Joy Adalia
A group of bloggers was invited to cover the electronic music festival called Sandstorm 2014 in Batangas. They went with full hopes of having fun during the 3-day festival but went home with nightmare stories of their crazy experience.
Note: We updated this article to include point-by-point explanations from the PR Company
Cherry: sandstorm started when a friend jacob so asked me if i can bring media friends to the sandstorm event. at first i was hesitant, kasi kenny kathy ngo previously handled the project. she was removed as the person who got him is not authorize to recruit a social media maanger. i asked brian macasa if he could help me get blogers as i have ducati weekend already pero naturally ill help a friend. when bloggers started signing up, brian made a group chat.
According to blogger Christian Lizardo Aligo, they were promised by The Big Difference Communications, through Cherry Bustamante Burwell, the following benefits:
- Free transportation to and from Manila
- Free food
- Free accommodation in a villa plus tents
- Free pass to the event
- Free pass for a “plus one”, an extra person they can bring along
Cherry: as the initial invitation was sent out, this is true.
According to Aligo, a total of 10 bloggers were invited by the PR company to cover the event. They were NOT offered monetary compensation but as bloggers who love to have fun and enjoy fun events, they were OK with the setup. However, it was later revealed that the PR company tried to negotiate for the bloggers to receive money for the coverage from the event organizers.
Cherry: yes, i tried to negotiate an allowance for them as the organizer promised only free food, not money but an allowance to cover the drinks, as after all, its a party.
The bloggers were also asked to post a total of 3 press releases for events handled by The Big Difference Communications prior to their Batangas trip.
Cherry: just like any other pr , we asked them to support and post sme event related posts. this is true as well, as we asked them to choose: ducati weekend or sandstorm. plus a pr for a newly acquired client. the invitation is for 2 events, pampanga or batangas, so wala pilitan
The Nightmare Begins
Even before they were set to leave for Batangas, the bloggers already encountered a lot of problems with the PR company, especially because Burwell’s group did not have clear updates on the upcoming event on their Facebook group chat.
It was also later revealed that Burwell’s group will not be attending the Sandstorm event because they are all going to the Ducati Weekend 2014 in Pampanga for another client. The Sandstorm bloggers did not mind that, but assumed that preparations for the event they are attending are already in place.
Cherry: this is my reply
Cherry: i have emphasized na 1 villa lang talaga
On November 22, the day they were supposed to go to Batangas for the event, they were shocked to learn that no arrangements were done for their transport – which was supposed to be provided for free.
Cherry: how can there be no arrangements from the transport when kausap nila dexter and jacob at that time? we were in Pampanga already but Lee, who asked to be the groups point person keeps on saying na ok lang and we are all nkkpag-usap to sandstorm and them. i understand their frustration but they know na we are already calling them and the organizer
That same morning, Aligo asked Burwell for a list of the bloggers who would attend the event so they could monitor attendance. Though he was later given the list, it irked him to read a side comment made by Burwell when it was made clear during their negotiations that the bloggers are allowed to bring 1 person along – and it was the PR group who invited the bloggers!
Cherry: they know that its not for them, the conversation was for brian as we are arranging motoring media for ducati weekend too
Despite that side comment, they decided to still proceed to Batangas to honor their commitment.
Cherry: if they knew na pang kanila yun im sure they will get mad nun time na yun. bec its nt for them, alam nila na naiinis ako sa motring media sa phil ducati. i have 3 chat conversations at that time.
Kezia: And we at PDW [the Ducati event] were also saying the same thing to ourselves. Na field trip din for us yung sa PDW. Sorry to interrupt ha. I kept mum all this time but I have to say something na rin. Yan kasi ang mahirap. Chat. FB. Text. Naiiba ang tone and pick up ng mga nakakabasa.
Cherry: they know this before hand, kasi even kami when we mae the ocular, we were asked to pay too. see the date?
Cherry: yan i kept on reminding na may isa villa lang
Kezia: And Joy, yung sa PDW namin, wasn’t really that comfortable. We weren’t given food as well. We didn’t have breakfast. And lunch was served at 2pm. Baka kasi akala ng madami, sobrang sarap ng experience namin doon sa PDW. And we were constantly calling, (Brian), to check on Sandstorm. We were told na “okay kami, okay naman” doon. Nagulat na lang kami that all the complaints e lumabas the morning after. And saying that the bloggers who were there were “victims”
No Food, No Accommodation
Tired and angry from their earlier ordeal, the bloggers requested to be ushered to their villa upon their arrival at Southcrest Beach Resort and National Park so they could rest before they prepare for the media coverage of Sandstorm 2014 but were again shocked to learn there was NO VILLA!
After negotiating with event organizer Dexter (who claimed he was merely a ‘supplier’), they were finally given one room in the villa. All 19 of them had to squeeze into that room, which was later revealed to have a malfunctioning toilet that did not have water.
The room was also already used by the organizing group, so the bloggers had to wait for it to be cleared.
“Imagine we are more than 10 that time and we will all squeeze in a 1 small room with 1 queen bed. We haven’t had our dinner yet and we are all starving and they gave us food in a plastic. Not being ‘maarte or pihikan’ but please, not this kind of treatment. At dahil para na kameng asong ulul sa gutom pinatos na namin ang food na binigay sa amin.”- Christian Lee Rosales (http://www.ilovepaars.com/2014/12/my-sandstorm-experience-turned-into.html)
Cherry: sana she mentioned that she observed na yun mga tga abs cbn din ganyan ang nakain sya mismo nagsabi
They were also outraged to find 10 sets of food still placed inside plastic bags for them to eat. How could 10 small servings of squash curry and rice feed 19 hungry and tired people? Well, that might sound a bit obnoxious because people in the other parts of the country can live with that – but remember that the PR company had invited these bloggers all the way from Manila, and they are NOT PAID for covering the event!
