Six things you love but you have Zero clue that they are already 60 years old

English Philosopher C.E.M. Joad once said, “Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age. “

Truly, turning 60 is quite a feat thus one of the most precious stones represent such accomplishment. Happy Diamond year to everyone and everything that are in their senior year as of today!

Below is a list of six things you love but you might have zero clue that they are already 60 years old:

1. Frisbee – On 14 January 14 1957, toy company Wham produced the first-ever Frisbee that started millions of play for fun on a beach, in the backyard, at night, with kids, your friends, your dog from one generation to another.

Image credit: marvinsflyingdisccollection.com

2. Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat – One of the all-time favorite children's books written and illustrated by Theodor Geisel under the pen name Dr. Seuss and first published in March 1957. The story centers on a tall anthropomorphic cat whose tale was relived in the silver screen in 2003.

Image credit: biography.com

3. Laser - American physicist Gordon Gould recorded his analysis and suggested applications in a laboratory notebook under the heading "Some rough calculations on the feasibility of a LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”—the first recorded use of this acronym. Official date of the invention lf laser is on 13 November 1957.

Image credit: sciencelens.com.nz

4. Lego – Godtfred Kirk Christiansen files for patent for the iconic plastic Lego brick on 28 January 2018. From that day on, his company Lego (derived from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means "play well") has made more than 400 billion pieces/ elements of the best-selling educational toy.

Image credit: sciencepart.com

5. Ellen DeGeneres – Her show named after her is one of the most watched syndicated American TV programs. And who would have thought  this actress, comedienne and host just turned 60 last January 26.

Image credit: tvseriesfinale.com

6. SM or Shoe Mart - SM was founded as a shoe store by Henry Sy, Sr., in 1958 in downtown Manila--- a store layout and merchandising concepts never before tried in the Philippines.

Incidentally, this weekend will be an #AweSM “Sweet 60” at SM Supermalls treating valued shoppers with tons of sweet treats, fun deals, and visual delights.

There will be a “Sweet 60” activity area featuring an interactive play experience, where shoppers can immerse themselves in a fantastic wonderland colors and desserts. In collaboration with Boysen, Fruits In Ice Cream, The Dessert Museum, and the Lost Bread – Sm Megamall’s #AweSM Weekend Party is Instagram wonderland where you can splurge on dessert treats and freebies, and snap photos at different activity stations.

Steven Tan, SM Supermalls CEO shared, “For six decades, every kind of celebration and family fun bonding has happened in an SM mall. This time, we are bringing unique, over-the-top experiences we know that will truly delight our shoppers. This is also our way of saying Thank You to our loyal shoppers for making SM a part of their families through the years”.

As part of the #AweSM weekend, a giant logo projection mapping show at SM Megamall’s facade along EDSA, and a relaunch of SM’s “We’ve Got It All Jingle”, sang by Ramonne Rodriquez of The Voice will be witnessed. SM Woman Divas, Frenchie Dy, Radha and Bituin Escalante and SM Little Stars Annatacia Penny and NU Pep Squad performed.

Image credit: SM Megamall FB page

And the best treat of them all is that customers can also indulge in fun summer eats and dining deals in SM malls across the country during the weekend and enjoy exciting promos that celebrates the number 60 – Pay only P60, Pay P60 less, or Pay only 60%!

The 60th year celebration is an exciting culmination of SM’s humble beginnings from its first shore store in Carriedo, Manila, opened by Henry Sy, Sr. in 1958. The party started with the #AweSM launch event early in the week that gathered SM’s partners, tenants, celebrities, and valued stakeholders who have been part of SM’s journey from a one-store operation to one of the Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers.

The Sweet 60 activity area will be at Mega Fashion Hall until May 28. For more info about SM’s #AweSM 60 years, visit SM Supermalls Facebook page (@smsupermalls) or check out www.smsupermalls.com.

Daddy, you have a tummy like Kung Fu Panda

I was minding my own business watching basketball on TV last Sunday night when my 6-year old son butted in, "Daddy, you have a tummy like Kung Fu Panda."

Charles must have been watching me caressing my just-had-dinner stomach while lying in bed.  I just smiled at my little boy and asked him to play outside the room with his cousins instead of staring at my belly.

