WassupIssue 6 November 2011

The cultural trends magazine from Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific

Edited & designed by Kunal SinhaEditorial assistant: Madhumita Bhattacharyya

Correspondents:

Elaine Dai (Beijing)Neha Punjabi (Mumbai)Donnah Alcoseba (Makati City)Wine Chua-Leonardo (Makati City)Tania Chan (Singapore)Shun Man Lee (Singapore)Naoko Ito (Tokyo)Azusa Fukai (Tokyo)Siddharth Roy (Colombo)Mei Wu (Taipei)Caryl Heah (Kuala Lumpur)Beatrice Yong (Kuala Lumpur) Josephine Phang (Kuala Lumpur) Zubair Siddiqui (Karachi)Serena Park (Seoul)Timothy Sarker (Dhaka)Naima Hamid (Dhaka)Tari Rusbianti (Jakarta)Astrid Savitri (Jakarta)

© Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific, 2011

Wassup

As Steve Jobs gets going with his Great Gig in the sky, we set about asking

technology creators in Asia what they saw as the big changes that we should

anticipate. It all seems to be headed in one direction: faster, thinner, more.

Which for us, in the world of brands and marketing communications,

represents an opportunity. An opportunity to disrupt things, with content

and creativity.

Just to make things interesting, almost to remind ourselves that there is

indeed a world out there that’s not so twenty-something, gadgetry-

obsessed, we spoke to senior citizens. They provide a fascinating perspective

on the changes that are gripping Asian societies. These are stories of

adaptation and fortitude.

In this last issue of 2011, we thought it would only be appropriate to ask

each country what their top brands were, and what are the big things they

anticipate in 2012. Once again, the Asian diversity is revelatory.

Over these six issues of Wassup, we hope we’ve been able to stimulate you,

and would like to continue to hear from you …

14 countries.

20 correspondents deeply immersed in popular and leading edge culture bring you Cultural Insights that will make a world of difference to your business

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Look who‟s talking:

Technology creators in Asia

Knowing me, Knowing you:

Senior citizens

Playing on my iPod

Rage against

Waiting list

Tense about

Top brands of 2011

Most anticipated in 2012

Look who’s talking

Technology creators in Asia

Look who’s talking …

What are the biggest challenges currently facing Sri Lanka

with respect to technology?

We are facing issues with broadband. Affordable broadband is not

stable and stable broadband is very expensive. Then there are

language issues. There are lot of people who are talented and

committed but they have language barrier which prevents them

from learning new things.

Most local customers are afraid to implement new technology as

they think it will cost a lot. There aren't proper places to educate

customers.

In addition, freelancers are ruining the market. People who are

working in the industry are over-positioned due to social media.

Accessibility and usability of technologies are still ignored. For

example, as a tax payer, how many government websites are

accessible to the people? Specially to people with different

abilities?

What technological changes or innovations and new services

are you anticipating in the coming year?

Augmented reality is the next big thing. From mobile to real-time.

From web to big screen.

HTML5 will change the way world is using the web.

Facebook will be the best tool for businesses in the coming years,

with lots of features and benefits.

Mobile money. Very soon the world will say goodbye to plastic

cards.

How do you feel about a post-Steve Jobs era in technology?

I think the world will still love Apple products as the company has

touched the market. It has always addressed simple but critical

things when it comes to laptops, mobile phone and portable music.

It has addressed usability and accessibility issues very

intelligently, which will keep them safe for the next 10 years. Even

now they have SIRI to stay competitive. I think you will get SIRI on

iPods and MacBooks as well, which will change how the world is

using these devices. We might miss the awesome way in which

Steve Jobs presented products, but with the structure Apple has, it

can still come up with creative ways to do things as its employees

think differently. I have a faith in Apple, maybe because I am an

Apple user myself and I admire Steve Jobs a lot.

Chamara Peiris, CEO, International Operations at Xiteb

We had a chat with Chamara Peris, the user-interface lead,

information architect and designer who is particularly interested in

web standards, accessibility, usability and search engine

optimization. Here’s what he had to say about Sri Lanka’s tech

future…

Any other ideas on where

technology is headed?

The web will boom in Sri Lanka

very rapidly. Social media

usage is increasing and Sri

Lankan companies will adopt it

soon. But we still need proper

education and industrial

training for employees. At the

moment, there isn‟t a single

reputed institute teaching web

design.

The government has taken

positive steps to layer fiber

optics around the island and

replace the old copper cable.

So hopefully, in a few years, we

will get all our voice,

broadband and TV through

this.

Finally, we need proper

language training. Speaking

English in our way isn't

working. We have to learn it

perfectly to compete with

India.

Look who’s talking …

MALAYSIA

Meet Wu Han, chief designer, and Calvin, web

applications developer, with Mindvalley. With

presence in 22 countries, Mindvalley is an

Internet marketing and publishing company

that specializes in self-development programs.

Wu Han is also the founder of Webcamp, a

community of individuals with a keen interest

in the online economy, meeting on a monthly

basis to share information and ideas.

Calvin feels that the strength of Steve Jobs was

in how he made Apple products mainstream

by adding a “human touch” to technology.

“You know you‟ve made it when you go to a

hotel lobby and see two old ladies playing

games on their iPad,” said Calvin. But Wu Han

believes that in Steve Jobs‟s absence, the

floodgate of innovation will be opened in the

technology space. “So far, the attitude was,

„Let‟s see what Jobs will do‟. Now it‟ll be more,

„Let‟s see what I can do.‟”

.

Wu Han, Artist-in-

Chief

Calvin Tee, Web

Applications Manager

Both feel that most Malaysian consumers are

highly digital and tech-savvy. But the country

has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to

infrastructure and companies. “E-commerce

hasn‟t picked up yet in Malaysia, largely

because of lack of secure payment gateways,”

says Calvin.

The duo predicts that phones and tablets will

continue to dominate the future, and they are

looking forward to the iPhone 4S because of its

new features (i.e. voice recognition), which

present opportunities to change the landscape

of marketing and information gathering.

BANGLADESH

We interviewed our very own techie Yousuf Kamal,

the senior IT executive at Ogilvy Dhaka.

Yousuf feels Samsung‟s new phone, Skin, will be the

next big hit. It is supposed to bend like the human

skin.

The Steve Jobs fan believes there are many

people who think like Steve Jobs but to be

creative like him is nearly impossible. He was

a visionary. Yousuf still hopes that the flow of

Apple products will be unaffected. The

biggest change in the coming year will be

cloud computing. There will be a web-based

OS, and all the work that one does will be in a

cloud where it will be secure and the need for

a hard drive will vanish. He also thinks 3D

technology will evolve to a new level where

no glasses will be required. It will feel as

though the viewer is a part of the image.

Look who’s talking …

SHANGHAI

Kevin Zhang is a graphic user interface designer

in a software development company in Shanghai.

He has been working in the field for more than

four years and never stops loving what he is doing.

“Good UI design includes interaction design,

information architecture and information design,

so a good UI designer needs to study various

things including marketing, engineering, project

management and psychology. Right now I am

pretty good at the graphic design part but not

very good at user interaction. However, I am

studying so hopefully I will be able to deliver

better work in the future,” Kevin said. He thinks

that compared to western countries, China still

has a long way to go in terms of UI design since

most local designers are not well-trained, don‟t

have the deep knowledge that good design

requires.

Kevin is a big fan of Steve Jobs and Apple

products. “I will always remember the day I got

my first Apple computer. I was still in college; it

was such an fascinating experience when I first

used it,” Kevin recalls. He thinks Steve Jobs had a

profound impact on the way consumers use and

perceive technology today. All user

interface/experience designers around the world

know how Apple products changed their

profession. “But I believe there are many people

inspired by him who will follow the way he

worked and the spirit that he created.”

There is a lot of change happening among

Chinese consumers today. Kevin thinks they are

becoming more sophisticated and demanding in

terms of user experience now that they have been

introduced to products such as the iPhone and the

iPad. “As the market develops and consumers

become more sophisticated, we‟ll be seeing more

and more touch screens, at which point your

computer just becomes a giant cell phone. But we

should really look into strong UI design influence

from our neighbors, such as Japan and Korea.

Most Chinese users grew up with Korean and

Japanese cultures, so some of them are

particularly attracted to cute things, because it‟s

familiar.”

http://it.oc.com.tw/ocitview.asp?gitid=1754650

TAIWAN

Vincent Chen has been working as an engineer in a

mobile phone manufacturing company for the past

five years.“Unless we have a wiz such as Steve Jobs

to create a new market, in the next three to five

years all we can look forward to are combinations or

improvements on existing elements to be applied to

the existing digital devices,” feels Chen.

He thinks that being thin will remain the trend for

cell phone design over the next three years.

However, what is defined as thin in the future might

not be exactly the same as now.

Redefine “thin”

Thin mostly meant "carry-on" in the past, but for the

new generation, thin is being “too thin to feel". Take

Samsung for example, with its plans to introduce a

mobile phone with a screen as thin as a sheet of

paper within two years.

Indeed, the screen known as Creaseless AMOLED is

not only lightweight, but can be curved. That will

give product designers more room to play, and

allow users to use cell phones in their own

comfortable way.

If technology continues to evolve, perhaps laptops

will be replaced by dual touch panels in the future.

“Like the product in the film Real Steel, combining

the advantages of a traditional laptop and tablet PC,

the keyboard appears merely when needed, just

like in the iPhone.”

Look who’s talking …

Look who’s talking …

Chirag Rathod is a techie's techie. He works at Oracle in

Bangalore, India, and is currently creating a software product

called Jdeveloper. One of his recent acquisitions is the Kindle 3.

He also owns a Panasonic Lumix LX5 camera, a Nikon D40 SLR,

an iPod Shuffle to give him company on his runs, a Dell Latitude

laptop, a Garmin forerunner 305 (a GPS sports watch), a 21-

geared Track 7.1 IFX commuter bike and an iPad 2.

He is now looking forward to buying an iPhone 4S or Galaxy S2.

Chirag does not change his phone to get the new software,

which he downloads himself; it‟s the new hardware he is after.

Currently he is excited about the NFC (near-field

communication) chip, which is like a swipe card payment

gateway. He believes it has the potential to replace his wallet.

The iPhone 4 is a disappointment to some, he adds, as it does

not have NFC.

In the post-Jobs era, Chirag thinks that for at least two years,

Apple will be delivering products that Steve‟s mind has

touched. The way release cycles go, Steve must have left

something in the two-year developmental cycle, he feels. What

happens after that is anyone‟s guess. But Chirag thinks that after

a point, the leader being the be all and end all of a company is

a facade. There are many smart people working under him; he

just takes a call on what gets thrown out and what appears

before the public. People like Jonathan Ive, who Steve always

supported, has been with Apple for almost 20 years and is still

on board.

The only thing he feels might change about Apple is the

'secretive' approach towards new launches. He hopes Apple

also decides to launch products in India at the same time as in

the US.

