Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWiOKkXZM8s

Source: CCTV+

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According to certain statistics, 82% of romance buyers are women, while 18% are men – and a total of 35% of the total books sold are part of the romance gender. That’s certainly a lot of romance books to sell. Plus, a significant part of that was caused by strategic, smart content that is very inspiring for many content marketers.

Successful Trends of the Romance Marketing Industry

Many writers tend to avoid mixing business writing with fiction – or so used to be the case in the past. However, if you look at it from the lens of a content marketer, you will definitely see some interesting data that will definitely inspire you to try more. 

For example, the Romance Writers of America today has over 9 thousand members across the states, along with multiple local chapters. They also have conference schedules that take place throughout the year, along with content marketing strategies that include blogs, professional magazines, industry reports, and learning resources. 

Plus, publishers are also going through sophisticated outreach to their readers by using the competition, along with in-person conferences, dedicated online reviews, and review blog networks. 

The takeaway here when it comes to content marketing is that there are so many layers that drive this industry – and the manner in which these layers interweave leads to an experience that s certainly worth exploring further.  

How Romance Writers Reach their Audience

An important part of content marketing is looking at the way in which writers reach their audience. From their blogs and websites to the places where they are active in the online community (e.g. social media), they are taking part in a variety of avenues.

According to Diana Urban, marketing manager at BookBub, “romance writers have created content marketing for their work in so many creative and inspiring ways. They have used a variety of marketing tools to promote their new releases and become popular on the market – which is why we tend to see so many bestsellers nowadays that are part of the romance genre. 

One more way to reach the audience is to create bonus content for every book that you write. For instance, for every book that Debbie Macomber creates, she also provides bonus content. Some books that mention cookies, for instance, will also contain “extras,” where you may find the recipes. Every reader loves free content, particularly the kind that allows you to immerse even more in the book. It is a good way to get them excited for the upcoming release.

The Bottom Line

With so many copies of romance books selling like there’s no tomorrow, it’s clear that the writers are certainly doing something right with their content marketing. If you are looking for a little bit of inspiration, the romance industry my certainly help you be the better marketer.

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The custom branded marquees are an excellent tool through which a commercial brand can increase their visibility and awareness amongst the general and the probable buyers and customers in the market. This is one of the gimmicks that have been used by marketing strategists for years and remains a very popular gimmick. 

These days you can find different types of marquees that are used for different purposes. Some of them are used to organize social gatherings and parties and celebrations. Others are required in events like fairs, exhibitions and such other carnivals where buyers and spectators gather in large numbers and visit all the stalls and observe the collection and variety of things that are displayed at the exhibitions.

Here people make use of general marquees and also custom branded marquees which displays advertisements of various companies and commercial transitions. Different types of companies opt for such custom branded marquees as a potential way of reaching out to a larger number of people in the market. The use of these custom branded marquees has seen a huge increase in the current times and the following are some of the reasons why you can make use of these tents.

Exhibitions – These days you can get to see different types of fairs and exhibitions being arranged in different parts of the city for various purposes throughout the year. In these exhibitions, the different participants who make their entry require a marquee for their stall. This is the perfect place where these custom branded marquees can be used potentially. Often such fairs are organized in expansive landscapes or s areas where several stalls are installed. In such a situation, it is always beneficial to make use of these branded marquees, which will help the buyers to spot your brand even from a distance with greater ease.

Gatherings – So many social gatherings occur throughout the year. Some are organized to celebrate a special date, or an event and many others happen to be casual gatherings. Often when a community hall or such a place is unavailable for the organizing the event, these custom branded marquees can be a great idea to create a sheltered place where the gathering can properly take place.

General Shelter – Apart from exhibitions, fairs and gatherings and events you need provide shelter for a large number of visitors may come to the exhibition for buying varieties of products or just for win down shopping. This is one of the purposes for which you can make use of these custom branded marquees. They are easily available in the market, and you can buy them, rent them and use them in any way you wish.

At the time of buying these custom branded marquees, you must be study the exact dimensions and the size of the marquees. In case you happen to buy something smaller than what you require then you can be in a trouble for a reason. Inspect the item at the time of buying and check for any tear or other defects so that once it is bought you can make proper use of the item and can get an optimal return out of the investments made.