How could this boy be that insensitive after bringing him to the special advance screening of Kung Fu Panda 3 at SM Megamall Imax Theater courtesy of the generous people from 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Dreamworks, Dream Play and WWF Philippines (I just have to thank them this way because we really had a great time last weekend).

That's my son (nope, not the Panda) with his newly-met friends during the advance screening of Kung Fu Panda 3 in 3D.

Just in case you don't know, Kung Fu Panda is one of the most successful animated film of all-time featuring the voice of ace comedian Jack Black as the clumsy yet heroic Panda named Po. For the third installment of the series, other Hollywood heavyweights were included in the cast namely Dustin Hoffman as Shifu; Angelina Jolie as Tigress; Jackie Chan as Monkey; Seth Rogen  as Mantis; Lucy Liu as Viper; Kate Hudson as Mei Mei; and a lot more.

Now, I'm starting to think the what my son said s actually a compliment. Imagine how many big stars were assembled just for a Panda film. Now here's one trivia you might want to know (no matter how useless it may sound): In the movie, Po is known as the Dragon Warrior. But did you know that Panda's has a list of aliases?  The Chinese call giant pandas daxiongmao or “large bear cat.” Pandas have also been known as “beast of prey,” “white leopard,” “iron eating beast,” and “bamboo bear.

Now, if you still have a few minute to spend reading, here are three more interesting Panda trivia that you can pass on to your child:

1. A panda mother is 900 times bigger than her newborn cub, which weighs less than 5 oz. In comparison, an 8-pound human baby would have a mother that weighed 7,200 pounds.

2. On average, a panda eats 25-30 pounds of bamboo in one day. In the spring, a panda may eat 100 pounds in a day.

3. Under its fur, the skin of a giant panda is black where its fur is black, and pink where its fur is white.

Coo, right? Anyways, just in case you want to catch Kung Fu Panda 3 in your favorite movie house, regular screening nationwide starts on March 9.

Panda trivia source: facts.randomhistory.com.

10 Things You Don't Want to Know About Emily Kinney: The Walking Dead'sBeth Greene

If your a big fan of Emily Kinney and her TWD character Beth Greene, don't read the last part of this post that will reveal a major spoiler in the ongoing 5th season of our favorite zombie series. I am sharing some trivia about our beloved Emily/ Beth that I gathered through the seasons I have followed this addicting AMC  TV show. Here are the 10 things who don't want to know about her: 1. Emily guested in the TV series The Following this year and was murdered in the episode Teacher's Pet. 2. Beth is supposed to be 16 years old in TWD but in real life she just turned 29 last August 15. 3. Emily was once an active blogger of Unscripted Magazine until 2012. Incidentally, there is another blogger in the US named Emily Kinney. 4. If you're planning to date Emily, you can bring her in a coffee shop or a pizza parlor because she is a self-confessed coffeeholic and vegetarian (who loves squash pizza). 5. She has been in the showbiz industry since 2007 but she has only 3 films in her resume. 6. Emily is a catholic but admitted that she doesn't go to church regularly. 7. She once wore a Picachu costume for a job. 8. She's 5'5 and wears size 9 shoes. You know what they say about people with big feet, right? 9. Emily don't have a flawless skin with moles and spots in her chest and a tattoo (a music note with a heart), guess where. 10. Reports says that Beth Greene will say goodbye on the midseason finale of TWD on Dec. 1 (PH time). So savor the remaining episodes we'll see this sweet girl with a golden voice. (Enter sad faces)

Hoodie You Want

What do you get when you cross Christmas breeze and monsoon rain? People wearing hoodies.

Well, that’s not actually a joke since hoodies are definitely one of the hottest things today. Well, they look cool, too.

A hoodie, also called a hooded sweatshirt or hoody, is a sweatshirt with a hood (apologies for the redundancies because I just want to make it really clear that my readers are thinking of the same hoddie that I have in mind).

But do you know the story behind the hoodie aside from the fact that it is a clothing with a muff sewn onto the lower front, a hood, and usually a drawstring to adjust the hood opening, and may have a vertical zipper down the center similar to a windbreaker style jacket?