The most anticipated new product might be the Apple TV, but

what Chirag thinks would be really cool is an actual television

from Apple, which would have everything, including the

Internet and connectivity with your hard drive – all without the

wires. Knowing the way Apple designs are, it will look like a

painting on the wall, says Chirag. Just like its uni-body

aluminum Macbook Pro.

This doesn‟t mean Chirag is only positive about Apple. Read his

post to know why: http://hapuchu.com/post/3084819907/why-i-

will-not-buy-the-ipad-in-india

JAPAN

Tomotaka Takahashi, 36, is a roboticist and

founder of Kyoto University's ROBO-GARAGE,

which started in 1999.

Inspired by his childhood obsession with

Astroboy and other fictional characters,

Takahashi decided to study robotics after

completing a sociology degree. Takahashi

prefers to work on smaller robots, as they are

easier to handle and people have more realistic

expectations of them. Unlike machines, which

are cold and uninviting, humans can relate to

robots because they have bodies like humans

or animals, which opens up new possibilities

for communication, which Takahashi believes is

their greatest strength.

Creating a number of humanoid robots entirely

by himself, from concept through to production,

Takahashi's designs have been featured in art

exhibitions celebrating Astroboy, and was

selected amongst Time Magazine's Coolest

Inventions of 2004. His work has also been used

in promotions for Bandai, Panasonic and Pepsi.

SEOUL

Kyungjune Lee (right) is CEO of Nomad

Connection, a media solution provider,

currently servicing the #7 Android media

player Zimly (www.zim.ly), which was

designed and crafted for Android devices.

Lee sees the long-term trend in IT as being

dominated by a rapid growth of the

Facebook ecosystem. Currently, Facebook

works mainly by connecting people,

performing a socializing function only. But

the movement is towards expanding the

range of products and services provided

through Facebook. For instance, more

people will listen to music and consume

other content directly through the

Facebook platform. Related functions and

the companies providing them may be

eventually absorbed into Facebook. This

will allow users to easily identify what

their friends are listening to, viewing or

reading.

In terms of devices, more content will be

distributed more easily through tablet

computers, which will accelerate the

growth of this market. Distribution and

sale will be much easier via tablet devices

than on mobile phones, which will fuel a

dramatic growth of the market of tablet

devices such as the iPad.

Look who’s talking …

PAKISTAN

Sheikh Danish Ejaz is a graduate from the

University of Staffordshire in computing and

IT and has been working in the advertising

and digital industry since 2004.

What are the biggest changes this year in

technology?

This has been an interesting year, with

growing penetration of iPods and Galaxy

Tabs, and BlackBerry also coming up with

new products. Companies are focusing on

providing more personalized and portable

devices, with a focus on small size and

durability. This gives people the opportunity

to communicate with each other through

more than one channel. It leads us to create

social media, now an integral part of our

lives. Earlier, companies were fighting over

the best phone but now the war is for the best

smart phone. The biggest war is now the OS

war, and surprisingly with growth of 16 per

cent market share (Jul 10 – Jul 11), Android

seems to be booming. But after the iPhone 4S

launch, the numbers need to be reviewed.

What is the best selling brand in Pakistan

in 2011?

Talking about just one product will not be fair

to other brands. In the technical world, I see

people moving towards Macbooks and

iPhones with another segment becoming

Android savvy, but, overall, Samsung is now

one of the best-selling brands at both the

high-end and low-end.

What's your personal favorite?

In computers I am looking forward to getting

myself a durable and reliable Lenovo laptop.

I love my new HTC phone.

Look who’s talking …

What are the most anticipated new products of

2012?

People are anxiously waiting to see Google‟s new

OS along with Windows 8. A lot of Apple fans are

already waiting for iPhone 5.

What should be expected in the post-Steve Jobs

era?

Steve jobs did an amazing job in setting the

direction for the company towards innovation. It

will be tough for the company and the fans

initially to get back on track but I believe

eventually Apple will live up to expectations. As

for other companies, they are catching up and

trying to take advantage of this tragedy to rise to

the top. Samsung was close and ended up with a

lawsuit. Let‟s see what others come up with.

Look who’s talking …

SINGAPORE

Chi Tran loves everything about technology -- innovation,

social networking, mobiles and solutions. He closely watches

everything to do with the subject. In 2012, Chi will be waiting

for the arrival of Google Wallet in Asia, which will allow him to

shop without carrying his wallet. “This integration of consumer

experience is set to be of high priority among brands that are

fighting for consumer attention and purchase,” Chi says.

Chi feels that there is a big void to fill after the death of Steve

Jobs. However, he believes that the Apple founder‟s legacy will

live on; user experience will continue to play the lead role in

molding the technological landscape. Other brands will be

catching up to fill that void. “We already see brands like

Samsung and Nokia digesting that shift in paradigm and

churning out great products.”

One example is in the home technology space. With Internet

TV, smart phones, smart fridges, and so on, it won‟t be long

before consumers can stream TV programs onto their smart

phones even if they are away from their TV sets. They‟ll be

accessing their smart fridge from their smart phone to send

them a shopping list. “Digital is pervasive, and it‟ll be cool to

see more of us adopting new conventions and behavior with

new technologies.”

YouTube Link for Multi-touch Interactive Screen Demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz17lbjOFn8

Senior citizens in Asia

Knowing me, knowing you

SINGAPORE

“Live long, learn longer” is Yee Kit Hong‟s mantra. He is

61, and is known among family and friends as Kit. He

leads a very active lifestyle; exercising, traveling, hiking,

runs his own accounting firm and consults with non-profit

organizations. He lives with his wife and four children.

Kit is a true nature lover. He enjoys long walks in parks or

reservoirs to relax and wind down. He also takes

occasional trips with friends to Malaysia to visit the farms

and has even scaled Mount Kota Kinabalu last year. He

likes traveling and seeing the world.

Kit finds young people these days less appreciative of things around them. “They are so distracted by

mass media and consumer goods that they fail to enjoy the simpler pleasures in life. They also tend to

view things with a short-term perspective and wants everything their way,” says Kit.

To keep abreast of the rapidly changing world, Kit reads widely and also chats with his children about

the latest happenings so that they are in the know when they speak to their peers or business partners.

Kit is not one to be stuck in the past, and technology is something he embraces. He has an HP laptop and

iPhone with plenty of cool apps. Kit has been familiar with computers ever since the 1980s and has

upgraded with the times. But current technology, Kit feels, can drive people apart even as it brings them

closer. “People are more connected on virtual platforms while they lose the personal touch in face-to-

face communications. It‟s just sad.”

Knowing me, knowing you

PHILLIPPINES

Sonia Enage, 61, is a mother of two and the

curator of the National Museum. In her spare

time, she hosts cultural tours for visiting Italians

and teaches art to university students. Here, she

speaks about what it means to be a “senior

citizen” today.

Everyday joys

“What makes me happy is the everyday chats I

have with my two daughters. I think ours are

relationships that have grown so much through

the years. Before, it was about me as their mom,

telling them what to do. Now, there is a mutual

respect and understanding. We can talk as

adults.” Sonia believes that the joys in her life

right now have little to do with acquiring things,

as it used to be 10 years ago. Now, it‟s all about

how well she is able to nurture relationships.

The impatient digital world

A few months ago, she was turned down for a

freelance writing job because she had no

working knowledge of the Internet, and didn‟t

use social networking sites. Despite stating her

intention to take a certificate course on using

online platforms, the company decided to hire a

teenager with little writing experience but who

was digitally-savvy. Sonia marvels at how analog

skills are rapidly becoming irrelevant, and how

much one can get left behind because of

technology.

Through her course, she is learning the basics of

the Internet – writing an e-mail, searching for

information on Google, finding her friend‟s

albums on social networking sites. “It still feels

awkward for me, like I‟m too lazy to get out of my

house and actually meet a friend and talk to her.

But I see the convenience of it.”

Redefinition of quality time

Sonia doesn‟t feel that quality time with family

and friends has been taken away by technology.

Rather, it‟s been redefined. “Before, quality time

meant sitting down for all three meals with my

husband and daughters. Today, I feel that

technology like cell phones allows us to develop

stronger personal relationships because I have

access to them every minute of the day.”

Favorite young person

“Of course, it would be my daughter. I am so

proud of her. I look at her and I am reminded

that I never had it so good.” For Sonia, her

daughters are many things she wanted to be and

hopes she can still be – brave, full of life,

generous and thoughtful.

They are her biggest supporters in learning new

technology – painstakingly going through

Facebook albums with her so she can see their

family photos from a recent vacation. By next

year, Sonia‟s goal is to open a Facebook account

and master the technique of uploading albums

herself.

Knowing me, knowing you

MALAYSIA

For Mr and Mrs Azmeer, health is of utmost

importance. Both work to ensure they are as

healthy as possible; bad health can be costly: not

just financially, it would also rob them of their

independence.

They both agree that Malaysia has changed a lot

since they were young. Back when they were in

school, there was a lot less racial polarization –

the three main races were treated equally and

opportunities were merit based, unlike the racial

quotas in place today. Peer groups were a mix of

races, visiting each others‟ homes freely, and

even celebrating holidays together.

Family dynamics have changed a lot. When the

Azmeers were young, their parents were much

more hands off – children were essentially left to

themselves. However, when they became

parents themselves, they played a more active

role in their children‟s lives. Another change

they have noticed is that children these days are

a lot ruder; growing up, they would never have

dared to talk back to their parents. However, one

positive family value of today is the shift from a

stricter parent-child relationship to a closer,

friendly relationship.

One negative social value they have seen

emerging is the shift from a „we‟ culture to a „me‟

culture. These days, people are a lot more

selfish, they feel. Also, people are a lot more

“shameless” and openly do things that they

would have been embarrassed to do, like

getting divorced.

Mr Azmeer is quite tech-savvy and uses the

computer daily, typically for his duties as a

board member or for events that he organizes.

He is self-taught, but consults his daughter if he

has any questions. Mrs Azmeer does not use the

computer at all. This, she says, is not out of fear,

but rather out of lack of interest. She relies on

her daughter for any tasks that she needs done

on the computer, like banking or booking trips.

One of the good things about technology, she

admits, is that it helps people keep in touch.

BEIJING

Mr Liu is very content. This may be why he looks far

younger than his 62 years. He taught Chinese at

Beijing No.55 High School for 35 years. “When I

retired five years ago, I felt very upset that I had so

much free time. I loved teaching, and had almost no

time to develop my own interests while I was

working. After I retired, I have taught myself new

things. I like being busy and I love talking to people,”

said Mr Liu.

Every morning My Liu goes for a walk in a park, and

he carries his pet bird in a cage and talks with his

friends who also keep birds. “There is a Chinese

saying about birds singing and flowers giving their

fragrance to describe beautiful days of spring. That

is how I feel every morning. It is fun to communicate

with other bird keepers about their problems and

points of pride.” After lunch, he goes to the Senior

Citizen Activity Center to play chess. Sometimes he

reads books on photography and practices on the

new camera his daughter bought for him as a New

Year gift. “My birds are my models. It is a way of

documenting their growth. But I also love taking

pictures when I am traveling with my wife.”

