for IFEX 2010 :)

This is the 3rd year we are joining IFEX. Looking forward to joining this event organized by CITEM. They are very supportive and it inspires entrepreneurs to do better.

See you at World Trade Center, May 6-8. As usual, our regular growers are most welcome to come market with us.

Grin When Green

Today must be the day that answers my question about doing green architecture.

I grew up with moss covered fences, lagoons, well landscaped gardens, a lot full of orchids, dayonets, backyards that had been transformed into a huge green house...all these when green houses were not yet heard of...in the 60s :)

Making a move this quarter, had me I had me toying about green architecture. Actually what I have in mind is the homey, Hansel and Gretel type...the one that evokes walk through the forest type. I was asking my archi friend Gigi to help...but both of us got busy with Citem's FAME. I hope and pray she reads this to get her dreaming with me asap.

My searches led me to sites that were like Flash Gordon types...sci-fiction looks...not me. More like I didn't know the proper search words.

This morning, we get to join the garden show of the Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines. My attention was choosing the booth location and marketing Sunshine.

In the afternoon we did our monthly seminar. It is rare that I get to chitchat with the attendees after the seminar. Today was different! I can't pinpoint why, but I stayed behind in Organika while the orders were being processed. That gave me opportunity to do some chitchat which started with politics. My worst topic!!!! Am so apolitical :)

At a snap...it drifted into plants and in a second, this man was describing how he did his wall and chicken coop...with plants! WAIT...all of a sudden I knew what he was talking about.

We could have gone on...but no one was left and he had to travel back to Bulacan.

Thank you for leading me to search through vertical gardens, green roofs etc.

I now look forward to that garden show.,...Why? look at this!

See how the goats live on the roofs? My chickens will love this...surely!

The look I want now will be mine, and not to recreate what Mommy had made me live through as a child. Not that I didn't want it..,.its just that I want to inject my own now.

Your Time Is Important

And energies too :)

We had been getting texts and email if the seminars for September and again this October, will be pushing through.

Just for the record, so far, since we started our 4th Sunday seminars, we NEVER canceled. We went on. On bad weather days, I remember having one or two arrive. We go on at 2pm as much as we can, sharply at 2pm :) For prepaid bookings, surely, it will be honored on next month's seminar...there was a valid reason for not showing up.

We value your time and energy. In the same manner, if you scheduled us to do a seminar in your area....PLEASE PLEASE also start on agreed time. I can go on vacation everyday and spend time at the salon half of my days, but when we have an agreed work to do...let's respect each others' time and efforts.

Oh hahahahahahah...I just recalled a seminar scheduled in Citem's FAME for one of the Health and Wellness topics. It was scheduled for 12noon. As I was going out for lunch at 1pm, I bump into the supposed speaker at 12nn! Meaning super late by 1hour! I'm sure he was expecting a roomful waiting??? Even though how interested your crowd is....I think respect is on order for all :)

Another question we get monthly is...."is the seminar on XXXX?" or "is the XXX the 4th Sunday?" Well, please use your calendars. It doesn't require an Einstein to determine the 4th Sunday :) Again, I am happy to reply to texts and emails, but I will gladly respond to legitimate inquiries.

Take time to read...so we both get to have a more meaningful exchange when we email or talk.

See you on the 4th Sunday.

Eye Openers

Been busy for about a month because of Agrilink and Citem's FAME. Since a little before Ondoy, I had been in Manila and away from the countryside, farm and home in Isabela.

Friends have proven best allies in big shows. Agrilink have strengthened ties. During Citem's FAME, talks with others have also showed that relationships formed on agendas and business do bog down and don't last. Well, you need the black to balance the white. So, be thankful for bad vibes as it makes you treasure simple good.

The daytrip to Isabela yesterday made me see the wrath of the floodwaters and landslides :(. The cloudy skies and rains on the way that are setting the welcome stage for Ramil, has started to pile up soil again on the street from the mountain soilfalls.

During the 8hr trip, I get a call from my Benguet grower, and ordering a substantial loading. Weren't they still under the relief stage? I have to give my hat off! Moving on real fast. Of course to be ahead, one has to move forward...at least move and jiggle a bit.

A scene on TV I saw recently is a continuation of how we should be pliable, in my mind. The Benguet relief and operation showed a school housing the homeless folks. They were seen sweeping, cleaning, brushing their teeths, fixing things around, making makeshift furnitures, plumbing etc etc and ETC. You'd think that: that is the way they really are and MORE. You get to see the real person in times of hardship and problems, when your back is on the wall.

Do you remember the scenes in other centers in Manila? Play the news in your mind. Listen to feedback on radio now....you know the difference I am referring to.

On the way to work today...geeezzzz...I have been away indeed for over a month. Saw new businesses up. Several new structures are in finishing touches. AND.... we crossed Calao Bridge this morning in Santiago. The water is high, dark brown and NOT...correct, NOT moving. Bad!

