Filipino Franchise Association Meet

This isn’t really a travel thing but I’d like to post it as part of my itineraries, or should I say breakthrough for March.

The Association of Filipino Franchise, Inc., better known as AFFI had its general membership meeting and I was invited to give a five-minute speech to orient the members about our partnership.

Creative Business with Lloyd Luna is now a media partner of AFFI and we’re very happy about that. After the meeting, we had a memorandum of agreement signing with the leadership of AFFI particularly Paulo Tibig, who is its incumbent president. One of the founders such as my good friend Richie Cuna is also there.

Internet Marketing Speaker

It’s a great day. It’s another day for me to teach what I know about Internet marketing. It’s not an easy way for me when I was starting my Internet marketing study. And honestly, I had to spend so much for my education—non-formal education via the Internet itself.

And so here’s the story of my historic speech in SMX Convention Hall during the 2010 Sales and Marketing Professionals Convention on March 18, 2010.

San Fernando Pampanga

Smartworks, an events specialist company in Pampanga, signed up as a LLOYDLUNA Producer in the province. That’s why today, I’m taking a road trip from the city to San Fernando.

In the morning at around 8:00 AM, we arrived at Trinoma. The car that would take us to the province was there on time. It’s not really a long trip but it would take some hours to get to our first stop.

LLOYLUNA TV Appearance in Pampanga fir RUN the Net

First stop was my live studio television appearance on 95FM, a local broadcast station in Pampanga, where I promoted the membership meeting of Philippine Marketing Association—Pampanga.

It’s in this event that my producer and I agreed that I personally give an overview of RUN the Net?, our big event on May 5-6.

My TV appearance (simultaneous broadcast over FM) was more on telling the Kapampangan how they can use the Internet to advance their business.

The province has been known to produce successful home-grown brands such as Cabalen and Pampanga’s Best. Their representatives happened to be in m audience in the afternoon and immediately reserved their seats for the May event.

LLOYD LUNA on local TV station in Pampanga

After my live appearance, we dropped by a Jollibee store, got some food to eat, and went to Fritz office. Fritz and her husband own Smartworks.

We had our lunch in a restaurant called Jun Jun’s. Well, I must agree that it’s not the usual “inasal” restaurant. The food was great and it’s a great lunch I must say.

I hope I can describe the taste but I can’t find some words to really put it.

I was told that it’s one of the best in the province and even known brands in the chicken business don’t dare to match it. Some businesses who tried to match it never really succeeded.

LLOYD LUNA Philippine Marketing Association Pampanga

Then at around 2:30 PM, I gave the preview of R U N the Net? An Internet Marketing Seminar Workshop with Lloyd Luna.

One interesting experience I can never forget here is that at least three people came to this preview upon seeing my TV appearance. There was one lady there who immediately approached me when I arrived and shook my hand and told me, “Sir, I saw you on TV that’s why I’m here. I was inspired by your story. And your idea of “paying it forward” really struck me.”

So there. We headed back to my office, where JV Calleja of LSK Europharma was waiting for me in my office, and arrived safely at around 8:00 PM.

Speaking Live in Mapua

I’ve had a great time speaking before the students of Mapua Institute of Technology here in Makati City. It wasn’t really a big group or crowd but I appreciate them for inviting me to give a motivational speech.

LLOYDLUNA gives a motivational speech in Mapua Institute of Technology

The leadership of their council found me in Google. Before I finally spoke her, we had to reset and match our schedules. Thankfully, we found this day.

After they saw me in the web, they started to send me some SMS o make sure that I would really come. Well, I’m here!

We were fetched from our Makati office at around 8 AM. The event is scheduled at 9 AM. We arrived at the venue on time and the organizers started the program immediately upon my arrival.

I asked my assistant Sabel to bring along some books so my audience will have something to buy after my talk.

I started to speak about success and motivation. My job is to help them figure out if there’s a job waiting for them after graduation. Perhaps, it’s because of this best-selling book also why they are really persistent to get me as their speaker.

MAPUA students pose for a photo with LLOYDLUNA

It was a live, dynamic, and open discussion as I go along talking to them and asking them some important questions like “Is this really what you feel like doing?” among others. That, in essence, stopped their world from moving.

Suddenly, there would be a sort of silence in the crowd. I’d like to believe that those questions questions at least get some space in their hearts.

