First, it was reset. And then it was rescheduled. Finally, on March 4-5, we were able to make it a reality!

After several exploratory meetings and discussion on how to go about staging this Asian event on Internet marketing, it was all over—at least the actual congress itself—the Asia Internet Congress, the first time in the Philippines.

Asia Internet Marketing Congress Philippines International Speakers with Lloyd Luna

It was Ian Del Carmen and I who first talked about the possibility of bringing in some international speakers on the matter. Then, I immediately got in touch with Rene Espinosa of Powermax if he can organize the event for us. We had to go though a lot of meetings but as many would say, it’s worth it.

One one of a handful of Filipinos to get involve in Internet marketing and make it as a business and career at the same time, not for the money but for the love of learning and wisdom as well as the opportunity to teach and share what I’ve learned and experienced. My expertise in Internet marketing here in the Philippines and probably in some parts of Asia as well is quite remarkable in terms of return on investments. But as I mentioned in the Congress, it’s not a heavy investment at all.

The thing is, I’m not more into Internet marketing consultancy that covers setting up of a website for a client, providing content management systems so that company employees can do the website updates without calling a website developer or an IT guy, and helping the company in Internet strategy.

My topic was Corporate Internet Branding. In my a little over one-hour fun-filled, entertaining speech, I talked about Internet branding. Most companies I’ve worked with got a little problem about the whereabouts of the Internet. It’s definitely a different playground and the only way to succeed is to know it better than anybody else.

My company happened to master the Internet in terms of marketing and selling. Before I started my business, it was mainly about the Internet that would give me some cash so I can eat. After my life as an employee, it was different. And the Internet happened to be there as my partner in business.

So how did I really start?

I had to self-study web design and offer my services to my friends. And then when I already had the portfolio, I started charging. But my web design service is only intended to generate some cash to cover my daily expenses. It wasn’t more of a career for me. I still love writing.

One time, I wrote a manuscript and offered it to publishing companies only to get turned down. I created a website for my book and started to share it over the Internet. And then I knew there was a demand. That’s the only time I mass printed my book.

This story tells us that we can use technological tools in order to advance our goals in life or in business. And it doesn’t hurt to jump into this new arena of marketing. The result can be overwhelming but there’s no a specific timeline for success as well. Our job as an Internet marketer is to make sure that we’re consistently within the radar of newcomers in Internet technology breakthroughs. We are always in the loop of Internet development.

The recently concluded Asia Internet Congress became a venue to educate Filipinos about the Internet and how it can be used by companies or individuals who’d like to either start something or develop something. I’m very pleased and honored to be a featured speaker in this much-anticipated event. I’m happy that we’re able to stage this early this year.

We invited Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. as a keynote speaker in our Asia Internet Congress Philippines event. It’s a great feeling to meet the great old man who was part of my political career. I was one of his youth leaders way back in college.

Political Consultant in the Philippines LLOYDLUNA with Sen. Nene Pimentel

This morning, he did a keynote speech on how to use the Internet for good, not for ill. It’s a great message, a bit short but substantial. His staff gave me a copy of this speech while I was chatting with the senator at the back stage.

We had a little chat the current political scene. I asked him how the campaign of his daughter, Gwen, is doing. He said great. We also discussed some things about the campaign of Presidential candidates Aquino and Villar, and opps, Gordon.

“Your are correct, Lloyd,” he said about my take on Gordon’s allegation that Villar sent an emissary to buy him. “Why will someone buy something of no value?” He said he’s not even considered a contender.

He gave me his new business card (or political card? How do they call it in politics?) and signed it. And then I had to go up on stage to give my talk pitch.

I’m glad to have been visited by wonderful people at LSK EUROPHARMA. LLOYDLUNA is the website developer of their website and (they brought me some pizza here!) I don’t know exactly what they are after.

LSK EUROPHARMA visits LLOYDLUNA

Mabel said, “It must be your looks.” JV Calleja said, “Where is it?” And Van, “What do I care?”

Anyway, here’s a some good friends to trust in pharmaceutical industry. (At least from a friend’s perspective!)