Liu, who is able to speak standard Mandarin, some

English and has a deep understanding of Chinese

culture, was selected as a senior volunteer for the

2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

“The work helped me gain an understanding of

different cultures since we served people from so

many different countries. I am also glad that I was

able to contribute and participated as a Beijinger,”

he said.

Mr Liu doesn't want to left behind by technology. He

learned how to shop online last year when his

daughter taught him how to buy food and snacks for

Chinese New Year. He has since started purchasing

food and small home appliances on Taobao.com.

Mr Liu has one son and one daughter. His son is a

sales manager at a foreign company and his

daughter works for a non-profit organization. Liu

thinks his children have grown up in a very different

environment and have different values compared to

people of his generation. “When I started working,

others were jealous of me because having a

teaching job meant being able to provide stability to

my family. When my son was looking for job, I was

able to get him one at my school but he rejected my

offer, as he thinks teaching is not as interesting and

challenging as what he does now. Young people

nowadays are less conservative, take more risk and

are more optimistic compared to my generation,” he

said. He also thinks family values have become less

important. “I lived with my parents so I could take

care of them. Today my children have their own

homes and only visit once a month as they have

children to look after and travel so much for work.”

Knowing me, knowing you

JAKARTA

Toegiyono is a 68-year-old father of three daughters and

grandfather of three. By staying in touch with young people,

he is in touch with the dynamics of today which he feels is

completely different from what he experienced in his youth.

Teaching has helped him keep on learning. After retiring

from a public company, he became professor of

international management, business and politics, global

trade and tourism at university. In his spare times he is

involved in his church, and regularly takes part in walks and

events for the environment.

Consumerism is what bothers Toegiyono most about today‟s

world; with people only bothered about how to spend and

earn more. This leaves them open to corruption, bribery,

and cheating, and measuring relationships in money terms.

Working parents come home late at night every day and

leave early in the morning. They have been substituting by

baby sitters, who are often not as educated and lack

parenting skills. Electronic media, computer and games are

a child‟s companion even when parents are home.

The variety of Indonesian culture and customs is vanishing

due to globalization. Bahasa Indonesia is used less and less,

and traditional clothes are only worn for special events.

Traditional puppets and musical instruments are being

neglected as well.

Toegiyono feels that the best young role models of today

are Lionel Messi and the characters from the film Laskar

Pelangi, as they are an inspiration for everybody who wants

to achieve their goals.

Knowing me, knowing you

Knowing me, knowing you

TAIPEI

Xiu-Gin Hsu, 64, works in a hotel. She is past retirement age, and is

not the main breadwinner of the family. But like most baby

boomers in Taiwan, she believes wealth is accumulated through

hard work and people should work till they are unable to do so

anymore, so she plans to retire at age 65.

Mrs Hsu cooks every weekend for her family, and often visits her

husband's relatives. She spends a lot of time on her family and feels

that family is the most important thing in life. Family cohesion has

deteriorated in Taiwan, she thinks, and she is worried about her

many friends who live alone and meet their family members once

in a blue moon.

She is also very concerned about environmental issues. She thinks

Taiwan‟s economic development has created too much waste, so

she sorts her garbage carefully and uses recyclable shopping bags

and tableware, and has asked her children and grandchildren to do

the same.

Many Taiwanese women have jobs, and do not depend on their

husbands financially, which Mrs Hsu believes is a great thing.

With the exception of mobile phones, she does not like using tech

products because they are too complicated and aren‟t of much use

to her.

When it comes to young Taiwanese people, Mrs Hsu likes artist

Han-dian Chen and golfer Yani Tseng, both of whom have achieved

success through hard work and are still very humble.

Yani Tseng Han-dian Chen

Knowing me, knowing you

COLOMBO

Shirani Athukorala is a 70-year-old housewife who

lives with her husband. She has two daughters and

one son. All three children are married and have

given her five grandchildren. Shirani owns a Maruti

Car which she drives herself. Being around the

grandchildren is what keeps her happy.

Shirani loves to help people. But sadly, she

sometimes gets cheated, which really hurts her.

She is very optimistic and believes that if we can‟t

change the world, the best thing to do is to go with

the flow.

When she was young, she used to listen to the radio

and the whole family enjoyed dinner together. She

had a lot of siblings which resulted in many close

family moments, which is something she misses

today. She sees the difference of today‟s

generation, especially through her grandchildren.

She feels that everyone today is so busy with

various activities that they don‟t have time to spend

with their families. She sometimes wishes she could

go back to the old days but she is now used to the

hectic lifestyle. She sympathizes with her

grandchildren and wishes they had more time with

their parents.

Shirani is still a busy housewife as her husband is

still employed so that they don‟t have to depend on

their children and burden them for their daily

needs. Shirani makes sure her husband is properly

fed and looked after and the daily chores are taken

care of. She manages to find time to watch some TV

and to do a little bit of sewing. Visiting friends,

driving around and traveling are what she does

when she is bored. She and her husband also visit

their grandchildren.

Shirani says she is not afraid of using technology if

she is told clearly how to use it. She uses a cell

phone, though only to make calls. She uses email to

write to her daughter who lives abroad. Shirani

remembers how when she was young, in the

“courting stage”, she and her husband had no

mode of communication except for love letters,

which she still finds more romantic than the

modern ways. SMS might be convenient and fast,

but the creativity and romance is lacking.

The family moments which Shirani values so much

are lost to the new generation. She agrees that

children now are much more advanced than those

of her generation as they are exposed to a lot of

movies, television and technology, but they have

lost the appetite for reading.

She likes the convenience and ease of modern life,

but believes it should be monitored. Shirani likes to

keep with the times and admires Indian actress

Sonam Kapoor as her favorite young person and

role model for her daughter or granddaughter.

Knowing me, knowing you

KARACHI

Tell us about yourself…

My name is Mehboob Khan. I am 63 years old. I

have a beautiful wife and six children – three

daughters and three sons. Two of my daughters

are married. One lives in Dubai and one in

America. One son is married and lives in

Canada now.

I studied business and joined my father’s

business at the age of 19 and have been

working since then.

What keeps you busy now?

My prayers keep me busy. My daily routine

involves waking up early and reading the

paper with my breakfast. Then I follow up on

the business front over the phone. Then I watch

TV; news channels mostly. After that, I get on

the Internet and follow up on the US

immigration process, as I have applied for visas

for the family. In the evening I have a cup of tea

with my wife and children in the garden. After

that, I watch some more TV. I check Facebook

to stay in touch with friends who are scattered

around the globe and Skype with my daughters

and son in Canada. I go for a walk at 7pm to the

park, then have dinner. I go to bed at 9pm after

having a cup of green tea as it helps with

digestion. My future plan is to help settle the

three children I have living with me and then

move to America permanently with my family.

What makes you happy?

My children's success makes me very happy.

What bothers you?

When I see my family in any sort of trouble. The

country's current state also makes me sad.

Are you happy with the way things have

progressed with time?

In my times there were no cell phones. Now,

even an eight-year-old has a cell phone and is

up to date with technology. I try my utmost to

stay in touch with new developments on the

technology front. My children are the best

teachers when I need help.

How do you feel about the changes in social

or family values?

Today due to globalization, Pakistani culture is

largely influenced by western society. This is

due to the fact that many Pakistani are living

abroad and they come back with this change.

Many restaurants from other countries have

opened and are doing a lot business here,

which opens new horizons for our people.

Media has played a wide role in bringing this

change. There are many international channels

we can watch these days. The positive aspect is

that the new generation gains knowledge,

while the negative is that they are attracted to it

and want to live in that way.

What values do you see getting lost?

There are certain families that do not keep up

with the values of living together and taking

care of old parents or younger siblings. They

think it is not cool to live with their parents.

With time I believe they will realize the

importance of this value and by then I hope it’s

not too late to make amends.

Who is your favorite 20-25 year old?

My son Bilawal. He is 22. He is studying and

helping me out with my business. I am very

close to him. He reminds me of my relationship

with my father.

Knowing me, knowing you

Aklima Khatun, who lives in Bangladesh,

takes great joy in the Hindi shows she

watches, which keep her happy through the

week.

She is grandmother to Nazia Islam, and she

is concerned about her granddaughter‟s

well-being. To keep the home clean,

Aklima hired a maid. She saves time by

paying bills online. She keeps herself busy

by watching TV, helping out around the

house and gossiping with her friends over

the phone or whenever they meet.

She does not have a fear technology. “I was

born in a world where there was no

technology available to me, so in a sense

technology is younger than me. And if new

technology comes and threatens my way of

living, bring it on!” she says.

The values of old that have been lost

include a declining respect for elders,

loyalty and commitment in terms of family.

The new and emergent value that she loves

is openness to new ideas.

Her favorite young person is her

granddaughter, Nazia.

Japan‟s Genjiro Tagawa and his wife have been married

for 41 years. Mr Tagawa retired two years ago and now has

more time to spend with his wife. “I feel like we are

starting all over again. I have realized how little time I

have spent with my own wife.”

His daily routine has changed since his working days when

he would have a quick breakfast and rush to the station.

Now he walks to the park for an hour‟s jog before

breakfast – with his wife, of course. “I did not know what to

do every day for the first couple of months after

retirement. I just sat in front of TV for hours and got bored.

My wife suggested jogging, which she has been doing for

the past 10 years. I hesitated first, but I started to enjoy it. It

is good for health and I have lost two kilos.”

He also started cooking for the first time, and is now taking

cooking class. “I never knew how hard and time

consuming household chores were till I started seeing my

wife doing them and I felt useless just watching. I also

started worrying that if anything happened to her, I should

at least know how to take care of myself.”

His wife Michiko Tagawa says, “I was very afraid of the

idea of my husband‟s retirement. I was worried about how

I would deal with him all day long. But it turned out that he

is not so bad after all!”

In the aging society of Japan, seniors are one of the major

economic drivers and they are very active. They

participate in sports, travel and learning new things. There

is also a rising trend of senior divorce, caused by difficulty

adjusting to each other after retirement.

Finding old friends and exchanging ideas are what make Sharad happy. He also enjoys traveling

and going on pilgrimage very much.

His prime concern at the moment is his second daughter's single status. She is 34, lives in London

and has set a tough criteria for finding a match.

Sharad believes technology – Internet, computers, mobiles – has changed the world we live in,

transforming it into a village. He feels the change is all positive. He never felt intimidated by

technology. He still fondly remembers the training programs he went through in the last few

years of his work life. Now he checks e-mails, Googles to get information and browses

matrimony websites for his daughter and Skypes with his cousin in the US. He even knows about

GPRS maps on the mobile.

The social and family values he sees changing fastest is the move toward nuclear families.

Everyone leads hectic lives and has less time for affection, sharing and love.

