The Vinculum

By aLps | Published: June 28, 2009
Michael Jackson is dead.
Benj, one of my blogging mentors, asked everyone in his Plurk Timeline: Is Michael Jackson the most popular/famous person to have died in our generation? Some cyber minutes have past and he, together with the ones who replied, offered other choices: John Paul II, Princess Diana Spencer, Frank Sinatra, Mother Teresa and Saddam Hussein. I haven’t replied to his Plurk but I already have a thought in mind—which I planned to be an introductory entry in my new blog.
I am supposed to answer this:
I think that new social media (NSM) greatly affects the “death popularity” of a person who died during the era wherein NSM is nearing its explosive climax. Add to the fact that MJ is already popular to begin with; add to the fact that MJ is a media personality whose appearances and persona (both tangible and virtual) are not limited to his immediate community.
I only knew that the Pop icon died when several people sent me lines of text messages whose themes span from being objective to implying grief. You see, even the alphabet who are supposed to be void of any meaning are suddenly capable of showing emotions—thanks to emoticons. Anyway, the news shocked me even though I am not a big fan. The news shocked even those who are not supposed to care. Why such paradox? Actually, I don’t regard this as a paradox. It is more of a principled example of the dynamics of new social media communication. All of us are suddenly living in a single commune, almost utilizing the same resources every time. All of us are suddenly working on this big cyber organization which is run by nobody. Fortunately, we don’t have job descriptions, but we have jobs every time we log-in. We adopt the flexi-time scheme. But most of the time, time does not exist.  There are only three rules governing Internet Incorporated. Unfortunately, no one knows about them.
Welcome to the new frontier of liberalism. This is The Vinculum. A blog that talks about the dynamics of communication practices with special emphasis to organizational communication and its application to the new social media.
The Vinculum–Communication dissection at its most elegant yet sophisticated fashion.

Michael Jackson is dead.

Benj, one of my blogging mentors, asked everyone in his Plurk Timeline: Is Michael Jackson the most popular/famous person to have died in our generation? Some cyber minutes have past and he, together with the ones who replied, offered other choices: John Paul II, Princess Diana Spencer, Frank Sinatra, Mother Teresa and Saddam Hussein. I haven’t replied to his Plurk but I already have a thought in mind—which I planned to be an introductory entry in my new blog.

I am supposed to answer this:

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Out-of-The-Cube Session V, USIP 2009

By aLps | Published: May 31, 2009
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What do you call this chair? They say it's freakin' expensive!

In a nutshell:

1. The usual breakfast :)
2. Marketing Module Game
3. Marketing, Branding and Advertising 101
4. Healthy AM snacks!
5. Plant tour (While I am enrolling at UP Manila, sadness)
6. Lunch!
7. Trade Visit at SM MOA, Puregold Sta Mesa and Robinson’s Otis
8. High-school-field-trip style snacks in our bus!
9. Tired interns resting at the convening area
10. Interns’ night-out at TGIF! (Too bad, not everyone came; too bad, I had to leave early)

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U & I: Week Five

By aLps | Published: May 31, 2009

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines (ULP). The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of corporate information about the said company would never be written here.

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Our Department's Interns' Anime-ish Effigy

Our company-wide project is not only making tangential interference to our department-centric jobs and stints but is also generating some sort of personal corporate dilemma. Sometimes, I just want to escape and make some Absence-Without-Official-Leave diva drama. Every time I have this kind of cognitive ranting, Cezar’s (HR, Learning & Expertise King) words automatically dives into my psychological pool: It’s hard work here at Unilever. I am at least happy that I am touching and learning the corners of the real world in its grandest form. After this internship program, I will let everyone feel my body that’s made of steel.

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Out-of-The-Cube Session IV, USIP 2009

By aLps | Published: May 25, 2009
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Go Team!

In a nutshell:

  1. Pancakes and Bacon for breakfast
  2. Finance Department’s Ice-Breaker Game
  3. Finance Department module
  4. Finance Department Game
  5. IT Department Module
  6. IT Department Game
  7. Italian Lunch
  8. Selecta Module (Woohoo)
  9. Selecta Game + 3-in-1-Plus-1 Dance Craze Tutorial
  10. Bottomless Ice Cream (YEAH!)

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U & I: Week Four

By aLps | Published: May 24, 2009

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines (ULP). The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of corporate information about the said company would never be written here.

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Spongebob trying to ruin my work

I feel nostalgic when using an old keyboard. While typing on this 90-ish QWERTY, I feel typing my grade school papers. Fortunately, my outputs using this computer is at par with with what is ideal and what is expected. I want my cubicle (and computer) back! In other news, the interns are getting a taste of corporate paranoia. We have our individual daily tasks, stints and projects (some of which are needed for our internship revalida). Moreover, we are also occupied with our company-wide project. It’s work, werk, wurk–different vowels, just the same hardcore meaning. Where’s work and play? I found it when all of the 25 interns of ULP decided to have a Thursday Bonding Night (A night before an Out-of-the-cube Session). We had our first shot of this bonding experience at Katips Bar situated somewhere in Tomas Morato. Work then play. Work then drink. Work then dance. :)

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Out-of-The-Cube Session III, USIP 2009

By aLps | Published: May 17, 2009

I found an easier (and safer) way to blog our OTC sessions: Photos with caption! Yey!

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Session Tres

In a nutshell:

  1. Ham, Egg, Spanish Sardines and Hot Chocolate for breakfast
  2. A game and talk by Unilever Department B
  3. Ham & Cheese, Tuna and Chicken Croissant, cheese sticks for AM snacks
  4. A talk by Unilever Department C
  5. CSR Briefing
  6. CSR Activity at some Baranggay in Paco, Manila
  7. Group proposal defense back at the office
  8. Some Chinese-themed PM snacks
  9. Socials with fellow interns
  10. Home!

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U & I: Week Three

By aLps | Published: May 17, 2009

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines. The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of corporate information about the said company would never be written here.

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My Unilever Email Signature

Okay, I don’t have any decent picture for week three–which is actually quite consistent with what Week Three is all about: BUSYNESS (This is not so nice a word, I know; but it’s actually the noun form of the verb busy). I already met my main mentor. I have a new sub-mentor. I have three mentors overall. Virtually, I am doing three separate jobs. Oh well, this is “work”. And I love it.

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