What a great day! Faxcable visited the bachelor-pad-looking office (according to Lainie, Internet marketing student 2008).

Lainie Ramoso with LLOYDLUNA

This is another time to reconnect!

I can only pray for the safety of people affected by the recent earthquake in Chile, and now to possible casualties of the tsunami. I’ve heard over the news and read in the websites about the possible effect and I really hope everybody may be spared from this untoward event.

George Salud of Merger Suits visits LLOYDLUNA

Last week was one of the busiest weeks I’ve had since the beginning of a new decade. I’ve had to receive several guests in my new office. I’m happy to know that people appreciate the feel and look of it. They’re all amazed by its simplicity.

That is because I put my heart on its interior and I personally gave a hand to the workers who worked on it. The result is of course an amazing work space out of labor of love.

In these times, nobody seems to be safe and sound. Many of us may find it confusing as to where we can position ourselves. Anywhere else in the world, uncertainty seems to be a buzz word—in career, business, financial, health—name it. And this column is about being safe and sound.

In my years of experience as a student of life, I’ve worked and dealt with people from different walks of life. One remarkable learning is that the more people get certain, the more they tend to achieve something.

What does it mean, really?

Filipino Business and Career Consultant Lloyd Luna talks to George Salud, owner of the popular Merger brand

Most people fail because they’re more conscious about their “work” environment rather than their “self” environment. Every time this happens, the more they get puzzled by the circumstance. Most of the time, people simply get tired of finding out what really is happening. Because the markets are down and the job markets seem to be overpopulated, most of them feel the end of the world.

Being conscious about the work place or the job market isn’t bad at all. But putting more time figuring out what’s happening outside rather than what’s happening inside makes us less and less sure about our future. Simply put, we’re getting lost of what really matters.

“Self” environment is about finding one’s meaning and passion. It’s about being aware of who we are as a person and what we can do more than what the environment can do for us. It’s about being conscious of our strength and contribution to the improvement of other people’s lives.

Global City Innovative College Nursing students visit LLOYDLUNA to consult on their thesis project on Motivation

Of course this sounds too generalized. Well, it’s because it really is! I may not know who you are and what you do presently but I feel that whatever it is the you do and wherever you are in the world, you can trust that this philosophy works: If you want to be safe, you only have yourself to depend on—certainly not the economy or the school that you belong to or anything else.

So this week, the good news is you can be certain about yourself. That can make you stronger and more certain about your future. Whatever it is that comes your way can be nothing less than what you can bear and accept.

(Speech delivered by Board Member Angelica Jones Alarva on Drug Awareness in the Province of Laguna in 2010)

Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat. Isa pong karangalan sa akin ang makasama kayo ngayong gabing ito.

Naiintindihan ko po na sa pagtitipong ito ay may isang isyu tayong talakayin. Alam natin natin ang kahalagahan na masolusyunan ito at alam natin na may paraang maari nating gawin.

Sino po dito sa inyo ang nakasubok nang mag-drugs?

(Make some interactive discussion here. Let the crowd laugh and answer your question.)

Madalas po natin marinig kapag ang isang tao ay hyper na hyper at aktibong aktibo ang tanong na: Nakadroga ka ba? O, ano na naman ang tinira mo?

Sa mga barkadahan po, madalas natin ito maririnig. Sa panahon po ngayon ang salitang droga ay naging karaniwang salita na lamang. Ginagamit natin ang salitang droga o bawal na gamot na para bang ito’y ordinaryong isyu na lamang.

Kunsabagay, tama po tayo sa isang banda. Ang usapin sa droga ay usaping napakatagal na nating pinaguusapan subalit hindi natin makita ang solusyon. Kung titingnan natin ang isyu, parang dead end. Darating ang halalan, may tatayo at magsasabi susugpuin ang droga, may mga organisasyong bubuuin para sugpuin ang droga, may mga seminars at symposium na gagawin para maging aware ang mga tao tungkol dito.

Tama po ba yun?

Maluluklok sa posisyon at malilimutan ang naipangako nang nagdaang halalan.