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Factors That Influence The Selection Of Best Tattoo Parlour 

• Reliable References – It is best to ask for references of tattoo shops from close relatives and friends, who have got attractive tattoos on their bodies. They can share their experiences of tattoo making and recommend the name of the best tattoo parlour in their locality. The beauty of their tattoo designs may inspire others to get similar kinds of tattoos from the same tattoo artist.
• A Valid License Of Parlour – The tattoo studio should have the legally valid license from the local authority, which is a mark of the professional competence of that shop in tattoo making. The employment of only well-trained tattoo artists is another criterion for issuing this license. Thus, the licensed parlours are more reliable than unlicensed ones. 
• Hygienic Condition Of A Studio – The entire premises of a tattoo shop should be satisfactorily cleaned with disinfectant agents, including all furniture pieces to avoid harmful infections. The best tattoo parlour should possess the latest sterilization equipment for sterilizing all the needles and other materials before applying on a client’s skin. 

• Previous Works Of Tattoo Artist – A tattoo studio should have a portfolio containing all tattoo designs drawn on the skins of their previous clients. Many experienced tattoo artists also maintain their individual portfolios, which provide an idea of the quality of their works. Now, these professional portfolios can also be checked online at their websites. 
• Working Style Of Tattoo Artist – A new client should speak to the tattoo artist working in a tattoo shop, to find if that artist has a friendly attitude to the clients and make them comfortable while drawing tattoos on their skins. An experienced artist associated with the best tattoo parlour should use fresh needles by opening a sealed container. He should use only fresh disposable gloves for each assignment of tattoo making and throw away those gloves after every use. Fresh pigment tray should also be used for tattooing on each client. Thus, it is wisest to watch a tattoo artist in action, to check all these important matters. 
• Costs Of Drawing Tattoos – The fees of making tattoos differ from one shop to another, based on the reputation of each tattoo parlour and experience level of tattoo artist engaged there. Thus, all the charges of tattoo making may be compared, along with consideration of all other factors and qualities of tattoos created in these shops. 
• Quality Of Tattoo Inks – The names of manufacturers of tattoo inks should be checked to find if these manufacturers are well-known in providing only safe and high-quality inks. The ingredients of these inks need to be read thoroughly, to see if any harmful metal or chemical is included. The best tattoo parlour should use inks of all bright shades so that the tattoos are clearly visible and acquire attractive looks. 

If all these above-mentioned factors are minutely checked for finding the best tattoo parlour, it is expected to get the most attractive tattoo designs drawn on the body. An experienced tattoo artist will take care to cause minimum pain while creating a complicated design on the skin of his client.

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Aptly titled “JUXTA:POSITION”, the exhibition comes as a result of Kurer’s particular interest in the universal and widespread use of the aesthetics of reduction, something present he says in the carved wooden figures or bulul, which are closely associated with the Ifugao peoples of Northern Luzon.

A three-part book, JUXTA:POSITION (The Aesthetics of Reduction), will be made available to the public. In it, Kurer goes into greater detail on the aestheticism of the carvings of the Cordillera peoples, which he says can also be perceived and described utilizing an artistic vocabulary similar to the one of the Abstract Art movement. The second and third parts highlight the bululs, boxes, kinahu, and spoons of the Cordillera peoples, mostly from the 19th century and earlier, and a number of abstract paintings from Filipino artists, as photographed by At Maculangan of Pioneer Studios, Manila.

Similar exhibitions have been done before by the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1988 and accompanied by William Rubin’s catalogue “The Primitivism of Modern Art”, and in 2009 at Fondation Beyeler in Riehen/Basel titled “Visual Encounters, Africa, Oceanic, and Modern Art”, which showed tribal masterpieces alongside works of Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Vassily Kandisnky, Rousseau, Constantin Brancusi, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, and Mark Rothko.

More recently, the exhibition of Les Collections Barbier-Muller “100 Years of Passion” showed tribal art pieces from Africa and Oceania in the context of contemporary art of Baselitz, Jeff Koons, and others.

