A Marketing Master Is Made

Do you believe that there’s what you called a born marketing master?

But if you ask the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA), an organization composed of the country’s top marketing professionals, they believe that a marketing master is made.

Ms. Gwenn Albarracin, PMA president, says a marketing master is made and molded into perfection. “A marketing master is one who receives education in the school classroom and the classroom of life.”

A marketing master is a professional known for his expertise and authority in the field of marketing, and is recognized for developing successful marketing programs able to transform the business landscape, says Albarracin. Whether it’s a unique product, price, promotion or distribution strategy, she says the marketing master is a game changer that has made a mark in the marketing industry.

Amid a globally competitive marketing landscape, Albarracin is proud to point out that the Filipino marketing professionals of today are not only profit-driven but also by their concern to their advocacy, which is to contribute to better the plight of the Filipino and help in nation building.

And this is where PMA comes in. Organized to propagate the discipline of marketing, help its members grow through marketing education to improve their profession and eventually contribute to national socio-economic development, the PMA is undertaking several initiatives to enable Filipino marketing professionals ride the wave of globalization and thus, be world-class marketing masters.

As an affiliate of the Asian Marketing Federation (AMF), an organization of 20 Asian marketing associations and marketing institutes, the Philippines is able to sit in meetings where they share successful marketing programs and ideas with other countries’ associations. And since the AMF is also affiliated with the American Marketing Association, members have access to the latest marketing strategies, trends, research and programs that are vital to the business community. Locally, the PMA’s Education Committee also holds regular comprehensive marketing seminars to help train employees who need further training in marketing’s various disciplines.

However, Albarracin said what the PMA is most excited about is its annual National Marketing Conference (NMC) which, for this year, is elevated to an Asian Marketing Conference (AMC) level. Entitled “Asiannovation2: Unleash the Asian Marketing Masters,” the conference, which will be held at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on July 19-20, 2012, will feature world-class speakers, thinkers and achievers from all over Asia who will share success strategies and the latest trends in marketing.

With an overall theme that takes off from the PMA’s own for this year, “Marketing Evolution: Innovations and Transformations,” Albarracin believes that the holding of the AMC in the country is very timely and beneficial to marketing professionals and aspiring marketing masters. “Conference attendees will surely get inspiration from Asian success stories and exciting and innovative Asian products. Asia is definitely on the rise, and the world is taking notice!”

Among the notable speakers for “Asiannovation2” include Hermawan Kartajaya from Indonesia, founder of the Asian Marketing Federation and co-authored “Marketing 3.0” and “Rethinking Marketing: Sustainable Marketing Enterprise in Asia” with international marketing guru Philip Kotler, Greg Armshaw, Chief Technology Catalyst of McCann Worldgroup Singapore, and Serene Wong, Chief Executive Officer of TNS Global (China). For the local side, speakers include Sec. Ramon Jimenez, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, and Josiah Go, co-founder and Chairman of Mansmith and Fielders Philippines.

“With the holding of the AMC in the Philippines, the PMA knows that many Filipino marketing professionals will benefit from what they will learn during the conference that hopefully will help them become marketing masters in the future. From hereon, I won’t be surprised if more and more Filipino marketers make it big globally because we have the innate ingenuity and creativity to help innovate and transform and thus connect to the ever-changing consumer and marketing landscaper,” declares Albarracin.

For more information about registration details and other concerns about the Asian Marketing Conference, “Asiannovation2: Unleash the Asian Marketing Masters,” please call the PMA secretariat at 634-5722, 634-4890, 638-7700, 0927-715-6676, 0917-881-8PMA (672), email Asianmasters2012@yahoo.com, or visit www.asianmarketingconference.com.

Foods That You Should Never Give To Your Canine or Feline Pets

They say that a dog is a man’s best friend. Just like best friends, people tend to do daily activities together with their dogs, such as jogging, strolling in the park, and even eating the same meal with them. Little do pet owners know, the some foods that they eat can actually be harmful to the health of their canine companion. Likewise, some of the foods people eat can be harmful to cats as well.