The least the PR company could do is provide them with decent food, decent accommodations, and everything else they were promised to receive.
Additional food was served some minutes later and they were promised better food at a restaurant where they will finally meet the event organizers.
“As we go back and forth having a discussion with the PR company who invited us together with the front liners in the registration table – it turns out they did not have any clue of who we were! To cut the story short: no accommodations were arranged for us, no food was prepared for us, and no special treatment happened (of course, the latter part was something we were really expecting, not that we’re complaining or anything, but they specifically told us we’ll be treated as VIPs throughout the event).”- April Perez (http://april-perez.com/sandstorm2014-turned-into-sadstorm/)
The Confrontation
When they met Dexter and main organizer Jacob So, it was but natural that some of the bloggers began to complain about what transpired.
Apparently to rescue So, Aligo said an organizer named Nesty spoke to the bloggers, telling them how Burwell had been fine when she met them for an ocular inspection, after which she received money to ‘fund expenses’ for her and the 5 bloggers she brought along at the time.
Cherry: the 5 bloggers i brought, we paid for our food and transp. naturally, jacob need to reimburse that kasi he asked us to go there. its not a compensation, its reimbursement. those 5 are brian macasa, arcee miranda, arnel bautista, jonatahn nava, ronnie bernardo, alice mate and jessica rondero
The organizers revealed their surprise that Aligo’s group arrived because they did not know anything about bloggers attending the event because they had already dropped Burwell after she made lots of demands they could not meet!
More Problems
Unwelcomed and unexpected, the bloggers had to cope with their 1-room spot in the villa, sleeping on the floor because there was nothing the organizers can do about their predicament. They were promised free drinks by So but these never arrived; though So later claimed he paid for the liquor but had no idea why it never reached the bloggers.
Breakfast was a pittance – still placed in plastic bags, with no utensils. So, they were forced to eat with their hands wrapped in another plastic bag because there was also no water they could wash their hands in!
After being pushed well over the limits of their patience and dignity, the bloggers demanded to be taken back to Manila. Some chose to leave the resort on their own while Aligo and the rest of the bloggers waited for the vans Burwell promised to send.
Cherry: i didn’t know about the liquor. it was neh jacob is conversing with them kaya na brought up
Kezia: We weren’t paid for anything by Jacob. Only the van we used to get there for the ocular. Up to this date, wala syang binigay na pera.
The Blame Game and the Mason Jar
A dirty blame game followed even with the bloggers back in Manila. Burwell later accused Aligo of stealing a mason jar at a different event they attended before the Sandstorm event.
Aligo vehemently denies stealing from the soft launching of Bih-Zahr Restobar in Quezon City but even if someone else stole a jar from that particular event, how was it related to the Sandstorm event?
Cherry: i was not blaming christian, it was evo who admitted taking it pero sinoli daw nya. but iba sinasabi ng nakakita
Kezia: BihZahr had only 1 waiter and 3 waitresses. They all saw the mason jar being placed in the brown bag Evo asked us if they can have it. It is a Tropical Hut brown bag. We saw it. But none of us confronted him about it.
He said Burwell also claimed that she was not paid by the organizers, that is why the plans were botched.
Aligo said he wrote the blow-by-blow account of their experience simply to share his side of the story, to make matters clear, but this should also serve as a warning to other bloggers.
“If you will ask me whether I will join them next time, I will think twice first because we did not like the kind of treatment we had that time.”- Maria Ron Beltran (http://www.mariaronabeltran.com/2014/12/met-darude-during-sandstorm-music.html)
Cherry: join me next time? hahahahhaa. sorry. si rona? galit sya sa akin i know dahl soba ako namilit na isulat isa event na inattendan nya with me. im sorry pero i think naman na wrong yun sabihin nya yan when she benefited sa other event ko
Kezia: You are all making it sound like Ms. Cherry is a criminal. If we had done it intentionally, siguro naman inisip din namin na mangyayari ito. Na sisirain ng mga tao name nya and The BDC. Because, why put a mason jar in a brown bag na sa amin pa hiningi? Yun na lang. Why put it there?
Me: Kezia, i was asked to use this article as reference: http://www.christianlizardoaligo.com/2014/12/sandstorm-2014-blame-game-blog-coverage.html
Kezia: Yes, Joy. Nabasa ko nga kanina. Ako I am talking now to back up the issue rin on our side. Madami kayo e. Si ate isa lang. And madami kayo pwede gumawa ng mas madami pang write ups para makasira ng pangalan. We did not want you guys to be put in that situation. It is just saddening na imbis we all sit down and talk about what happened, ganito nangyayari. Lumalaki lang. Pag hinayaan naman namin issue, lalaki lang din.
Me: ok that’s the reason why we are asking for your statement po
Kezia: What do you/they want to happen? That’s what we’ve been asking pero wala namang response. Until these came up… Joy, andito lang naman kami. We are easily reachable. Pero hindi sana ganito. Nailabas na. What more can we do…
Cherry:
here is my side of story. this started as a favor, d ko sila client, bloggers helped me kasi narinig nla si jacob nag ppromise ng kung ano ano. they asked me to bring as many as we can. jacob was made aware na may ducati ako and he proised that they will be taken care of. yes, may fee, aayusin ko eh, but sadly bukod sa hndi na nabgya gumastos pko. the 5k he sent was payment for the food that we ate.