“I am not looking at the use of these aesthetic principles from a scholarly point of view,” Kurer says. “Rather, I look at pieces of art from different backgrounds and periods, and attempt to search some aesthetic interaction or connection among them.”

Each bulul, a box or bowl from AsianArt:Future’s collection, most of which were gathered from old collections, assembled in the last century, will be shown with a corresponding artwork from José Joya, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, H.R. Ocampo, Lee Aguinaldo, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz, Fernando Zóbel, Lao Lianben, and Gus Albor, who created a painting specifically for the exhibition.

Kurer invites the audience to look at the partnered pieces and perhaps spark a dialogue on the aesthetic vocabulary of the two genres of artistic creation, which, on the face of it, may not have much in common.

Yet, through the simplicity, directness, discipline, the reduction to the essence, understatement, and the ability to show a hidden reality, it does according to Kurer.

This approach, Kurer adds, is not to subordinate traditional Cordillera art to the viewpoint of “modern” or “fine” art point of view but to allow both sources to be looked at on the same level.

“That also means to avoid looking, in the traditional approach, at the Cordillera pieces shown from the perspective of their anthropological, ceremonial, and functional background and use,” Kurer says. “What the exhibition and juxtaposition focuses on is the artistic implementation of the carver’s dealings with the spiritual world in their natural environment, and the search for the unconscious, and how it co-relates or connects with the same search for aesthetics of their modern artistic counterparts.”

In the January/February 2017 edition of Asian Art Magazine, AsianArt: Future published an article that looks in detail into the art of the Cordilleras people and their counterparts around the globe. The write up points out that pieces they have created match the quality of the pieces of African and Oceanic tribal art. Kurer also published a book titled Simplicity.Ifugao Sculpture.Power (Hong Kong University Press/Columbia University Press).

As a collector, Kurer remains fascinated by the fact that artists from different continents, with very distinct cultural heritages, and from very different epochs, could end up employing—or be perceived to be employing—very similar aesthetic approaches and furthering this dialogue is what he hopes the exhibition will achieve.

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“These events, which challenge runners through gruesome and gritty course, are our way of remembering, honoring and emulating the bravery and sacrifices of our World War II veterans during one of the darkest chapters of our country’s history,” stated Chairman Roberto De Ocampo of the Philippine Veterans Bank.

This would at least match the spirit that enveloped the previous years’ celebrations in White Sands, New Mexico in the USA of this historic event, though even in smaller numbers locally. He said the reason it has been held annually in New Mexico, US is that there was a small contingent that fought and were part of the march, explained Miguel Villa Real, president of the Philippine Veterans Bank during a press conference.

Yet, close to 85 percent of the 70,000 death marchers were Filipinos, and yet the Death March of Bataan had always been celebrated in New Mexico, the USA for several years now, he explained.

Around 10,000 of the marchers died along the 140 km route at an average of 600 to 800 people dying per kilometer of the route. They fought with the Japanese, along with some Americans, thereby stalling the timetable to end the war from January to April 9, when the American commanders surrendered. “Yet there was not much awareness and respect towards the Death March which is why PVB decided that something had to be done about this.

The first event is the Freedom Trail (to be held on March 2-3) starting from km0 in Mariveles, Bataan covering 140 kms all the way to Capas, Tarlac where the Capas National Shrine is. Participants may register as individual or a group of 8 or 16 that can walk 10 kms and then to be replaced by another group as they rest at the trail and the marchers will relay the Freedom March Symbolic Guidon (flag).

Last year, he said, the Bataan Freedom Trail sponsored the maintenance of the Death March markers (totaling 116 in all but 2 of which were destroyed recently by the contractor of the DPWH for road widening in Bataan and Tarlac). Each marker is sponsored by a family with the names of the soldiers who perished in the march. Their destruction enraged the second and third generation of the marchers who view the market as sacred. What this says is there is not much respect for these markers. Another 600 participants to the Freedom trail is expected to join this year, with participants from the United States and the youth (ROTC) and another option is to take the bus which will take the participants around the World War II sites.

