DAY 17

Wednesday, on this day a regular Kapihan sa PIA is scheduled. We were assigned since no one will cover it. Actually, PIA is a popular place for the media, but I and Sheila didn’t know where it is. We kept on asking, the usual act we do every time we’re not familiar with the place. Oh, I really hate this deja vu, the common scenario wherein we arrived but still need to walk to look for the place.

The sun is painful, and we walked under its heat. We have no choice man gud! Finally, upon arriving at the CCPO, the officer pointed where the PIA is. Ahai, we finally found the glory. Late again, but not that too long. The guests were from the Aboitiz foundation, and there was one Negrense. Oh, kababayan.

After that, we went to her and told her that we are from Negros also. Okay, this is what I love—free lunch! Yeah, it was an American style of lunch. After back, proceeded to the office, scheduled and encoded without waiting for it to be edited. Haha, we were hard-headed this time. Balik bahay, had a meeting with the rest of the group and rest.

DAY 16

Prior this day, we received an assignment scheduled at 8am at the Archbishop’s Palace. Wow, intriguing place, you mean a palace?! Let’s find out.

Actually we were confused what jeep to ride. We transferred at another waiting area. Then we arrived at the Iglesia, as what people told us.

Oh my God, we were always asking. It was a long walk before reaching the place. But, it was not totally a palace. We arrived late, ahai, ulahi na kayu. The other outlets were there already, including the two giant ones. Parang kami lang atah anh intern dun, but still confidence must stay.

We interviewed Cardinal Vidal himself, ahh, that’s where he is residing pala. Then walked, the same thing we did habang papunta sa lugar.

It was still early, so we opted for a stroll at the mal muna. We went to Ayala, and had god time there especially when I saw the dancing gay spiderman. Ohh, I love that! He washed away from problem, he really made me laugh out loud. Then back to the office, encoded the facts and went back home at 7pm (medyo early ngayon).

DAY 15

Back to duty after the two-day escapade at Negros. Okay, we don’t know where we’re going today so we first went to the office. We asked the day desk, but because it’s Monday, there’s nothing new, no presscons, etc…

But Sir Marjun let us to go with him at Camp Lapu-lapu for the joint presscon of AFP and PNP. We came late but still we ate the free lunch offered. We met more interns from other schools.

Then the event started. We sat fronting the high ranking officials (parang totoo). The issue was about the insurgency problems in the Visayas that must be addressed and given due attention in preparation for the coming election.


I knew my cousin is there because he’s applying for army, so I texted him. Then, I saw him with his co-ROTC officer in college who is also my friend. But we need to go back to the office for it was already 4pm, and we still need it to be scheduled and submit before 6pm.

There we were with a cramming drama. We went out at 8pm, tired and went back to the boarding house. but after the supper, we first visited an internet café.

DAY 12

It’s Flyday! Fly back to Negros…

First stop was the Parklane International Hotel at Gorordo. Wow, very social and elegant place. According to Ma’am Joh, there’s a press conference daw, but we don’t know what specific company it is and whose party or person is conducting it. Bstah agreement namin is magkita kami dun.

My God, we waited for not so long for our senior. We asked the guard but there’s no press con of the DENR. Okay, we still stayed inside. Then we asked again, there was really none. Then the senior texted us to attend the tapok-tapok sa KIA instead, which is only a walking distance from the place. When we were near half-way, she texted and gave us the complete name of the event. Hindi naman pala sa DENR yun, launching pala ng isang company which distributes organics and fertilizers. Okay, back to the hotel. Hai, ang init kaya maglakad.

It was held on the third floor. Ohh, we were the only media there. We found it not newsworthy. Few hours later, Ma’am Joh came. Napaka-sosyal naman talaga, maski bread ginagamitan ng kutsilyo. Hmmmn, kung sa amin lang yan. Kinmay ko na yan, pero hindi talaga ako nasiyahan sa event. I can’t relate with the topic.

Then we asked for a short time to interview the head so that we can exit from the event. He set the place for the conversation; it was on the fourth floor where the swimming pool is located.