His favorite 20-25 year old is his son, Pranav. He is proud of his education and feels he is a caring,

simple and thinking guy! Outside of his family, Abhinav Bindra‟s gold medal for India in the

Olympics has done him proud.

Knowing me, knowing you

INDIA

Sharad Malthankar, 65, is a father of three

daughters and a son. He took early

retirement and is still leading an active life.

He is an early riser and takes his morning

exercise routine very seriously. The

motivation is not only good health, it‟s also

meeting his friends!

His two-hour morning ritual of reading the

paper (The Times of India) and one-and-a-

half hours of morning puja (prayers) are

sacrosanct. He recently became the

chairman of his housing society and is

enjoying new responsibilities. He also likes

gardening and watching TV, especially the

news, discussion panels, regional TV series

and travel shows. Some of his favorite topics

are politics, current affairs and stock

markets.

.

* or at my favorite KTV parlor

Playing on my iPod*

Foster The People

Pumped Up Kicks

http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4v

TQ

MALAYSIA

Zivilia

Aishiteru

http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=D3-

dvCXE-6E

INDONESIA

Ayu Ting Ting

Alamat Palsu

http://www.youtube.com/w

atch?v=pFlJ9kCX_oc

Digu Dasa by Romesh.

-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=eGDmM_kw8qQ

"Jordan"

by Buckethead.

http://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=OTcg

9JybEp8

INDIA

SRI LANKA

Remake of "Ra Sihinen" by

Shihan Mihiranga

(Originally sung by Namal

Udugama).

http://www.youtube.com/w

atch?v=lTOyahw-lJE

Song: Chammak

Challo

Movie: Ra.One

Singers: Akon,

Hamsika Iyer

Link:

http://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=6FteXh

p7MZY

Song: Sadda Haq

Movie: Rockstar

Singer: Mohit

Chauhan

Link :

http://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=n6mra

YuSELU

BANGLADESH

Playing on my iPod*

TAIWANCHINA

Zhang Jing

“Looking For”

http://v.youku.com/v_

show/id_XMjk5NDAw

NTQ4.html

Laure Shang

Where Is My Soul

http://v.youku.co

m/v_show/id_XM

jkzNzkwMDg0.ht

ml

Hebe

“My love”

http://www.youtube.c

om/watch?v=t3r7a_7L

qRA

SodaGreen

“Love lonely”

http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=AUv4_lsYb

6U

Bilal Khan feat. Zoe

Viccaji

"Anjaane“

http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=NLwEUsJeJ

HY

PAKISTANSkima Switch

“Hare Tokidoki Kumori”

http://www.office-

augusta.com/sukimaswi

tch/

JAPAN

SuperHeavy

“Miracle Worker”

http://www.youtube.com/w

atch?v=MTF7T1Nw5OU&ob

=av2e

Zia Quizon

“Ako Na Lang

http://www.yout

ube.com/watch?

v=3kX1JeNhpqA

PHILLIPPINES

Above & Beyond ft Richard Bedford

“Sun & Moon”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll

5ykbAumD4

SINGAPORE

Avicii

“Levels”

http://www.youtube.com

/watch?v=TnOjBX4veNI

What‟s making people really angry,

and why?

Rage against

MALAYSIA

An Australian daily's report of Malaysian

Prime Minister Najib family‟s shopping spree

during his trip there for the Commonwealth

Summit has been making waves in Malaysia.

The report claimed that the Prime Minister‟s

wife spent RM488,000 on pearls and their

daughter spent RM195,000 at a department

store. This report comes on the heels of other

spending-related scandals related to the

Prime Minister and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

These include a RM74 million diamond ring,

the scheduling of an official trip to coincide

with a personal engagement, and exorbitantly

priced renovations to the Prime Minister‟s

residence.

This report has sparked another round of

intense chatter on social networking sites.

Many are shocked at the family‟s lavish

lifestyle and speculate that the family has

been misusing the public‟s hard-earned cash.

Outraged netizens have demanded to know

where the money is coming from and have

started a petition online calling for the

declaration of assets of all government

officials.

“Najib and his wife should not fleece the

people. Officials are always trying to overstep

their boundaries, this is a clear abuse of

power and as a government staff, I am

disgusted with all the profligacy,” a

government employee said.

This picture posted on a blog points to

Rosmah Mansor (extreme right) and her

jewellery

TAIWAN

Three local dairy producers in Taiwan that control

80 per cent of the domestic fresh milk market have

all raised their prices on October 1, pushing the

cost of raw milk up by 7.99 per cent. The highest

price rise was 27 per cent by one of the companies.

Stores in turn have raised coffee prices by 10 per

cent, and the coffee chain Starbucks has even

raised prices for black coffee and fruit juice.

One office-goer said, “I understand that they‟re

raising prices because the price of milk has risen.

But I don‟t get why that should affect non-milk

items.” Some people are also questioning why

coffee vendors have to increase prices so much.

Incensed by the hike, a “do not buy convenience

store coffee on October 20” event was being

promoted on Facebook, which has attracted over

9,000 supporters.

Fair trade authorities have fined the three largest

dairy producers for price fixing. The fines of up to

NT$12 million were announced on October 20

following an investigation into the recent price hike

for milk.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/

event.php?eid=220109671386805

Rage against

Mumbai and India have been enraged by the

deaths of Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes,

who paid with their lives for standing up to street

harassment by eve teasers.

On the night of October 20, at about 11pm,

Keenan and Reuben were standing in front of a

paan shop along with five friends, including two

girls. They had just finished dinner at a

restaurant in Andheri, Mumbai. A drunken man

named Jeetendra Rana purposely fell on one of

the girls (Keenan's girlfriend) and passed an

obscene comment. Keenan and Reuben

confronted the man. After a while, he came back

with around 15 men, armed with bamboo sticks,

sickles and knives. Seeing the mob coming, the

boys sent the girls inside the restaurant. The

boys took on the men unarmed. Keenan and

Reuben were stabbed, while the others were

beaten up. Keenan was pronounced dead after

being taken to the hospital while Reuben later

succumbed to his injuries.

As it emerged, a number of people were silent

spectators of the senseless violence. "People

stood there watching...did nothing," said

Priyanka Fernandes, Keenan‟s girlfriend.

Parents of the victims are asking what the

authorities will do so that the sacrifice of their

children is not in vain. The police arrested 21

people in connection with the murder. Minutes

after the murders, the perpetrators had

apparently been shouting that they would get out

of jail in no time.

The outrage on the Internet has continued, with

multiple discussion threads with users from

across the country discussing everything from

police protection and sexual harassment to

safety in Mumbai and self-defence tricks for

women. "Everyone has reached a point where

they are saying enough is enough. We're now

brainstorming on how we can spread more

awareness," said Benjamin, Reuben's brother.

A networking community dedicated to Keenan

Santos grew from 18,000 to 56,000 members in

two days. The 'Zero Tolerance Campaign' was

launched to take concrete steps about this public

outcry.

"We are supporting this movement. Hope it will

bring about some change," said Sheldon Santos,

Keenan's brother. "We wanted to take it beyond

venting. The campaign will be used to bring in

reforms so that such cases don't occur again,"

says Sagar Bekal, a group member.

The team spent time outside spots where young

people hang out together, collecting signatures

for a petition addressed to home minister R.R.

Patil seeking sections 354 and 509 of the Indian

Penal Code be made non-bailable.

The online campaign has seen netizens talk

about eve-teasing and sexual harassment with

renewed interest. In the past, several

movements, have addressed these issues. Some

of these online groups have been revived

following the Amboli incident. Bloggers have

been posting tips, martial arts moves and other

means to fight sexual harassment is public

places.

Netizens have now directed their ire at the police

and politicians after joint commissioner (crime)

Himanshu Roy, in an interview to a radio

channel, said, "We have 30 operators currently

and receive around 20,000 calls daily. We

understand that there is an urgent need to

increase lines as well as operators and are in the

process of doing so." In a country where

politicians have hundreds of security personnel,

why are there are a paltry 300 staff to address

the emergencies of all Mumbai, asked angry

listeners.

CHINA

On the afternoon of October 13 at a hardware market in

Huangqi, Foshan city, Guangdong province, a car hit a two-

year-old girl and didn‟t bother to stop. No passersby reached

out to help, either, and as a result, another car ran over her. In

seven minutes, a total of 17 people passing by failed to extend

a hand or call the police, till the 19th person, a garbage

scavenger, discovered her. But by that time, the little girl was

already badly injured. The woman called for help, and the

young girl‟s mother, who was in the area, immediately rushed

over and took her to the hospital.

The accident has been one of most hotly discussed topics in

China of late, with people angered by the coldness of

witnesses. The news video has received over 700,000 views on

Chinese video-sharing website Youku.com and has attracted

over 6,200 comments. This news is also spreading on China‟s

popular micro blogging service Sina Weibo in addition to

receiving a lot of attention on major internet news portals and

communities. One netizen commented on Sina Weibo: “Those

people who walked by without offering help are animals. No,

even some animals have compassion and would at the least

stop to take a look. Those 18 pigs who walked by should also

be arrested and taught a lesson with 15 days in jail. Instead it

was the waste scavenger woman from another part of the

country who had a conscience.”

On October 21, the little girl died in hospital. Thousands of

netizens, including Chinese celebrities, have been expressing

their thoughts on this issue on Sina Weibo, urging people to be

more helpful in future: “Don‟t be so cold, we should never let

this happen again!”

SRI LANKA

Last month, the custodial death of an alleged convict saw

wide-spread violence engulfing the locality of Dompe.

Hearing of his son‟s death, the father of the man also

suffered a heart attack. Public anger was further fuelled

when police issued a statement that the “convict died after

jumping out of a vehicle in an attempt to escape”. Local

residents set fire to the police station and destroyed

several vehicles. Special Task Force & Army

reinforcements were called in to restore peace.

Police atrocities have been on the rise of late. This comes

close on the heels of a peaceful demonstration by workers

of a free trade zone turning violent due to indiscriminate

firing by police. Such acts of police brutality have Sri

Lankans increasingly worried and angry.

Rage against

Rage againstPhone Fraud

Source : us.foto.detik.com

INDONESIA

Feri Kuntoro, 36, lives in Jakarta, and is the first consumer to have complained to the police about his

cell phone service provider‟s alleged fraud. Feri subscribed to specific number, as advertised on TV,

following instructions to get a chance at winning a BlackBerry. Since then, he was being billed US$ 20-

22 every month. When he complained to the provider, he was instructed to deregister. When that didn‟t

work and he continued to be billed, he finally went to the police.

Since then, many people have come forward to report similar cases. They have turned to Facebook and

the media to talk about the issue. People are even more angry at the response from the communication

minister and the service provider. The ministry merely went on the defensive, and the company hid

behind claims that its services had government regulator approval.

Consumers who reported fraud to the police were allegedly threatened. A movement was launched to

boycott Indonesian phone cell providers. On October 15, Indonesian activists encouraged people to

shut down their mobile phones for two hours.