here are the photos of ocular inspection (click link)
the other 5000 was payment for the van. i personally paid for the extension ng van asi gusto namin mag stay. brian macas and arnel baustista spearheaded yun bloggers invitation, thye made the chat and sila nagbbigay kung ano ang ippost. sila dn nagccordinate if everything is ok, after all sila kaharap dn ni jacob. we told them na isa lang villa, where they can park their things and charge phones wtc
i was made sure na may food but wala drinks. may media pass and they will board dltb bus and a shuttle going there, but we mentioned na may 20 pesos fee sa tourism. tawag ng tawag si brian, he said that inaassure nman sya na ok. nag ssend sla ng pics and we we were shcoked bt sabi nla ok lang daw. brian assured me na ok. bec yan daw ang sabi. brian was the one who coordinates with them not me kasi brian ang nkkpag coordinate before the event with arnel. so when brian told me na ok then i thought ok.
in the morning when they complained, at ano ano sinasabi ni evo, i was shocked and asked them an gusto nla. i asked 2 nissan urvan from manila to fetch them para maka uwi na sla. they said sabi daw ni nesty na nakakuha ako, God knows, wala. the bloggers who went to sandstorm does not know me, at least majority of them. kilala ako as very generous pr. i kept on asking ano ba gusto nla so masabi kay jacob pero wla sla reply
Cherry: i kept on asking and asking kung ano gusto nla pero wala sila reply. then i added jacob to the group, and they got offended by what? free beer?
Cherry: the thing is brian assured me na ok sila. kaya i thought ok sila. if i had known eh di sana gabi pa ag pinasundo ko na sila. the thing is brian assured me na ok sila. kaya i thought ok sila. if i had known eh di sana gabi pa ag pinasundo ko na sila
Kezia: No matter what we do now, it will be us most esp Ms. Cherry ang bad guys.
Cherry:
the other bloggers esp who knows me alam nla na di ko yan ggawin. im not aying na wala ako kasalanan, i trusted jacob to treat bloggres in the most possible way. i asked brian and arnel to monitor them and they assured me that everything was fine. i am waiting for lee to tell me kung ano ngyyari but she kept her silence. when i learned what happend, when they requested o go home, i immediately asked my supplier to bring 2 vans there. arcee miranda even asked to pay for the bus ride but wala sila means to go sa market kaya d natuloy yun. i apologized and asked them on how me and jacob can make up for it wala reply
then i asked them kung pwede ko sila makausap, ayaw nla. then ngayn mag rrant sial in public. what do they want?
i ahve been very nice to chirstian and evo and somebody saw them taking the mason jars and now tinuturo janese. what do they want?
i am a respected member of the public relations society of the phils. bakit ako ggawa ng palpak na event when i know na isa pagkakamali lang ma bblog na? im not a sadist, gusto nla kumalat eh di ikalat. others know me, majority chose to hear my side or just shrugged it off
Here’s the rest of the convo between me and the PR team:
Arcee Miranda: Hi sorry to butt in. Can I just ask if na ask na si cherry about this issue before pa lumabas? Yung write up? Hello Joy? Na tanong na ba yung side ni cherry before the article was published? yun kasi yung lagi nilang sinasabi na malaking pera na kuha ni Cherry. Hindi pa nga nagbabayad si Jacob
Jonathan Nava: seems one sided din kc yung nilabas n article
Me: sorry – back read muna ako haha nag-feed sa kids.
to arcee and jonathan, i had instructions to write and publish it. its news. Nirereport po kahit di pa nabibigyan ng official statement. that’s why i am asking for your side on the issue now
Arcee Miranda: Ah ok. hehe Thanks for clarifying
Cherry: what i dnt understand is tnry namin ayusin. i asked them ano gusto nla so bakit wala sumasagot
Kezia: Kahit hanggang ngayon, walang sagot sakn from Christian. Seen zone lang. Prepared na ako mamaya ilabas nya screenshot ng message ko. Hehe …without replying sa message ko.
Kezia: Ohh.. So, that’s why. That explains the no response from my PM. Naka-move on na sya siguro nyan.
Jonathan Nava: hope you can write news din about cherrys side?
Cherry: and susme we were not the official PR, i was helping a friend who let me down and somehow nadamay bloggers. if event ko ito then maayos sana. i was made believe na maayso sila, i was very apologetic. nagagalit sila dahl wala pala ako pera nakuha kaya ko sila gnanun? i kept on asking kung ano ayaw wlaa naman sagot
Kezia: Si Rona nanalo nung sa Aeternum, dba?
Cherry: yes
Kezia: Samsung ano nga ba yun?
Cherry: tab
Kezia: What exact model?
Cherry: yun pinaka mura lang. the thing is alam nya kung event ko yun wala agrabyado. and sya mismo mkppga patunay when she attended my eent
Kezia: Okay kasi comment nya e.
Cherry: oo ga eh. kaya ko sinabi na wala nakuha money as they are insisting that i got compensated. i asked them ano gusto nla and theyre not responsing
STATEMENT FROM JACOB SO
To all those who don’t know what is SANDSTORM. It is a vision that started with me to represent and dedicate to our Country’s Bi-Season. I may not be a DJ, nor do I play any musical instrument but my heart beats for music.
I, being the Head Producer, seek the help of Ms Cherry Burwell (as a personal favour) to bring media and bloggers to the event. I brought her to Southcrest beach along with 4 of her friends and together we concluded that new media will be strong useful force that we can wish to explore in terms of promotions. I o.k. all the things they asked: transportation, free meals, media pass but there will be no sleeping quarters as we expect that the event will be an all nighters and they will not want to sleep. On that time, base on POUCH, we already sold more than 3+++ VIP pass.
Ms Cherry and her team insisted that media and bloggers needs a place to stay and I assured her that we will be working on it, she scheduled another ocular visitation a week after the event so that she could choose a villa and make sure that the villa has enough plugs and safety boxes or stuffs but what I cannot promise is a wifi area. Jeng, my assistant failed to deposit the money to her before they went to Southcrest so Ms Cherry bought food and rented a van to get there and I have reimbursed it already.