I asked my staff as I got to work, if she noticed the river. She did too. Yesterday the water wasn't high and it was flowing freely.

Yikes, this is still the effects of Pepeng? I pray that Ramil will not affect us as much as Pepeng. If no landslides and no closed traffics, we won't feel it as we are scheduled to go back to Manila Thursday, when Ramil is supposed to be felt.

Perks

What do I look forward to when I do Citem shows?

1) Productive contacts. Less talking here, but a lot of work later. Other shows are non stop talking and detailing, but you end up not really moving forward in terms of marketing.

2) Great shopping. Eewwwww, I had to go back to my seat and surf to stop myself! But I have to go back for at least ONE of Dita Sandico-Ong's Banana Wraps...even just ONE! I normally get what I want in "all colors please". A lot of interesting products. This is FAME, so it was all industries. I am enamored since October 15 by a Cebuano painter, Jun Impas, whose works I have just seen. I have been tempted to get his brook scene....but I have priorities at the moment of my moving business locations...so I have convinced myself to first see my landscaping and interiors before I get new furniture stuff.

So I went back to my booth and took...

3) Time to surf....because you are not constantly on your toes talking. I was instantly gifted (for tempering my buying spree)....see what I saw! Doc Rey will be gratified for his hard work and patience to learn his Power Point. Doc Rey's seminar from an attendee's point of view.

I'm glad I was led to Danny's blog. He writes well and entertains me. I remember the waterful day of September 26. He texted me that day1, typhoon came and rats or was it cats played with some of his chicks.

Citem FAME, 50th year

Citem does support the Philippine suppliers and that is the reason we also join in their activities. You have to help others be able to assist you too :)

This is the first year they have added the category of Health and Wellness in their show and am I glad we decided to do the last minute plannings for this event.

Manned the booth myself as focused trade show for buyers are less talk but more do....so you don't end up wrinkled and dry at the end of the day. I have to say we did very good in getting seen and creating new business for the dressed Sunshines.

Still have time to catch up until October 18. Two venues, World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center. The Health and Wellness is at World Trade Center.

Thank you to the Health and Wellness staff of Citem.

Do You Step Back Or Move Forward?

Well, stepping back doesn't necessarily mean negative, but I see it as cutting back to gain other things. More like repositioning and refocusing.

Why am I in these thoughts now? We have been so busy and multitasking brains and time is taking its toll on productivity. So do we step back and cut back on work and relax? We should? But that will mean a break on the momentum we built :)

Of course we have to move forward and tackle the problem of time and energy, looking at it from within and outside. Now, we got a mobile office, allowing us to daydream even when on the long road trips. This will let us have productive meetings and mini seminars even under the tree. We are now equipped and ready!

So excited to break it in after Agrilink 2009 and be back for the FAME show....in a more relaxed state.

I act fast. Saw it on a Saturday, showed it to Doc Rey Sunday, and wrapped up papers Monday. That is the ease of single decisions...no corporate world to go around to.

FAME

This morning I saw on TV that there will be a remake of that old movie, it was my generation, FAME. Almost everyone wanted to be a dancer and a welder back then. Maybe not a welder! But it opened my eyes to using large abandoned spaces and things...remember her apartment? It was an old warehouse.

Anyway, weeks ago, I got an email from CITEM, inviting Sunshine Chicken to exhibit in the Golden Edition of the Manila F.A.M.E. International. They are opening a new section for Health and Wellness.

Forgot all about it, buried in paper work was the application I had filled out, waiting to be faxed.

Good thing I saw the news on the remake of FAME and called up CITEM today.

See you there...They will have the big event at both the World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center.

Sunshine Chicken will be at the World Trade Center...Oct 15-18.

Let's support what is Pinoy. CITEM also works hard for us :) In turn, all the shows we join are meant for consumer awareness to benefit our growers.

IFEX 2009

Hurdles, when looked from afar, turn out to be great stepping stones.

Three weeks before IFEX 2009, CITEM wrote to us to request that we move booths, as an association wanted our spot. Nope, chose that location early and paid for. I got to ingress early, and the association's people were there seating in my booth. I talked to CITEM and yes they said I will be allowed to ingress in my booth. I didn't want to be at odds with my neighboring booths as they will occupy my perimeter...so I took a walk and looked at the location from afar. Talked to CITEM and CENTREX for a solution. Will they allow a booth by the post? Right smack in the middle? Oh they said YES!

See how well it worked for us.


This year's IFEX met our needs. Much like last year's event, we were seen by good media mileage and food industry people. Nana Ozaeta and her staff from F&B World was there to visit us. We gamely took pictures of the framed article of Sunshine featured in their magazine in Jan 2009, that we display prominently. Growers and prospective farmers saw us there too. Restaurants talked to us. Government agencies matched us with inquiries.