Stop phone fraud pretense selling mobile

content.

SINGAPORE

On August 8 2011, TODAY newspaper reported that a Chinese migrant family had complained about

the smell of curry being cooked by their ethnic-Indian Singaporean neighbors. After some mediation,

the local family agreed not to cook curry when the Chinese family was home. This was the source of

much anger amongst the many Singaporeans who love their curries.

Soon, Flor Leow, a Singaporean in her 40s, started the “Cook and Share a Pot of Curry” page. “Let‟s not

argue, let‟s not quarrel, let‟s learn to tolerate” is her message. Her page went viral, with more than

57,000 people pledging support and agreeing to cook curry on August 21. People clearly felt strongly

about the issue as even the Facebook pages of the four presidential candidates attracted only a third of

the endorsements garnered by the curry campaign!

On August 21, Singaporeans and foreigners alike gathered to cook and share their curries.

Singaporeans have embraced curry as the new national symbol, and Singaporeans have shown that

they will stand up for what they stand for.

PAKISTAN

Pakistan Railway‟s failure to pay its pensioners took a deadly turn recently, causing outrage across

the nation. Retired employees of the public company were forced to line up for their pension near

the Railway Workshop, Mughalpura, for days in the scorching sun, with no arrangements for drinking

water or shade. Despite the conditions, they could not leave because they had not been paid their

pension for over three months and were desperate for money.

Weakened by heat, Mahmood Khan suffered a heart attack while standing in line. Some of the other

pensioners rushed him to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. The intolerable

heat caused two other pensioners to faint, and their families had to rush over to take them home.

The tragedy didn‟t speed up the payment process, however, and pensioners continued to suffer in

the heat for a few more days. The government announced it would pay compensation of PKR 500,000

to Khan‟s family, which is can hardly make up for the loss they have suffered.

BANGLADESH

A number of investors in the Dhaka stock market are very angry at

the huge losses they have suffered of late. Among them are those

who have invested everything they had in the market, and now

stand to lose it all. They are raising questions about the regulatory

bodies entrusted with the smooth functioning of the bourse, and are

wondering that when the market rises again, who will look after

investor interests?

Rage against

Rage against

PHILLIPPINES

On October 18, 19 government soldiers

died in an encounter with the Moro Islamic

Liberation Front in Basilan, Mindanao. The

fallout of a feud dating back to the 1970s,

there have been numerous rounds of

peace talks about MILF‟s demands for an

autonomous Muslim-Filipino nation, none

of which have yet borne fruit.

Results of the investigation into the

encounter have not been revealed to the

public, but the government has called for

continued talks and a hunt to find those

involved in the attack. One section of

lawmakers believes, however, that the

government stand reflects weak

governance, and uncalled for concessions

to what are probably delay tactics of the

rebels. Rumors that the government has

granted 5 million peso aid to MILF for a

leadership training institute as part of the

peace talks have not gone down well

either.

Lawmakers opposed to the current talks

suggest reintegration of rebel leaders via

training in the national military academy

and jobs or alternative livelihoods for

rebel families instead of straight out

grants, as has been recommended in past

negotiations.

In a TV news poll on Tuesday November 1,

86 per cent of Filipino viewers were

against the shape of the current peace

package.

Waiting list

Taiwan‟s first LPGA tournament

The whole nation watched as Taiwan hosted its first ever

LPGA tournament in October. Eight of the world‟s top 10

players will compete, including world number one,

Taiwan‟s own Yani Tseng.

Records were broken as Tseng returned for the

tournament. Over the four days of play, 66,000 people

were at the Sunrise Golf Club to watch, including 28,000 on

the final day. These figures surpass previous highs for

attendance at a professional sporting event in Taiwan.

Taiwan readers line up to buy Steve Jobs‟s Chinese-

language biography

The Chinese-language version of Steve Jobs‟s biography

went on sale in Taiwan on October 24. People lined up

outside a major bookstore in Taipei at least an hour ahead

of time to get their hands on a copy.

Eslite, one of Taiwan's leading bookstore chains, offered

free gifts at 12 of its outlets on the first day of sales to the

first 100 people who showed up dressed in black

turtlenecks, just like Jobs used to wear.

The exclusive Taiwanese publisher of the biography said it

had planned to do a first print run of 100,000 copies, but

decided to go with 220,000 copies instead based on the

warm reception.

Tokyo Sky Tree is an upcoming broadcasting tower in

Sumida, Tokyo, with a restaurant and observation deck. It is

set to be the tallest man-made structure in Japan, standing

634 m (2,080 ft) high. The project is being led by Tobu

Railway and a group of six terrestrial broadcasters (headed

by public broadcaster NHK).

Construction of the tower is scheduled to be completed by

February 2012, and will open to the public on May 22, 2012.

Waiting list

After many months of hoping and wishing for YouTube

sensation Jayesslee (http://www.youtube.com/jayesslee)

to grace us with a concert in Malaysia, the dynamic duo

finally came to town in October. The Korean-Australian

twins Janice and Sonia Lee, commonly known as Jayesslee,

have been rated as one of YouTube‟s top musicians since

their debut in 2008. The twins shot to stardom with their

tight vocal harmony and acoustic covers posted online.

Jayesslee gained exposure in Malaysia late last year,

going viral on social networking sites, and charming the

hearts of Malaysians with their vocals, looks, and bubbly

personalities.

Jayesslee‟s Malaysian fans attempted to create a

movement earlier this year to persuade the twins to travel

to Malaysia for a concert. Using Facebook as a platform,

the petition was titled „10000 Malaysians would love

Jayesslee to come to Malaysia‟. Other fans took to

personally writing letters and e-mails to the twins. The

movement failed at the time, but fans‟ wishes were finally

fulfilled with a cozy Jayesslee concert live in Kuala Lumpur.

The fourth ICC World Twenty20 will be held in Sri

Lanka between September 18 and October 7, 2012.

This will be the first World Twenty20 tournament

held in an Asian country, the last three being held in

South Africa, England and the West Indies. The

format will see four groups of three in a preliminary

round. Fixtures were announced on September 21,

when the ICC also unveiled the logo of the

tournament, Modern Spin.

The first World Twenty20, a biennial tournament,

was hosted by South Africa in 2007, where India beat

Pakistan in a thriller of a match. Pakistan defeated

Sri Lanka in 2009, while England became the third

World Twenty20 champions, beating Australia in the

West Indies.

Is it now Sri Lanka‟s turn?

Waiting listStar Alliance is offering Round The World

fares which include 27 airlines flying to 1,160

airports in 181 countries. The discounted

economy class fare is a very reasonable RMB

20,000, which has young Chinese hatching

plans to realize their “world travel dreams”.

Gap year, or taking a year off to travel, is

becoming a trend among young people in

China. An increasing number of university

graduates and even young professionals are

putting their careers aside for long journeys to

foreign countries. A big part of the attraction

of a gap year is escaping the drudgery of

work for new and exciting experiences. Many

Chinese people grow up complying with their

parents‟ expectations, but with rising

uncertainty, the youth is now making its own

decisions. For students, the choice to take a

gap year is a rite of passage to becoming a

stronger individual; for young professionals it

is the opportunity to explore or refresh

themselves.

That is what is fuelling the craze for the Star

Alliance offer. In just three days, the message

of the promotional fare has been reposted

almost 40,000 times on micro-blogging site

Sina Weibo, and has received almost 3,000

comments. A lot of netizens have shown strong

interests in purchasing the ticket. “We all

should do this before the end of world comes

in 2012!” said one potential world traveler.

India was eagerly awaiting the biggest birth to

hit Bollywood, with Abhishek Bachchan and

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan‟s first baby on the way.

Huge media coverage has ensured that the

baby will arrive under the glare of a million

spotlights. Indians across the globe are

speculating and latching on to any news related

to the Big P (pregnancy).

The baby finally arrived on November 15,

trigerring a fresh round of media frenzy.

Waiting list

Indonesia has been looking forward to the

South Asia Sport Festival, the 26th Sea Games,

from November 11 to 22. Palembang, a city

on Sumatra Island, and Jakarta are to be the

centers of the event.

There has been much trouble in the run up to

the games, chief among which was the

bribery involved with the construction of the

athletes‟ villages. Though some noted

politicians were involved, the sport minister

has washed his hands of the matter. The

venues, not yet ready, have been in the

media spotlight, leading to fears of a

possible delay in the schedule.

Despite all the chaos, the government and

committee in charge of the event appear

positive that the festival will be a success.

http://www.seag2011.com/

The wait is finally over -- Singaporeans no longer

have to spend all of their time in H&M every time

they travel abroad, as the Swedish brand finally

threw its doors open in Singapore on September 3.

Singaporeans have repeatedly demonstrated that

they don‟t mind a queue, and the result was more

than 1500 people in line for the official opening,

with some die-hard fans camping from noon the

day before. Some of those in line were genuine

fans of H&M, but others were only there for the

freebies - the first five to enter the store that day

were to receive $250 gift cards, with $20 cards for

the next 300. An obvious strategy to adopt, given

that freebies will have Singaporeans happily

queuing till no end!

The massive crowds at the prominent location

along Orchard Road simply meant more publicity

for the store, which has three levels with a

complete range of apparel and accessories for

women, men and kids.

Waiting list

.

Gaming consoles such as Wii,

Playstation 2 and 3 and the Xbox

360 have taken the world by storm,

and Pakistan is no exception.

Pakistani men, young and old,

have been spending hours on

gaming consoles playing their

favorite games. With the advent of

online gaming with consoles such

as the Xbox 360, a virtual

community has grown around it.

The latest fad is Call of Duty:

Modern Warfare. The latest edition,

Modern Warfare 3, is already on

top of every gamer‟s most wanted

list.

And with competition in the form of

Battlefield 3 having released on

October 25, Activision has been

preparing for war, advertising

MW3 across the world ahead of its

arrival on November 8.

Bangladesh has been waiting for the release of Tritio Jaatra, the second studio album from

rock band Nemesis. The event took place on Eid-Ul-Azha. The band delayed the launch,

which was previously scheduled for Eid-Ul-Fitr, allegedly due to issues with its record

label. Millions of Nemesis fans have been eagerly waited for their album. “Wait; if you wait

you will have something GOOD to listen to,” said Nemesis to its impatient fans.

Waiting list

News that the iPhone 4S is already being

pre-sold in Singapore has roused

speculation that pre-sales will begin in

another three to four weeks in the

Philippines. But that isn‟t soon enough for

some: many iPhone fans have put

themselves on the waiting list through

friends and family in various countries in

the hopes of getting their phone sooner

than that.

The Philippines is still reeling from the

effects of Typhoon Pepeng, and scores

of people are waiting for their share of

relief items being distributed

throughout the country. As usual, it is

the far-flung affected areas directly hit

by the typhoon that are the last ones to

be reached by aid workers.