One thing that I always share with my crowd is their being keen on questions. I encourage them to ask questions about life and success.

Most people in this audience came from say, rich families, or families above the middle-class. I can tell that because of their tuition. It’s kinda expensive. Well, I can’t compare with Polytechnic University of the Philippines, where I was only paying P500 for a semester. It’s a public university.

Mapua student asks for LLOYDLUNA autographed book

But their social status may not spare them from not getting  job after graduation. And to set the record straight, they’d admit that there’s really no guarantee that private education can help them after graduation.

Well, I think at some point, they realize that’s it’s not about the school. Should they become careless and comfortable with their studies, then I don’t think there will be a good place for them to work.

After almost three hours of fun and education, I had some photo session and autograph signing for my book. This is another wonderful experience.

Uniquely Singapore

After my seminar in Kuala Lumpur, I decided to take a long road trip to Singapore where I was taking a flight back to Manila. It’s a very short stay but I just wanted to get a feel of this very unique place.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Let me start with a powerful statement: This travel is a dream come true.

I’ve always wanted to speak before totally foreign audience. Ever since I started my career as an author and speaker, I made a promise to myself to it cannot be in the Philippines alone. I will go out there and explore the world to see what else can I do with the talent that God gave me. I told myself that I will be out there to speak and influence other nations as I represent a Filipino Dream.

On Tuesday, I started it all.

Sometime in October, I got an invitation from Thomvell International asking me if I can speak at their seminar. Because I’d be accommodated in a five-star hotel, provided with return flights plus meals and a professional fee, I said sure.

I arrived in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at around 1:30am. I was picked up by a shuttle. The driver was very accommodating and we had some real good conversation. After 45 minutes of travel via one of the finest expressway I’ve seen in my whole life, I arrived at Istana Hotel, a five-star hotel at the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

I took some rest.

In the morning, I felt even more excited. Later in the afternoon, I will take the center stage and face an entirely different audience from what I used to face back in the Philippines. Please take note that I had to speak in English in three hours.

Before I went down for a breakfast, I fixed myself and decided to just be in a very casual attire. I bought a “traditional” Asian dress from Onesimus before leaving Manila but I changed my mind. I got something I’m more comfortable wearing: a black, long-sleeves sweater, which I also got from Onesimus.

After my breakfast, I went directly to Dilema Hall. Karen of Thomvell recognized me immediately. It was a warm welcome.

For a while, I sat down at the back of the seminar hall and listen to other speakers. I had to observe how my audience respond to what they hear. I was introduced to my fellow speakers and I also introduced not only myself but my books, too.

Before lunch break, I was approached by two or three of the participants. I was fixing my speaking gadgets when they asked me, “Are you going to lock the door?” (In Malay language). I said, “I’m so sorry I don’t understand.” She said it in English.

So I said, “Hum, I’m not sure it the door will be locked.”

That conversation is the one I was waiting for! Now, I have something to start my presentation.

By the I realized that I really looked like one ordinary guy next door. I realized that this honest mistake (having myself mistaken to be either a waiter or an assistant of Mr. Luna) is also true in Malaysia!

And honestly, I loved it. That’s exactly how I want myself to be seen. I wanted to look like ordinary and surprise them with something else once I’m already up on stage. This makes a clear difference between the traditional speaker and myself. I make a statement even before they hear my message.

Before my speech, I made sure to test all my speaking equipment. I would hear some participants asking where the speaker is! And believe me, every moment of it made me smile. I just feel happy not be recognized at that point. There’s a sort of mysticality in it.

I was called in front. There was a warm round of applause. As I approach the front, I would look at their eyes almost one by one and still I know they can’t believe that I’m the speaker. And so I assured them. I said, “Good afternoon. Yes, I am the speaker.”

And every laughed.

I started my presentation by telling them how a dream such as mine can happen within a lifetime. I started to tell the story of some participants who thought I was a waiter or something. They were laughing to death!

Half of my presentation, the organizer gave me a signal for a short break. I asked the audience if they want a break. In chorus, “No. Proceed.”

I got confused so before everyone, I asked, “Who’s calling the shot here: you or the organizer?” And there was another laugh.

Obviously, the organizer can only give in to the participants so from 230 until 4pm, I went through my lecture. Nobody complained. All eyes and ears were on me. Hands are busy taking down notes. It was a magic!

