2011 = WIN

It's already 2012 - probably the most anticipated year in recent memory. It's the year we party like it's the end of the world. It's the year of the dragon!!! I'm really excited for what 2012 has in-store for me. I just can't wait!

I remember blogging last year that 2010 was just the beginning and that 2011 will be epic. And boy did the past year exceed all my expectations. The past year has been a BIG WIN.

2011 now sits atop my list and if the trend continues, 2012 will be way better!

So for this year, I'd like to call this year's list as victories because 2011 made me feel so blessed that it felt like winning a major pitch, hitting a buzzer beater, or even winning the lottery.

Ladies and Gentlemen, my personal list of "WINS" for year 2011.

A Night at the Movies: MWG Christmas Party @ Skye Lounge

It's only fitting to end a very eventful year for McCann with a big bang. Night after our team's dinner, we had our annual Christmas party with the rest of Worldgroup at Skye Lounge at Fort Bonifacio. This year's theme was all about Hollywood. Being in an advertising agency, I wasn't surprised to see majority of the McCannites wear costumes. Awesome night!

MRM-ers

More pictures after the jump! :)

MRM Christmas Dinner @ Cabalen, Glorietta 3

Horrible traffic. Awesome food. Huge team.

I can still recall last year's Christmas dinner - which we had at Red Crab in Greenbelt 3. We only filled up just one table back then. We were a team of 12-15 people celebrating what was, as most of us would call it, a "transition" year as 80% of the team were hired in that same year (that included myself!).

Fast forward to 2011 and look! We grew enormously - now more than double of the past year. What's great is that we're a well-knit and very tight team. As I've previously stated, we're basically one big barkada hanging out at the McCann office. Cool right?

More than just the growth, the team had so many things to celebrate. 2011 has been a great ride for all of us - old or new. Ibang klase talaga. What's both exciting and nerve-wracking is how we'll move forward to 2012. :)

As always, our team dinner did not lack in bloopers and laughs. Priceless guys, priceless!

Tons of pictures after the jump!

Taga-McCann ako. Taga-McCann.

This video was released during our annual Christmas party at Skye Lounge last December 21, 2011. Awesome song! So awesome I'm actually loving McCann. haha!

Another Saturday well spent

Bojo and Carmel's Wedding

@ University of the Philippines

MRM table

very beautiful MRM ladies

the men of MRM

Congrats Bojo and Carmel!!!

Stat-Circle Get Together 

@ Nuesca Mansion

Stat-O + kids

Our attempt to do the dougie

Totally made my weekend! :)

MRM is made of win

The McCann Worldgroup Most Improved Agency
just click here to enlarge

The MRM team went out for lunch at Bowler in Makati today to celebrate perhaps the biggest win in recent memory - the MWG Quantum Leap award - in other words, the Most Improved Agency in the McCann Worldgroup network. Yes, among all McCann offices/disciplines, MRM Philippines claimed it with flying colors. Our team was the only MRM agency as well as from Southeast Asia, to win an award across all categories. In a span of more than a year, the team went through a major turnaround to finally reach where it is today. Makes me feel so good whenever I remember the time we were barely 10 in the team when I went in. Talk about expansion!

Proud to be MRM!

My First Ad Congress Experience

Went to Camarines Sur last November 18-20 to crash the 22nd Philippine Ad Congress together with majority of the MRM team as well as the McCann Erickson and Momentum peeps. And boy was it one of the best weekends I've ever had in a long time.

McCann parade @ Araw Awards
I'm one those guys infront.
Guess which one! HAHA

Tons of pictures after the jump! :)

Ad Congress Hang-over

This song was played a couple of times in the two parties I went to in Cam Sur. :) Like I said, I had one heck of a weekend with my MRM peeps. I'm so happy we're basically one big barkada in the office. Young, wild and free!

McCann Worldgroup @ 2011 Araw Awards

As I've tweeted, this past weekend has probably been one of the best in recent memory. Had so much fun in my first Philippine Ad Congress. My weekend, mostly with my MRM peeps, was definitely a blast. Will post pictures next time around :)

One Year.

Twelve months ago, I was this very eager and excited kid from UP-Diliman who was just about to enter the corporate world as a Data Analyst for one of the biggest advertising agencies in the country.

I came not really knowing how does a guy like me fit in a company known for it's crafty strategies and famous work. I knew I was going to do some number crunching and whatnots for a number of brands but I always thought I could learn more outside of my field.

Yes, that was my dream - to do analytics in a marketing perspective - and boy did I move further from my original jd.

A whole lot of meetings. Data Analytics. Data extractions. Validations. Research.

Some account management. Out-of-town presentations. and a whole lot of competitives.

Few months later, new vision was instilled and yeah, digital was all over it. For a moment, I thought "why am I here?" There were moments when I wondered if this was what I wanted. It wasn't like I wasn't fit for it but it was more like "do I belong here?"

Being the positive person that I am, I just went with the flow. Digital Immersion is what I want to call it. Eat, drink and sleep Digital. Literally.

Next thing you know I was tasked to champion digital media. Imagine all that reading and self-studying. Yes, all this happening as I was adjusting with the fact that I had a second job that time. Life was so stressful. Well up to now I guess.

Since then, I've had a change of position name/role in the team, a well-earned certification in Google advertising, oh so numerous digital campaigns implemented, now two teaching gigs and a whole lot more. I still do some analytics but now in a digital perspective. I am what they call the team's "numbers guy". Yeah, for some it's pretty nerdy, but that's how I earn my money.

One year. Boy was that one heck of a ride. I still remember my boss saying, "this is just the tip of the iceberg" back then. Up until now that's how I feel. Big things are bound to come. I just know it.

I used to eat, drink and sleep digital. Now I still do but now I also think and speak digital.

And now, that's how I roll.

MRM on Adobo :)

http://www.adobomagazine.com/global/module.php?LM=news.level1&id=1303700316136

MRM is Philippines’ Google AdWords Elite Team

MRM Elite Team (From L to R): Amiel Uy, Tonico Maningat, Jim Guzman, Mabie Encarnacion,
Rachel Chua, Debbie Bereber, Nicole Sy, Pat Cortes, Mae Uy and Mattel Soliven

MRM Philippines, the digital relationship marketing discipline of McCann Worldgroup, now holds the most number of individually certified Google AdWords professionals in the country. This was after 10 out of the 15 team members passed the Fundamentals and advanced-level exams covering search, display, reporting, and analysis.


As individually qualified AdWords Professionals, members of the MRM accounts and production team are now equipped with specialized knowledge in Google Advertising. AdWords ads are placed in Google partner sites and display networks, widening the scope of MRM clients’ ad placement in relevant sites online.


Managing Director Donald Lim says, “The Google Adwords Certification solidifies MRM Manila’s authority in the digital marketing arena by ensuring that we are capable and knowledgable in managing the digital marketing projects of our clients. It validates our position in being able to deliver end-to-end digital marketing solutions effectively and efficiently. Our team delivers best in class digital projects not only because we know marketing, but also because we know how to play in digital, as evidenced by certifications like these.”