Children peek through the gate of Angono High School

in Binangonan, Rizal, as they wait for relief goods from

the Philippine Air Force. Photo by Mark Balmores

Tense about …

Tense about

There are few conversations amongst Malaysians

these days that don‟t include the subject of the

rising cost of living. Prices in urban areas have

sky-rocketed and wage-earners are feeling the

pinch. The Economist Intelligence Unit has

reported that the cost of living in Kuala Lumpur

has risen by nearly 25 per cent in the past two

years and recent inflation statistics show that

food and non-alcoholic beverage prices have

increased to twice the global average. Urban

property prices have increased 40 per cent in

the past year with the average price of a

residential property costing nine times the

average urban household income.

However, even though prices have increased

drastically, wages have not increased to match it

– from 2001 to 2010, wages have only increased

2.6 per cent. One point of contention currently is

the fact that with current salary levels, property

prices are well beyond the reach of today‟s

youth.

The government has been trying to tackle this

issue by announcing specific measures in the

2012 budget to lessen the impact of inflation.

Some of the measures include one-off cash

handouts to low-income households and

financial aid to civil servants. However, public

sentiment remains doubtful that the measures

would solve the real problems. Furthermore, it is

evident that the government‟s ability to improve

the situation will be a big factor in determining

whether the party remains in power following

the upcoming general election.

For thousands of home owners in India, who had

taken home loans and were worrying about higher

equated monthly instalment (EMI) outgo due to

increasing interest rates, the National Housing Board

(NHB) order for the waiver of prepayment penalty

came as a brief respite. But the joy might prove to be

short-lived as most housing finance companies

(HFCs) plan to compensate for the revenue loss by

levying higher interest rates or additional charges.

HFCs have to maintain a net interest margin (NIM) of

230-250 basis points (2.30-2.50 per cent). Scrapping

the prepayment penalty would mean a 25-basis-

point hit for the companies that are already reeling

under tightening margins due to rising interest rates,

say officials in the housing finance business.

Industry members feel that the waiver of the penalty

will only encourage borrowers to swap loans to

different banks and HFCs. Loan swaps usually

happen when there are other players in the market

offering lower interest rates. Since customer

acquisition and retention charges are also high, most

banks feel that it is only fair that they be

compensated for the additional work through other

sources.

“A lot of work, time and effort goes into acquiring a

customer. There has to be some deterrent to prevent

accounts from being frequently switched from one

company to another,” said Srinivas Acharya,

managing director, Sundaram BNP Paribas Home

Finance.

The battle for new customers has seen banks get

creative. ICICI Bank and LIC Housing Finance

launched teaser rates or hybrid rates where the

interest is lower than the industry average for the

first two to five years, after which prevailing floating

rates apply. Though State Bank of India scrapped its

teaser scheme a few months ago, HDFC launched a

loan that offered interest rates as low as 10.75 per

cent for the first three years.

Many borrowers do not want an extension in their

loan repayment tenure and prefer to move to new

lenders offering lower rates.

Tense about

During the financial crisis in 2008, high-tech

companies in Taiwan asked employees to take

unpaid leave instead of laying them off.

In October 2011, this practice has started again.

Some companies have been cutting back staff as

well. Eight firms in the industrial zone of the

Hsinchu Science Park have been encouraging

employees to take annual leave in a bid to lower

production amid slowing global demand. A

leading LED testing and packaging service

supplier said that it will start an unpaid leave

plan from November to counter slowing global

demand.

Laborers in Taiwan have begun to feel uncertain

about their economic future once again.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwA

yj8IYEn8

The prolonged dry spell in areas of Sri Lanka

including Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Matale,

Batticaloa, Ampara and Moneragala districts has

made it difficult for people to get drinking water. In

Aralaganvila and Dimbulagala, there are villages

where people flock to the well in the early hours to

draw water. In other areas with only a few wells, the

water level has dropped drastically, forcing

villagers to walk for kilometers in search of water.

Even in major water supply systems, flow has been

restricted to a few hours a day. The water level has

dropped to critical lows in the major tanks in

districts such as Minneriya and Giritale. The delay of

the monsoon rains is likely to have an adverse

impact on yields in the 2011/2012 Maha season. In

addition to the food costs going through the roof,

north Sri Lanka is reeling and waiting for some relief

– either from the government or the weather gods.

Dengue fever is a growing

epidemic in Pakistan. Due to high cost of

treatment, the disease is spreading

rapidly. Already affected by floods and

suicide bombings, Pakistan now faces an

unprecedented outbreak of this deadly

tropical disease. In less than a month, 126

people have died and more than 12,000 have

been diagnosed with the virus, which has

spread rapidly through Pakistan‟s cultural

capital, Lahore. Dengue sometimes results in

fever, muscle and joint ache, but it can also be

fatal when it develops into hemorrhagic fever

and shock syndrome, which is characterized

by bleeding and loss of blood pressure. There

is no vaccine, which is why prevention is

critical.

Authorities in Lahore have blamed the crisis

on prolonged monsoon rains and unusually

high seasonal temperatures. But the locals

blame it on inefficient government and long

power cuts. Lahore has the most number of

reported cases, and banners with giant

mosquitoes and public warnings have been

hung across avenues and crossings in the city.

The government is trying to reduce the spread

of the epidemic. The government of Punjab

has opened a hotline. Spraying teams have

been organized to fumigate, spray and fog

areas where the Aedes mosquitoes is thriving.

Mobile teams operate around the clock to

treat the affected in rural areas. In early

September, the government of Punjab

ordered schools, colleges and universities

in Pakistan to close down for 10 days for

intensive spraying. Private hospitals have

agreed to provide free treatment to dengue

patients.

Tense about

On the morning of October 6, 2011, co-founder of

Apple Steve Jobs passed away, losing his fight

against cancer. After the announcement of his

death, more than 35 million Chinese paid online

tributes to the creator of the popular iPhone and

iPad digital devices. By 6pm, over 36 million

microblog posts about Steve Jobs had been

posted on Sina Weibo. Sina even created a new

emoticon of Steve Jobs‟s face. Hundreds of Apple

fans gathered in front of retail stores in Beijing,

Shanghai and Chengdu, where they set up

memorials filled with photos, flowers, and sticky

notes on which fans had scrawled messages.

Apple products have soared in popularity among

increasingly affluent Chinese consumers. Demand

for white iPhones sparked a scuffle outside the

Beijing Apple Store in Sanlitun earlier this year. In

the quarter ended June 25, Apple said it sold $3.8

billion worth of products in greater China

(including Hong Kong); more than a six-fold

increase over the previous year. Apple also

opened new stores in Hong Kong and Shanghai

last month.

Some Apple fans are worried that Apple has lost

its soul and are rushing to purchase the last Apple

products that Jobs has worked on. “I have to get

the iPhone 5 as it is the final amazing art work of

Steve Jobs!” said one loyalist on Weibo.

They say that during every Manny Pacquiao match,

there is a dramatic decline in crime, traffic and

footfall in public places across the Philippines. No

surprise, since everybody is at home glued to their

TV screens.

The November 12 match of our national boxing hero

against Juan Manuel Marquez had Filipinos holding

their breath in anticipation. Who cares if the final

verdict was controversial? Pacquiao won, didn‟t he!

This is merely the latest round in an ongoing sports

saga. Seven years ago, Pacquiao managed to knock

down Marquez three times in the first round but was

unable to knock him out, ending the bout in a draw. In

their second meeting in 2008, the two fought a close

bout with Pacquiao winning the fight by one round in

a judge‟s scorecard.

At the Philippine kick-off, Marquez and his team

members said Marquez should have won the previous

two fights against Pacquiao. They left no room for

doubt about how they felt, wearing “We Got Robbed”

shirts, referring to Marquez‟s close loss against the

Filipino four years ago.

This irked many Filipinos, further fueling a collective

demand for national victory. And they got exactly

what they wanted!

Tense about

People have been tense about the Eid holiday and how to spend it. Eid Ul Azha is the festival of

sacrifice, and is one of the biggest religious celebrations in Bangladesh. People give cows, goats and

even camels for sacrifice in the name of Allah. With spiraling prices, people are worried that they

won‟t be able to buy a decent animal to sacrifice at a decent price.

Then there is also the worry that they won‟t be able to get tickets to travel during the holidays due to

the rush.

Both marriage and divorce cases

have increased in the aftermath of the

March earthquake in Japan.

43 per cent of women in their 20s say

they want to get married even more

after the earthquake. Unfortunately,

this does not mean finding the perfect

partner is any easier than before.

On the other hand, divorce cases are

also increasing. Although every

relationship breaks up for unique

reasons, many have reported that

they began to reassess their lives and

their values after the disaster, and

began to question what and who is

truly important to them.

OR

Tense about

Tense about

Fraudulent text messages to extort money have been doing the rounds in Indonesia. Sent by cybercriminal syndicates, many people have been cheated by these frightening texts. The messages,claiming that the recipient‟s child has met with an accident or has been kidnapped, were used toget parents to wire transfer large sums of money to unknown bank accounts.

Even though the syndicate was finally caught by police, the SMS attack still appears now and again.It is a source of stress because the messages come from an unknown sender, and no one reallyknows how the criminals get hold of the phone numbers or personal information.

“Send to Bank Rakyat Indonesia

account name Johan Veronika

No.011601051664507, tell me after

you transfer the money, text me…”

“Mom, Dad, I am at police station now. I have to

pay medical cost for the car accident injured party,

4 million, text to this number 085613734734, ask

him the bank account number and please send the

money now. Urgent. I‟ll call you back”

“Send the money through BRI account

name Solvi Safitri Account number :

089501006526502. Call or text me after the

transaction, my phone cell run out of

battery.”

Tense about

Orientation in local universities for freshmen has been taking an extreme turn in Singapore.

Girls lying on the ground with guys perched suggestively over them, eating biscuits out of each

other‟s mouths, hugging for an extended period of time as a trial of endurance are just some

examples of what students are being forced to do. For some girls, these activities have proved to

be so embarrassing that they burst into tears. These activities have also raised concerns among

parents.

Another strange trend has been seen among secondary school students, who have been choking

each other, claiming that it gives them a high. They even show off their deeds by taking videos

and sharing them online. To them, it is fun and they are replicating what they have seen on

YouTube. For the parents of Singapore, it is traumatic to hear of their kids resorting to such

potentially fatal activities for “fun” and it is even more upsetting to know that these behaviors

might easily go unnoticed.

Top brands of 2011

What people filled up their physical and online shopping carts with …

Top brands of 2011

Who can forget the overnight sensation he created as the returning

officer of the Singapore elections in 2011? He earned more than

30,000 likes on Facebook in less than 24 hours. That‟s a record that

will be hard to beat. He‟s also had his face Photoshopped on

medicated oil and face powder bottles. Yam Ah Mee has become an

iconic figure – a brand in his own right.