The proceeds of these events will go to the maintenance of the markers. Last year, he said, the events raised P400,000 from the two events.  Some of the funds would be used to put up a marker in what is now called Hospital No. 1 (where the injured marchers were treated).

On April 14 is the Bataan Run, a marathon of 10k and 5k for kids and pets and for the family.

We hope this will be a continuing annual event and surpass the numbers of participants in New Mexico, USA. “If they raise 8,000 marchers, we should raise 16,000 in the next 10 years and my personal take is if people know who their grandparents were as heroes then they would learn to value their sacrifice more,” Villa Real said adding that he learned of his grandparents’ participation only recently when he was already in the bank.

When you discover your grandparents as fighters in World War II then that is when you realize you have a rich family history and learn to value them more.

A third activity is the Ride for Valor on March 10 where participants would trace the entire route of the Death March I n a unique Big Bike Competitive tour called Ride and Seek from kmO in Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac.

The Freedom Trail aims to involve more participants from the youth, the military and police and members of the US Special Forces, who were invited to join the solo or team relays.

By Rose de la Cruz

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“We share our vision with the Filipino community as we inspire greener mall spaces through various eco-friendly and sustainable programs,” said Bernice Baculi, SM Supermalls assistant vice president for mall operations.

Teaming up with Tulay Lingap ni Padre Pio Inc., SM Aura began building a lush environment in the mall through Boxes of Greens — the first fully-operational herb garden in a mall that not only promotes a green environment, but also sustains the livelihood of rural communities. Proceeds of this program go to building of schools, emergency assistance, and reforestation.

Both promoting a sustainable lifestyle, SM Aura teamed up with The Plastic Solution as the exclusive and official drop-off point for Eco-bricks — a plastic bottle stuffed with solid, non-biodegradable waste converted into structures for the surrounding communities. In just two days, its online release reached about 30,000 users, with hundreds of shares.

The Last Straw, an initiative that envisions a strawless community, is also underway at SM Aura as more restaurants express their interest and active participation to the program by offering alternatives to plastic straws.

In collaboration with SM Cares — SM’s corporate social responsibility arm — other green programs of SM Aura include Trash-to-Cash recycling market, among others. Part of the Lush Initiative is also coming out with a series of Sustainable Fairs that promote Zero-Waste lifestyle and products. With its strong commitment to be an eco-friendly property development, SM Aura Premier is the first LEED certified building in Taguig City, and is the first mall to receive a Gold LEED Certification.

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But don’t stop there because things don’t always go as planned. Jobs are lost. Unexpected expenses crop up. Not all investments pan out. It’s not enough to just build a future, you have to make sure that your loved ones get to enjoy it, too, in the future.

How to do that? Here are five easy ways to ensure that all your hard work will not go in vain, no matter what!

Set up an emergency fund

Don’t let life’s unwelcome surprises—a major home repair, a health emergency, or worse, unemployment—throw you off guard. Make sure you have an emergency fund saved up that is at least 3 to 6 months’ worth of your living expenses. How to compute? Add up your expenses for a month (Don’t forget to include the monthly equivalent of your annual expense like school tuition, insurance premiums, taxes, etc.) and multiply it to three months (or up to six months). That’s how much money you should have, kept, right now! This is your financial safety net when the need arises.

Pay your debts

Avoid debt at all cost! But if you have to have debt, prioritize paying them. If you don’t, all your mortgage, car loans, and other debts will be your loved ones’ burden. Yup, there’s no escaping them. And remember, don’t just pay the minimum. Pay in full and on time. Don’t let money that could have gone to your retirement fund or your kid’s educational fund just go to interest payments.

Protect what you built

Don’t let uncertainties take away the things you worked hard for. Whether it’s the house that you’ve taken a loan for or the college education that you’ve been saving up for, make sure your family will get to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Insurance plans like Set for Tomorrow protect what you have built so you don’t have to worry about your family losing what you’ve worked for. This new product from pan-Asian insurer FWD Life Insurance Philippines has three affordable variants: Short Term Cover for your loans and financial obligations; Income Protector for your family’s living expenses and your children’s education; and Estate Protector for smooth transfer of wealth to your heirs. Want to calculate how much it’ll take to ensure your family’s better tomorrow, no matter what? Visit FWD’s calculator, CALI at http://bit.ly/SetforTomorrow-Cali and get a quote!

