This is an ordinary number for some, most especially to people who live and breathe the internet. This is a number that may be a commonplace that we can ignore – why not!

However, for me 100,000 is a special number that plays around in my mind every day. First, I never imagined that exlinkeventsblog will reach the 100,000 visitors this year. Writing for me is the first and foremost objective of creating a blog. To write is to express regardless of what topics are at hand. To express is to be free. Freedom is something you struggle to achieve and enjoy.

In addition, to be read or even to be viewed for a second is like a clap that a speaker receives in public speaking. This is a natural high for the writers. It is my opium. Writing is one of my paradise amidst the chaotic urban city that we live in.

Lastly, lest I am mistaken for boasting this achievement let me correct this. All I want to do is to mark this milestone as special. But most of all, I just want to say thank you to all the readers and co-bloggers that helped me in allowing this blog to reach this milestone today, November 28, 2012.

Now my mindset is to get that 200,000 with meaning that is to continue the purpose of this blog to educate and inform about events management, M.I.C.E, conference, trade shows, expos and association events that are shaping the lives of many people and are making a big impact in the economy of our country and the world.

Eventually, thru my blog more M.I.C.E. Professionals are born and Event Management as an industry becomes one of the industries where Filipinos are declared by the whole world as number one! 

One of the leading organizations in the franchising industry joins the 9^th MegaBalikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX) slated Dec. 7-9, 2012 at Megatrade, SM Megamall.

The Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI) joins MBOX offering franchising opportunities to OFW and Balikbayan visitors, and the general public.

AFFI has a lot of successful franchising stories that OFW and Balikbayan can use a model.

MBOX has 150 exhibitors that offer different business opportunities to visitors. Every year around 8,000 trade visitors goes to the event.

MBOX aims to promote entrepreneurship and offer business opportunities to OFWs and Balikbayan in order to integrate them permanently to the Philippine Society when their work period ends abroad.

OFWs and Balikbayan remits P22 Billion to the country. This makes them an ideal sector where entrepreneurship can grow.

For more details about the event call 643.3887.

“Celebrating and recognizing the contributions of more than 10 million OFW and Balikbayans being the modern heroes of today to Philippines progress and development, is perhaps one of the most meaningful programs that we have for the year.”

Mr. Cesar C. Canabal, Sector Head- Eurotel Group of Hotels, said Tuesday during the meeting with ExLink Events Management Corp.

Each OFW has a beautiful story of courage and patience. And we join hands with key institutions like ExLink Events to give due acknowledgment to outstanding overseas Filipino Workers and Balikbayans during the OBRA Awards to be held on December 7, 2012 at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall.

The 4th Outstanding OFW and Balikbayan Reputation Award (OBRA) is a recognition given to OFWs and Balikbayans who are deserving to be models and inspiration of millions of OFWs and Balikbayans in terms of the following areas in life business success, family building, community service, work ethics and personal characters.

In addition, this year OBRA recognizes bloggers who promote and inform the public about the OFW conditions around the world.

Bloggers have played a vital role in information dissemination because of the explosion of social media.

For more details about OBRA call 643.3887 or email info@exlinkevents.com.

Financial education and investment are the knowledge and skills that OFWs and Balikbayans must acquire in order to create a sustainable lifestyle. This is the reason why the leading insurance brand in the world supports the 9th MegaBalikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX) slated this December 7-9, 2012 at Megatrade, SM Megamall.

AXA Philippines is the leader in investment-linked in life insurance in the country. It has 130,000 individual clients, 165,000 certificate holders of group policies, and P10 Billion in total premium income in 2011.

AXA Philippines offers various financial products that OFWs and Balikbayans can invest. AXA Philippines has the following:  for investment-linked life insurance – life basiX, aXelerator, ambition X, 3G-Xceed; for traditional life insurance products – XpresDegree, XpresPension, Assure, Assure Plus, Assure Health; for wealth accumulation – aXcess; for estate planning solutions – Assure, FlexiProtect.

The 9^th MBOX also features trade participants in franchising, health and beauty, technology, food, dealership, banks, financial investment, cars, and real estate properties.

Every year the event attracts 10,000 trade visitors and gets a rating of 85 Satisfaction rating among its exhibitors.

The event is produced and organized by Exlinkevents. For inquiries call 643.3887

Christmas Car All Show is a co-located event of the 9^th MegaBalikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX). MBOX attracts 10,000 visitors annually.

MBOX is supported by Ka-Entrep. Inc., Filipino Bloggers Worldwide, BMSD Photographers, Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy, Philhealth and Eurotel.

In addition, the trade visitors are in for a learning experience as business seminars are lined-up during the three day event. Among the topics that will be discussed by industry experts are in the areas of finance, marketing, operations, and success stories.

For more information and partnership call tel. 643.3887 or email at events@exlinkevents.com.

One of the leading healthcare institutions in Region IV-A supports the 9th MegaBalikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX) slated this December 7-9, 2012 at Megatrade, SM Megamall.

De La Salle University Medical Center (DLSUMC) is a healthcare institution, committed to providing quality, holistic, compassionate, and patient-centered medical care and services. The institution's participation to the expo gives the event a healthcare institution where the trade visitors can inquire about their health concerns and other services that they can avail with DLSUMC.

A tertiary 250-bed hospital and the largest in Region IV-A, DLSUMC provide much-needed health care services not only to Caviteños but to patients from nearby provinces. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and supported by its team of dedicated, and credentialed medical and allied health professionals, DLSUMC is renowned for meeting international quality standards. It is the first hospital in the Philippines to be awarded an ISO certification (ISO 9001:2000) by the TUV Rheinland of Germany for the hospital’s Quality Management System and has consistently passed the re-certification audits. Moreover, DLSUMC has been recognized as a “Center for Excellence” which is the highest level of quality accreditation from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The 9^th MBOX also features trade participants in franchising, health and beauty, technology, food, dealership, banks, financial investment, cars, and real estate properties.

