The Gentle Bear

Rob Martin Murphy.

A former collegue. A friend. A gentleman.

He Flew all the way from Sydney, Australia to be my guest and speaker at the Boomerang Awards 2007. The 1st Internet and Mobile marketing awards in the Philippines. An event organized by IMMAP or the Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines. An industry association which i take pride in co-founding this together with 15 other professionals.

A landmark of sorts as the 2 day event marked high powered attendees from almost all major players in the industry - mobile operators, media agencies, internet companies, content providers including foreign delegates and speakers from USA, Australia, Singapore and Japan.

With all the high powered speeches, breakthrough attendance and profile of delegates, media mileage generated by the event, it is that of Rob's time that i value the most.

For not only Rob's talk was the most simple and provocative of them all, it is his participation in the event that symbolizes the very essence of why the association was formed - - to become advocates of digital and interactive media.

Rob accepted my invitation not because of monetary gains nor the business exposure that may benefit the ad agency he is currently working for.

As a matter of fact, neither applies in his case.

He came to our shores as an advocate of creativity in the world of new technology.

And despite of the organizational hassles that he experienced and the option of attending a highly acclaimed awards night for the creative works he has done in Sydney, Rob chose to come to the Philippines.

His visit was his commitment in my advocacy of helping Filipinos excel in the global arena.

His short trip was about touching the lives of people. The hope of inspiring new creative heights among us.

He once said that night, " Even if i have to present to only one person. i don't mind at all."

There is more to Rob that my collegues in the association and the industry need to know in order to appreciate the kind of a man he is.

It is not his world class credentials that make Rob stand tall.

Nor is it the creative awards that he has won.

His best friend, Jaime, once told me, "Rob is a gentle bear".

Indeed, it is Rob's sincerity at heart that characterizes the man and the kind of creative guru that he is.

A trait that is rare in today's world and one that the younger, future generation should embrace.

I brought my son, Chito to attend the awards night and for him hear his Tito Rob talk.

In the hope that he too, whose aspirations seem to be in the creative field, will learn from the gentle bear.

Only time can tell if the tree of new creativity that the gentle bear has help plant in our country will grow.

However, one thing that i know for sure.

That the gentle bear has touched lives of people that matters most to me.

I can tell.

My son since then, gauging by how he is sharing his thoughts on the advertising he sees and his discoveries in the internet, was clearly inspired by the gentle bear.