From Debt to Dynasty: The REDmarkable Journey of Exequila Bulac

by Ferry Bayu | Aug 7, 2025 | Business

In the world of network marketing, success stories often begin with hardship—and Exequila Bulac’s journey is no exception. As the Foundress of SRS Firearies Dynasty under REDinc, her rise from financial despair to inspiring leader is a powerful testimony of faith, perseverance, and determination.

Before discovering REDinc, Exequila worked as an employee at a financing company. A proud high school graduate, she had already achieved what many with limited education could only hope for—employment in a major company. But like many, she soon realized that a modest educational background often comes with a modest paycheck.

Everything changed when she became a mother. Her child’s medical operation demanded a huge sum, and with limited income, Exequila fell into overwhelming debt—reaching as high as one million pesos. Faced with unimaginable pressure and uncertainty, she turned to prayer. And through divine timing, help came.

Her sister, Mentor Ely, introduced her to REDinc. Though she knew nothing about multi-level marketing (MLM), Exequila made the bold decision to try. Her mindset shifted: “Why not learn it? What if this is the way out of poverty?”

On August 8, 2018, her life took a new direction. With the support of mentors Yam ‘YG’ Gavales, Vanesa Gavales, Michael Majan, and Rona Capuyan, Exequila gradually learned the ropes and began earning—impressively landing in the Top 15 Earners during her first year, all while doing REDinc part-time. As the pandemic struck and many relied on government aid, Exequila and her siblings thrived. They poured every waking hour into online networking, running on just two to three hours of sleep. But for Exequila, exhaustion was worth it if it meant covering her child’s medical needs.

But God’s blessings didn’t stop there. Her commitment to REDinc allowed her to buy her own house and lot, begin paying off her million-peso debt, and spend more time with her child—something she could only dream of before.

In 2022, she pushed herself further by combining online and offline networking. Stepping into face-to-face marketing brought new challenges—fear, discomfort, rejection—but Exequila kept going. Her secret? She focused on her dreams, not her doubts. Her courage inspired not only her own progress but also that of her growing team.

“To my REDinc partners,” she says, “keep dreaming. No matter how many rejections or criticisms you face, never give up. Be braver—for your dreams, for your family.” She extends her gratitude to the SRS-Global Family, her mentors, coaches, and all her partners across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. And most of all, to President Jayant Era of REDinc, for believing in their dreams.

Exequila’s story reminds us of one thing: “Sa networking hindi pwedeng puro UTAK ang gamitin dapat may PUSO ka din.” – Mentor Lec

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES

Argos Philippines launches the Odyssey 2.0: A bold new chapter in Filipino timekeeping

by Ferry Bayu | Jul 25, 2025 | Business

ARGOS PHILIPPINES, a watch microbrand based in the Philippines, proudly unveils the ODYSSEY 2.0, the latest evolution of its flagship watch series, inspired by the pivotal age in the coming of modern human history: The Renaissance. 

In the next stage of its journey, The Odyssey 2.0 comes in three romancing colors, signifying the revival of intellect and art lost during the dark ages. First, the white in lacquer finish represents enlightenment – of the emergence from the dark and pureness from divine inspiration. It was the color of revelation, worn by angels and imagined by thinkers as light breaking through ignorance.The second color of burgundy represents the mind – engaged in deep thought and passion to will and reason. A color worn by thinkers and magistrates, it embodied depth and cultivated wisdom.

The third color peach-salmon represents the hand – celebrating the power of the flesh to work and create. It symbolized the act of making, where the hand meets art in warm, living color.

The burgundy and peach-salmon colors are both made in a sunburst finish, symbolic of the boom of creativity that comes from the unity of mind and body.

Made for the everyday, the Odyssey 2.0 blends timeless design with modern craftsmanship. A top grade 316L stainless steel case in a 38mm diameter with brushed finish offers robustness and wearability on any occasion or activity. A date complication at the 3:00 position means you never lose touch of day. BGW9-lumed applied indices adds a different character at night, and a unique take for each of the colors.

The Odyssey 2.0 now comes in a leather strap with a deployant clasp.

True to the Argos Philippines philosophy, The Odyssey 2.0 is powered by the tested and true Japanese NH35 automatic movement, offering approximately 41 hours of power reserve, and the guarantee of a robust workhorse movement trusted by millions worldwide.

The Odyssey 2.0 is retailed at PhP 12,999.00 (approximately US$230.00) and can be shipped worldwide.

Know more about Argos Philippines and be a part of our journey by visiting https://argos-watches.com. You may also chat with us directly through our social media pages https://www.facebook.com/argos.philippines and https://www.instagram.com/argos.philippines, or send us an email at in**@**********es.com.