After that, we went to KIA for a regular tapok-tapok which is heard live in a radio outlet here. Suki na rin kasi ako dun kasi friends na kami ng mga member sa CAMP. When we arrived, we thought we’re late, pero almost dun na. we took the free lunch, and still get an angle to write.

Because I am heading for Dumaguete in the afternoon, while riding in a jeepney going back to the office, I wrote a draft. I was rushing at that time so that I can ride on the last trip of the fastcraft (water vessel).

I returned to the boarding house at passed 1pm, and thanks God, nakasakay ako sa 2pm bus trip going to Lilo-an. I arrived at the port on 5:30 and on the vessel at 6pm.

Hoh, nakakapanibago ang Negros. That would one probably feel once stayed in the other place for quite a time. I dropped at downtown, returned to the boarding house (ohh, I miss my room), chitchat with the remaining board mates, and went to Bacong where the party will happen.

I was happy seeing my co-staffers in the publication again especially the person special to me. Ohh, I miss the camera so back to the usual narcissa life, haha…

I changed outfit for the farewell party which started at as early as 1am, haha… I was very tired so I just let tita jery do the hosting. The party ended at 8am, and it was great!

PS: “I love you!” this is for you…

Port destination

Day 10

Pier 1—the target place for a culmination activity. It was held at the Mariner’s Court, wow! A place suited for wedding, birthdays, etc because its halls are wide. I thought it was not the event but when I saw Sir Efren, I know we’re in the right place.

We were actually late, but the accommodating IO of DOLE is very kind to us. He talked with us, and showed the same treatment though we’re still interns. I really like Sir Efren, he’s different!

We were surrounded with ladies and men in white uniforms, the nurses. We witnessed their program, but what moved my emotion was the video presentation about the conditions of less fortunate people. That was a heartbreaking video!

The lunch was great, we were in a separate room (for the guests and media daw talaga yun, hmmmn, sosyal). We passed through the Metropol again against the excruciating heat and smoke, and proceeded to the office. After encoding, waited for the articles to be edited and went home!

The same routine is done at the boarding house. That’s it! Wala akong energy ngayon magsulat ng bonggang-bongga!

Day 9

The phone alarmed at 8:00am (as set last night). Our senior texted to meet us at 10:00am at the Comelec Regional Office.

On the first day (with Ma’am Jes) we were on that office, but I forgot the way going there. So we stopped at the City Hall. We saw the jam packed supporters of Noy-noy and Mar. You could easily notice them because they’re all in yellow. The day was set for the rally of the whole LP group in Cebu.

We went ahead to the Comelec for I remember the way na. while walking for Ma’am Joh to arrive, we saw reporters and interns from ABD-CBN and GMA.

Ma’am Joh came, but our purpose interviewee was not there so we proceeded to the Dep’t of Health for another issue on HIV/AIDS cases in the Visayas. But another bad news, the doctor who could best answer is in Manila for a national summit. We walked to the POEA (which is just near the boarding house), but the person was not there also. Hoh, ang malas naman ng umaga!

So we returned to the Comelec instead because one employee said that the director will return at 1:00pm. Prior to us, the ABS-CBN team was there also. Then we were the next. Ahh, okay! He is the new regional director of the Comelec that’s why he’s the talk of the town. We passed through the Metropol again and Ma’am Joh went up to the Lourde’s grotto (it’s her panata every time she’s in the city)

We immediately encoded the two stories. We waited until near 8:00pm before we were allowed to go homw. But inside the jeep, my head got “pakong” on the steel roof of the vehicle. Okay, another laugh out loud moment (kevz sa ubang passengers).

We ate supper at a place new to us, went to the internet café and returned home. It was a fulfilling day because naka-facebook ako. Alam mo naman, nagiging masaya ako dahil dito. Iba na gdulot ng facebook sa ‘kin.

Mik-mik Monday

DAY 8

Caused by insomnia, I slept at 1:00am last night. I woke up at 8, but since the start of the day, I didn’t feel fine. I had stomachache, so I was not in the mood to report (duty) to The Freeman. But no, I must not waste time. A stomachache is not as painful as a toothache, so I must go with the group.

Inside the jeep going to Rajah Park Hotel at Fuente Osmeña, my hands were dirtied with a black something, I don’t know what the source of it is. Another destruction to my day, ahh, kalagot jud!

