Dream Match

Copy & Art: Karen Vasquez

Could it be that I am beginning to live the dream I have always dreamed? *sigh*

On a lazy rainy afternoon...

"Mood Swings"

whatever

wala lang

uwian

gutom

pakialamera

guilt trips

bored

Up For A Good Start: XYZ Inks Celebrates Its First Anniversary In The Country

For starters XYZ Inks is doing well in the hi-tech world of Inkjets and Laser Cartridges. Based in the United States, this multinational company has recently celebrated its first anniversary with its initial outlet in the country- Makati City.

Unique to its industry, the company caters printing paraphernalia to its primary market- the business sector. “We discovered that here in the Philippines, it was a much more difficult task to educate the business sector than what we had envisioned. We had to modify our operations to meet our own standards to service our clients,” discussed Mr. Z, president of XYZ Inks Philippines. Aside from large corporate accounts the company also caters to individual consumer segment.

To allow better customer service, XYZ Inks standardized its store designs same to its centers overseas. Inevitably, the company encountered a few bumps with the setting up of the stores. Thanks to its great manual operations everything pushed through smoothly.

With the operations only started on 2007, the company has a total of 5 outlets at present. To date the company’s initial plan was to have only 3 stores opened by third quarter of 2007 but with the strong sales and demands, 2 more came its way as the year 2008 starts.

During the course of the year constant modifying and innovations were made to fully support growth and customer demands. “As we went forward and opened new stores in other locations, we were constantly modifying our support capabilities for the system. We continued to grow in such a way that our system became the only one that supports the variety of inkjet and laser cartridges being used here in the country.” said Mr. Z.

In terms of sales volume, the company foresees a rapid 40% increase of stores by 2008 with its steady growth throughout the year. Mr. Z also mentioned that discussions are up for opening stores in various locations such as Manila, Quezon City and Laguna.

When asked about XYZ Inks Philippines’ goals for 2008, Mr. Z answered “With the success of our current stores, we expect to open 10 more outlets this year. About half of them will be in Metro Manila with the rest being provincial locations. We also plan to expand our clientele base and offer more products and services for the retail market.”

Chocolate Mornings

For a typical person like me, a day wouldn’t be complete without a cup of hot chocolate for breakfast. For more than half of my life it’s my perfect breakfast companion- paired with garlic rice, cheesedog and sunny side up eggs. It seems that my stomach has gotten use to the sweet aroma of this morning munchies.

My mom would always tell us this routine started in our kindergarten days. Being the second in a family of three kids, our mom would get up early and cook breakfast for me and my sister (my sister and I has an age gap of 3 years) before we go to school. Which happens to be garlic rice paired with hotdog or egg or corned beef or spam or whichever comes handy. And then she would make us each a cup of hot chocolate and insist that we take a sip before taking a bath to keep our stomachs warm. I’ve gotten used to it that my day feels incomplete without a morning nip of hot choco.

As I live on my own during my college years I would occasionally skip breakfast because I’m always running late. There’s no one to cook breakfast for me anymore and so I end up always missing breakfast. That’s the thing about growing up, most of the things that we enjoy when we were young would usually take its leave when we grow old.

Now even as I go to work I always make it to a point to still enjoy my hot chocolate. But what I miss most is when my mom would dreadfully wake us up and serve us our daily breakfast with our favorite homegrown hot chocolate.

Wisdom from Kung Fu Panda

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery but today is a gift. That's why its called present." -Master Oogway

*Simple but true. :)

invites

Copy: Karen Vasquez
Art Director: Mike Segura

Sugar Coated Lingo in a Dog-Eats-Dog World

By a somewhat inexperienced Carrie Bradshaw wannabe

Climbing the corporate ladder isn’t one easy thing to do. You’ve gotta learn to struggle wisely to be able to survive. And yes sometimes you gotta perform tricks up on your sleeves just to win. But please don’t be mistaken that this world is just about outsmarting each other. It’s about hard work, perseverance, dedication, love and acceptance for what you do, a firm belief on your principles. And the most important of all- a tight grip on your lifelong dreams.

What I’m saying might be boring and ridiculous for those who have already surpassed this stage, but for the newbies who are planning to take a plunge in what they call “the dog-eats-dog world” this might give you at least a little help.

The voyage began the day I went out the portals of my alma mater (just like everyone else). Unlike most (at least that’s what I thought) I wasn’t sure what to do and which path to take. Having to finish a degree with a wide range of prestigious elating jobs to choose from, I ended up still undecided. And so I end up working in a call center.

At first I thought it was easy. Seat. Answer calls. Speak English. And that’s it you’re gonna earn a fortune. Sure it was fun- imagine talking to more than three dozens of people each day for eight hours. Having to take a break for exactly 15 minutes and lunch break for exactly one hour. Just a piece of cake for a day’s work. Isn’t it?

With a true human heart I searched for something that’ll make me satisfied. Now that’s when I decided I want to become a writer. By some twist of fate I landed as an in-house writer for a real estate company. With the designation/ position (whichever its called) I hold in the company at first glance my job look sooo prestigious. It isn’t exactly the opposite though, but it’s not just that impressive (to my standards).

It is where I learn to interact and mingle with people from all walks of life- who just like me are climbing the corporate ladder. Some are wise, some are imposing, some are just pretending, some are assuming, some are young and most are old. They may look really nice but don’t let that fool you. And yes the stories are true. They will eat you- if you give them a chance to.

It was a colleague who’s the one to formally welcome me in the corporate world. She told me that to survive you’ve gotta learn to speak the sugar coated lingo in this dog-eats-dog world. It’s like keeping your composure when you’re damn pissed. Looking and being professional is what matters no matter what the circumstances are.

