Manila, Philippines—Beneficiaries of scholarships of A Better Chance Foundation (ABC Foundation) were impressed by the speaking style and ability of Motivational Speaker and Internet Marketing Expert Lloyd Luna.

A Better Chance Foundation scholars with Lloyd Luna

Luna spoke before more than 400 delegates of the 2010 Sales and Marketing Professionals Convention at SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia on March 18.

Nothing but admiration for the youngest speaker at the time.

After his talk, foundation scholars accompanied Luna as he was walking back to his booth and asked for a photo opportunity with Asia’s motivation star.

“I’m signing this book and I’d like you to put this in your library or offices,” referring to his best-selling book Is There  A Job Waiting For You?

Also, Luna was given with two tin cans that “you can place in your offices to get some donations.”

“I’m honored to touch your lives even if I know this talk is a very little contribution to what you can become in the future. But I encourage you to be very, very vigilant in choosing your career path,” Luna advised the children.

Manila, Philippines—Janitor-turned-entrepreneur Steve Tamayo was amazed by Lloyd Luna’s Internet marketing speech at SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia. On Thursday, Luna, a sought-after motivational speaker and best-selling author spoke before more than 400 people during the 2010 Sales and Marketing Professionals Convention.

Steve Tamayo of Tamayo's Catering with Lloyd Luna

After Luna’s performance on stage, Tamayo approached “the Internet marketing consultant” for a photo opportunity.

“It was a fascinating speaking performance I’ve ever seen,” said Tamayo, owner of the popular Tamayo’s Catering.

Luna, from his end, said he’s also aware of “Mr. Tamayo’s story” and would love to sit down with him to see how his story can be taken to many other Filipinos who’d like to start their own business much more their passion on something.

“I’d love to sit down and meet with Mr. Tamayo. If there’s one inspiring story that I’d recommend to people, Mr. Tamayo’s story would be included in my top list. I definitely would spend time with him and see if there’s something that we can do together. He has made this country proud by becoming someone with such an admirable reputation,” Luna said.

Luna spoke on “How to Maximize Business Profits Using the Internet” in 45 minutes, which was a real challenge as he teaches his module in two days. “But I think I was able to give the crowd some entertaining and useful ideas on the power of the Internet,” Luna added.

On Thursday, I was able to speak before more than 400 sales and marketing professionals in SMX at the SM Mall of Asia. The event organizer is a good friend of mine, JM Matienzo. I can say it’s a successful marketing event. I congratulate the organizers.

New Media Internet Marketing Speaker in Manila, Philippines

As a speaker, I was tasked to talk about “How to maximize business profits using the Internet” or something to that effect. I was given 45 minutes and I made it clear from the start that it’s a challenge for me since I usually tackle Internet marketing in two days or 16 hours during my regular new media marketing workshops.

I believe speakers are given a free hand to exercise their style in the way they’re going to deliver their message. Every speaker who spoke at the conference is unique—so unique that you can actually get different thoughts, ideas, and responses. Some try to make you laugh, some try to make you asleep without any effort. The result is even diverse. Some people would love you and some people may not.

I get my share of 45 minutes during the convention. I enjoyed every minute of it. I can safely say my audience did enjoy more than I do. Evaluation forms would tell the world who made an impact during the convention.

Let me share my thoughts on public speaking as I thought it would be a great idea to share my piece about “what speakers can do on the platform as they speak.”

Well, the first rule is, there’s no rule. The second is, if there’s a rule, change it. The third is, if you can’t change the rule, create your own.

Speaking as a New Media Marketing Speaker and Consultant, I think here are some tips that I learned (and applied) during my talk at the 2010 Sales and Marketing Professionals Convention organized by Ariva Events.

