Ateneo Business Networking

It’s just now that I realized that why Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, UA&P, and UST have high tuition fees. Most people say that it’s because of the quality of education, facilities, and of course the reputation of the school. 

After working for almost 2 years, I realize that there’s only a slight difference when it comes to its respective expertise. The main difference that I realized is the quality of people that you meet. The students are more competitive because of the universities’ academic curriculum. This trigger students to study harder, work harder, in other words try to reach your limits. It’s a good example where the concept “survival of the fittest” is applied.

Another thing is that you have lots of opportunities building your network of friends and thus having lots of perks. As an entrepreneur, this is a major factor to help me grow my business. Recently, I received an email with regards to expanding your business network. 

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Ateneo Aegis 07 Updates: A message from an Anonymous Ateneo Aegis Member

This is a message I got from a friend who knows someone who has a high position in the Ateneo Aegis. Myfriend also posted a similar rant wanting to have updates with regards to our precious Ateneo Yearbook. 

“The original plan, from the last time I met with the board back in May, was that the yearbook was supposed to be released by July or August at the latest. Many departments have been cleared of their duties. One of which is Public Relations and Communications. Also, if I remember correctly, the write-ups are finished but Jan Bunag, the EIC, has not responded to the updates and emails we sent before to him. Last time I heard was that his computer crashed or something. I gave the board this notice last year that I will not be able to help out anymore, even though my requirements are already completed. Anyway, we did hear about your blog though I am not sure what is being done about it. Anyway, if I were you, you wouldn’t want to quote me on any of these because these are all “the last things I heard about whatever’s going on” and there might be more recent updates. And I would appreciate it if my name or this response DOES NOT get posted in your blog or anywhere else and wouldn’t be quoted. I am only answering your query as a friend, not as part of the Aegis Organization.”

- Anonymous Ateneo Aegis Member 

To avoid any conflict, my friend refused to give the name of the person who gave this  statement. But, I am truly grateful at least I am starting to know things what really is happening. Anyway, my real goal is to have updates not to ruin a person’s image. 

I know, I had alerted many of the Ateneo Aegis Members since my blog is one of the tops in search engines when searched for the keyword “Ateneo Aegis 07″. But believe me, I am just going to stop all of this after I get a picture of what is really happening with our yearbook. 

Based on what I researched, the comments I received, this statement, one name appears - JAN BUNAG, the EIC of ATENEO AEGIS 2007. This past few weekends I have been busy spending time with a special someone so I have not addressed this problem to the university. 

Blogs Under Construction

Since I am so excited that I am already gearing up to be a mixture of  Entrepreneur in the Food Industry and a Netrepreneur, I am building up other websites that provide relevant information in various topics. The websites are still under construction since I am so busy preparing other things.

Still, I am going to give an overview.

1. Singapore

One of places that I will travel frequently is Singapore. Why? Because I think, their lifestyle fits my lifestlye. I will provide information on vacation spots in Singapore and how to work there if you want. I have working experience in Singapore that is why I wanted to create a guideline on surviving and working there. 

2. Ateneo Survival Kit

I will not waste my credentials for being an Atenean for 16 years. I will provide techniques in surviving hell weeks in Ateneo, picking the right course, the right teachers as well, and of course surviving the JGSOM Management courses. 

3. Investments

Supposedly, I should be using this to increase my ranking in the BUSBY SEO contest. But, I realized that competition is so aggressive, I don’t have much time updating and strategizing SEO techniques. This time I wanted to help entrepreneurs with a capital of at least 20,000 pesos where to invest their money. 

I will just post in my blog when it is completed. 

My Learnings in the World of Business

This is my passion. Business. I had a business before catering customizable burgers. It was named “Picky Eaters”. One of the most successfully student owned stalls in Ateneo when JSEC was established. Having hands-on experience with business, forecasting the demand, creating prices, researching about your target market’s demographics - all of these things I learned. However, I also learned more things that the school did not teach me. In this post, I will discuss my experience as an entrepreneur. 

Break-Even Point Analysis

Yes, business is all about numbers. Math is my forte. This is the reason why I am assigned as the Chief Financial Officer of Picky Eaters. Break-even point analysis gives you an idea on how many items to sell so that your business will not render losses. 

But, it does not mean that you hate Math or Math hates you, then you can’t establish your business. One way to find out whether or not you are profiting is to look at your inventory and expenses. 

Are you able to fill-up your required inventory? Are you able to pay rent on time? Do you have budget to pay for your employees? If your answer is yes, check if you have remaining money from your business’ cash box. If again, the answer is there is remaining money, the remaining money = your profit. It means you exceeded the “break-even point”

The Perfect System, Operations Management

In my Operations Management class, I was taught that time is gold and organization matters the most. Indeed, you can obtain data on how efficient you deliver your business to your clients by having an idea on the operation’s time. Do you think you can prepare the “Perfect System” for your business if you do not have adequate experience on it? 