We waited for half-hour before the press conference started. Pelaez and Espedidio, Lapu-lapu mayoralty and congressional candidates, respectively announced to the public through the press that they made a letter of complaint to the Comelec-Region 7 against the cheating scheme of the rival group. It was really a big issue that’s why we need to secure a document for it. But we explained to these politicians that we are not from Cebu that’s we we’re not familiar with those persons they are pointing to. Ok, so much for that issue.

With us were reporters from GMA, ABS-CBN, radio stations, and other interns from UP and CNU. Going back to the office, we have this intern from SunStar. She’s our new friend, her name is Alexia, a photojournalism intern. During the event, she also wrote because the writer, who was supposed to be with her, did not come. We talked about a lot of things while inside the vehicle.

When I, Ericson and Aby were inside the office, we felt the atmosphere of sleeping, (in short, mik2 jud sya). The room is cold, so sleeping is the best thing to do (if only allowed). But time’s running fast, we need to schedule and encode that big news first, before the resting session. But, I didn’t feel the interest and mood to write, my mind is not set on the words on the monitor.

But we still finished it. We waited for all our articles to be done edited. The air conditioner was blowing intensely. We screamed while sitting at the back. Until we found the glory when we got out from the office. The warm environment comforted us.

We ate rice with tocino, chorizo, siomai, etcetera for supper. I felt very tired so I slept directly after taking a shower.

Day-off (daw ng mga maid)

DAY 7

Sunday, supposed to be a day-off (parang maid lang), but even on that day, we must report. I didn’t feel mag-duty bur since my classmates are to encode their artciels, I go with them instead, with the intention of blogging. It has been one week that I was not able to post, so I did (pa ‘as if” ra gud nga nag-encode ug article). Anyways, only few reporters/writers went to the office on Sundays, so I really had the luxury to blog. But the facebook is blocked. Ahh, too bad!

We went out at 2:30 pm and returned to the boarding house because the six of us really felt sleepy, very sleepy from the party last night.

At near 4:00 in the afternoon, we ate lunch together at the terrace. Wow, I love the weather. I didn’t feel the scorching sun and the wind was so friendly (though not all the time)

Because the four will return to the office for their articles, I and Sheila agreed to go to Robinsons at 5:00pm after a short time nap (maglaag-laag ra gud). But unfortunately, it was already 6 when we woke up. We decided to stay (kay gi-tapulan na pog tindog). We slept for additional 30 min before going to the internet café to check our favorite site, facebook.com.

I washed my clothes and prepared for a war against my bed. But I slept at 1:00 am na because ayaw pang matulog ng aking eyes. So I preferred writing at the same time texting to my friends.

Covering the controversial

DAY 6

Bad news greeted my day. I made two articles yesterday, but none is published for today. My senior, Ma’am Joh even asked why neither one come out. Ahai, really disappointing. I don’t want to show to others, but I’m sad because of that. But I must face another day, this day.

Yesterday, I was already informed by Ma’am Joh and Sir Sam that at Baseline Restaurant, there will be forum on violence against women. It was scheduled at 10am, so I let Sheila go with me.

I asked a sketch from Ma’am Joh about the place. I and Sheila stopped at Robinsons, walked for 200 meters at the Mango Avenue before reaching the vast Baseline Recreation Center and Restaurant.

I met media men again and more of them from several outlets. Then the forum began with Mrs. Chiong, the National Vice President of CAV (Crusade Against Violence) as the guest.

The room was filled with green, from the curtains to the table cloth, etcetera. The conversation become more intense when the speaker expressed her disappointment with the justice system and thus, she wanted death penalty back and the juvenile justice law to be abolished.

A man (from the media industry) interrupted to inform that the national officers of ANAD are here to clarify a very controversial issue involving the party list.

After the forum, an unscheduled press conference followed. ANAD Representative, a feared man initiated the talk. He was mad, very mad because someone claimed that he (in the name of Boy Odilao) is the representative and created another wing of the group.

