Havaianas launched the “Flipping for the Beach” Contest this summer to discover the unexplored gems and favorite coastal destinations in the Philippines. Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano fully supports the contest and declares that the 7 winning destinations will be included in DOT’s focused tourism destination next year. Secretary Durano, together with Vince Rodriguez, Executive Producer of Studio 23 ‘s News Central, Ms. Anne Gonzalez, Managing Director of Terry S.A, and top 7 travel writers in the Philippines will form the panel of judges for the contest. I’m honored to be part of the panel of judges and recognized as one of the country’s top travel writers along side with the editor in chief of Mabuhay Magazine, Travel Life and the other travel publications in the country.
I’m excited to be a part of the judging on May 10. We will choose seven (7) winners who will receive the following:
– An exclusive Havaianas pair
– A 3 day/ 2 night all-expense-paid trip for two to the destination he or she wrote about
– Summer goodies from David and Goliath, T-Box and Dakine
(7 Waves in Anawangin Beach. The 7 waves special Havaianas series celebrates the Brazilian ritual of welcoming the New Year. Dressed entirely in white, Brazilians go to the edge of the sea and hop over 7 waves just after midnight. This ritual is believed to bring good luck and to open new paths for the year that is just beginning. I think the 7 waves for Men was inspired by Anawangin beach..)
Please make sure that you adhere to the contest guidelines:
1. It should be about a Unique Beach Getaway in the Philippines
2. Focus on distinctive experiences that you can expect from that destination
3. Deadline is on May 1, 2008
4. Write with no more than 500 words!
5. With at least photos taken at the destination. Make sure to take a picture of yourself in the destination as proof that you have been there.
6. Document via video (60 to 90 seconds running time in VCD or DVD format)
7. Photos and videos don’t necessarily have to have Havaianas featured in them. (But if you have one, why not?)
For more details on the mechanics, please see flyers and counter-standees in select stores and for other inquiries, please call the “Flipping for the Beach” Secretariat at (632) 7809898 landline, (0927) 6621127 mobile, or email promo@havaianasphilippines.com.
Some thoughts and tips:
1. Keywords are UNIQUE destination and DISTINCTIVE experiences. I still yet to receive the formal judging criteria but I would put higher rating on beach destination entries that I have not been to.
(7 Waves in Pundaquit Beach)
2. Remember that you enter the contest to promote the destination that you love. Because if you win, we will feature that destination and DOT will promote it next year.
(7 Waves in Capones Island)
3. Your entry should stand out. Remember that there are 10 different judges and all coming from different backgrounds. The top travel writers have been to most of the common beach places in the Philippines since they are the editor in chief of their publication.
(7 Waves in Capones Island Beach)
4. Tips to make it unique. The way to make it unique is to pick a destination that is undiscovered, put yourself and your family/ friends in the picture, and make sure the final product (essay, video) is technically good. Common beach places like Boracay can be unique if you have a unique angle that has never been written about.
(7 Waves in Anawangin Beach)
5. Be Creative. I’m looking for creative entries and keep in mind that you are promoting the destination. You do this by sharing your first hand experience of the place. Make it funny and entertaining as much as possible.
(7 Waves in Anawangin Beach)
6. Do it for the love of it. Don’t enter the contest just to have a chance to win. Do it because you love doing it because even before we judge the entry you are already a winner. It needs to be your own personal masterpiece.
(7 Waves for Men and Women)
7. 7 Waves Havaianas. Remember that this is to promote the exclusive, limited edition Havaianas 7 Waves for Men (in Black and Silver) and Women (available in slim beige/ gold style).
Wow Anton. This is going to be an exciting contest. Congratulations for being recognized as one of the best travel writers today. Cheers!
1. Keywords are UNIQUE destination and DISTINCTIVE experiences. I still yet to receive the formal judging criteria but I would put higher rating on beach destination entries that I have not been to.
wow this is kinda hard. you’ve been all over the philippines already!!!
Those are awesome pictures!!! Woah! Can you join?
