When the invite said “Luck’s on Your Side,” the organizers of The Marlboro Experience (TMX) were dead serious. They made sure the participants were treated like VIPs: from the choice of a convening area (M Cafe in Greenbelt 2), dressed-up F150 transports, police escorts on the highway (man, I can sure get used with those), welcome committee wave, tour proper (with iPods as guide), the food, adrenaline pumping activities, and contest prizes because you can never go wrong with premium Ducati/Ferrari Gear (TM) and Marlboro (TM) items.
I never thought I’d ever see the inside of the plant let alone set foot inside the First Philippine Industrial Park in Sto. Tomas, Batangas again. PMPMI has a world class manufacturing facility, yes, but they are not really that open for public visit AFAIK. Striding along the covered walk towards the event proper venue inside the plant somewhat made me choke on tears of happiness. I could have sworn I heard an instrumental version of “This Used To Be My Playground” play at the back of my head (HUHLOLOLOLOLOLZ!). To get this out, PM guys, it felt overwhelmingly great to meet you again (I’m referring to you Jen, Janice, Rosa, Monica, John, Eric, Eza, Roy, Alf, Moises, Lalaine, Mico, and KC)!
During dinner and back at the M Cafe, right when participants were given (yet again) another (final) memento (a limited edition wall-art), we were made to answer a questionnaire asking how the organizers could improve the program for future activities. I spaced out, thinking, are you kidding me?! You guys are penultimate when it comes to organizing the best in parties and events! I think I’ll forever look up to you guys and your flair for everything tasteful. And premium. Well done, PMPMI!
Now, for the photos. I’ll divide the gallery in two: Photos taken using my Nokia N82 and those taken using the Sony DSC-W300. I entered the plant and had to leave the Sony DSC-W300 at the gate so all I had with me is my trusty Nokia N82 which, if you already know me too well, is all I will ever need to be my old paparazzi extraordinaire self LOL.
From the Nokia N82:
Later on, I realized that since we were already outside the manufacturing facility, camera restrictions don’t any more apply so off to the claim counter I went and here are my shots using the Sony DSC-W300 camera.
If you follow the links for each of the photos, they are all available in 600×450 sizes. Grab away if you like but do not edit them in any way when reposting (snooty much? LOL).
Put together impeccable taste, premium, top-notch logistics, a great brand, and a team with foresight and unwavering passion, and the result could only be one of the best experiences ever to some lucky patrons. Thanks TMX! You made my Saturday! What a way to end the year!
In closing, lemme just reiterate for the record that the government prohibits the sale of cigarettes to minors. Also, Government Warning: Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to your Health.
Twitter Updates
1 December 2008 at 6:05 pm
they rock fritz. :D astig astig astig astig!!!! Sulit ang Saturday. hahaha. :D
1 December 2008 at 6:10 pm
Panalo, Win, no? Wahoooooo! I’ve never seen a convoy weave into SLEX traffic the way we did nung pauwe. Sana lagi akong may wang-wang na ganun LOL
1 December 2008 at 6:19 pm
Grabeh! Those are very nice shot! Salamat whoo! Ang saya! Nasa VIP ng TMX tapos paglabas ng van ang babata ng sakay. Ahaha!
Astigin ang pagiging paparazzi, may camera palang nakatutok samin. Tips minsan how to take paparazzi shots. :p
1 December 2008 at 6:19 pm
OhEMGEE!! OHEMGEE!!!
Super duper awesome event! But yeah, I don’t smoke (and never will). But the experience and the event? Parang you guys never smoked at all! LOL!
1 December 2008 at 7:10 pm
Woah ang galing weee thanks Fritz :D
Gagawa ako ng entry bukas hehe astig VIP :D
1 December 2008 at 10:59 pm
good thing i was not fritzparazzied enough or else i’ll ask for a fee. LOL
it was a fantastic day and the experience was terrific. nice shots fritz!
1 December 2008 at 11:14 pm
Do not ever smoke, Neil. Word of advise from a smoker. DO. NOT.
1 December 2008 at 11:15 pm
Susunod na update yan sa “tips.” Then again, alam nyo na rin naman ata ang mga sasabihin ko :D
1 December 2008 at 11:19 pm
@Mica and @BillyMcCoy, ay, bat wala kayong Ducati shirt, bag, and keychain? LOLOLOLOL JOWK LANG!!! Gaya ng nasabi ko na, kahit yung Ferrari lanyard lang, sulit na ako.
1 December 2008 at 11:45 pm
I was supposed to be part of this :c But then Marketing happened. Ugh.
2 December 2008 at 7:34 am
Ganda naman ng photos pre! =)
2 December 2008 at 10:31 am
kahit walang lanyard, wall art, etc. masaya na ako sa karting at sa new friends LOLOLOLOLOL
2 December 2008 at 1:57 pm
Astig talaga nung saturday! sana may part 2…..
2 December 2008 at 2:32 pm
Yung OHEMGEE mo parang andun ka ah LOL. In spirit? Hehe.
2 December 2008 at 2:34 pm
LOL idol kita Markku pero marami pa akong kakaining bigas para mapalapit man lang sa level mo (and i don’t eat rice that much so matagal tagal pa talaga) hehe
2 December 2008 at 5:36 pm
Ok na sa akin yung nakapasok ako at nakapaglaro sa dati mong playground nyok
“this used to be my playground.. this used to be my childhood dream”
gumaganun eh :D
3 December 2008 at 6:08 am
Ay sus nambola ka pa! ;)
8 December 2008 at 10:15 am
Hi Fritz! Thanks for visiting my blog! I just saw your post and the pictures! I saw my team, but although some of us weren’t there, it was cool looking at it! It was like reliving the fun! Thanks for sharing! I even asked if we could join next year, just in case TMX will do a different format…well..as if! Haha!
8 December 2008 at 2:59 pm
oo nga best experience ever nga yan.. talaga.. hayup!but I don’t smoke anyway.. tanggera lang hehehe.. how is it feel to be a VIP.. it’s once in a life time chance.. very nice.. :)