Every year the event attracts 10,000 trade visitors and gets a rating of 85 Satisfaction rating among its exhibitors.

The event is produced and organized by Exlinkevents. For inquiries call 643.3887

One of the hardest things to organize is an association event. The main reason is that there are a lot of leaders that are involved in the decision making process. The decision making process in this particular situation takes time. This time is sometimes detrimental to the event. Event needs time to ensure proper preparations are made. But if there is analysis paralysis it will not go anywhere but to disaster land.

This is the reason why any association event that is successfully undertaken is an experience worth celebrating.

The amount of time that the event took in the meeting room is a story itself. The amount of effort exerted by the proponents to convince and solicit the support of other members is a story of blood and sweat.

Add to the fact that the actual implementation entails commitment to people who are also facing their demons in their own businesses and companies.

Indeed, association events with or without event managers are full of drama and a great project management case study.

I have been involved in a lot of association events. I saw all the good and the bad moments while immersed in those events. I embrace all those things. Embracing it made me appreciate association events. The bruises and the bumps are worth it.

I am not being masochistic. In the deeper scheme of things association events makes the organization stronger. It makes the members trust the organization’s strength and commitment to serve the industry and its membership.

Tell me now why are you not willing to take the plunge in this challenging journey of creating association events like conference, convention and exhibition?

Events are like flowers, they are colorful, beautiful to the eyes and soul of the one that is appreciating it. However, unknown to the spectators that appreciate it, the gardener that took time to grow it and patiently watered and exposed it properly to the sun exerted great effort to make it the way it is.

Therefore, amidst the spectators in the garden that are having a great experience of seeing these flowers, the gardener is the happiest person in seeing these flowers on its current state.

I am one of the gardeners and will continue to be one for as long as I breathe.

This is the feeling that I have as the year comes to a close. The feeling that a lot of events we created and managed this year are successful (albeit there are bumps and bruises along the way). Now as we wrestled with two remaining months, the two events that pose as a challenge makes my adrenalin rush.

I am talking about the Advertising and Event Suppliers Conference and Expo (AESCEX) slated this November 13, 2012 at Bayanihan Center, Pioneer St., Pasig City.

This event is on its first year and is about to make its mark in the advertising and events industry as THE EVENT after AD Congress.

An event of ASAP which Exlinkevents is very happy to be deeply involved in. Since the jury is not yet out on its performance I am confident that it is a breakthrough event that spells success. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aldrin, Lyza, Rhaine, Maricel and the rest of the Exlinkers that gave time to this undertaking. A shout also to my boss and commander and chief Mitch, her giving me free reign in some undertakings is the key for the explosive moves I made this year ( yes it is like a crossover and tomahawk dunks in basketball – just the feeling J)

Of course, there are other personalities in ASAP that made this event possible and I love them all.

Another event that gives a whiff of mint all over my body is the 9^th MegaBalikbayan OFW Expo slated this December 7-9 at Megatrade, SM Megamall.

Imagine getting the support of Ka-Entrep, BMSD Photographers Philippines and, one of my online homes, the Filipino Bloggers Worldwide (FBW) in offering beneficial activities for the visitors of the expo – the support is a joy no money or object can equal.

The 4^th Outstanding OFW and Balikbayan Reputation Awards (OBRA) is also a must see event. I am so pump-up to know the winners and hear their emotional speeches. Another is the OFW Business Summit where mainstay OFW Thought Leader supporters like Jeric Lee, Alvin Tabanag, Lourdes Rivera and Jerry Yao lend their talents to inspire and educate the attending visitors.

The much awaited event  Advertising and Event Suppliers Conference and Expo (AESCEX) is 7 days away from taking place this November 13 at the Bayanihan Center, Pioneer St., Pasig City.

The event highlights AEDEA Camp – a conference that benefits advertising and event clients and suppliers.

Some of the resource speakers are Ms. Blen Fernando, Alaska VP for Marketing; Mr. Jesus Ativo, Nestle Marketing Promotions and Events Executive; Mr. Angel Bunag, Ad Systems Inc. President; Mr. Rupert Japlit, Pure Digital General Manager; Mr. Ramon Bong Osorio, ABS CBN EDC and VP for Communication; Mr. Jos Ortega, Havas Media Ortega Chairman and CEO; Mr. Efren Penaflorida, CNN Hero 2009; Ms. Margot Torres, Mc Donalds VP for Marketing; Mr. Jun Nicdao, MBC and KBP President.

Topics that will be discussed are : Event Management and Niche Marketing, Giving Life to Your Brand, Effective Broadcast Commercials – New Horizons, Wheels of Future, Integrated Marketing Communications, CSR – It’s Value in Corporate Imaging and Nation Building, Values Oriented Advertising, and Self Regulation and Industry Social Responsibility.

Also, there are advertising and event suppliers that trade visitors can talk with to source out their company promotion and marketing needs.

The event is supported by UNILAB, Ad Standards Council, Mc Donalds Philippines, Centrex and Vital Strats. Other sponsors of the event are E.S. Print Media Inc., Ally Roving Ads and Video Services, Business World, 88DB.com, Clear Channels, When in Manila, Mellow 94.7, Faber Castell, Commuter’s Express, Noisy Neighbor, Events Pool, Chain Reaction, Executive Decisions, and Exlinkevents.

The Advertising and Event Suppliers Conference and Expo is organized and produced by Advertising Suppliers Association of the Philippines (ASAP) in partnership with Ad Foundation and Cerge Remonde Foundation. 

For inquiries and partnership call 643.3887.