We decided to remain for it is surely a big scope, and we saw no other reporter from the publication. So we covered it. Later, senior reporters Sir Pepe and Sir Marjon came, so we went out and proceeded immediately to the office to be the first to schedule the news. “Paunhanay na nih!” (haha)

Then we sat in front of the computer, in rush to encode the two articles. I made the news about ANAD filling criminal and civil cases, while Sheila with the violence charnez.

Sir Renee read our article and found it big and interesting. He told us to get the side of Odilao also to make it fair. He gave us the number and so we called the accused.

Odilao gave his side but he threatened us that if we cannot state the right words he mentioned, he will remember our names. Uyy, scary. Odilao is not an ordinary man here, he has many connections.

We asked Sir Renee to read our article first before we submit to the editors so it won’t be libelous because what we write is consider big already. Sir Marjon also read it and wrote his name together with ours in the by line. Hmmn, questionable, we didn’t even include his facts. Ok, still okay, though late, he still attended the event. He supposed to write it, but he found that we covered it already, so he just told us what he gathered (but we still didn’t include it). Okay, respect. We know we are still interns.

Only me and Sheila from the interns reported. We remained before the two articles were done edited. It was already 8:00pm when we went out from the office.

We strolled around Colon area, and ate at Mang Inasal. We were very hungry. I consumed 4 cups of rice (sori na gud!) haha, kevz! Then I ordered two cones of Pinoy ice cream (in different flavors) costing P10/each.

We rode back to the boarding house and Neky’s bday was celebrated. There was eating and drinking session, but I slept ahead. I’m very tired. I don’t know what time they plan to end the party but I preferred to rest.

Miracle at tapok2x

DAY 5

8:45am, the time I went out to a separate direction, going to the Sto.Rosario church to meet Ma’am Joh.

I was still there when the mass started, so I attended nalang while waiting for her reply. It was during the homily when I saw my senior partner.

We rode in a jeep that brought us to Gorordo where the Tapok-tapok sa KIA happens. It was like a talk show, but heard live in Bombo Radyo. I had a chance of meeting the CAMP (Cebu Association of Media Practitioners) members, other big media personalities from different media outlets, and the undersecretary of the dangerous drugs board who was the outspoken guest of the event.

I felt ‘I belong’, haha…The host and moderator Sir Sam of Sugbo Channel was cheerful also. More media men came until the room was filled with warm and noise. Then, the owner and young general manager of LMC Manufacturing came to endorse their special kind of water to Cebu. They call it LMC Energizer, water which underwent 25 years of research and study in Germany, but now distributed exclusively by the a billion-dollar company based in Hongkong. Wow!

Actually, to tell you, the water has many healthy benefits. Only it is P10 higher than the other 250ml bottled water sold.

They gave us free water and when I tried it, whoh, sweat really came out from the body. Then the manager who was seated beside me explained that it’s because of the detoxifying effect. He said that it started working internally. Ahh ok, that’s why pala.

Ma’am Joh needed to return to RGMA which is in the other direction, while I, also need to go back to the Freeman office. She instructed me what to ride to.

Ok, I was inside the jeep. Because I’m alone, I opted to sit beside the driver.

When I arrived, I immediately faced the computer and typed the important words. I have to hurry for I still need to email it to Ma’am Joh (to add her facts) before the deadline.

After the articles, as usual, a habit of mine for days now, I have to write for my other business, the diary. I’ve decided that it’s easier and secured if I post my story immediately in my blog. I hate keeping it in notes.

While the editors are editing our articles (because we cannot return home unless our news are done edited), we went to the neighboring ukay-ukay centers because Aby is looking for a pair of shoes.

When we were inside the first UK, wow, there were nice bags which tempted me to buy one. So I bought the black one, a backpack. We proceeded to another, we found more, better than the displays of the first, but expensive.

We continued walking until we reach this which I must say, an avenue for a lot more choices. Wow, the polos, pants, shorts, t-shirts, jackets, everything I want to acquire. When you have them, you’ll feel like wearing brand new clothes.

I, Aby and Ericsson bought jackets. We didn't regret buying those, all are worthy of the affordable price.

We went back to the office, then to the boarding house at 8:00 pm. I washed my used clothes, took a shower and sleep. I'm now comfortable coz I won't be seeing those dirty and smelly clothes near my bed, haha...But for next week, there'll surely be another calvary of washing.