It was after the ocular inspection that she met Dexter, my supplier and they talked about how she wants the media station to be. She sent me list of names, I asked Joren and Dexter to take care of the transportation, that they will leave Manila at 2 in time for 6 pm party but things were poorly coordinated that’s why they were able to leave 4 hours after. They were conversing with us and the names were previously given beforehand so I do not know on why they say that the admissions/ticket selling does not know that there are bloggers coming in.
I asked a group to cater food, as I just paid them without realizing what’s on the menu. Hindi po sila kumain sa plastic, may spoon and fork and plate as we cannot set up a buffet area as cowboy style na nga.
I was there during the meet and greet with Darude and I did not hear Nesty lambasted Ms Cherry about the lump sum money. Yes, I did reimburse her the expenses but there were no lump sum of fee as PR and we didn’t say anything bad towards her. The bloggers were not complaining at that time, they were even joking about free beers and drinks so I just gave Ria, my coordinator money to buy something for them which I learned that did not reached them.
On Sunday, I was surprised when I woke up in the afternoon and learned that Ms Cherry had fetch the bloggers after breakfast and I have lost of texts coming from her (boy, was she so mad) that I mistreated the bloggers that they ate in plastics, no sleeping quarters, that Nesty said awful things, she wants us to retracts Nesty statement and that pinabayaan ko mga bloggers.
I just told her that I was so tired and that I am on her side. Kahit ako di ko alam kung ano na ngyari. But, base on the screenshots, there were disclaimers that we only have 1 villa, that there will be no sleeping quarters, I was added to the group but you guys did voice out on how we can make , everyday, we are waiting for all of you to be united and tell me on what do you guys want, nothing.
Ms Cherry Burwell and her group helped me and I made sure that all of her request were cascaded to my suppliers, What I promised Ms Cherry are the things that I expected from my suppliers but they failed me, they failed Ms Cherry, the bloggers are angry. I get tons of people to fulfil my dream and yet when everything got shattered, a lot of people are hurt in the process. We tried to reach out, I asked on what you guys want, and you just replied that I should have given the beer and the Greygoose vodka. I was ready to give you the party that you like but nobody talked.
You all don’t want to tell me on how I can possibly do the right thing. I know no monetary or party or drinks could somehow make up for what was experienced, I relied to different people and now I am paying the price. Now I am slowly picking up the pieces, I would like to thank everyone and extend my apologies to a (certain few) who had been complaining that the event was “failed, or it sucked.”
KEEP SPREADING THE GOODVIBES, and LET PEACE & LOVE ROLLING!!
Hi! Just a correction, it’s Jacob So, not Jason (we might encounter someone named Jason So and might get confused why his name is here) 🙂
PS, I’m one of the bloggers mentioned above.
I feel really bad for my fellow bloggers. I think it’s about time someone takes care of all the “negotiating” part with the PR companies on behalf of all invited bloggers – regardless of what event.
Fyi, just to set te record straight, Although my name was on the list given to Cherry Burwell I had declined and decided to join the Department of Tourism 1st CALABARZON forum instead. I am thankful I did not get to join this trip. So I hope my name won’t be dragged on another issue after my bout last fateful summer. Sana naka-blurred na lang yung names ng bloggers na hindi sumama. I was shocked to see my name again at number 4 pa talaga ako. Parang unfair kasi dahil wala naman akong kinalaman dito. Ni hindi ko nga kilala personally yung pr na si Cherry. Yun lang naman yung request, I hope you understand. Thank you.
Thanked God I followed my instincts and did not sign-up for this horrendous event.
A nightmare indeed. I was about to join this one too as I was invited buti na lang another invite came up. Now, I was thinking how can we avoid such cases.
Interesting material for Rant Republic.
The reason why we did not answer you ms. cherry bustamante burwell, asking us what we want is simply because WE DO NOT TRUST YOU ANYMORE AT ALL.. I personally don’t want to fall for another set of false expectations from you. Whether you like it or not, I am entitled of my decision and so as the others.
Grabe pala yung nangyari talaga. :((
Nahilo ako sa haba ng article. Sana may summary. Anyway this is really sad that out of the almost “free” service ng mga bloggers ay maltreated pa ng ganito. Poor coordination ng PR or sanay lng?
This blog has to be shared and reposted. I am one of the djs who was drafted for the event, and I have to say that THIS IS THE TRUTH.
Most of the artist who was invited to performed there had suffered the nightmares like you guys. No proper transpo service, No real food and drinks, and some of us didnt got to play and didnt got our TFs… I’m also friends with some of co-producers who were trying to fix the event and had to create their own plan Bs and Cs due to the negligence on the behalf of the main/head producer.
It was a bold dream, to create something so grand, bringing the best Djs/ Electronic Musicians of Philippines together… But it was executed so badly, that the fallout of this event will echo for years to come and a lot of people who stayed professional got affected by this, in a negative way.
What is this BS? Umuulan ng grammatical shit sa mga conversations and posts tapos text-speak all over! You call yourselves bloggers? You are freeloaders who shame the blogger name. This comment will probably get deleted. That’s okay. I can’t believe I read this shit until the very end. Give me my 5 minutes back.
I agree. Nakakahilo ngang basahin. Member of “PR Society of the Philippines” itong si Cherry. Pasensya na, pero kung ganito ang karamihan sa mga PR dito, aba eh, magdadalwang isip na akong kunin ang ganitong career.
I also read the accounts of the other blogger who joined this event. Very unprofessional and she just ruined her image.
I am supposed to send a team here pero mabuti na lang at hindi. I think this happens to be a miscommunication here and since it is a beach party event am sure marami gusto rin pumunta. PR company may be at fault pero we need to help them out and also leaarn some positive from the experience.