Ngayon pong gabi, mayroon po akng isang layunin at sana ang mensaheng ito ay makatulong sa ating mas mataas na hangarin sa mga susunod na panahon. Uunahan ko na po kayo: Alam ko po na hindi magiging madali para sa atin pero nandito po ako para sabihin na mahirap subalit kayang masolusyunan ang problema sa ipinagbabawal na gamot.

Kung kayo po ang tatanungin, bakit kaya nagdodroga ang isang tao o ang isang kabataan?

(Make sure you ask at least three people to answer or until you’re able to hear the right answers below.)

Malamang dahil sa barkada. Tama po yan. Ano pa po? Dahil sa uso? Tama rin po. Dahil sa walang magawa sa pera? Pwede rin po. Dahil sa kulang ang attention na binibigay sa kanila? Tama rin po. Dahil walang pakialam ang mga magulang o kaya naman ay masyadong mahigpit ang mga magulang? Pwede rin po.

Ang mga sagot po natin ngayong gabi ang nagpapatunay na alam nating lahat ang problema at ang pagtitipong ito tungkol sa Drug Awareness ay hindi na bago sa atin. Tama po ba? Pero ano po ang bago na gusto ko ibahagi sa inyo?

Hindi po kaila sa inyo ang kwento ng buhay ko—walang ama na kinalakihan, hindi buo ang pamilya, maraming problemang dinaanan at hanggang ngayon ay dinaraanan. Alam po ninyo na ako’y artista at entertainer sa telebisyon at pelikula.

Ako po ay isa sa inyo—marahil ay kaya naririto ako sa inyo ngayong gabi. Nandito po ako bilang isa sa inyo—isang mamamayan ng Laguna na naghahangad ng pagbabago sa ating gobyerno para sa tao. Nandito po ako hindi para umarte or magsalita ng magagandang salita at papaniwalain kayo sa gusto kong sabihin.

Nandito po ako dahil tulad ninyo, naghahanap din ako ng solusyon.

Ang bawal na gamot po ay hindi problema. Uulitin ko po: Ang bawal na gamot ay hindi problema.Dahil kung ito ang problema natin, dapat matagal na natin nasolusyunan ito. Ano po ang problema.

Sa akin pong pagganap bilang lingkod ng bayan, nakita ko po na ang tunay na ugat ng problema sa droga ay ang pamilya. Sinubukan ko pong i-trace kung saan nagmumula ang problemang ito ay natuklasan ko na mahina po ang samahan ng mga pamilya natin kaya marami po ang nalululong sa masamang bisyo.

Pano ko po nasabi?

Ang isang matinong bata po ba ay magdodroga kung damang dama niya ang pagmamahal at pakalinga ng kanyang pamilya? Yung tipong damang dama niya ang suporta ng bawat miyembro sa kanyang pag-aaral halimbawa?

Ang isang mabait na bata po ba na mulat sa tama at mali at magdodroga? And isang bata po ba ay maghahanap ng ibang lugar para maramdaman nila yung importansiya nila kung sa bahay pa lang nila ay damang dama na niya na importanteng parte siya ng pamilya?

Ang katotohanan po ay ganito. Maraming nalululong sa ipinagbabawal na gamot dahil una at higit sa lahat, nagkaroon tayo ng pagkakamali na pagtibayin ang ating pamilya.

Kunsabagay sino minsan hindi mo rin masisisi. Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, ang mga magulang ay napipilitang lumabas ng bansa or magtrabaho nang higit sa walong oras para lang matutusan ang payak na pangangailangan ng pamilya. Kunsabagay sa hirap kumita ng pera nawawalan na tayo ng oras para magusap. Minsan hindi na natin kilala ang mga anak natin.

Subalit kung tayo po ay magiging mapanuri, ang solusyon po ay nasa ating mga kamay. Hindi natin kailangan labanan ang droga at hindi tayo mananalo sa labang ito hangga’t hindi natin binubuo at pinapatatag ang basic unit ng ating pamayanan. Ang droga ay walang isip, tama? Ang droga ay hindi nakakagalaw ng kusa, tama? Ang droga ay hindi nakakalakad at nakakarating sa bahay ninyo nang mag-isa, tama?