One-stop leg

DAY 4

This is another exploration day.

I went out in shades (I acquired it last year, but felt shy to wear it in Dgte), in black t-shirt and “gusot” pants.

When I opened the newspaper, I was disappointed. Yesterday I wrote two stories, it is both published now, but my name only appears in one article. My senior reporter even asked why I’m not included, maybe the editor edited the first sent email, and not the second where my facts are written. Well, it’s okay nalang! The paper has come out, no more reprinting. Anyway, I’m not someone who has big position in the company. So it’s still okay, I have to accept.

Now go back to my news leg experience. With my very accommodating senior partner Ma’am Johanna, we went to the regional beats—the POEA, DTI, DFA, and DOLE. Different offices but they are clustered in one specific location.

In POEA, oh I saw many aspirants for abroad, like me. Everyday, this office is filled with many visitors from different parts of the Visayas. This is a busy avenue; the director is also busy attending the people, so we were not able to interview her.

Then next was the DTI. An intern welcomed us, but when we inquired to the desk, parang suplado/da at kitang-kita naman na busy sila, so we decided not to continue disturbing them.

Third stop was the DFA. Similar to POEA, this is a busy office also, or shall I say, busier than that. We were stopped by the lady guard at the entrance because we did not scheduled for an appointment, so it was a long inquiry from the head first if they will allow us to go upstairs.

For 20 minutes, we were permitted to interview the IO regarding the e-passport. Inside the DFA, when you look at to different corners, you won’t see vacant space. You will see the hopeless faces of people, who are in line since dawn or at early time.

Okay, so much for that. Then we went upstairs. Wow, we passed on a red carpet, until we reached the office. I saw a print that says “you are in a high security level here.” (Hoh, kahadlok sad ron, murag dih man sad tah kalihok! lolz)

We interviewed her. She explained us what e-passport is, its benefits, and anything about it including the number of applicants who avail of the system which became the angle of our story.

Down, we met an Arab. She asked if what we did upstairs. Ma’am Joh explained that for an interview. Then the lady who was with his Tagalog husband told her story to us. She was stopped by the immigration because of the expired passport. They were supposed to fly back to Saudi to attend the graduation of their child, but because of the problem, they find it impossible to go. But she explained something which I was not interested to listen to. I didn’t bother giving attention to it because wala lang, ayaw ko lang! Bahala sila, hahaha…

Last office was the DOLE near the Plaza Independencia and port. There, I met the very kind IO, Sir Efren Vito. He has a very, very nice attitude, one of the best interviewees. He offered us snacks, a peanut brittle from Baguio, and a complete copy of the information we are asking.

Before returning to the office, we stopped over the Lourdes statue in Metropolitan Cathedral. I didn’t notice that we are near the Freeman na pala. Haha, naglilibot lang pala kami, that’s what I discovered.

I encoded the facts and sent to it Ma’am Joh’s email for she needs to go to DYSS for an afternoon duty.

I went ahead of them [classmates] because I still need to visit my aunties, uncles and cousins at Sanciangko. I stopped at e-mall, auntie fetched me there. I saw my young and bugoy cousins again, and the only female, Alyssa (oh, she’s beautiful!). She and Alyanna are of the same age.

They walk with me back to the boarding house. And after seeing the place, they went home.

Our room is still locked because the key was with Sheilim, so I decided to go to the nearest internet café.

I returned and about to sleep, but brother Ericsson went inside the room, made noise, disturbed me, so my drowsiness vanished, and instead, I just took a shower.

I talked with Sheicatz for a while, and slept at pass 12 midnight.

Stomach aching day

DAY 3

This is the third day of summer OJT life.

An extended gising started my day. It was only 7:30am, not that late. Breakfast courtesy of the people in the other room again, hehe, thanks ninyu!

While my co-interns were going out, I and Sheila waited for our senior to accompany us in the field while I was consuming two chocolates. But there was another important activity, so I was sent there together with a new senior writer, Ma’am Johanna who is at the same time working at DYSS/RGMA. This time, I’m a bubbly companion.

I follow her at Guadalupe, the biggest barangay in Cebu. The desk and guard instructed me to walk here and there, and ride until I’ll reach the gym. So I followed. I sat beside the driver to make sure that I’ll be in the place.

