Public Relations

by: Florence Joy dela Cruz, Senior PR Associate

Public relations can be a tiring job. Creating PR plans, scheduling media interviews, and making sure the brands we handle enjoy a good reputation can take its toll, but it can be extremely rewarding. PR is basically storytelling, and I enjoy creating wonderful stories and experiences for our brands. One of the brands I handle is Google, and one of the things I look forward to is YouTube FanFest!

The YouTube FanFest, or YTFF, is a live event featuring international and local YouTube creators. The event aims to create opportunities for YT creators, fans, and the media to find new ways to connect with their audiences. It began last year when a tweet #BringYouTubersToManila trended worldwide, and now it’s back for its second year!

I was nervous at first to meet these internet sensations, but after handling them last year, it became easier this year. We went to interviews with them and got to know them on a personal level. We also became friends with their managers. Well, sort of! My personal favorite is the a cappella group The Filharmonic, who I watched at The Sing-off, a singing competition featuring a cappella groups. I was so starstruck that I was lost for words when I met them for the first time. We even taught them Filipino words!

Fans were also excited to meet them. They got to interact with the YouTube creators at the YTFF Meet and Greet, where many fans came out crying because they met their idols. To top if off, the YTFF Night was pure entertainment. Seeing these creators perform on stage felt like we were stage parents waiting for our kids to come out and perform! It was a great honor to see everyone having fun by watching their favorite creators on stage.

Doing the PR for one of Google’s biggest events is tiring. Imagine waking up as early as 1am and staying up late to take care of international YouTube creators for several days in a row. But it was all worth it. Most importantly, I am doing what I love: telling the world about my brand.

Check out some of our behind-the-scenes photos below:

No rest for the weary. Team call time is at 1am, but we’re still looking fresh. #TeamNoSleep #AirportWelcome

Sneaky fangirl. Day 1 of media interviews and I’m trying to get them all for a phoro. Look! Niko’s smiling!

One down, two more to go! The first of three interviews scheduled for the day. Bring it on! #Day2ofMediaInterviews

Lucy shot! Our last chance to get a group picture with the boys. Look at Kuya Mike, the bodyguard, smiling at the back!

Downtime with these three. While waiting for the next interview, the team had a chance to rest for a while at Nobu Hotel. Fancy!

Ibang level na sila! Here are Vince and Steph posting for a photo with Gab Valenciano and Tanner Patrick after their Rappler interview. (Photo courtesy of Rappler.com)

Lucky Shor Number 2! Mikey, Alex, and Wengie are just some of the YouTube creators we got to know during the YTFF. They’re really fun to be with!

It’s not over yet! The day’s not over yet as we had to go to and check out the venue.

A selfie a day takes the bad vibes away. Nobody can tell that we haven’t got enough sleep. Look at us! All smiles and ready for this day’s battle! #BringItOn

Registration tradition. I take photos of the media registration table before the event starts every time. It’s me saying “Hello! Bukas na po ang ‘tindahan’.”

Husshhhh! Press conference is ongoing! We’re a bit jampacked today. It it just me or everyone’s really excited to ask questions?

Side by side interviews with the creators. The Filharmonice boys with Tanner Patrick during the excluisive interview with the Philippine Star anf Gist magazine. Other exclusive interviews were with Wengie with Wengie with Cosmo.ph, Tyler Ward and Alex Wassabi with BusinessWorld but they are in different rooms.

A girl should never forget her birthday. And oh, yeah. It was my birthday two weeks ago. I almost forgot about it!

Post presscon group picture. Yay! Press conference is done! One down!

Sneakers=Lifesaver During events, sneakers are my most reliable friends. They are comfortable and easy to wear. I can run around the whole day with these bffs on!

Off to the next venue! Nobu Hotel to the World Trade Center? Easy peasy!

Awww. Dog. While the fans are doing Meet and Greet with YouTube creators, here I am petting this adorable Labrador. Look at that face. Isn’t he cute?

#YTFFManila2016 And the show starts in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

Always ‘selfie’ ready! In between breaks, the team never forgets to smile when there’s a camera in front.

PR + Media Represent! My good friend (and schoolmate… and PR ‘Major-mate’), Vberni, is in awe of YTFF. It’s his first time and he’s looking forward to the next ones!

Fan mode ON! Connor Franta walks in and we’re like “WAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

It’s a wrap! What a show! That, my friends, is YouTube Fanfest!

Post event debriefing. Cramped in a little room labeled “Secretariat”, we’re still in high spirits after the event.

YTFF Ninjas. Running back and forth WTC is no joke but we don’t look tired at all! Cheers to another successful event! See you at the Next FanFest!

The female advantage at work

By Karen Balce, Program Operations Manager

I remember working for a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company and telling myself, “I thought this is my dream job, but it’s not, and I’m glad I figured it out while I’m still young.” I looked back and checked what I enjoyed the most during my brand marketing role, and I realized it was doing events. And like it was meant to be, a good friend of mine told me about TeamAsia and told me I should apply. After almost three years, I’m still here doing events for the company.
I started like how most people in the team began: doing smaller roles, assisting project managers, learning the tricks, and familiarizing myself with the job and the scope of work. It was all somehow new to me but I agree it was a learning process. I remember my first project was not the grandest event, but the fulfillment of finishing an event, regardless of its size, is the same to me.

With the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) team at the Social Enterprise Conference in 2014

In my opinion, most of my events were fairly challenging. They were all unique, and they each had their own challenges I had to conquer. My favorite projects were the toughest ones because they pushed my capabilities, my limits, and my skills. I believe that’s how I progressed and grew in this industry.

In events, there are certain skill sets that make being a woman an advantage. Traits such as patience, creativity, being a perfectionist, being attentive to details, and being able to handle emotional stress are usually associated with women and have helped me in my projects. But the women in our department need to be ready to get the job done by all means, even if it means carrying heavy items, running around during events, and being buddies with suppliers. In case you’re wondering, the girls at TeamAsia are up for it.

With Ma’am Monette at the 2014 TeamAsia Christmas Party

The perfect example of a well-rounded woman in TeamAsia is Ma’am Monette. I often find myself wondering how she excels in all her roles as mother, boss, daughter, and friend. When I see her, I ask myself, how does she maximize the 24 hours in a day? How does she get everything done? How does she make everyone love her?

Celebrating National Women’s Month empowers the women in the country that we now live in a society that believes that women are equal to men in all aspects. There is no more gender discrimination and both men and women deserve equal opportunities. And this Women’s Month, I would like to encourage everyone to praise and give recognition to these women who exceed expectations, who balance their work life and home life, and who take care of their family both at home and in the office. Whatever men can do, women can do it, too. Sometimes even better.

Read about anything and everything TeamAsia in this little nook of ours!

A day in the life of a PR girl

Woman’s edge

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