Here are 7 Hoodie Trivia that you might find interesting:

1. The garment's style and form can be traced back to Medieval Europe when the normal clothing for monks included a long, decorative hood called a cowl attached to a tunic or robes, and a chaperon or hooded cape was very commonly worn by any outdoors worker.

2. The hooded sweatshirt was first produced in the United States starting in the 1930s by Champion in and marketed to laborers working who endured freezing temperatures while working in upstate areas.

3. The hoodie took off in the 1970s, with several factors contributing to its success. Hip hop culture developed in New York City around this time, and the hoodie's element of instant anonymity provided by the accessible hood.

4. Most critical to the hoodie's popularity during the 70's was its iconic appearance in the blockbuster boxing film Rocky.

5. By the 1990s, the hoodie had evolved into a symbol of isolation, a statement of academic spirit, and several fashion collections.  Young men, often skateboarders or surfers, sported the hoodie and spread the trend across the western United States. The rise of hoodies with university logos began around this time.

6. Hoodie Day was launched in May 2008 in New Zealand as part of an annual national Youth Week, a pro-youth initiative to challenge youth stereotypes.

7. In April 2013, the highly durable "10-Year Hoodie" was invented. The hooded sweatshirt is 100% cotton and the American manufacturers sourced yarns that are spun to become softer over time to ensure durability. 

Now if you still don’t have a hoodie to wear during the cold weather, you have a chance to get one courtesy of 7-Eleven’s Health and Beauty promo HOODIE TIME, a rewards/ loyalty promotion using your 7-Eleven  Every Day! rewards card.  You can get a FREE limited edition hoodie (two designs to choose from) when you accumulate P1,000 worth of Personal Care product purchases.

The personal care products included in the promo are the following: Shampoo, conditioner, hair treatment, hair styling, mouthwash, toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, body wash, face wash, face cream, face scrub, face mask, toner and cleanser, lotion, moisturizer, antiperspirant deodorant, alcohol, cotton, facial tissue, baby products, feminine wash, feminine pads, cologne, powder, cosmetics, shavers and sanitizer. For complete list of participating brands, just click HERE.

Visit any of the 1,100 7-Eleven stores now and add their exclusive line to your closet collection!

The Amazing Gwen Stacy 2 movie experience

Image credit: www.totalfilm.com

If there is one Hollywood actress that can turn me into a stone, figuratively and literally, every time I see her, it’s definitely Emma Stone.

Just look at her photo. If you’re a male reading this post and looking at Emma’s image right now, tell me what part of your body is beginning to feel a bit stiff and hard at this very moment. Your hands and fingers, right? You can’t move them because your brain is telling you not to scroll down the mouse just yet.

Last week, I was able to see the second installment of The Amazing Spider-man series which I prefer to label as The Amazing Gwen Stacy 2. Of course, I watched it because it’s a Peter Parker movie but it was Emma Stone who really made me crawl to the theatre in spite of  forewarnings from friends that there are long lines just to purchase tickets to the film and would need a pocket-full of patience to survive the Rhino-like and Electro dynamo of an event.

Good thing my spider senses led me to SM Megamall IMAX theatres where I was introduced to the stored value-based contactless smart card payment application with e-PLUS Tap to Pay. I am not really a fan of keeping different cards in my wallet since it confuses me sometimes. I remember one time, I tried to pay my groceries using a motel discount card (which was suppose to be not there since it’s not mine. Please believe me it’s not mine.).

However, going through the brochure of the all-new e-PLUS Tap To Pay card can convert any non-believers. Imagine this, the card offers you all-in-one cashless transactions in UV Express Shuttles in SM Passenger Terminals, SM Mall Parking Buildings, SM Tickets, Mall of Asia Arena, Science Discovery Center, SM Bowling, SM Ice Skating, Storyland, SM Cinemas, Directors Club Cinemas, IMAX Theatres, Snacktime. Soon, it also be accepted in all SM Retail Stores and merchants nationwide to provide Filipinos cashless convenience coupled with a variety of exciting, exclusive perks and more savings.

I need this! I am virtually in a SM establishment more often than in my in-laws house.