Finally, we had a break. But instead of going to comfort rooms or take their coffee, the first thing I realized was they were going at the back to check on my book The Obvious. They started to buy and get their copies even without me finishing my presentation yet. They were already asking for my signature and photo session!

I told them that I’m going to sign every book after my session and advised them to go on with their snack break.

After 20 minutes, we’re back on the session. I went through my presentation. There wes never one dull moment again. Everyone was attentive, participative, and passionate with what I teach them. The response was always there. They think every time I ask them a question. They are all in it, really. Speakers feel it when their audience are still there and their spirit already left before their session even ends.

Now, the most interesting part was the overtime. Instead of finishing at exactly 5pm, we extended for 45minutes more! And nobody even complained. Nobody even noticed that we were already extending.

One participant the following day would tell me, “Lloyd, my boss call me up after our session and he wondered why I was still not reporting after 5pm. I told him nobody noticed the time. I didn’t realize it was already 6pm!”

After my session, there was a book signing outside the hall, a photo session with the participants, and a short chat with them. Most of them stayed for a while to talk to me. They wouldn’t want to go yet.

It was part of that dream I was able to make for myself.

I was still high with the overwhelming response, rave reviews, and positive feed backs but I had to take some rest. I went back to my hotel room, 1807.

At around 8pm after my dinner, Viki, one of the organizers, volunteered to take me around the city. It was very kind of him (and his friend at Thimble), to tour me around. I was able to take their train, walk toward the popular Twin Towers, and shop with photos taken as we go around.

By around 11pm, we called it a day. And Viki said I really nailed it. It was not another seminar. I went back to Istana alone via train and resigned from a very successful day!

In the morning after breakfast, I dropped by the session hall to see hw they are doing. They still have the warm welcome for me and some even got surprised I was still there. Again, there “thank you” coming from here and there. They just can’t seem to get over our yesterday’s session.

But I was there to surf the Internet and look for a bus schedule going to Singapore. Part of my itinerary is to visit Singapore and fly out from there back to Manila. After some minutes of searching the net, we were able to confirm that there are still 9 available seats for 11am bus. I rushed back to my hotel, picked my luggages up, and checked out.

When I arrived at the old Kuala Lumpur Station, I was informed that there was only one seat left and I was lucky to have it. Whew! Otherwise, I would have taken the 2pm bus. It wouldn’t be a nice schedule because I’d arrive in Singapore very late at night.

The bus was on time. After I bought the ticket, coffee and snacks were served in the passenger’s lounge. Amazing to know that there’s such kind of customer service there. I hope one day in the Philippines, we will have the same bus company to do that.

Half way our land travel, we dropped by some establishments along the expressway, where I bought some more souvenir items. After about two hours, we approached Malaysia Immigration—and then some more minutes we submit ourselves to Singapore Immigration.

At around 5pm, I arrived in Singapore, took a cab to my hotel in Gelling, took some rest, went around the area, looked for money changer, eat some dinner, went back to my room and sleep.

I woke up at around 6am and fixed my things, went to Changi Airport (after checking my email and Facebook), and look around for some souvenir items. Now, I’m on board Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 802 and I’m enjoying a smooth flight.

This two-nation tour is very memorable to me because I never expected to go out of the Philippines this year. I said should I go abroad for a speaking engagement, it should be sometime in 2010. So this is an early Christmas gift for me!

My stay in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is another experience in my archive should I need some things to remind myself that dreams do come true if we have the faith and belief in ourselves.

33 out of 35 Malaysian audience gave me 10/10 rating and 2/35 gave me 9/10, which Karen informed me in her email that I got the highest rating among all speakers. She even had an early booking for their March event! I believe they’re bringing me back!

So I thank God for this talent, guidance, and the energy to make my own magic happen in my lifetime. I’d like to extend my appreciation to the organizers, Thomvell International for the opportunity of bringing me to Malaysia, and to all the delegates who are just too warm and passionate in my teachings!

I promise to be back there to see you and talk to you again. I promise to be back with something more. In the meantime, let me keep this memory with you in my mind. I’ll leave this place but not without your thoughts in me. I’ll leave this place but not without my prayers and hopes for you. I’ll leave this place but not without you in my heart.