….you have not seen some of the very best places in the philippine yet….coz they are mostly in a very ‘remote’ areas….remote as in very dangerous survivalistic in nature almost impossible to reach….some has no roads NO WAY vehicles can go there even train stops is not in any way ‘closer’ by any means even a ‘simple’ walk means you need to walk down hills o mountains in ‘standing’ positions lol!….but those cliffs ravines heights views i have no words to describe them yet ohhh when i said danger survivalistic almost impossible that’s because of so many reasons along the way before places can be reach one of them was ‘might get sick without’ recovery later o di kaya one-two places has men with arms ‘not the kind we joke around’ o di kaya NO roads no electrics no stores no means to cook them except ‘improvisations’ meaning i will have to personally take you there when jerry & i visits in 2009 along with my dozens nieces nephews grandchildren lol!…..an extremely beautiful place ‘easy’one to reach is by private plane it is inside the jungle-forests of PALANAN ISABELA just search for the waterfalls mineral caves the waterlines hanging bridges o never seen flower species before inside the jungle will lead you to those paradise corners…..breath taking nature paradise unexpected views i had a hard time describing them so good luck and i hope you guys ‘find’ them so everyone can see them here in our awesome planet and don’t wait too long lol….
wow! i would really like to join this. thanks for the heads up 🙂
i like that slipper. is it a limited edition?
Thanks so much Anton! 🙂 These are super wonderful photos!
hi anton! awww, u went there too.. 🙂 me and my friends had just been there recently, just this week (april 5 to 7)! sayang di tayo nagkita dun. hehe. we went to anawangin on the 1st day, just a day tour though. so we were not able to do all those stuff u did *sigh* but we will definitely go back there next summer 🙂 went to putipot island the next day (located in sta. cruz). pero lahat kami mas gusto ang anawangin. haha!
thanks anton for this post and for sharing your amazing photos. sayang, we want to join this contest too, but you already made your “unofficial entry” for the contest. hehe. God bless!
I find the contest mechanics a wee bit strange. The task is to write about a beach we’ve already been to, and the prize simply takes us back there again? Can the winner possibly select another destination, someplace that exceeds their vacation budget? 😉 Let’s say the only place I can write about is a public beach in Batangas, since my resources only allow me to go that far. If I win, I get to see it again? Wheeee. That’s not much of an incentive. Can the winner ask for a vacation to Palawan or Davao or somewhere more exotic?
Err, I don’t think you’re getting the point Ana. See Anton’s tip number 2.
Hi Anton! Just a question about the contest. Is it ok if it’s an existing blog. The beach I have discovered has been getting a lot of queries and I intentionally did not put the direction so that people will have to email me first as to regulate tourist. It’s somewhere in Pangasinan. How do I submit my blog entry?
Dapat meron local na flipflops ang mag feature sa Philippine beaches… It’ ironic that we have a beach culture but we wear Brazilian or what ever country made flipflops… Let’s have some local identity na din. I’m first to admit it, I do own Havaianas and Sanuk. Are there local brands of flipflops that can compete with imported brands?
I received this email from Havaianas Philippines, too. =)
I want to join the contest and there’s a particular beach/island that I love to write about somewhere in Zambales. But the prize for the contest makes me think about it before writing it… That island is very secluded and if I get to win the contest, I will be having a 3 days/2 nights trip on that secluded island, nyek, sana convertible to cash na lang if that’s the case, hehe.
Oh, can I have two entries?
hi there!is it a must to include a video? i’ve been to this place in the south around 3 years ago and i have only taken a few pics..nothing more =)
this is soo sad, im going to coron and explore the islands this may 2. and the deadline is may 1?! huhuhu
i dont have havaianas, anyway <—- sourgraping
Max of 500 words!!!???!! And that to make your entry stand out?!?
what if there’s no video, just pictures?
what if there’s no video, just pictures?
Nice nice post 🙂
who won? may pics ka mga napili????
who won???? who won???? nyahaha
i never got to see these tips… but i won! =) the prizes and the whole trip was so fun plus i got that limited edition slippers guys!=) 7 waves slim gold havaianas.. love it!