There is a reputation which precedes me and amusingly, it isn't mine.

I say this in hindsight after the other day's event at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center where the management of advertising agency, Adformatix, held a half day seminar to update their clients on media given these perilous times.

Honestly, I felt numb the rest of the day just thinking of the micro-events which took place within the media seminar.

The first occurrence which hit me was akin to a deja vu.  As it was around 27 years ago, I remember being a high school sophomore studying away from my family in Negros.  Every now and then, my dad would come to Manila to visit me at the dormitory in QC and, on occasions where there was no class on a weekday, I would tag-along with him to the various ad agencies he was servicing then as a media supplier.  On this one day, after doing some agency visits, we proceeded to the AIM where a marketing and advertising seminar was being held.  In ages long before powerpoints, the presentations were made through 35mm carousel slides! There was an open forum after the seminar and to this day, I still remember one of the questions posed by an attendee.  While I did absorb some of the stuff being lectured on, a career in advertising in marketing was the farthest thing on my mind.  My lifelong dream was to be an architect.

And so it hit me yesterday like a ton of bricks that here I was, back at the AIM Conference Center, in perhaps a similar advertising seminar, 27 years later, astounded by the fact that I was now in front sharing information.

Occurrence number 2.  I was sitting at the stage next to Meckoy Quioge, CEO of GMA Marketing and Productions, and he leans over to ask a question which I have heard over and over from seasoned advertising people.  "How are you related to Larry Tronco?".  Time and again, I would answer this question with a sense of pride knowing that the person being referred to was my father.  Meckoy continues to say that long before he became President of J. Walter Thompson, the first time he joined the agency, my dad was already there as an established art director, chums with the Thompson bigshots, Lenny Hontiveros and J.J. Calero.

Occurrence number 3.  After the seminar, the usual thanks and shaking of hands with organizers and co-speakers.  Adformatix Chairman, Willy Garcia, asks me a question.  No big surprise really.  It was still the same question Meckoy asked.  Small talk ensues about the old days of advertising in the Philippines and the reputation of the man.

Most of my dad's ex-colleagues are not aware that he passed away in 1985.  Quite a long time ago. 

As it is, I can only humbly say, "Thanks Dad. ....thanks for the training...thanks for leading the way...thanks for the legacy".