SHOPEE's Top Livestreamer JAMES AFANTE Shares Secrets to Success: Plans BIGGER 12.12

Shopee has certainly increased their presence over the years and remain bullish. With the eve of affiliate marketing and live selling, a Filipino stands as champion. His name is JAMES AFANTE, popularly known as Kuya James in his socials. He tops the list of people who have done remarkable work in this industry and we got to talk to him yesterday as he prepared for this month's 12.12. If you think the previous months were crazy, he's giving away a total of 2 Custom Tricycles, 4 motorbikes, and so much more today on his live sessions.

James started in the industry when he was only 14. Using different platforms, he engaged with people and sold just about anything that he could get his hands on. When he began doing it on the Orange app, he partnered up with friends and started training people. In his mind, he had the confidence to do it, knew that this particular work had his name all over it, and that had a remarkable effect on the people that learned from him. Livestreaming was something he did by accident when no one was left in their office to do it, and it went viral.

I picked his brain a little by asking why he doesn't sell his own products (so he could earn it all) and he said "A lot of people ask me about that, but in E-Commerce, you invest your money on stocks and where to put it. This was a huge problem for me and those who are in the same shoes. When something happens like the pandemic or any accident, you'll be left with nothing and a huge debt. With affiliate marketing, you do not have risks on your capital, (costs of storage and manpower for logistics), and I can sell thousands without thinking about space because the brands that work with him already handles that. I can see products if they can sell, sometimes I don't know how I ended up being the top livestreamer. I put in the extra work, I was part of production design, checking prices, every detail, I am concerned. This is a tool to perform better, and I also listen to my followers. What they want, that's what I must do. These products are what they consistently buy from me, only the best, prices will also be subjected to vouchers this 12.12."

He adds "This 12.12, I will be doing the largest livestream ever in the Philippines and in the region. I believe these efforts are also what I can do for the brands that trust me, including customers too. These bikes behind us also came from my own pocket, it's a way to give back to my community."

His advice for those who would want to follow his footsteps: "Work really really hard, work harder than anyone, then everything will follow. Everything starts with the work you put in, if you do things correctly, with passion, and you know that you are giving your 100 percent, you'll achieve what you want! This applies to any industry out there!"

Check out our interview with him before he went live last December 11:

His live stream is fun, entertaining to watch and you'll even forget that you're already checking out items on your cart. He promises that you'll have vouchers, free delivery and more surprises when you check out products from his stream. Plus the lowest prices from brands you already love! 

Thank you James for sharing your story, here's hoping we get to be part of that big 12.12 celebration today! 

Foundation Reiterates Mission to Provide Disaster Help in PH

The country was ravaged by typhoons, floods and earthquakes and so far, the Dig!P|us Foundation has deployed 8 million peseos worth of help for disaster relief in the Philippines. 

From the several towns in Bulacan, to help in Northern Cebu hit by the huge earthquake, they have provided efforts to make sure they reach to far flung towns to help rebuild their homes, especially those severely affected by typhoons in the region. This goes the same with the ones in Luzon, who made resource tap in the BayanihanP|us programs they've implemented for resilience projects , also for Typhoon Tino and Uwan with less thank 15k families affected, including Cebu, Nueva Ecija and Central Luzon provinces too. It has totaled to 8 Million pesos, and has inspired even more people til today. 

Congratulations to Dig!P|us Foundation and Dig!P|us Interactive corp who never stopped helping people no matter how hard it has been. Visit their social channels and main website because they've got more information about their efforts there.

Community Fun Starts at Puregold Harkot Relay Run

Tons of runners had so much fun during the Puregold Hakot Relay Run last November at Burnhan Green Park. Totally different from the usual running event, participants had to pick up grocery items along the way for the 3 kilometer run. 

Going home with products from the country's top manufacturers must have been a treat for moms who belong from the UP Running Community, their husband an kids also began telling about the experience online when they began running out of space to sleep at home with how much they got to take home from the event, they want to participate in future ones, something they didn't expect to get with the 500 peso registration they gave for it. Plus the fact that they were able to do it with friends and family.

Casual runnenrs like Mac Crisostomo even loved the singlet, medal and program they got from the event. Dubbing it as the best they've ever attended, 25 kg rice bags were all carried, something that would last them almost 2 months especially in this economy. From groceries, toiletries, snacks and essentials, they took photos and shared their experience on socials, all being thankful for the generosity shown by the top supermarket brand. Some of them even sent their groceries to relatives in the provinces , to share what little they have obtained from Puregold Hakot Relay Run. 

Add to that the performajces of top acts G22, Kaia, Press Hit Play, with PBB Celebrity Collab Edition housemates Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca, they were all loved by fans who waited for them for hours. Will there be a repeat of it soon?! Congratulations to everyone who participated! 

Worthy Cause Showcased at TobaccOFF NOW! Film Festival

You're in for a treat this weekend as the TobaccOFF NOW! Film Festival goes on full swing. This is organized by Amber Studios as they partnered with organizations like Metro Manila Film Festival, HealthJustice Philippines, Parents Against Vape, Action for Economic Reforms, Social Watch, Philippine Smoke Free Movement and government sectors Philippine Legislators Committee on Pop Dev. The event was done to host young creators to use storytelling as a medium for social change. 

Participating individuals have undergone workshops under industry experts Jacque Manabat, Chiara Zambrano, Tops Brugada and Jobert Moteras. They created short films with themes involving tobacco, nicotine and vape. It's going to be raw, unique, full of emotions, especially from the POV of the youth. The festival will start on December 13. The shorts will be primarily shown digitally (by next year) but there will be screenings in Cebu, Sorsogon, and other provinces.

Ms. Jacque Manabat says "It's hard to quit, but what I've learned is that you can do it for others, for your loved ones. It's about giving them a better future, the best gift for Christmas. I am leveraging TikTok, to make sure the young ones won't get hitched with the small hints they've done in previous years. We organized this but you are the leaders of your generation, and from the looks of it, the young ones have a bright future, a smoke free future."

This will also be shown in other spots in Manila, Quezon City Film Festival screenings on the 11th and 12th. Updates will be posted on Amber Studios FB page, and the main screening will be done at the MMFF Auditorium at MMDA grounds in Pasig City. From what we've seen during the screening, they're absolutely right in telling us how bright the future of new generation of filmmakers are. All they wish for is a smoke free future, why don't we give them that!