Ako I am still positive about fellow bloggers based on what I experience from them ignoring emails after signing up, not showing up and not writing PRs. Sometimes we need to understand that people have individual traits and that there will always be someone better. MInsan kasi sa dami ng bloggers there are those that seek which event has the more loots and the more freebies or biggest raffle.
When blogging community was just small there were just a bunch of people who would really work hard and be responsible but nowadays with the thousand of bloggers who about 50% or more wants to earn and get freebies things like this would naturally happen.
What can we do? Upon reading this I think the PR team is the one at fault here and they should pay damages and issue an apology for this. An event like this should have given the media the right treatment free food, good sleeping condition and an experience of what an EDM is and that is including free liquor. Bad organizers as I would say it. Then again there could have been a miscommunication somewhere.
Cherry is the same organizer of that ill fated night run in qc last year. Daming nagrerefund pero binura lang nila FB page. She’s sneaky and mukhang pera and fat, to say the least. Zero credibility! Siya rin nag iinvite for Fila i heard. Hahaha. Anyare sa Fila? Kaya pala puchu puchu nagbablog for Fila.
That bar mentioned here is sponsoring a xmas party for bloggers. Goodluck sa inyo! Smile. #karma
What do you mean by PDW? Please be aware that your blog is up for public, if you are using abbreviations please indicate the acronym. Hindi magegets ng tao ang posts mo kung maglalagay ka ng abbreviations na hindi naman alam kung ano ibig sabihin.
LOL, preach. I feel the same way. I didn’t know this kind of thing happened behind all the blogging and the PR world. I don’t think it’s the best introduction to it either since I barely understood what was written in the article.
Yeah, and the grammar, mahirap magenglish pero at least have it checked first or proofread kahit sa kablogger lang.
I already know what PDW means so let’s just skip that question and proceed to the topic.
Heard from both sides and I don’t want to take side between the organizer and the blogger. Kumbaga nagapologize na ang organizer and I think the lesson here is to improve the upcoming events of Big Diff kaya may mga bloggers para sila rin ang magsilbing advisers natin para maging ok ang isang event.
As for the bloggers, although some of us expect good treatment and some freebies, lagyan pa rin natin ang importansya ng pagsulat sa blog, hindi lang sa freebies tayo nakafocus. Don’t expect too much sa freebies and have yourself ready for anything to happen (like bring emergency cash worth 5k to 10k kung afford kasi malayo din ang Batangas sa Manila). Kapag walang pagkain, try nyo pumuslit ng mga pagkain na di mahahalata sa inspection, like ulalammmm or tetra pack foods.
Final Statement for both sides: Always be ready for what will happen…
PDW – Phil Ducati Weekend
Thanks for deleting my previous post… here is my final comment on this:
Now that we are at this point, if we will read the article and the discussion we could see bloggers pinpointing at one another and hurling the blame. This would definitely back fire on the bloggers and if the PR is the one to blame then let them be. When we blog we put it in public and the people that will read that is the public kaya importante na isipin din ano nga ba ang benefit ng post ko na ito? Sino nga ba ang maapektuhan nito and makakatulong ba ito to improve the community.
There are 2 ways to look at this issue as I said time and time again, an issue of those that attended and an issue that can be seen as a leaning experience to improve future events where bloggers are both the media and the one inviting fellow bloggers.
I feel really bad for all the bloggers who was invited for this awful event -_-
This goes to show that bloggers are not seriously considered of that importance unlike media mainstream peeps.
JEMBONG… Oo naman. Bloggers can’t even take grammar seriously. Look at this mess. They are not professional enough to even ask for a written contract.
Problem with the PR, even when they’re chatting in Facebook – they should be professional. Even when responding to your messages, they should write with professionalism. The laughs and the hahahas in reply indicate arrogance.
Knowing that the communication channel is social media, you should have been professional and sensitive enough with the words you’re going to say and how it will impact the person you’re talking to.
Similar to what I’ve experienced prior to this event, nakaka-disappoint nga ang turing sa kanila.
Sa part na, ‘yung mga taga-ABS ganito – eh ano ngayon? Then, you should have treated all the media people with care pa rin, especially kung saan sila kakain. The management part of this event sucked big time. ‘Yun ang totoo.
If you’re helping a friend, well, Miss, you’re now in a pit hole because of that. Learn to know when you should take something and assess if you can handle it well.
However good the intention is, kung ganito man ang magiging kalabasan – huwag kang mag-expect ng recognition or thank you for having them there.
Just my two cents worth.
Bloggers are not media people. Kailan pa naging media ang bloggers? LOL
Uhh, how do you define media? Lol.
Do your homework first and earn your keep in the journalism/media industry if you want to be taken seriously. This article is so poorly written, it’s embarrassing. It helps confirm the truth regarding many so-called “professional” bloggers being nothing more than opportunists who will do anything for a freebie.
Get over yourselves. “Parang asong ulul sa gutom?” Boo-freaking-hoo.
You don’t need to take a degree on journalism to be able to manage an event properly and treat your ‘guests’ well.
My message is obviously for the bloggers (and the person who wrote this article) complaining at the great crime against humanity that was done to them, not the organizers.
I couldn’t care less about the organizers / PR company since they seem to share some (or all) of the blame for this fiasco anyway.
charge to experience na lang siguro mga dre, Sh!t happens. saka kung pagkain sa plastic labo yung isa sa mga unforgettable exp nyo dahil parang asong ulol e sana nagpadeliver na lang sana kayo sa jolibee or mcdo. peace.. love u joy. thanks sa blog..