Ang katotohanan po ay ganito: Kung tayo po ay may isang masayang pamilya—hindi na baleng walang masyadong maraming mararangyang pag-aari—kahit ilang gramo pa ng droga ang dumating sa inyong tahanan, ni hindi ito hahawakan ng inyong mga anak.

Sigurado po ako rito.

Ngayong gabi, malinaw po ang mensahe ko. Una, ang problema sa droga ay may solusyon. Ikalawa, hindi tayo mananalo sa laban kontra droga kung puro lang tayo programa at porma. Ikatlo, walang sariling utak ang droga pero ang tao ay meron kakayahang magisip para tanggihan ito. Ikaapat, kahit ilang kilo ng droga ang ibigay sa atin kung wala tayong dahilan para magdroga hindi tayo madodroga. Ikalima, ang solusyon sa droga ay nasa matatag na pamilya.

Ako po ay naniniwala na ang bawat pamilya ay mahalagang hibla sa pagbuo ng ating lipunan. Ako po ay naniniwala na ang bawat pamilya ay susi sa pagunlad ng isang pamayanan. Ako po ay naniniwala na ang bawat pamilya ay may kakayahang ipanalo ang laban hindi lamang laban sa katiwalian kundi laban sa ipinagbabawal na gamot.

Tulungan po ninyo akong ipamahagi ang mensaheng ito. Tulungan po ninyo akong matupad ang akin pong pananaw para sa ating distrito. Magtulungan po tayo abutin ang isang pamayanang may matatag na pamilya.

Magandang gabi po at maraming salamat.

Absolutely, it’s one experience that I can never forget.

I was invited to speak in Mindanao State University. originally I agreed to do so with one condition. We should do it in Iligan City. Honestly, I was afraid to travel to Marawi City for no other reason that it’s public image isn’t really good. At least that’s what many people would like to think especially because its the Islamic Capital of the Philippines, there are many Muslims.

Lloyd Luna in Mindanao State University Grounds

But after some negotiations, I agreed to do it there. Still with some doubts of my security, I asked my good friend Ian Barcelona if he can join me. He said sure and why not. I also asked for security escorts upon pickup from Cagayan de Oro airport until I’d go back the following day.

When we arrived at around 6:30 am, we were greeted by wonderful students of MSU. I was just in my plain tshirt and skinny jeans and it took them some time to be sure it’s me, their speaker, who just arrived. But we were told that we are “monitored” on our way to Marawi City. I didn’t what “monitor” means but I guess it’s some sort of security measure.

Traveling from Cagayan de Oro, we had a little time for a stopover in Iligan City where we had our breakfast. A couple of minutes more and we were back on the road. In about three hours, we finally got in Marawi Resort and Hotel and the organizers were so kind to accommodate us. There were two ladies waiting for us.

But we had to go through a total of nine military checkpoints.

My turn to speak, as Ian would sleep catch up with some sleep. I was introduced and took the center stage. I was overwhelmed by the responses of my audience. Suddenly, they were so interested and excited to hear what I’m going to say about “their job and career and life” and how they, too, can succeed.

We were having a great, fun-filled conversation when I was told to pause for a lunch break. I thought that was easy—I’d announce the lunch break and stop talking. But the students would not allow me to do so. They wanted me to continue with my speech and so on and so forth. Well, I told them I’m also a human being who can get tired of standing, walking, and talking for long hours.

We came to a settlement and I was able to relax and had my lunch.

I was back for another round to finish my lecture and then Ian took over.

All in all, I had a wonderful experience in Marawi City. What was once a place that I feared is now a place that I’d like to visit again anytime soon but still with a prayer that God would protect me and my mission to reach our brothers and sisters there.

Marawi City Resort and Hotel is a wonderful (and safest) place to stay in Marawi. It’s within the vicinity of a University of the Philippines-like education institution situated in a Tagaytay-like environment. The place becomes foggy in the morning, so cold before dawn breaks, and no need for an air conditioner. It’s a quiet place to stay so should you want to relax and just be closer to nature, it’s one place you can go to.