SINGAPORE

1.Yam Ah Mee

Eating can be more important than sleep for some

Singaporeans. Planning their lives around food, many

Singaporeans turn to Hungry Go Where for credible

reviews of restaurants and food stalls. Founded in 2006

by three local men, it has since expanded to include

HungryDelivery, HungryDeals and HungryBBQ. The way

to Singaporeans‟ hearts is definitely through their

stomachs.

2. Hungry Go Where

3. NTUC Income

NTUC Orange Force, a homegrown brand that has

proven to be quick and responsive, is available 24/7 to

assist in case of accidents, helping have vehicles

towed and alternative transportation arranged, and so

on. Their response to flash floods last year with a series

of print ads that ran within 24 hours of the incident with

promises to quickly and fairly pay out claims to

insurers earned them quite a reputation for prompt

action.

http://sgentrepreneurs.com/interviews/2009/10/20/in-conversation-with-

wong-hoong-an-co-founder-of-hungrygowhere/

http://sbr.com.sg/information-technology/news/hungry-go-where-strikes-

microsoft-deal

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/St

ory/A1Story20110509-277804.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v

=zzzYzqKNJRw

http://theideaphile.blogspot.com/2011/05/ntuc-incomes-flood-campaign.html

http://sbr.com.sg/financial-services/more-news/ntuc-income-provides-members-personal-

accident-response-team

Top brands of 2011

Malaysians hailed Apple, Samsung and Groupon Malaysia as the top three brands of 2011.

Apple came in first place, with consumers attributing the brand‟s superiority to its technological

advancements in hardware, with devices such as the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, as well as in its software,

with the launch of its updated operating system, iOS 5. Consumers also noted that Apple products

have consistency in quality and that the brand has tremendous loyalty and the ability to easily

generate hype and publicity. Additionally, Steve Jobs‟s recent death transposed the brand that he

embodied into an even more legendary status as people mourned his passing the world over. Most

memorable of Apple‟s communications are its recent ads introducing Siri on the iPhone 4S

(http://youtu.be/rNsrl86inpo), as well as Apple‟s Keynote events. Interestingly, Apple‟s corporate

communications is as influential as any advertising campaign; as one consumer said, “Apple‟s

Keynotes are considered their best ads”. Watch one of the Keynote videos mentioned by consumers:

http://youtu.be/UhLLNrU3uXQ

Samsung also emerged as a contender for Malaysia‟s top brand of the year, as consumers increasingly

recognized its phones and tablets as quality products. Consumers praised offerings like the Galaxy

Tab and Galaxy S II, as “Apple contenders” and “iPhone killers”. The most memorable

communication from Samsung is the “Too Realistic?” campaign for the Galaxy S II, which highlights

the phone‟s display. See the ads: http://youtu.be/GOKO6isa08A and http://youtu.be/1ng_h0iA4i0

Groupon Malaysia, formerly known as Groupsmore, is Malaysia‟s tech startup darling of the year.

Launched in September 2010, Groupsmore was bought over by Groupon within five months of going

online. Featuring discounted gift certificates from various local and regional companies, discount-

loving Malaysians flocked to the site to get their hands on deals for restaurants, travel, beauty

services, activities, entertainment and other items. Within five months, Groupon Malaysia had reached

50,000 in members and as of August 2011, the site had a member base of over 700,000. In terms of

communication, Groupon advertises through web banners. It reaches the masses mainly through

word-of-mouth, and also by using social networking sites.

Top brands of 2011

Sacai is a Japanese brand created by Abe Chitose, the

designer behind Sacai womenswear since 1999.

Chitose worked for Comme des Garçons and Junya

Watanabe before that. Her knitwear collections have

built an underground following with very little

publicity. Starting very small, Sacai made a Paris

collection for the first time in 2011 and has become a

popular name in high streets around Europe.

±0 became one of the most popular home

appliance brands in Japan and beyond

with its simple, practical and elegant

design. ±0 was founded in 2003 by

designer Naoto Fukasawa. The brand‟s

design sensibility is based on the belief

that beautiful objects are not just about

matching colors or shapes; they are about

harmony between these devices and life.

The ±0 brand is a symbol signifying “just

right” – a shape that is “just right”, a size

that is “just right”; a price that is “just

right”.

We ran a poll in the office for the three brands of the

year in Bangladesh, and the answer was Coca Cola,

Apple and Google.

At the very top was Coca Cola. Why, we asked?

EVERYONE loves Coca Cola, we were told. It is just

like they say in the ads: Coke is about open

happiness. The particular campaign that cemented

the soft drink major‟s position at the peak was the

Coca Cola Friendship Machine campaign, which

was also favorably reviewed across media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj3QLLTFDX8

Top brands of 2011

UNIQLO: UNIQLO created a buzz with many events and campaigns in Taiwan this year. In March, the

world‘s first UT GALLERY was held in Taipei, where UNIQLO collected highly popular items such as

Naruto, One Piece, Care Bears and Cath Kidston that have been sweeping Japan‟s spring/summer

style. The event was full of atmosphere from Taiwan‘s military housing era, which reflected the strong

difference between Taiwanese traditions and Japanese fashion.

After opening a flagship store in East Taipei in September, UNIQLO opened another five stores in

three months. With each opening, they held a Lucky UNIQLO Line event on Facebook, which drew

about 60,000 participants.

Recently the brand invited famous Taiwanese artists to shoot ads that generated significant buzz.

http://www.youtu

be.com/watch?v=

zNwByHJWiiA

http://www.youtu

be.com/watch?v=

CuWExQrVPBc&f

eature=related

TC Bank: The “Dream Rangers” commercial for Ta Chong

Bank has taken on a life of its own in Taiwan and across the

globe with over 3.7 million views on YouTube. The video has

close to 11,000 likes and fewer than 40 dislikes.

Ta Chong bank means People‟s Bank. Through this

commercial, TC Bank wanted to convey that it understands,

identifies and supports the Taiwanese people, and that TC

Bank embraces the Taiwanese spirit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vksdBSVAM6g

HTC: HTC is the first Taiwanese company to be listed by

Interbrand as one of the world's top 100 brands, debuting at

No. 98 in the 2011 Best Global Brands report.

HTC believes that a company should focus on the value of

innovation and the training of talent for the next generation.

Wall Street Journal described HTC CEO Peter Chou as the

next Steve Jobs.

Top brands of 2011

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzAwNTc4MzA0.html

In September, 2011, Levi‟s launched its first global campaign, Go Forth in China, featuring Brunei-

born Taiwanese actor and signer Wu Chun. The campaign encourages young people to pursue their

goals and dreams. It has been one of the favorite ads among young Chinese consumers in 2011.

In January, 2011, Diageo launched the new campaign for its Johnnie Walker brand – Words of

Journey. The campaign uses a documentary approach to tell the stories of 12 Chinese pioneers,

chosen from the fields of business and the arts. They reflect upon their life journeys against the

backdrop of modern China. In a few months, the video has received more than 30 million views

online. The spirit of overcoming difficulties has struck a chord with viewers.

http://johnniewalker.tudou.com/yulujihua/

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjU1MjYyMTY0.html

In May 2011, Dove launched its first big digital campaign, You‟re a Beauty Story, on Sina.com and

Sina Weibo. The campaign aims to inspire the women of China to acknowledge and embrace their

beauty and ultimately capture all the individual beauty stories of the millions of women across the

country. Through the campaign, the brand has successfully reached out to more than 60 million

women in China.

INDIA

In India, it has been the telecom majors that have done their best to grab the country‟s attention this

past year. Airtel‟s latest campaign, featuring the exceedingly hummable anthem Har friend zaroori

hota hai, really hit home with young people across the country. Then there were the Vodafone

BlackBerry Boys and Idea 3G population control campaigns which both made their mark.

Finally, Cadbury‟s Shubharambh campaign is a cute and clever way to reposition chocolate as an

Indian tradition. Sweets are eaten in India to mark the start of a new venture, and the Cadbury ads

bring a smile to the face as they suggest that Dairy Milk does the job perfectly.

CHINA

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzAwNTc4MzA0.html

If in most countries 7-Eleven is known as a corner

store, in Indonesia it has adopted a different format.

It provides café-style seating, which has made it one

of the most happening hang-out places for teenagers

who spend hours sitting there with friends while

having cups of coffee, soft drinks and fast food at

affordable prices. In three years, the brand has

spread all over Jakarta, with more than 80 branches

that stay crowded from 7am to 11pm every day.

On weekends, 7-Eleven invites indie bands to

perform at the stores, which has proved to be an

even more potent driver of traffic.

Top brands of 2011

Even though the iPad had arrived

in Indonesia last year, it wasn‟t till

2011 that it became a craze,

following the launch of the second

edition of the device.

The iPad cuts across age groups

in its appeal, infringing on the

territory previously occupied by

the netbook. Children put their

Nintendo Wii away to play with

iPad, and the latest iPad apps are

always a hot topic amongst teens.

Mizone is an isotonic drink, a challenger brand to

Pocari Sweat which is a pioneer in the category.

In 2005, Mizone was launched and gained huge

success as it offers a variety of flavors that Pocari Sweat

doesn‟t have. But the following year, the US Food &

Drug Administration accused Mizone of fraud for not

putting information about preservatives on its labels,

leading to a drop in sales.

Since then, Mizone has worked hard to regain

consumer trust through massive activation and below-

the-line activities. Their efforts have been rewarded

with an even bigger following in Indonesia than when

it was first launched.

Mizone FlashMob

House

Car

Cellphone

iPad

Bike

Blackberry

iPad is identified as the 4th most coveted product in IndonesiaSource:http://www.indomarketbiz.com

Top brands of 2011

Sri Lanka‟s top brands in 2011 were liked not because of a particular commercial per se, but

because they have been consistent in their brand personality. Here are some of the ads that

viewers recall, and though they are not all necessarily from the past year, they have

contributed to the continued success of the brands.

There‟s Coke, with its fun Brrr campaign:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn7bBZJQob8

Sunlight‟s colorful detergent ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz3zQSmaQwM

Sri Lanka Bell‟s corporate campaign designed to inspire the patriot in every viewer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFl4-Zoaj5g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZALZIuWNgKg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQf4BHcmJrg&feature=related

Nestle 100 years: Kasambuhay,

Kasambahay Short Film Anthology

Apple: iPad 2

Globe Tattoo Mobile

Internet

PHILLIPPINES

Top brands of 2011

The latest campaign from Levi‟s features

Strings, a very popular band in Pakistan,

and two upcoming musicians Zoe and Bilal.

Levi‟s promoted the new artists by

launching their music, and the ad reveals

how these two musicians are inspired by

Strings.

The campaign is essentially about how

Strings are the originals, and how Zoe and

Bilal are inspired by them. Much like Levis,

the „original‟ purveyor of denims,

continues to inspire young people today.

Jeans by Levis are not just clothes; they are

all about comfort and resilience of the

material, which inspires people.