So to make the story short, I availed a e-PLUS card and avoided long lines and now have more reasons to come back in SM and try it with other establishments.

Now if you have not seen The Amazing Spided-Man 2 aka The Gwen Stacy 2 movie, I suggest you stop reading this post that contains spoiler about the film. Or better, get an e-PLUS card so you know what I have been talking about for minutes.

I am sharing below some Gwen Stacy Trivia that might interest even non-Emma Stone fans:

1. Despite Gwen Stacy dying in the film. Emma Stone is signed on to do at least two more Amazing Spider-man films.

2. With the exit of Gwen’s character, here comes Mary-Jane Watson to be played by Shailene Woodley (another demigoddess of beauty) who played Amy Juergens in The Secret Life of the American Teenager in 2008.

3. The  dog that Gwen walks while Peter spies on her from a rooftop, actually belongs to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. They adopted him in 2013.

4. Gwen fellow Oscorp employee Felicia Hardy is known in the marvel comics as Black Cat, a cat burgle and occasionally a love interest of Spider-man.

5. During the scene where Peter and Gwen see each other for the first time in a year, Andrew Garfield's heel was run over by a taxi.

6. During the scene where Gwen Stacy died, the clock tower's hand spin rapidly, landing on 01:21, Gwen Stacy is killed in Amazing Spider-Man #121.

7. Towards the end of the film, Gwen Stacy wears a mint colored coat and a purple skirt, this is a reference to the controversial "Night That Gwen Stacy Died" story arc in the comics where she wore a very similar outfit.

8. There were several different endings filmed, including one where the Goblin (Dane DeHaan) snaps Gwen's neck with his bare hands. But this was deemed too violent for a PG-13 rating. A version where the Goblin fatally stabs Gwen was also filmed.

Now as a bonus trivia, have you ever thought why there is a hypen or dash in Spider-man’s name?

Stan Lee, the man behind our friendly neighbourhood hero, had a pretty good reason for that one, and it dates all the way back to when he created Peter Parker’s alter ego in 1962. At the time, DC’s Superman was one of the biggest comic book hero out there, and Lee was worried his new hero (who wears those similar blue and red colors, and has a name that starts with an “S”) would be glossed over as too similar.

Do you have an interesting Spider-man or Gwen Stacy trivia to share? Go to the comment section and I’ll be glad to hear from you.

Seven things I learned from my wife

 

December 2 is a special day.

In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor of France in Paris. Twelve years later, the first savings bank in the US opens (Philadelphia Savings Fund Society).  British author Charles Dickens gives his first public reading in the United States at the New York City Theatre in 1867. If you want something from the Pinoy history book, well, The Battle of Tirad Pass or the Philippine-American war was happened in 1899.

Some useless trivia? December 2 is the date when a human birth was first shown on TV (1952); Ringo Starr's tonsils were removed (1964); Barbara Striesand's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" hits #1 (1978) and the first time there were a dozen people in space.

Personally, it’s one of the most important dates in my life. Not only because it’s Britney Spears birthday but it’s the day when Leah and I tied the knot on 2006. Yup, it’s quite a journey and we can proudly say that we have survived what many consider as the seven–year itch.

I don’t intend to cover  in this post the years that Leah and I have gone through together because I can’t. I’ll need a lifetime to retell all the wonderful things and even the trials that we have shared through the years. What I can write now are a few things that I find more memorable since I learned them from my wife.

1.    You don’t peel ampalaya or bitter melon. On our first week as a married couple, I tried to prove to Leah that I also eat ampalaya. I told her that I cook the best bitter melon with scrambled eggs dish ever. She did like it alright. She like it that she could not stop laughing at the sight of peeled ampalaya for breakfast.

2.    You don’t use a knife while getting stuff the freezer. On our first month, I told my wife that I want to maximize the use of our fridge. Instead of buying 5-peso ice cubes from our next door store, I’ll make use of ice bags to save some coins. It just happened that one ice bag was a little sticky that I need to use a knife to take it off. I heard her said not to use a pointed object but it’s too late, I hit the Freon tube in my first try and the next day we got billed P3,500 for service and Freon refill.

