Mentor Mike Launches Books on Life, Entrepreneurship with Purpose

Mentor Mike aka Dr. Michael V. Maranan, LCB, MMLSM, DBA, DHUM just got his books released. It's a collection of his experiences in the lines of building businesses, education and mentoring. He is the man behind Windfreight Express Total Logistics Incorporated and 88 Sunfreight Express Corporation, and is its President and CEO. He wears many hats as a licensed Customs Broker, Professor, Public Speaker and Entrepreneur. He also got his DBA in Thames, and his Master's in Logistics and Supply Chain in PCU. He also got his Honorary Doctors of Humanities from United College of Brazil, plus a recognition from Lyceum Batangas as an Outstanding Alumnus. It has always been his dream to have education accessible for all which is why he wants to educate, empower and inspire others especially those who are already good at their craft (professionals and leaders). 

His Books: 

From Eight to Infinity: Secret Stories and Lessons from the life of Dr. Mike Maranan is more of a memoir, where he explains his experiences from when he started to the time he was leading corps. 

Confessions of a Licensed Customs Broker is about how to weave through the complicated world of customs brokerage. He gives practical ways if you are doing a venture like his and will show you have leadership, perseverance, discipline and faith could help you make it a successful one. 

The Business That Fits You and the Tagalog version "Ang Negosyong Swak Sayo Challenge" on the other hand will give you excellent entrepreneurship advice, and how to sustain trend driven businesses so you can make it into a long term one through building practical plans and framework. He wants it to be understood and digested easily by Filipinos and dedicate it to aspiring ones including importers, exporters, pros and students across the country. It won't be just theoretical as he made sure to include his real life experiences, tells you straight what would be profitable or not. Show you the ropes too. 

Here's some clips from the event a few days ago:

The event was also graced by some of Mentor Mike's celebrity friends who swear by the practical tips they got from the books he put out. 

The books are currently available via his website mentormikebooklaunch.com or his social media channels. You can also expect the release to be done in digital shopping apps and platforms very soon. 

(Photos and videos on this article are from Rain de Ocampo of Raincheck, covering for KUMAGCOW.COM)

The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale in Pampanga

Woke up very bright and early for this popular Big Bad Wolf Book Sale which is currently happening in San Fernando Pampanga's Lausgroup Event Centre, a pretty rough drive from Manila where I live. I guess it was the call of books that got us all through the distance, and weird traffic (which later we learned a bus fell off the highway) but we safely arrived in this air-conditioned warehouse of sorts.

It's not my first time, but they've done it in different locations for years now. The book prices are just ridiculous to ignore so people really flock these places, including bookstore owners so they could earn a buck over the sale... People really hoard, I couldn't blame then at all.

The place is filled with books to the brim, even the outside shelves had customers scavenging for more. Big Bad Wolf in Pampanga had bout 400-500 square meters of floor space, an L shaped place for all the books and about a quarter for the payment counters. 

There were about 4 tables full of fiction and non fiction books, 3 of Childrens books and tons more in between. It was a little scattered where the nice titles were so you have to scan a lot if you wanna get a good one. It's called Treasure island for a reason and I got a few that cost around 90 bucks. Not bad eh?

There were no Marvel books, but several DC ones with Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman posters in it. (I dropped it before I went to the counter). Doh!

It's not a place for references, but when we got there for the VIP event, there were a few childrens books good for IT inclined kids. Coding!

Romance, adventure novels abound from great authors. They even have best sellers on paperback and hard bound versions.

There are tons of childrens books and activity laden ones too, people were bringing along kids and students to purchase their own. Believe me, there were even babies in tow. 

This box set of JK ROWLING's Harry Potter for pottterheads cost Php 3,900 for a complete set. It's a steal considering how much this cost elsewhere. Not even joking.

There were several leadership themed books, this Starbucks one is just in front. You can't miss it!

Found a Snoopy book in the Children's section. Tons more where that came from.

This was also selling a lot, Paulo Coelho is still breaking brains in the rack. You should get this as it costs less than the Harry Potter line and he's also on Twitter if you had questions.

Then after a few books on my cart, I had to check out. This day was pretty busy so there was a line forming at the payment counters, the difference though was how fast it was going because they were pro active in asking customers to go to the counters and also the payment options during this event.

I paid via Paymaya as it was their official payment system partner this year. I have been using the QR Code payment scheme for a while so I know how this works. I just waited for them to tell me the total and put the price on my app. Clicked PAY and voila! It's done! I didn't get an ecobag because it was priced 20 bucks each. I opted to out it in my backpack and called it a day.

Almost after my transactions I got the surprise of my day, I GOT CASH BACK from Paymaya, the whole 100% was returned to me, so I literally just went there and got the books for FREE! It's random so even if my friends didn't get it when they paid, I was super happy I got my CASH BACK :) 

You too could get the chance to have cash back if you purchase books during the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale with Paymaya, so make sure you download it before you go there. They have loading stations in the front so it would be easy. Who knows you might just get as lucky as I did! 

Go get them books!

UNICEF Launches #ChildrenFirstStoryBooks with Anne Curtis

We were in SM North - The Block earlier to witness the launch of UNICEF's Children First Story Books. It's a project very close to the heart of Anne Curtis, one of UNICEF's Child Ambassador. The proceeds of the sales of these books will actually go to their fund and in turn help a lot of kids form the habit of reading which is crucial for today's generation to succeed. I'm a voracious reader, so this also hits close to home. I wouldn't want my kids to just spend all day in front of the TV, tablets or computers alone (hypothetically having kids I mean) so it would be a good thing for them to have something tangible every once in a while. I remember having these kinds of books in the past that taught kids not just to read, but learn a thing or two about good manners, courage, the concept of beauty, and the good values Filipinos should never lose.

Aside from Filipino children benefiting from reading, UNICEF takes care of the rights of the child. So if you're going to get the set, you're also helping them in efforts to eradicate poverty, educate more kids, and protect the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that every child should have. Anne also adds that the books would also entail the kids to have a sense of imagination, and could learn a thing or two about life lessons. She also believes that kids should have emotional and moral support that they need in order to grow. They can also learn to express themselves better if they get the confidence they need (as she talks about her book Anita the Duckling Diva).

UNICEF will also have the illustrations on all these books displayed on SM The Block's 3rd level until the 25th of February. Some of the patrons also had the opportunity to have their books signed by the authors and illustrators earlier. You can visit www.unicef.ph to know more on how you can help and get these children's books too. It only costs a mere Php 500 for 6 of them, plus you can also help their cause. That's a good deal right there.

For more information about their cause:

UNICEF Philippines

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http://www.unicef.ph/