It took half hour to finally arrive at Guadalupe. I saw some local reporters from different papers and stations, and met more interns from Cebu. Of course, a free lunch waited, and whoh, free t-shirt and other informative stuffs. I was lucky!

We returned to the Freeman office and after one hour, Manny Villar (presidentiable) got inside. I knew at the morning that he will visit the office that is why we went immediately to the office from that event.

I finally met the man in orange, one of my admired people because of his rags-to-riches story. He stayed longer inside the conference room with the bosses of the company.

But I felt uncomfortable because aside from the aching stomach, the news editor asked about the fire incident which was assigned to me. Honestly, I’m not yet done with the other article, so I was pressured (hmmmn, murag true!)

I immediately called the fire station and asked for details. I cannot go to the exact location because it’s far.

Rushing for the 6:00pm deadline, I encoded and emailed the article to my senior. She added more facts and emailed it to the editor.

Later, copy ed Sir Joeberth (a native of Dgte) called my attention and asked me to narrate the story on Busay fire thingy. So I confidently told him (pa ‘as if’ ra gud!)

We stayed until all our articles were edited. We went home and right after eating, I rested, didn’t even join the group meeting, stayed inside the room, alone, texting, thinking of someone (chikka), released tears, and slept. Hahai, that was a dramatic moment.

Nevertheless, I’m still thankful for the day for I’ve explored a new place, received more freebies, and met Villar.

Motto day (haha)

DAY 2

Started the day with an aching head. I don’t want to get up yet but I need to, we need to report on time.

We ate the food left on the previous day as breakfast, prepared and proceeded to the office.

First action was, encoding the speech of Muntinlupa Congressman Ruffy Biazon last night. Since the owner of the compact or say the reporter has not yet arrived, I had the chance to open my blog and gmail accounts, but unluckily, the facebook is blocked. So what I did was, made another blog exclusive for my OJT accounts (diary) and posted my experiences for the last two days.

Ma’am Jessica said that we can’t go to our beat because there’s nothing new as of this time. No officials were there as they are busy campaigning for their candidacy.

Sheila and I took lunch at the mall nearest to the office and had a one-hour window shopping. It was supposed to be a “pamplaipas-oras suroy” only but we were enticed with the products, so I bought a new t-shirt while Sheila bought a watch.

We returned to the office and tried to submit a Bisaya version of our news for BANAT, a daily tabloid and sister-company of The Freeman.

Then we met Cy, a cute guy from SWU and an intern also. He’s friendly and he resembles Kuya Joel. I’ve seen Kuya Joel in him, the way he speaks and acts, and the gestures too.

My other classmates came from their legging and finished their articles. We were then introduced to the General Manager and Financing Head of the company.

We chit-chat for a while and went to the nearest photo center for a 1x1 picture of our Freeman Press ID. While waiting for the 20-minute processing of our pictures, we decided to spend the time at Gaisano-main.

And there, we had fun disarranging the displays. We found this though common but still interesting motto of all the malls. It is stated this way, “lovely to look at, nice to hold, but if you drop it and break it, we consider it sold.” This becomes the word of the mouth even inside the boarding house. But prior to that, almost destroyed, almost there to pay a big amount, when an expensive glass-made fish figurine was fallen because of my being “kirawan”. What if noh, what if I’ve broke it? Haha, I’ll gonna be facing a bright future here.

At around 7:30 pm, a brown-out broke and though it was dark, I really went out to eat at the chicken restaurant (baratohon ra gud) for hunger really knocked my stomach out.

Then we went to an internet café, wisely spending the time for our ever loved and missed Facebook, lolz!

When we returned, the electricity was there. I took a shower and rest. The end!

First day of duty

DAY 1

Since this is the first day of our mission as interns, I must say that we were very punctual.

Sheilim woke me up at 6:00; my breakfast was courtesy of Nadine, Ericsson and Abigail. At 7:30, shooh, the first batch went to The Freeman, while the other group was heading for RGMA station.

The office lobby was warm and silent. The guards welcomed us, they are friendly. They even offered us breads, but we refused to. Syempre, bago pa lang, kunting hiya naman.