3.    Britney Spears, Cristina Aguillera and Mandy Moore rocks! Before I met Leah, I thought music was all about The Beatles, Eraserheads, Robbie Williams, The Wuds, or any guy who can rock the stage. We had only a portable CD player in our house before and we share most of the time. She use it from morning to evening and I get to hold it a few minutes before I fall as sleep. The result: I was converted into a Britney’s slave after just three weeks of listening to her songs at home.

4.    Wearing pink will not make you a lesser man. When I was still single, my cabinet used to contain only two things: black shirts and others. I am very comfortable wearing dark colored tops because they’re basically wash and wear. People will not notice if you’re armpits are heavily perspiring in it. When my wife and I found out that our first baby was a girl, her first decision was to paint our room pink. Do you expect me to argue with my pregnant wife? In the same year, she bought me a pink polo shirt. From then on, I was embracing this fashion called “The Pink and Black Attack.”

5.    I can be strong on a dark day. My first experience as a father only lasted for almost 12 hours. Our baby Monique was not able to survive after my wife underwent an emergency procedure. I was there for my daughter from the very moment she was put in an incubator up to the moments of her last breath. I was emotionally and physically tired since I never expected that after two weeks in the hospital, my wife will have an unfortunate delivery. I postponed the pouring of my tears because if there is someone who’s hurting the most, it’s my wife. I wore a brave face every time I talked to her and would whisper to her “Everything will be okay” with a heavy heart. After two years, we got our prayers answer with our second child bringing new a life to our relationship.

6.    Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad. I am so glad I have Leah as my wife to raise a wonderful blessing we call Charles. We agreed that we will impose a “no spanking” policy at home no matter and whatever Charles does. We discipline him with words and make him realize what will happen if he will do things that are nice.  I would like to believe that fatherhood made me more patient, understanding and somewhat special.

7.  Married life is beautiful. I’ve always see life as a wonderful gift. I have loved, failed, took a risk again and won the heart of the most amazing person I’ve ever known.  I can’t imagine life without Leah. She is my best friend, shopping companion, dining table seatmate, roommate and  partner for life, or should I say my life.

Thank you for coming to my life, my dearest Leah. Thanks for all the learning and I hope to be a better person that you truly deserved in the years to come.  Here's a line from one of your favorite Britney Spears song: "All I really want is to hold you tight Treat you right, be with you day and night. All I really want is to hold you tight, be with you day and night."
 

Useless Bossy Facts

After the long holiday break, most of us are either raring or inert to go back to work because of different reasons: backlogs, unfinished year-end report, pending projects and your first meeting with your boss for the year.

To some, their first encounter with the company’s head honcho at the start of a year is a make or break thing. Well it all depends on one’s performance in the previous 12 months. Whether he smiles at you or wears a blank face every time you meet him in the hallway, your boss is someone you’ll be working with all year round, or for as long you intend to stay in his group.    

So before you go to his office anytime soon, why not read some bossy facts that you might want to share to him during your meeting. These will not guarantee a salary raise but they can sure help start a good conversation.      

·         There is such a thing as National Boss Day created in 1958 by Patricia Haroski, a secretary at State Farm Insurance Company. It was said to have started to pay tribute to managers in the company. Its official date (October 16) is Patricia’s father’s birthday.

• There are 6.7 million managers in the US (5% of the US workforce) and 1.6 million managers in Canada (10% of the Canadian workforce)

• “Boss” is the #3714 most common last name in the U.S. with an estimated 7500 persons using it.

• The word “boss” is from the Dutch word “baas” (meaning "a master"), a standard title for a ship’s captain. It was in 1625 that the word was used in English. The popularity of “boss” in American English may be an egalitarian avoidance of master

• In the dictionaries, “boss” was defined as (1) Slang - in the 50’s, ‘boss’ meant great, first-rate or topnotch; (2) Barnyard - 'boss' is another name for a cow or calf; and (3) Medicine - a ‘boss’ is a name for a rounded swelling, protuberance or humpback … so, this sentence is technically feasible: Your boss did a boss job healing the boss’s itchy boss.