1. Exercise a unique speaking style. Some speakers may have great ideas but simply don’t have an appealing style in delivering those ideas. They always try to come up with a stiff powerpoint (or keynote) and run through his bullets, much worse read those bullets along with his audience. Speaking style is important because it’s defines the thin line between a speaker and a performer. Anybody with knowledge on the subject matter can just go up on stage and speak. But effective speakers don’t just speak. They perform. That’s where style come in. If you don’t perform, you might just be another guy who knows so much but simply can’t find a way to put it in a language that audience may understand.
2. Spice up the substance. Some may have the best, remarkable knowledge about new media or perhaps Internet marketing or whatever have you. But substantial speeches don’t mean anything unless you’re able to create a fun-filled environment where your audience get to feel they are really part of the seminar. Some speakers forget that they have an audience.
3. Engage your audience. As a mew media consultant and speaker, I always make it a point to engage. I don’t talk to my microphone. I talk to my audience. I remember during the event, I went down and engage one or two convention delegates. I don’t just stand behind the podium. I walked around. I asked people. I made them feel they are part of the event. They paid for it. They deserve real presence of the speakers.
4. Tell your story. People buy stories, not the usual technical stuff or boring lectures and obvious discoveries. Think about this for a second, your audience is looking for proofs that what you’re teaching them really works. They need your story. Otherwise, they can just Google, say, New Media Marketing Techniques Used in the Philippines” and boom, that’s it. But they would ask, “Is this working?” Selling your story or someone else’s success story would add credibility in what you’re saying. So it’s not a problem when you sell your self or your story. At the end of the seminar, they’d remember more of the stories rather than the technical stuff you told them.
5. People would come to you. Who’s the best or most effective New Media Marketing Speaker in the Philippines or at this convention? Well, everybody I think gave the best shots. Ian Del Carmen, a good friend of mine, did well. Almost everybody did. But if you’re the best, and the most interesting, and the best teacher, or the best speaker, isn’t it that people would gather around you after you’re done on stage. Isn’t it that they will flock and move towards you to ask for your business card ) and ask for a meeting? Isn’t it that they will give great reviews or rating in their evaluation sheets?

Speaking on New Media Marketing Philippines as a topic and the way you can use Internet platform to maximize your business profits is something that I am passionate about. And I thank the organizer for giving me a platform to share my advocacy on New Media Marketing as well as Internet marketing. I am indeed honored to be a speaker in this convention.

By the way, you can always choose to sell on the platform. As a speaker, especially if you asked permission from the organizers (in which case, I did), you can always go up, invite people to either buy your books or attend your New Media Marketing or Internet Marketing Workshop. There’s nothing wrong in offering your crowd another venue where can fully learn and understand your subject matter.

After everything is seen, winning is defined by offense, not defense. True for Manny Pacquiao. True for anybody else. Would you like to win? Or would you like to lose? Either way, there’s one thing you’re going to do: Pay the price.

The Obvious: There's No Secret to Success

Yesterday, it was a clear decision that The Event was indeed overwhelmingly won by Pacquaio. While I share the views of many others who expected a knockout victory, I think it really didn’t matter at all. You see, some people have this habit of survival, or rather a choice of it.

Clottey chose to survive. And he did. Manny chose to thrive. And he did. What’s the difference?

People who are fond of survival think it’s a wise move to survive. They don’t engage so much. They take life too lightly as if nothing is wrong. Every time you ask them how they do they say, “I’m ok.” even though they really don’t. They thought that it’s safe to survive by not meeting new people, not establishing a new relationship, not exploring their potential, not trying something new, or not producing better results among others. They just let the day pass and survive the day they do.

Some people who are fond of thriving think it’s a wise move to thrive. They engage so much. They take life seriously enjoyable and they are keen if ever something seems to be going wrong. When you ask them how they do, they will tell you exactly what they feel. And they would promise you sooner or later they’ll be ok. They meet new people, crete new relationship and see what comes from it, try something new, and produce better results without fear. They don’t let any day pass without achieving something big or small.

Pacquiao vs Clottey is a clear illustration of of choices between winning and losing, engaging and defending. It’s a clear explanation of why and how people win in this life. Pacquiao threw more than 1,200 punches, Clottey threw more than 300. Pacquaio engaged. Clottey defended.

In those 12 rounds, Clottey stayed put. He’s not the fighter his corner expected. He simply became somebody else. He was overwhelmed by Pacquaio’s speed. Yes, he may have the power by without using and showing it, it’s not power. Several times, Pacquiao would let him engage. He’s always invited to fight but to to avail. He simply kept his defense tight.

What’s common between winning and losing?

The answer is cost. Clottey paid the price of coming up with a great defense at the expense of losing. Pacquiao paid the price of being on the offense and he won. You see we all have to pay for something whether we win or lose.

Did Clottey got hurt? Of course, he did. Or, as he claimed during the post-interview, he didn’t get hurt. But hey, he lost. That’s even more painful perhaps than physical pain. It’s emotional pain.

Next time you go out there, I suggest you engage and see what’s going to happen. Winners engage. Losers defend.

To Manny Pacquiao, here’s another salute for a job well done. It’s not always that you don’t knock down an opponent but you always win in the end. That’s the sense of it all!

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.