After the seminar, all my books were sold out (and even got out of stock). When I come back, I think I should double my number. Photo opps here and there and signature and autographs left and right… Whew. That’s it!

Marawi City, Philippines—It was a successful career seminar here with students of Marawi State University in attendance.

Motivational speaker and business consultant Lloyd Luna together with AIB Chief Trainer Al Ian Barcelona spoke in a one-day seminar workshop on career improvement. Present in the seminar were students taking Business and Management major.

The well-attended seminar focused on Luna’s book, “Is There A Job Waiting For You?” and Barcelona’s personality development workshop.

In the last couple of months, we’ve seen an incredible movement of figures in surveys. If these numbers were true, then it’s a good sign. Let me tell you why.

Without being bias in my discussion, I’ll give you some positive points about the movement of those numbers. I said positive because it’s not only an indication of something positive for Manny Villar’s fans and supporters (and perhaps a negative thing for Noynoy’s following) but also an indication of what’s really happening inside the people’s mind.

Indeed, there’s a good news for all of us.

I’d like to believe that Filipinos are very passionate and emotionally attached to someone or something—to a known personality to a certain telenovela to an event. Such emotional attachment means so much that it started the world’s first bloodless revolt. It’s so effective that it brought about a second people power and installed a new president. Perhaps because we can associate ourselves with local television series that’s why the Philippines has become a country of actors and actresses—you and I are in the plot.

But Cory Aquino would die. Her son, who’s little known in terms of his performance as a legislator, became an instant people’s choice. It’s an overnight success.

And so at the height of Cory’s death, political figures started to see what they could work on to the point even of trying to see if they can fit in. Indeed, fitting in they managed well. Just like his late mother who was unprepared, Noynoy seems to try if the history really repeats itself.

It is yet to find out.

Yet in a matter of months, such emotional hype and attachment of Filipinos seemed to shift. As the election day comes closer, many public debates were conducted. Candidates had to be out in the open and share their piece of knowledge on how this country should be managed.

Presidential aspirants started the battle to win the mind of the people, not the heart. Debates work well on the intellect but never the heart. Events such as death work well on the heart, not the intellect.

If surveys were true that Villar is tied with Noynoy, then I think people start to think and rethink about their preference on the basis of their intellect and not emotion. With all the emotional attachment seemingly gone with the wind, the real deal reveals itself. Again, that is if surveys were true.

Nonetheless, it’s called trending—mental conditioning for people to influence their preference. Those who got the highest rating would probably win in the end. Not that it is tied, who’s going to win?

The game is still far from over. There are still a lot of things in the horizon. There are still millions of pesos to disburse. There are still many issues to be debated upon. There are still a lot of rooms for mistakes.

But the good news is people start to realize one thing: In order for us to move forward we need not only the heart of a leader, but his head and qualification. This is if we want to prevent the history from repeating itself.

Complete entry at http://www.lloydluna.com/?p=1173

Bayaning Pilipino Awardee Gerry Gamez visited our office and brought some food for lunch. Together with Pocholo Gonzales and staff, we had a great time talking while enjoying pork barbeque and roasted chicken.

Bayaning Pilipino Awardee Gerry Gamez with LLOYDLUNA

We talked about possible scenarios about this May 2010 elections. Gerry is working as campaign manager of Senatorial aspirant Atty. Alex “Pinoy” Lacson for Metro Manila and he’s with Liberal Party while Pocholo and I openly declared our support for Nacionalista’s Manny Villar.

We exchanged views and analysis and we really enjoyed sharing our thoughts about this political circus. In short, we’re putting issues on the floor and see what we can learn from each other. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable discussion and we just had to proceed on how we can work out Atty. Lacson’s way to the Senate.

We also had a chance to listen to Senator Alex Lacson’s political campaign jingle and we enjoyed the chorus part. Somehow, it creates a Las Song Syndrome (LSS). We spent the entire afternoon exchanging views and discussin our vision for the future.

Gerry Gamez ran for a seat in Manila Council but would lose twice having been on the 7th slot. Last time, he ran as a congressman and lost. But he’s sure he’ll be back after he decided to fully support the candidacy of Alex Lacson.