Grabe, nightmare na nagparong patong na kamalasan, hirap talaga pag ung nag aayos di marunong mag organize masyado, nagkakagulo gulo lahat.. I am one of the bloggers sana kaso that day was not my off so I was not able to attend it. Kakonsensya na d ako nakasama since nainvite na ako ni Lee Rosales, kaso mukhang dapat buti nalang hindi.. However, looking forward sa isang event na kayo mismo nag ayos para masaya! 🙂
I find this rant funny. Yes, the PR firm maybe faulted for this whole incident but I couldn’t help but laugh at the bloggers for broadcasting their rant instead of sucking it up. And you still all wonder why you are treated as second-class citizens
f*ck your first world problems
Di ko na binasa huminto ako sa food . Maarte ka lang..
“parang asong ulol sa gutom”
you mean to say na pumunta talaga kayo sa event na 100% nka depende lang sa freebie and no pocket money? seriously? what if ala talaga binigay so namatay kayo sa gutom?
Ang haba… ang i feel bad for those bloggers pero aminin nyu mejo funny ung i squeeze ung 19 sa isang room. Naloka ako. Di ko ma imagine..
Sardinas. 555.
sabi na nga ba.. some of my friends wants to join the event but they think twice… boycott na dapat to eh
as a normal person. a teenager range of18-19, for me the event was awesome. “SANA” kung maraming tao, medyo fail kasi nilangaw. pero wala e andun na sayang naman me and my barkada just enjoyed the trip party rave at batangas nalang but i can say the organizers ay nagkulang i dont know sa pera or sa tao both shits happened. djs are awesome the place/venue ay okay naman yung treatment nga lang sa guest medyo nakakasad. parang wala sa sarili yung mga organizers. i dont know. i just want to say ganun pala nangyare sa mga bloggers kahit wala naman akong alam jan. sana lang expect the unexpected minsan talaga. hello ? atleast my food what if kung camping jungle talaga yan no utensils. if NOYPI ka talaga filipino raver local shit type binigyan naman ng food e kaso yun nga bv lang talaga yung accomodation and promised vip treatments for food transpo ekek. heartbreak nga naman yun. pero sana nga lang frankly saying wag sana lahat ng bloggers ay umaasa sa big discounts/promos/freebies. dapat tao ka padin/ tourist man na kayang i vip treatment ang sarili. yun lang po PLUR !!! GUYS YUN LANG. this is just my opinion we all have the freedom to speak. thank you. godbless. WISH TO HAVE world peace and lahat tayo nag kakamali. move on nalang ..
Para may alam ka…
We don’t get paid when we cover events, and the least we expect is food. If you only know, it takes hours and days to edit photos/videos, brain power to write an article, electricity for your time spent editing on the computer, having to spread the word/marketing, the artistic control, sleepless nights, etc.
If you only knew.
PLUR kung PLUR… But how can you practice PLUR… if the artists, support people and even some of the organizers and co-producers DIDN’T experienced Peace, Love, understanding and Respect???
There are signed contracts and the organizers didn’t delivered… Sad thing is “Ravers” like you don’t care about this Sh!t… All your concerns are about getting wasted and to party like hell. That is good… Paka totoo tayo… That’s what this is all about, The Culture of EDM.
But to tell you frankly, PLUR works like a 2 way street. Give PLUR and get some PLUR. Sandstorm Electronic Experience didn’t practiced that acronym at all…
As an artist who was affected by this “experience”. I can say, we are still light years away from Tomorrowland, Wobbleland, Ultra Music Festival, Etc… If Organizers and “Ravers” alike are just in it for the “Party” aspect. Respect and know the artists and the support people involve in creating the culture, build a proper community and maybe someday… We can establish the “PLUR” #PleaseLetUsRave!!!
This event is all but a BIG waste of money and time. The event was crappy. I think that there are more organizers and DJ’s rather than the guests. A very big disgrace for our country because there are also international DJ’s who performed but not given a fair treatment. VERY VERY EXPENSIVE DRINKS & FOOD. Crappy VIP tickets which are not really used because the event was a big SHIT!
PLEASE DON’T ORGANIZE AN EVENT EVER!
THANKS LOVE LOTS. The Disappointed Sandstorm Guests. #TDSG
I feel like this article is not really an article but an exposure of an issue that had happened between a couple of parties who are still disagreeing and in conflict. This kind of topic and “article” is best put in a forum. I’m no blogger, nor an avid reader but from time to time I like to read what I find interesting (which is supposedly the purpose of these kind of websites). So with all due respect, napaka biased ng post na ito. This is not the kind of post na gusto kong mabasa na parang nagpaliwanagan pa kayo sa story na to. Make it simple for your readers wag masyadong madaming tao sa story mo. Narrative lang dapat or whatever you may call it. Thanks.
Professionally speaking, if they were promised one thing, they should receive it. No compensation for a report / blog sounds cheap, but it’s normal. As bloggers, they have the right to rant and “report” what had happened during the event. Anyway that’s what they were asked to be there for -To share their experience. But, it would be better off if the article is written in common with how feedbacks / experiences are written. No rant against specific people, no quoting other people too much, and more feedback on the event. It should be basic and simple: Intro – Body (Positive/Negative) – Conclusion. No bias, clear, concise.
Sandstorm was shit for everyone, for the audience, the artists and even the bloggers BUT… This blog is sh!t. Very unprofessional bloggers aswell, better get that list to completely ban them to all future projects and events from our side.
PR company can only do so much, they cant predict when the organizers messes up! DJs had the same problems, some were very pro, ranted a bit then moved on as a lesson but these bloggers? Noooo.
You are proof how blogging has become, people who writes and expects to be treated VIPs even how badly written your blogs really are.
Jacob so promised many things, Cherry wasnt even the organizer, simply she says what the organizer promised aswell.