Links:

http://www.youtube.com/user/levistheorig

inals?blend=21&ob=5

http://tribune.com.pk/story/180180/levis-

music-release/

Samsung advertises itself as a quality brand that is affordable too; a brand for all classes. In this

campaign, Samsung products are positioned as the choice of the people, not just because of

the pricing but also because they have many of the features which competitors only offer at a

far higher price point.

Links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGs_QhCqveU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX61dXmGoNc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW_JFvYS_LY

The love for Coke has spilled over to its brand Coke

Studio in Pakistan. Launched in 2008, the program

focuses on a fusion of the diverse musical influences

in the country, including eastern classical, folk, and

contemporary popular music. The show provides a

platform for renowned as well as upcoming and less

mainstream artists, from various genres and regions,

to collaborate musically in live studio recording

sessions. It is one of the most popular music programs

in Asia. Season 4 started on May 22, 2011.

Link:

ttp://www.youtube.com/user/cokestudio?blend=1&o

b=4

SOUTH KOREA

1. Hyundai Motors „Hope Bus Concert‟

Hyundai Motors ran a guerilla concert on a bus sometime between July and October in Seoul,

featuring five top singers. This was designed to surprise and cheer up commuters. The theme song

for the concert has a very cheerful message, and can be downloaded from the homepage

(www.bus-concert.com). All three videos, which tell stories related to getting around by bus, have

clicked with audiences. The ad was awarded the Grand Prix at the Korea AD Awards (Integrated

Media).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=q0Wl95IijQs

www.bus-concert.com

2. Korean Air's new destination campaign

Unlike previous destination campaigns for Korean Air featuring overseas travel to countries such as

the US, China, Australia and Japan, the carrier‟s new campaign focuses on Korea itself.

This campaign is unique as it features user-designed content that was chosen through a serious

competition. The campaign was rolled out for overseas media including CNN and BBC to encourage

overseas tourists to come to Korea as well. It received the Grand Prix in the Korea AD Awards (Print

Media).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9fKWZ-ks0E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZjmIXtUFGM

3. Korea‟s #1 energy drink Bacchus

The campaigns for Korea‟s #1 energy drink Bacchus has been loved by Koreans for such a long

time. This year‟s campaign was also successful in its humorous depiction of ordinary people making

a trip to the pharmacy to get Bachhus to help them solve every day problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4zzySDMRFk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYw2WNwhPpw

Top brands of 2011

Most anticipated

An exciting trend at the movies this year has been the growing popularity of domestic films.

Starting with Jump Ashin! through to You Are the Apple of My Eye and the upcoming Seediq Bale,

many people are choosing Taiwanese films over Hollywood fare at the box office. On its first

day in theaters, You Are the Apple of My Eye even beat out behemoths Harry Potter and

Transformers for ticket sales.

The buzz around films such as Seediq Bale has not gone unnoticed by international audiences.

The Discovery Channel has produced a special on Taiwan‟s burgeoning film industry that will

be shown across Asia.

Many Taiwanese films will be released in 2012, including Black & White Episode I: The Dawn of

Assault, which is an adaptation of a very popular TV series. Many Taiwanese hope that there

will be many more good movies releasing in Taiwan in the year 2012.

The Discovery Channel Press Conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkWGx

DdW0AA

“Black & White Episode

I: The Dawn of Assault”

Most anticipatedThere seems to be a sense of trepidation among

Malaysians about the year 2012. The declining

Malaysian economy, the seemingly

unstoppable global and local recession,

political turmoil and prophesies about the end

of the world are top of mind when Malaysians

look ahead to 2012.

However, amidst the doom and gloom, there is

one shining source of optimism that many

Malaysians are anticipating – the looming

general election. As the constitutional

parliamentary term in Malaysia is five years,

after which the parliament must be dissolved by

the King on the advice of the Prime Minister, the

13th general election must be held in or before

2013. Till now, Prime Minister Najib has yet to

call for elections, but many are predicting that it

will take place sometime next year.

As more and more Malaysians grow dissatisfied

with the current ruling party, Malaysians hope

elections will bring a change in the country‟s

leadership.

On a lighter note, many Malaysians are also

looking forward to seeing technological

innovations in the upcoming year – they have

particularly high hopes for Apple‟s iPhone 5,

which is expected in 2012.

Picture credit: http://bit.ly/gASqxH

In India, the Ministry of New and Renewable

Energy has proposed to create special

economic zones for the production of

equipment required by the renewable

energy industry. The states of Tamil Nadu,

Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and

Jharkhand have offered to give land to this

end.

India is hoping energy from sustainable

sources will be the answer to its energy

crisis: the most remote villages in the

country are set to get a minimum of one unit

of electricity by March 2012 from renewable

sources.

With over six per cent of total installed

power capacity in India being generated by

wind, the country has come a long way in

sustainable energy production, but there is

still plenty of ground to cover. Over 10 per

cent of India‟s power currently comes from

renewable sources.

Formula 1 is now in India, and the ultimate speed demons will be back to rock racing enthusiasts

again in 2012. Having had a taste of the thrilling sport in 2011, people can‟t wait for another fix at

the Buddh International Circuit of 60 laps of pure excitement.

On a less positive note, there are many in India waiting to see if the end of the world is indeed

neigh. The calendar of the ancient Mayans does not go further than 2012, allegedly because the

world ends before the year is through. But forget the Mayans; it is the Rolland Emmerich

apocalyptic blockbuster film 2012 that has really got people all worked up.

Music concerts from the world‟s hottest

bands are finally about to reach

Indonesian shores. The two mega-bands

that are most awaited are U2 and Coldplay,

both scheduled to perform around

February 2012.

Some of the artists now coming to

Indonesia have done Asian tours before,

but they didn‟t stop by Indonesia due to

the security concerns back then,

particularly in the aftermath of bombings

in Bali and Jakarta.

Music fans in Indonesia are now gearing up

to welcome them and hoping that the

situation in Indonesia will stay conducive to

many more such live acts.

Most anticipated

The first premium outlet center in South East

Asia is coming to Singapore‟s

neighborhood! Genting Group, in a joint

venture with Chelsea Malaysia LLC, is

establishing Chelsea Premium Outlet

Centers in Malaysia, the first of which will

be the Johor Premium Outlets in Kulai.

The news alone has made shoppers go weak

in the knees, with talk of jaw-dropping 65

per cent discounts on designer brands. The

official opening date is December 2, 2011,

and we are expecting Singaporeans to flock

across the Causeway more often than ever

to our friendly neighbor for some intensive

retail therapy.

Most anticipated

Outdoor music festivals didn't start in

China till 2002. After some false starts

over the years, organizers of these

events started to gain experience and

now even receive support from the

Chinese government and corporations.

In 2011, there were over 100 music

festivals around the country, attracting

more than three million viewers. Music

festivals in China are finally going

mainstream, and local government

officials see them as a good way of

letting youth blow off steam while

promoting a creative culture and tourism,

-- one of the fastest growing industries in

China.

Fuelled by this trend, Chinese audiences

are now hungry for more, and are

seeking festivals with a better line-up –

even if they are overseas. This year, on

micro-blogging site Sina Weibo, lots of

young people are already asking their

friends if any of them would like to go to

Fuji Rock Festival 2012. “After years of

going to music festivals in China, it‟s

time to see the ones in our neighbor

countries,” said one netizen. “Plus, price

of flight tickets to Japan has gone down

so much since the earthquake and Fuji

rock usually has very good line-up!”

With Japan still concerned about the energy

shortage, people are looking forward to more

power-saving home appliances. Panasonic‟s

new home electronics line Eco Navi is

already growing in sales, a trend likely to

continue in 2012.

Since the launch of the line in 2009, it has

expanded to 21 categories and 187 products.

The brand has 90 per cent awareness among

consumers. Market share is 36 per cent in air

conditioners, 45 per cent in washing

machines, and 33 per cent in refrigerators.

The frenzy is building. Multi-colored flags are being printed by the thousands. People in party

stripes are gathering in market squares and avenues. Manifestos are being taken down and dusted

off. Charters and agendas are being drilled into the heads of TV audiences and celebrities are

picking sides and composing patriotic songs. All this ahead of the most anticipated event in

Pakistan – General Election 2012.

Recently Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan, witnessed Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf‟s

(Movement for Justice Party) political rally. The party‟s PR machinery was running at full throttle

with prominent news stories prior to the event and interviews by the top cadre running on nearly

every channel. Billboards, banners and buntings festooned the city, especially the roads leading

up to the venue, which was chosen for its significance, as it was the very place where the resolution

of Pakistan was signed in 1940, kick-starting the movement for the creation of a separate homeland

for Muslims. The rally, which saw about 60,000 to 90,000 supporters, signaled to the rest of the

players in the field, including the current government, that PTI had raised the campaign bar.

The event had the most popular rock and pop-stars of Pakistan singing patriotic songs and rousing

the crowd to chant slogans. Imran Khan‟s party summoned a “tsunami” of Pakistan‟s youth and

played up its young, patriotic-yet-cool factor to the maximum.

Not as hip but definitely as passionate was the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz Sharif‟s party‟s –

rally. There were clowns on stilts, a would-be groom who swore not to marry till the current

government was overthrown and a real, live lion – the party mascot. The cool pop stars of Imran

Khan‟s rally were missing here, but one of the party leaders, Shahbaz Sharif, belted out a few lines

from a revolutionary poem, moving the crowd to tears.

Election fever has spilled over into the digital world too, with campaigns on Facebook to be

registered as a voter and to change profile pictures to ones that declare one‟s political affiliation.

Soon, party songs will be sung in the streets and party symbols – bicycles, arrows, lanterns, books,

lions, tigers – will be painted and plastered on the walls of the city and stickers stuck to the backs

of cars. Political leaders old and new will dye their hair, trim their moustaches, get facelifts and

don dapper sherwanis and shalwar kameezes in their best effort to look Prime Ministerial. They

will make the rounds of long-forgotten districts and neighborhoods and promise the promises

they‟ve been promising for years and once again, we‟ll all fall for the scintillating charm of hope,

dressed in the exciting garb of festivity and circus-like spectacle. It‟s a combination that not many

in our part of the world can resist.

Most anticipated

Most anticipated

PhilippineTourism Campaign 2012

The Philippine Department of Tourism faced a major setback in early 2011, when its campaign

titled Pilipinas Kay Ganda (direct translation: Philippines, So Beautiful) was met by massive

public criticism. For the rest of the year, the department battled accusations of lack of

originality, strategic planning and even plagiarism, as well as rumors of corruption of

committee officials. The result was the eventual resignation of the department head.

Now, a new tourism campaign will be launched, with an icon of the Filipino ad industry at the

helm of affairs. Even though there are problems facing the country‟s tourism infrastructure,

Filipinos are anticipating an impressive campaign as the project is reported to have already

progressed to agency pitch phase. Given the anger that erupted about last year‟s initiative,

especially online, it is expected that this year‟s creatives will also be closely watched.

For more information, to request a presentation on cultural insights, or to contribute your perspectives in your market, please write to:kunal.sinha@ogilvy.com