The Odyssey 2.0 technical specifications:

The Dial:

•   White-lacquered dial / Deep sunburst dial
•   BGW9-lumed applied indices
•   Luminous hour and minute hands
•   Groove-cut chapter ring

The Case:

•   316L stainless steel
•   38mm case diameter
•   20mm lug width
•   46mm lug-to-lug
•   12mm thickness
•   5 ATM water resistance

The Crystal:

•   Curved sapphire glass with anti-reflective (AR) coating

The Caseback:

•   Open caseback, with a visible NH35A movement

The Movement:

•   Japanese NH35A
•   Central hours, central minutes, central sweeping seconds, date calendar
•   Automatic with hacking and hand-winding functions
•   Diashock system
•   24 jewels
•   41-hour power reserve
•   21,600 bph

About Argos Philippines

ARGOS PHILIPPINES is one of the newest players in the watch microbrand scene in the Philippines, with a vision of putting the country in the map of worldwide watchmaking. Our watches are designed by Filipinos, and is our love letter to the world – breathing passion and bringing the best examples of Filipino-made timepieces to the market without compromise.

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES

Coliving as Infrastructure: Building Communities in the Age of Urban Isolation

by Ferry Bayu | Jul 9, 2025 | Business

Coliving isn’t a trend—it’s infrastructure. After relocating to Finland with my family, I’ve continued to live part-time in an 18 sqm unit in the Philippines—immersed not just as a founder of Woke Coliving, but as a full-time community member. And what I’ve seen inside our walls is extraordinary.

We run together. We puzzle together. We laugh, share meals, and sometimes even fall in love. All while the outside world grows more digitally connected—and more emotionally distant.

The real challenge? Scaling this kind of community without losing its soul. And convincing cities to treat coliving not as a novelty, but as essential social infrastructure for the future.

Here’s how we’re building not just rooms, but rhythms of belonging.

#Coliving #UrbanDesign #CommunityBuilding #FutureCities #WokeColiving #RealEstateInnovation #SocialInfrastructure

In a post-pandemic world shaped by isolation, remote work, and housing scarcity, the question is no longer whether people want to live together—it’s how we intentionally build environments where they can thrive.

About one year ago, my family relocated from the Philippines to Finland so my wife could take on an exciting new role. Since then, I’ve become even more immersed in Woke Coliving—not only as its founder, but as a full-time community member. I had to leave behind my “expat life” in Rockwell, arguably one of the best neighbourhoods in the world (and believe me, I’ve had the privilege of living and working in diverse cities around the world). Yet even after trading that lifestyle for an 18-square-meter room, I found myself surprisingly at ease.

Adaptability is part of who I am. And after a year of living the coliving experience firsthand, I can proudly say: we’ve built a strong, resilient community. What was once a professional venture has become something much more personal—an experiment in proximity, shared rhythms, and purpose-driven living.

At Woke, we don’t just manage the space—we live and breathe it. Most of the Woke team, myself included, live and work within the very walls we operate. And that proximity has allowed me to witness something remarkable.

Every week, I see groups forming organically around shared interests—fitness, wellness, hobbies, even romance. We have a running group and a gym crew that train together and join marathon and fitness challenges. Just last night, I walked through the lobby of our Mandaluyong property and was caught off guard—in the best way possible. A group of sporty residents were gearing up for a night run, another few were laughing around a table, fully engaged—with no phones, no laptops, just presence. Two more were deep into a jigsaw puzzle, heads bent in focus. This wasn’t some curated brand experience. It was a real community, unfolding in real time.

And yet, outside these walls, the digital world is doing the opposite—fragmenting our attention and pushing people further into isolation. The irony is hard to ignore: we’re more connected than ever, but lonelier than we’ve ever been. That’s why we’ve made a deliberate decision at Woke to design for connection. From the layout of common spaces to the temperature of the lighting, the height of the counters, and the softness of the couches—every detail is considered. Because the right atmosphere encourages people to linger, to engage, to open up.

But physical design is only half the equation. Community needs culture—and culture needs boundaries. We’ve implemented a clear, firm set of rules that uphold the health of our community. Racism, discrimination, or any kind of hostility is simply not tolerated. We’re Woke not just by name, but in spirit. That means inclusion, respect, and shared responsibility. Most of our team lives in the properties, and we lead by example—keeping the spaces clean, showing up for others, and creating the kind of environment we’re proud to call home.

A Dual Challenge—Operator and Architect

As both coliving operator and active resident, I’ve seen firsthand how well-designed spaces and strong community frameworks can combat urban isolation. But with that insight comes responsibility—and complexity. The challenge for us at Woke is twofold.

From an operator’s perspective, the next frontier is scaling without losing soul. Growth brings investors, metrics, expansion targets. But how do we preserve intimacy and human connection when managing 1,000+ residents across multiple cities? How do we replicate a culture—not just a floor plan? The operational playbook must evolve to include not just SOPs and legal compliance, but deep rituals of community building, staff integration, and long-term resident engagement.

From the architect’s perspective, coliving must be recognized as an essential component of future cities. We’re no longer talking about an alternative housing model—we’re talking about critical social infrastructure. One that addresses density, affordability, and the need for intentional connection in urban environments. Yet most city plans and zoning regulations still lag behind these realities. The question now is: how do we embed coliving into the architectural and policy fabric of modern cities? How do we design neighbourhoods that are not just liveable, but shared, inclusive, and vibrant?

At Woke, we’re still writing the blueprint. But we know this much: coliving isn’t a temporary fix—it’s a long-term solution to urban loneliness and fragmentation. It calls on us to build not just better rooms, but better rhythms. Not just amenities, but belonging.