Bloggers did not trust kaya d umimik? Well suit yourselves, ok at la imik ayan tuloy , kipag usap nalang kayo about sa event
TL;DR
(too long; DON’T read)
Summary
Issue #1
The inappropriate handling of bloggers in the Sandstorm event quite contrary to what was offered/promised them.
This includes
A) Lack of transportation
B) Lack of food (quality and quantity)
Issue #2
Lack of communication efforts and skills
A) Between event organizers, those who invited the bloggers, those who were supposed to monitor the bloggers, the blogger “leaders”, and the bloggers themselves.
B) This blog. Bad form has greatly way-sided the content and purpose of this post.
B.1) Who is saying what?
It is difficult to keep track of who is saying what. Was color coding the comments easier than indicating the name of the speaker before the excerpt?
B.2) Did we have to suffer typos and grammatical errors?
I understand the importance of retaining the way things were originally written so as not to mess with the possible perception of the message. However, adding properly written versions of the excerpts within brackets is acceptable and beneficial to the readers.
B.3) Readers losing sight of the real issues. (Refer to #1 and #2)
Please do not forget, meron pa DJs na di pa nila binanayaran up to now.
They rendered service and were not paid as promised. Sila pa gumastos to buy their own drinks.
Wow.
I am not surprised to find all these people in a mess, like this one, if their use of language is a mess in itself. Pay attention to details and you will probably avoid getting yourself embroiled in a fiasco like this event.
Two words: Epic Fail
After reading this article and April’s blog, pagdating daw nila sa event, they didn’t know who they were? I mean, miscommunication is an understatement kasi at least man lang the people at the event would know that a certain group of bloggers would be coming pero wala talaga eh. So I feel sorry for the bloggers who attended the event kasi parang ang baba tuloy ng tingin sa kanila ng mga organizers kaya ganun ang treatment. I also applaud them for not backing out to cover the event kasi ako sa simula pa lang na malaman ko na walang transpo na dumating to pick us up, I would feel a disturbance in the force agad kaya uwi agad ako. Fortunately, I haven’t experienced something like this from the previous events I attended.
**The food from the pic…hmm…parang take-out lang galing sa turo-turo which is fine by me if and only if kumain talaga ako sa turo-turo at nag-take out ako dun pero hindi eh. Nakita ko lang talaga yung food, na-stress na ako hehehe
Grabe wala man lang utensils?? The nerve of that woman named cherry burwell. Responsibility nya pa din ang mga bloggers kasi sya naginvite! Grabe pano naging PR yang babaeng yan! This is worth sharing para maging aware ang future victims ni burwell.
Anong sense ng pagiging blogger mo kung di mo sasabihin ang totoo?? So ang professional blogger para sayo eh dapat sugar coated lahat?? Kaya nga blogger ang tawag, para maishare ang EXPERIENCE sa iba. Iba ang dj iba ang blogger. AND HOW DARE YOU PARA SABIHIN ANG WORDS NA “THESE BLOGGERS” Ikaw kaya subukan mong kumain ng walang utensils at matulog sa maliit na kwarto at 19 kayo lahat? And gusto mo manahimik lang sila para masabihang professional?? For sure isa ka sa alagad ni burwell!
This is for JC
Anong sense ng pagiging blogger mo kung di mo sasabihin ang totoo?? So ang professional blogger para sayo eh dapat sugar coated lahat?? Kaya nga blogger ang tawag, para maishare ang EXPERIENCE sa iba. Iba ang dj iba ang blogger. AND HOW DARE YOU PARA SABIHIN ANG WORDS NA “THESE BLOGGERS” Ikaw kaya subukan mong kumain ng walang utensils at matulog sa maliit na kwarto at 19 kayo lahat? And gusto mo manahimik lang sila para masabihang professional?? For sure isa ka sa alagad ni burwell!
I don’t understand why these two parties (bloggers and organizers) didn’t talk this over personally. Obviously, puro facebook and social media. i doubt if they had a meeting as a team before the said event. By the the word “team” i meant, lahat ng bloggers and organizers. Ano ba naman yung mag-alot ng atleast 2 hours to discuss what’s gonna happen and what should happen.
For the blogger/s, i get your frustrations cause i also get to be victimized by some event companies. But, you should be smart enough not to post your rants over social media. That is being unprofessional (or… maybe this is your way to make your blog ‘famous’?). Saying that the reason why you don’t want to talk to this “cherry” and her team is because you don’t trust her anymore, is very childish. So, you bloggers think that posting your rants on social media will make a difference? Why not talk to them, give them the benefit of the doubt and suggest something to solve the problem and not be one of the problem.
For the event company, you disappoint every other event companies out there. Inviting VIP bloggers over facebook or SMS is really cheap for a ‘big’ event (bloggers should’ve noticed this at first). And saying sorry to the bloggers thru a thread… so you really think that they will forgive you by saying sorry over a group message? What a professional way! As if you are not destroying yout team’s name and credibility. I don’t know what more to say to these organizers, all i know is that they should look for another field. You can’t communicate to each other properly and you know that, that is very important when organizing an event.
I am in no side here, i think both parties have their own faults and they should take it as an experience that shall never happen again. We need more professional people here in the Philippines.
karma na yan sa iyo cherry!
This is very sad, I do not know Cherry personally but naka attend na ako sa isa nya event and sobra ok. We were all treated equally, all has tokens, may cash prizes pa nga iba and may nanalo pa na tab yun isa dito na nag rrant. I agree with JC na PR lang siya at sabi nga nya nag assist lang siya di naman official at hindi sya yun organizer so bakit hindi tanungin si Jacob So bakit naging ganun yun event?
And yun nagsasabi ng FATWELL? porket chubby o big ganun ana dapat itawag? Sexy ka ba? Sana walang murahan, sabi ninyo act professionally pero foul na yun words. Be the better person . Mag comment kung paano maayos ito hindi kung paano lalo mag aaway away. Sabi nyo naman nag reach out sya para ayusin pero ayaw nyo bakit ganun ba kayo ka perfect? Sa mga screen shots may mga disclaimer pero di nyo pinansin?