 

Here is a list of the most common “people foods” that should not be fed to pet dogs or cats.

Chocolate and Cocoa. Chocolate, while delicious to people, can be deadly to cats and dogs. The culprit in chocolate is the compound theobromine. Dark chocolate generally has higher levels of theobromine than milk chocolate, and unsweetened chocolate is higher still. An alternative to chocolate that is safe for cats and dogs is carob. Some pet food companies have created treats that contain carob, which has a flavor similar to chocolate.

Caffeine. Coffee, tea, colas and other beverages that contain caffeine can increase a cat or dog’s breathing and heart rate and can even be fatal.

Xylitol. Pet owners may be unwittingly giving their dogs this ingredient when they feed them candy, gum, toothpaste or baked goods. Such foods may be sweetened with xylitol, which can cause an increase in the dog’s insulin, leading to a drastic drop in the dog’s blood sugar. Vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination are initial symptoms but eventually, the dog may have seizures and within just a few days, liver failure may occur.

Milk and other dairy. In the hot weather of the Philippines, people may be tempted to share their ice cream with their dogs or cats. However most adult pets are lactose intolerants, so milk and other dairy-based products can cause digestive upset and diarrhea.

Alcohol. Irresponsible dog owners think it is funny to see a dog intoxicated. But alcohol affects dogs and cats in the same way it affects their owners, except with more severity and at much smaller doses. It only takes 2 teaspoons of whisky to cause a coma in a 5 pound cat. One more teaspoon could be fatal. Be a responsible, humane pet owner and keep your pets away from alcohol.

Fatty and Raw or Undercooked Meat. Like humans, dogs and cats can become obese with a steady diet of fatty food. Moreover, dogs and cats can suffer pancreatitis, a painful swelling of the pancreas. Plus raw meat can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to people and pets. Feeding your pet bones might cause choking or injury to a pet’s digestive tract should the bone splinter.

Garlic and Onions. While these add flavor to every dish, garlic and onions in any form can cause various problems for a dog. Onions if eaten in sufficient quantities – regardless of whether it is fresh, dried, powdered or cooked –can result in anemia by causing blood cells to break down. Even in smaller quantities, garlic and onions cause gastrointestinal irritation. Since most Filipinos cook their food with these ingredients, it is important to avoid feeding table scraps and leftovers to dogs and cats.

Grapes and Raisins. Even though cats and dogs may enjoy them, grapes and raisins should not be fed to pets. It is not understood exactly how, but grapes and raisins cause potentially life threatening illness in cats and dogs, kidney failure.

There are many other foods that are safe for humans but that may not be ideal for a pet’s consumption. The Pet Food Institute (PFI), the U.S. trade association for the makers of cat and dog food, strongly advises Filipino dog lovers against feeding table scraps and other foods that people eat to dogs and cats.

“By feeding table scraps and leftovers, pet owners take a chance on their pet’s health and quality of life,” says Kurt Gallagher, Director, Communications and Export Development, Pet Food Institute. “Table scraps and leftovers deprive pets of a nutritionally-balanced diet and may endanger a pet’s health.”

Complete and balanced commercial pet food is widely available in the Philippine market, and most veterinarians agree that this is the safer option to homemade pet food or table scraps. Pet owners may think they are saving money by feeding their dog or cat leftovers, but the risk of losing a beloved pet from disease or poisoning from feeding inappropriate food is much too high a price to pay.

Pet owners today have a tremendous choice of products, including canned, dry and semi-moist to meet a wide variety of nutritional needs at competitive price points. With decades of scientific research behind every commercially produced pet food product made in the United States, pet owners can be assured of providing the proper nutrition for their pets.

Responsible pet owners should understand that their pet's good health and happy disposition are dependent on good nourishment, exercise, grooming, and regular visits to the veterinarian. For more information on PFI and proper pet nutrition, visit www.petfoodinstitute.org.