The food trade shows are meant to really market our growers who raises the our Sunshine Chickens. We are there to turnover inquiries and sales.

What was the highlight of the show for me? The one that made me proud?

A lady walked up to me and said she wanted to try the chicken for her restaurant. I asked her location and immediately got a brochure and wrote down the name of my grower in that area. As I handed it to her....she smiled right away and said that the grower was her cousin!

They hooked up right away for initial meetings and talks between me and grower.

Why am I happy? Because there was no questions asked, they were hooked up right away. I am sure, it proved my point about the referrals and marketing we really do for our growers. It was very obvious and my grower must have felt it too.

Felt like IFEX already served my purpose, if only that one transaction is closed....btw, its not a small one :)

Aside from our Sunshine growers, I also keep our booths open to friends whose products I believe in carrying side by side with mine. Kablon Farm and Alaminos Goat Farm was with us this show. I also invited our e-group members of natural farming in the Philippines....but maybe they will not be shy next shows :) It is an earnest and serious invitation with no strings attached, to market with us.

Sad Andry Lim wasn't around....we were able to take a picture of three (3) cover stars of recent Agriculture Magazine editions. Jojie represented Andry Lim, Rene Almeda of Alaminos Goat Farm and of course, Doc Rey of Sunshine Chicken.

She-Ka

When we got a call to guest at She-Ka, I liked the prospect right away!

It was a show by women, about women and for women.

As always I get to call times early...it was comforting to know that the crew were made up of familiar faces from One Morning and other on site coverages.

The relaxed set, crew and hosts made the interview very enjoyable. Incidentally, that was arranged by CITEM to promote IFEX 2009.

Mornings@ANC

What can make me turn around? Yesterday, we were headed to Isabela for a quick trip and touch base, before the IFEX event over the weekend. It was a leisurely trip, with me on the wheel. Lunch, dessert of the biggest Blizzard at DQ etc etc etc. Somewhere about San Rafael, Doc Rey gets a call from CITEM and asking if we can guest that afternoon (uhuh, too late) and the next morning at Mornings@ANC.

He passes the phone to me and YES, I will go back :) I like that show and will want to meet the hosts up close and personal...wehehehe....means, watch from the bleachers!

I needed a cooked dish. No cook, but still asked a store staff to dry rub some chickens and stuff with lemongrass. Sounds easy huh? By 11pm, it was ready for charbroiling. I was excited to taste it. After I asked it to be chopped....I noticed this plant like stuff hiding among the chopped pieces. Hmmmmm...can't be tanglad or lemongrass. Looks more like celery to me...and the chicken was far too peppery...ewwwwwww!

Relax....I remembered I had some tubs of pate left in the freezer :)

By 6:30am, I was at my AANI Circle booth getting some dressed chickens for the table setting. Aside from me, there was a couple at the AANI area reading through the other booths' tarpaulins. The moment I entered my booth, they came in and looks like very happy that there was someone to ask about Sunshines. The chat extended to a pleasant one and may translate to day old chicks flying out of Manila :)

Soon after, I went to ABS-CBN. I am always early for appointments, as #1 I am so poor in parking so I scout the place, #2 I like to be early wehehehehhe. Because of that, I got the parking right under the canopy, by the entrance.

Got off and scouted the place...it was near for me to carry my stuff. Good, because I didn't think about bringing the dependable kareton.

Geez...everyone who was guesting in DZMM, Channel 2, Channel 23, ANC...I saw them all. Who drove them, where they got off, what were they wearing when they arrived and the clothes they were carrying to change to.

8:00am came and I walked into Studio 6. The guests for the IFEX promo fixed their own tables. I was the only one doing it solo...but its ok. Don't touch my chicken...because that's only for the camera. I cautioned everyone that it was peppery. The asst floor director and another PA said that the hosts liked their food hot ahahhahahha.

Ok...so fixed up now.


Soon after, the hosts were digging into the liver pate, even before the show started....the very savior. It was most easiest to munch on, w/o destroying the look, as pates are meant to be dug into. So it still looked good through the camera's eyes. I had to replenish the crackers several times!

Got good reviews about my liver pate. Actually not mine...this is a pina-MANNA. Commissioned Elena of Manna Specialty Bakery to do it for me, together with the Gizzard Adobo.

Pressured to have more....decided to go by Elena's store.

You should make your own and sell them. I suggest, don't cut corners and make a good one. The market who will seek for it, demands a good one.

As the hosts of Mornings@ANC said....it was really awesome. Mind you, those comments were made on and off camera :)

As we were tidying up the set, CITEM promo staff asked us to guest again for a Friday morning show in another channel. But, that is already the start of IFEX! Let's see how we will shuffle ourselves.