It is essential to encounter humps and bumps along the way because trust me it’s worth the wait. It’s just almost a year since I decided I wanted to be part of this world but I was just beginning. There are a lot of roads that I gotta take and a lot of decisions I gotta make. And there are a few if not a lot of challenges that’s waiting for me along the way.

This life is one crazy ride. And to be able to survive you just gotta enjoy the ride. Sure there’ll be times that giving up is the easiest thing to do. But don’t let your emotions take you. There’s no easy road to success. Just as they say success is sweetest when you worked hard for it.

Event campaign

"Fun, Fun Summer at Little Baguio Terraces"
Copy: Karen Vasquez
Art Director: Mike Segura

Yoshinoya Billboard

"Can eat Japanese!" (Billboard)
Client: Yoshinoya
CD: Karen Vasquez

*Here's the outdoor campaign (Guadalupe) I created for yoshinoya for my thesis Total Advertising Campaign for Yoshinoya.

Japanese

30 sec Radio Ad
Yoshinoya

Title: JAPANESE


SFX: Gong in a zen garden, slowly fades as the voice starts.

JAPANESE MAN: Nihon de yuumei na Gyudon wa itsupanteki ni gyuniku to sinsen na yasai
wo musita mono wo gohan no ue ni motsute arimasu.

NARRATOR: Can't speak Japanese? Don't bother you can always eat Japanese!

JAPANESE MAN: It's as easy as Yo-shi-no-ya. Yoshinoya!

NARRATOR: Characterized by steaming hot, excellent tasting, jaw dropping rice bowls topped with the freshest vegetables. Whew! Yoshinoya! With branches at SM Mall of Asia, Park Square 1 Makati, SM Megamall, Robinson's Galleria, Greenhills and SM North EDSA.

Post Graduation Syndrome

It's been a year since I officially left the portals of my alma mater and marched down the alley of what they call "the real world".

Yes it has been a year now. A year that came so fast, yet passed so slow. A lot has happened. A lot was gained, still a lot was lost.

Time could fly so fast that you won't notice how time runs so quickly. Yet it can also pass by, feeling heavily.

Ayaw kong Pumasok

Synopsis:

"Bata, bata ayaw mo bang pumasok?
Halika't sumama sa isang mahiwagang paglalakbay."

Kilalanin si Hehe, isang batang napakahilig maglaro,
ngunit hindi mahilig mag-aral.
Isang araw sa kanyang pagpasok patungo sa iskwela
Isang aklat na hindi inaasahan ang kanyang nakita.

Isang aklat na nagbigay aral at saysay
Sa kanyang batang isip at pamumuhay...

*Here's my first ever short story for children. Given the chance I'd really love to publish this. I'm done with the manuscript and still looking for an illustrator.

Blue rainy days

"Rain, rain go away
Please make this feeling go astray
In this world where life's a blue
Please let my sunshine come and stay..."

Finding My Own Spot in the Universe

Have you ever felt that you are lost in a big world? The kind when you feel helpless and weak. Yes I know you do. Everybody feels that way sometimes, but how about when you feel lost all your life? Is something wrong with you or with the world? What do you do when you feel that way? Should you keep it to yourself or let others know?

What if you decided to shout but nobody hears? Or worst nobody cares. You are slowly falling into the pit yet everyone's so busy with their own lives that nobody notices you.

Cat Chronicles

"Cat Chronicles"

Karen Vasquez

*I saw the image of the cat on web

and decided that she'll be the subject

of my next art.

advocacy

"Paper, rock, scissors"
Client: one.org
CD: Karen Vasquez

yummy!

"Healthy + sweets = 100% delicious treats"
Client: San Fo Treats (caramel apples)
CD: Karen Vasquez

“Being idealistic is good because it gives you the capacity to dream and the ability to make a change. Yet it can also be horrible, for it takes you away from the real world…”

Leaving the Bad Habits Behind

How many new years have passed, that we made countless lists of resolutions to change about ourselves? Most of our lists consist from facing our weight problems by exercise and eating the right foods, trying not to be late for work, not being judgmental to other people, not to splurge too much on shoes and clothes, etc etc etc. And have we been consistent with our resolutions all throughout the year? I admit I am only able to carry out my list during the first few months or to be more honest weeks.

Like others, I am making my own list of New Year resolutions again, but I will call mine my “upshot list” because these are the conclusion that I “must” achieve when the year ends and not just a promise to myself. I am not going to write down my upshot list, I’m just going to keep a mental list since I am more likely to forget or take it for granted once it is jotted down. Yes I’m kinda weird. Generally my upshot list was about leaving my bad habits behind. 2007 was a bittersweet year for me. I have received a handful of blessings and faced several changes in my life. This year was also a year of firsts for me since I entered a new phase of my life. I confess that despite the good things that has been coming my way still I wasn’t contented. Like any normal human being I wanted what is on the other side of the fence. Then as if struck by lightning I woke up one morning and realized how bad I am for being ungrateful. Added by an article I read in the newspaper, it says that “we are responsible for our own contentment”. There it was plain and simple yet it hit me straight in the head. It made me contemplate how I’ve been on the past year. I have everything just what I needed but I am wanting more. It’s like I am into rush of getting and opening my Christmas gift and it wasn’t even Christmas yet.

It is easy to make a reel of upshot lists but it takes a lot of efforts and discipline to fulfill one. I am not making one just for a new me this year but because I badly needed one. This year I must take things slow, think a thousand times and never let my emotions carry me. I have to act quickly and do a lot to make my time worthwhile. Simply put it this way, savor what is on the table but still hope for that big roasted turkey.

Welcome 2008!

Another year to come
A new day to behold
A new life to unfold

Another chance for us to live
and let live once more

Welcome 2008!