Pag usapan nyo na lang ito sana ng maayos kasi whether we agree or not, tuwang tuwa ang the daily pedia dahil tumataas ang rank or page view nya
At bakit kayo nag ppunta sa event na walang pera? asa na lang sa libre? I am a blogger too pero mas nakak hiya yun asal nyo na hindi kayo mag bigay ng oras para makipag usap , walang diplomasiya parang napa ka galing nyo na.
Mali na kung mali sila pero mag rant? mga blog nyo ba may followers o pinasisikat ninyo si Daily Pedia?
Naku! The Bustamante sisters are LIARS. Kezia is a f****ng WHORE according to sources! I was not there sa Ducati Weekend but nakarating sa akin paglalandi nyan. She is a liar! And the sister HIPPO, CHERRY, is a LIAR and USER. She uses bloggers to earn money. Mandarambong yang magkapatid na yan that’s why people don’t trust them anymore.
The who tong mga bloggers na to? haha
To be honest I’ve read this post 5 times today just to get the whole story – that is how confusing it is. grammar wise there are some lapses but I will look past that because even people who speak English as their first language can’t speak and write it perfectly.
I just don’t get the idea that why did these bloggers had expectations that are TOO DAMN HIGH!
I am a blogger as well and have been blogging maybe longer than the ones involved here. I’ve had my fair share of EPIC FAIL events but I still wrote about it in a positive way but promised myself that if the same PR or person involved in that event invited me again I will just decline politely.
Why rant about it?! for getting fame because of it? You might get that ‘fame’ but trust me that won’t last. People will just forget about you maybe after a couple of weeks or months.
And also if they were served poorly why did they said they were okay? Are you freaking kidding me?! I have had the same experience before and I personally talked to the producer and organizers of the event and told them how I really feel about it.
I do know that in out of town events there is really one or two persons that has to be the point person/s from the PR team. Unfortunately I think the ones that were assigned did their best but it was not enough because they were not there personally to assist the bloggers. There are some faults on that and also there was a lot of lack of communication that I think has to be settled personally by the people involved here.
I am not judging nor siding with anyone here because a lot of people are at fault. I just don’t get why it has to come to this?
I just hope the people involved here will be able to talk face to face to settle this PERSONALLY.
And also to those na ‘sawsaw’ comments that is not related to the event and just want to focus on the faults of the PR. Please act professional enough because the way you comment speaks what you really are as a person. You should be ashamed, you are a shame to the whole blogging community with how you comment.
Both sides are PATHETIC . . .
Clearly, Filipinos are not ready for the blogging industry.
Hanep! Nagdugo ang utak ko sa dami ng grammatical errors! How can people call themselves bloggers when they couldn’t even write decent English? Sheesh!
To the writer of the this poor excuse of an article,
Please go back to school. Study some more. Ask your professors to guide you. You obviously need it. This trash does not deserve any online space. For a moment, it certainly almost felt like being stepped on by a thousand rabid zoo animals going through your barrage of screenshots.
To the bloggers,
Your website does not make you a journalist. You do not deserve any free pass for building a diary. Join the media if you want press privilege.
To the organizers and that lady,
Stop exploiting free and overzealous talents. Spend for exposure and documentation. I’m sure you got paid for whatever crap you did. Share the love and do your work right.
The 64$ question is: What happened to the artists? Did they get the same treatment? Interview them.
Woah there goes that Jacob So’s statement. So it’s not Jason So after all. I feel bad Philippines have these kind of bloggers. Very unprofessional. Feel bad about that Cherry and Kezia too, whoever they are. No matter what no one deserves to be called a whore or whatever and use foul languages here. But i think she has the right to. Googled her, very pretty lady. Maybe to Kezia, Cherry and the team, just do better next time. This is a lesson. Merry Christmas!
So what now? Jacob So made a statement? So he was saying that he let down Ms Cherry so bakit nga ba hindi nakipag suap muna bloggers? Nagalit dahil wala free drinks? Yun mga media ba sa TV kapag nagppunta sa Mindanao eh nag rreklamo kasi sa dahon kumakain? Hindi dba? irereort nila yun situation. Nag kwento na ba kayo on how the artists were treated? How the music was? the set up? Hindi diba? You all posted about your personal experiences. Kung binigyan ba kayo ng beer magagalit kayo?
Nagyon yan explanation ni Jacob so ano na? Lumapit Pr sa inyo di nyo kinausap. Well kaya nga PR sya, may work eh kayo? sa ayw at sa gusto yo lumalabas dto na libre ang habol nyo. You are all an embarrassment to the society. How come you all say that the registration people does not know that bloggers are coming in when you said in your statements that nkkipag coordinate kayo sa bus station with the organizers?
About the mason jar? Kung wala ka intention eh di sana hindi mo tinago in the first place, malas o at may nakakita and you admitted it naman. What does her chubiness and her sisters “paglalandi” got to do with this?
I dnt know this PR group, but im sure sya na natititra and where is that Arnel and Brian? Sila nakkipag coordinate sa inyo bakit di sila mag explain? Kung ba nagttrabaho ka sa TV5 at pinadala ka sa Sandstorm at di ka naayos dun mmurahin mo si MVP?
Nakakatawa kayo. I am sure tuwang tuwa si Mr Jacob So dahil imbes na sya ang masisisi eh si Ms Burwell
With the freelancers you have the flexibility to customize the packages meeting your needs. But there are some that won’t apply, so you will need some new ones that are just for weddings, too. I just happen to live near the Atlanta area and I use this city as an example.