Develop new skills

From volunteering to manage a project to finding a mentor and attending seminars, developing new skills add value to your career and is crucial for your growth (and promotions)! Don’t be scared to veer away from your corporate comfort zone. Turning on and upgrading hobbies like baking, photography, blogging, etc. could mean new streams of income for you and your family. The possibilities are endless when you don’t stop learning! 

Diversify your investments

Remember the old adage “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? That’s investment diversification in a nutshell. Diversification is investing in different funds from different companies and industries so you don’t run the risk of losing all your money when one of your investments suffers. That way, the money you intend to grow for your family’s future needs are secure.

Want to make sure your tomorrow is made better today? Visit http://bit.ly/IwanttogetSetforTomorrow.

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Kandama has 2 weaving centers situated in Julongan Village. These weaving centers support the livelihood of 28 Ifugao women.

Kandama, a social enterprise inspiring creative synergy among master weavers, designers, and artists brings the power of the weave to life with SAVE THE WEAVE: A Kandama Benefit Show on September 27, 2018 at Tanghalang Pasigueño.

Now on its second year, Kandama has partnered with Philippine Stagers Foundation to bring you an event highlighting Filipino heritage and talent. Featuring cultural performances by Indigenous Peoples from Ifugao, a fashion show showcasing woven fabrics by master weavers, and a groundbreaking theater performance of Supremo Redux–a modern musical about the life of Andres Bonifacio.

A night of celebration, cultural conservation, and craft empowerment await at SAVE THE WEAVE. Tickets are on sale for PHP 1,200 and can be purchased via Ticketworld. The show starts at 7:00PM.

SAVE THE WEAVE aims to raise funds and awareness towards Kandama’s mission: to preserve the tradition of handloom weaving, provide economic opportunities to the indigenous women of Julongan, and protect the watershed that sustains the rice terraces, which is a UNESCO Heritage site.

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The second Fluvial Procession Milagrosa features several bancas along the coast of the La Milagrosa Chapel and Cove in Brgy. La Virgen Milagrosa, Badoc Town, at 4:00p.m. on May 26.

“This is not just a celebration and parade, but also an act of thanksgiving to the Almighty accompanied with devout prayer,” shared Mr. Jade Ceasar Raquel, tourism officer of Badoc.

The Fluvial Procession Milagrosa will end with a reenactment of how La Milagrosa came to be the provincial patroness: she is said to have arrived floating in a box together with the image of Sto. Cristo Milagroso between the shores of Brgy. Paguetpet in Badoc and Brgy. Dadalaquiten, Sinait, a bordering town of Ilocos Sur.

Only people from Badoc were able to carry the image of La Milagrosa, while only those from Sinait could carry Cristo Milagroso. Thus, they understood that the images had chosen their respective towns and provinces.

Nearly 3,000 devotees had watched the Fluvial Procession Milagrosa last year, which featured 70 decorated fishing boats sailing the border between Badoc and Sinait.

Meanwhile, a mass will be held at the St. John the Baptist Parish at 9:00a.m. on May 31, after which the image of La Milagrosa will be displayed through a procession for her coronation.

According to Tourism Operations Officer Mr. Xavier Ruiz, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia is expected to grace the pontifical coronation, together with the bishop of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and other Ilocos Norte church officials to be led by Bishop Renato Mayugba of the Diocese of Laoag City.

Ruiz shared, “This is very important in terms of faith tourism, which is a priority of the national government and tourism department,” citing the Manaoag Church in Pangasinan, Ilocos Region, as an example of millions flocking to a destination out of faith or pilgrimage.

“It is a momentous event not only for the church, but also for the culture, heritage, and history of our province,” he added, expressing his hope that akin to other places in the Philippines bearing Marian images, the town of Badoc would also follow in terms of economic progress, more jobs, and stronger tourism following the coronation.

“The La Milagrosa Chapel and St. John the Baptist Parish are not the only places to visit in Badoc, so we hope to see a more developed town because of this event.”

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