By having my own business, I learned that there should be continuous innovation, meaning you keep on changing until you reach the optimum efficiency for your business. These are not learned from just class lessons or from reading textbooks. These are only learned from actual experiences. By the way, I believe that the is NO PERFECT SYSTEM, but there will always be A BETTER SYSTEM. 

The Best Marketing, Viral Marketing 

Viral Marketing is also associated with “Word of Mouth Marketing’ meaning you let people inform about your business and the products it offers through conversations. One of the major factor why I think our business hit HALF a MILLION in four months of operation is that we have a large network of friends. 

These friends of our, also have a large network, making our business easier to become the topic of gossips. This is the most effective marketing since it can boost your sales. But always remember, still the satisfaction of customers from the quality of products you deliver is the most important.

These are my learnings as an Entrepreneur and taking Business Management MInor in Marketing classes. Ateneo molded me that my career should be directed to become a businessman.

Ateneo Aegis 07 / 2007 Updates

To follow-up on my previos post (read HERE) with regards to the irresponsibility of Ateneo Aegis 2007 members, I received some replies from concerned alumni. Also, I was able to encourage them to post it on their blog to inform Ateneo Alumni what had happened. 

I already got some names of those who handled the Ateneo Aegis 2007 Yearbook. I sent them a message via blog and emails, however, there was no reply.

If this cannot be done, I will go to the ADSA and claim a refund since it is a 2,250 pesos Yearbook. If they will not allow me to claim a refund, then by any case, I will demand them to find a solution to handle this problem.  

Ateneo Aegis 07 / 2007 Showing their Lack of Responsibility: Ateneans of My Batch Please Raise Your Voices

Okay. Now I am furious. First, with the disgusting LiveJournal website where you can’t view any of the topics because of googles ads blocking it. Second, with the promise saying that please wait patiently for more updates (last one was way back on October 2007). And lastly, my request to be added to the yahoogroups was rejected for no reasons.

Look at the copy of their site: Click HERE

These are screen shots of me, being an Atenean for 16 years, rejected by people who promote mediocre works.

This email told me that based on their background checking, I am not qualified to join the group. Am I not a concerned Atenean wanting to have his yearbook?

Why Ateneo Aegis people? Threatened I’ve been posting articles on giving our batch some updates? Well, I’ve requested in a polite manner. Well, be prepared for more. 

I know lots of Ateneans are frustrated because of the delay, because of the promises being given with no results, because of the lack of responsibility these people they entrusted.

So, what are your reasons? Delay because some students did not submit their testimonials?  You got a lot of time. It’s almost 2 YEARS already. Or is it because you are ashamed for not doing your work properly? Anyway, whatever your reasons or so-called “excuses,  I am sure they are not valid. 

You are such a disgrace to the Ateneo community. 

Anyway, I am calling my fellow Ateneo Batch 2007 to raise their voice and take action. Post this blog to your blogs. Copy this and email to all Ateneo friends. So that these irresponsible Ateneo Aegis People may be informed and the future Ateneo Aegis batch will learn from this. 

AJWCC (Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center): Web Marketing Short Online Courses in the Philippines

I have a close friend in Ateneo who has been developing a Short Online Marketing Techniques to boost and optimize your website.  She asked my expert opinion on how to promote this or use any kind of marketing strategy. 

Based on what I saw in their video *please click the link ( IMMAP/AJWWC) , I believe that this is probably one of the most interactive courses who would like to learn from Marketing Experts in the Philippines. 

So, here are my comments. 

Educate the Market to Create the Market

The market for SEO professionals is relatively new in the Philippines. Even though, there are really SEO experts out there in the Philippines, however, the subject matter is not well known. Even though the number of Internet users in the Philippines is increasing year per year, this does not mean that they are being exposed to Internet Marketing. 

Even for my case, I just heard the term SEO/ Internet Marketing one year after my graduation. What’s worse is that I have a Minor in Marketing background in which only few students are allowed to participate.

My main point is that these things are not learned in school. By exposing students on these terms, there will be a high probability that the product is going to be a success. 

How do you educate them?  

I suggest to create a market by first introducing “what’s in it for me if I study Internet Marketing Strategies?”. This means that you are explaining to your market why Internet Marketing is not a want anymore, but a need. A good sales pitch on this is probably focusing on the Development of Internet not just means of getting information, but also to earn passive income. 

For example, “Internet Marketing is transforming our world not just a form of communication, but also as form of establishing a business”

Remember, this product is not considered a need (except for those who are passionate in the field of marketing). This is the reason why you persuade people by convincing them that this is becoming a need. 

Create Online Presence

Simple. Analyze where most Filipino students visit websites. Create a buzz by putting up banners, or blogging about in social networks such as multiply and facebook. Join Marketing related forums in the net. Have plenty of people link your site. These are some of  the ways to increase your page rank in search engines.