• Other boss facts: Bossiest town: Boss, Missouri (population 609); Boss Nicknames: 'The Boss’ – Bruce Springsteen, singer / songwriter; ‘Boss Tweed’ - William Marcy Tweed, infamous corrupt New York politician and ‘The Big Bossman – American pro wrestler; Boss Songs: Big Boss Man (Elvis Priestly) ; I Love My Boss (Moxy Fruvous).

Reference: www.happyworker.com

Santa Claus Trivia and a Christmas Giveaway

My Little Charlie with a gang of Santas

I saw Santas!

That was my son who screamed at me while pointing at the life-size Santa Claus statues standing in a display of a mall in Cubao during one of our recent Saturday family date.

This man is a head-turner. Whether you're a kid or an old folk, you can't understand why you feel like approaching him. There's really something special about Santa.

I would like to share some trivia I got from allthingschristmas.com about St. Nick that will make us understand in a way why the world love this man in red.

1. His origins appear to be in the 4th century when Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, in Turkey, was kind to children and legend has it that he threw gifts from a window to poor children.

2. As early as 1773 the name appeared in the American press as “St. A Claus,”, later becoming Santa Claus.

3. The author Washington Irving gave Americans their first detailed description of Saint Nicholas, describing him as “a chubby little man with a jolly smile, drawn by a team of reindeer.”

4. First seen in poetry in 1823, when Clement Clarke Moore made him even more famous with “The Night Before Christmas”, including the names of eight reindeer (not including Rudolf, who was to appear in 1939 as lead reindeer). This is one of the best loved and most re-told Christmas poems.

5. Historical letters from Santa, dating back to 1849, including well kept & interesting copies for the children of JRR Tolkein, are available both online and in print.

6. First pictures & publicity, illustrator Thomas Nast, who depicted a rotund Santa for Christmas issues of Harper’s magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s, including his toy making.

7. “Is there a Santa Claus” was the title of an editorial appearing in the September 21, 1897 edition of the New York Sun, ending up with the much publicised verdict, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”

8. In 1930, an image of Santa was used by a well known drinks company in a Christmas advertising campaign-big, depicting his white beard, black boots and a big red coat. This is the image that we know and love of him today.

9. In 1939 Rudolf, the ninth reindeer, is introduced by writer Robert May. His “very shiny nose” achieves almost instant fame, through songs such as “Rudolf the Red nosed reindeer” and later, TV and movie appearances.

10. In 1999, image recorded by SETI, search for extra terrestrials monitoring, you can actually see an image of the old man himself.

Now, here's one good news to those who wants to be a Santa Claus for a day.  Electrolux Philippines is giving you a chance to win a gift for your loved ones this Christmas!

To join, visit www.electroluxman.com/santaforaday and send a letter to Electrolux containing no less than 500 words that answers the question, “What Electrolux appliance would you like to gift someone special this Christmas and why?” You can accompany your letter with a creative video or a photo. The complete list of appliances you can choose from is found on the contest website and includes a wide range of Electrolux appliances including washing machines, refrigerators, cooking appliances, air conditioners and small appliances.

NOTE: Please don't forget to indicate in the Referred by section the name of this blogger Richard Mamuyac so I can track the status of the entries by my followers.

All qualified entries will be judged and the beneficiaries of the 3 best entries will receive an Electrolux appliance.  The winner with the highest score will be given a chance to be a Santa for a Day as the Electrolux team will accompany him or her to personally deliver the prize to the nominated recipient. Deadline of submission of entries is on December 10. Share the love and make someone happy this Christmas season by nominating them in Electrolux’s Santa for a Day Contest!

To know the full mechanics of the Electrolux Santa for a Day Contest, check out Electrolux’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook. Share more of our thinking at www.electrolux.com.ph, and follow us through twitter.com/ElectroluxPH.

Pick-up lines and Brand Names

Image taken from flybluekite.com

I have to admit, I still have a little hangover from the recent Valentines festivities.  Well, I still see photos online posted by my friends on how they spent Heart’s day. Some went to the Pyropalooza event to see amazing fireworks displays; others were on cloud nine watching the air show during the hot air balloon fiesta, while the sentimental ones celebrated with a romantic dinner for two.

Another thing that I noticed was, cheesy pick-up lines can be the sweetest things that you’ll hear when you get it on the Day of Sweet Nothings.  I hope Sen. Miriam Santiago would not mind me doing my own list.  Here are some of the amusing lines that I stumbled upon in the internet:

Nag-Rexona ka ba? Kasi ako… I won’t let you down.

You remind me of Meralco. Dahil sa ‘yo…may liwanag ang buhay!

Kapag sinagot mo ako, para ka na ding nag-deposito sa Metrobank.  You’re in good hands.

Sabi nila para tayong San Miguel Beer… samahang walang katulad.

Siguro Smart ang SIM mo. Kasi you’re simply amazing!

Reading these lines was really fun that I tried to search for more.  Looking for “branded” phrases, instead I stumbled upon entries about interesting facts behind corporate brand names.  I was surprised to find out that there are many companies, brands and products whose names were derived from strange circumstance, things and happenings.  Below is a list of popular consumer products and the stories how they got their brand names.
 
Adobe: This well-known and leading software developer got its name from the river Adobe Creek that ran behind the house of founder John Warnock.

Apple Computers: The late great innovator Steve Jobs, founder of the company, told his employees one day that if no one can give him a good suggestion for a company name by 5:00 pm, he will just name their organization after his favorite fruit. 

CISCO: Contrary to what many perceived that the name is an acronym, the brand name is just short for the city of San Francisco in California, USA where their headquarters is located.

Compaq: Even a high school student can decipher this.  The name was formed by using COMp, for computer, and PAQ to denote a small integral object.

Corel: The name known for its products used in creative designs and graphics ironically got its name in an uncreative way.  It was just derived from the founder's name Dr. Michael Cowpland. It stands for COwpland Research Laboratory.

Google: The Company was originally known as 'Googol', a word for the number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeros. After founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page presented their project to an investor, they received a cheque made out to 'Google'. And the rest was history.

Hotmail:  When Sabeer Bhatia, one of its founders, came up with the business plan for the mail service, he tried all kinds of names ending in 'mail' and finally settled for hotmail as it included the letters "html" - the programming language used to write web pages.

Hewlett Packard: This Company literally started with a quarter dollar. Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett.

Intel: Moore Noyce could have been a nice sounding brand name if not for a hotel chain beating Gordon Moore and Bob Noyce in getting the trade mark.  The business partners had to settle for an acronym of INTegrated ELectronics.

Jollibee. The Caktiong family approached Management Consultant Manuel Lumba to help them in their ice cream business in the late 70's.  Lumba advised them to look into a "bigger" business and use the name Jolly Bee inspired by local and foreign children's book.  The company decided to drop the "y" and use and "i" and have it one word instead and the rest is history.

Mercedes-Benz: Brand names derived by combining two names are usually that of the founders of the company.  Not in this case.  Mercedes was the name of the daughter of Austrian financier Emil Jellinek coined with the name of Carl Benz, the German inventor of gasoline-powered automobile. 

Microsoft: Bill Gates came out of the name to represent the company that was devoted to MICROcomputer SOFTware. Originally marketed as Micro-Soft, the '-' was removed later on.

Motorola: The popular radio company was once called Victrola until Founder Paul Galvin came up with this name when his company started manufacturing radios for cars, incorporating the word “motor” to their brand name.

Sony: Surprisingly, the name of this Japanese multi-national conglomerate originated from the Latin word 'sonus' meaning sound, and 'sonny' a slang used by Americans to refer to a bright youngster.

Yahoo!: Founders Jerry Yang and David Filo selected the name because they considered themselves yahoos, a word invented by Jonathan Swift and used in his book 'Gulliver's Travels'. It represents people who are repulsive in appearance and action and is barely human.

YKK. Have you ever wondered what those three letters stamped on your zipper's pull tabs mean? Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha or Yoshida Company Limited when translated in English. The company was named after its founder Tadao Yoshida. Can you imagine if they marked on the zipper the whole company name instead?

I hope you had fun reading this article as much I had fun writing it.  Some stories behind the brand names are indeed amusing but at least made us aware how these big household names began.  Allow me to end this piece with another pick up line.

Do you know why I avoid target shooting? Because I think, I’ll gonna miss you!  ‘Till next time, guys!