We exchanged our school IDs with the temporary Freeman IDs. We met Ma’am Emmy or Miss Em as what everybody calls her. She gave us our beats, and together with Sheicatz, we were assigned to the City Hall. We are not so familiar with the place yet, so we are accompanied with a senior writer.

Ma’am Jessica is her name, she’s still 21, but when she was still in fourth year high school, she became a correspondent of the paper. She took her internship at The Freeman also, and was absorbed by the company.

Under the sun, we walked to the City Hall. We passed the Sto. Rosario Church, Magellan’s cross, malls and more.

First office we entered—the Cebu City Mayor’s Office. I was very excited, anticipating that I will see and interview Tomas Osmeña in person. But after few minutes, we found that the mayor attended a graduation program, and he cannot report to his office on that day.

Okay, next stop.—the Vice Mayor’s Office. I’ve met Michael Rama already (in Dumaguete), but I still aim to interview him. However, like Osmeña, he was not there also.

Then to the third option—the Information Office, the best source of news (press releases specifically). We sat, and later came more mediamen from different stations in the province, like Sir Elly of DYHP, Ma’am Leneth of Sun.Star, Sir Chris of CCTV, and the other one at the corner. They talked about the latest happenings including their love affairs and other personal agenda for the past days. Sir Elly has great sense of humor.

We waited for an hour at the PIO, but we got nothing. So we just went out. With Ma’am Leneth and Ma’am Jessica, we took lunch at the canteen. I was shocked when every glass of water cost P2.00. My God, in our place water is very much free, but okay, Cebu is different.

We went to the councilors’ offices, but still we crop no fruit. Only we found youths applying for summer jobs and senior citizens lining up to ask for assistance.
We walked again, going to the Comelec. Carine Asutilla of ABS-CBN was there interviewing the Regional Assistant Director. We waited for her to finish, and came our time. Ma’am Jessica opened the conversation; we listened while taking down notes.

At 2:00pm, we went back to the Freeman office to attend the round-table discussion of a mayorial candidate Salvador Solima. I and Sheila were introduced to the politician and to the editors inside the conference room. Of course, there was free snack (goldilocks cake). But we did not continue and instead went out to encode our gathered facts.

We rest after encoding, then the desk tasked us to cover the 7:00pm press conference of Ruffy Lozada, a senatoriable. The event took place at Casino Español, a place of elegance. Wow, it was like visiting Spain once you’re there.

With us was Sir Joy, the photographer of the paper. Before the start of the conference, there was dinner, “sosyal” as I’ve observed. The Rotarians of Cebu Fuente were the organizers of the occasion. It was not actually a press conference, but a regular gathering of all rotary club members, and Biazon was chosen as the guest speaker it.

Biazon speaks gently; he’s not boastful despite his achievements and position compared to other politicians, so I told myself, “I will vote him!” I believe, he will become an effective legislator.

It was already 10:30 when we returned home, and the group immediately gathered for a meeting regarding our broadcast OJT at RGMA, may konting problema kasi.

The tiring but successful day deserves a shower, so I did before going to bed. I slept at 11:45 pm, and that’s the end of everything for April 5, 2010.

Arrival

April 4, 2010

I would describe this day a “challenging one”.

I am heading to Cebu at 6:00am, so I went out of the boarding house as early as 5:20 am for I still need to have a 20-minute ride in going to the port.

With three full-packed huge bags, I walked and waited for a motorcycle to come, but 15 minutes had passed, and no vehicle arrived. So I walked, continue walking, feeling tired and hopeless as I’m killing my time, walking.

Unfortunately, the rain falls, heavy as what I never expected. I was stranded; I hate the cars passing in front of me which did not really stopped to let me in. I passed the portals of our school, before the rain stopped and found motorcycle.

Now, I’m in the terminal going to the port. “Hai, ang dami namang sakay-sakay portion!” the multicab won’t start if it’s not full with passengers, so I still need to wait! Here comes that word again.

I reached the port late. My classmates said they waited for me, oh, I’m so sorry. It’s the rain and motorcycles’ faults, lolz! But prior to that, they have decided to be on a 7:00 am ride instead.

We were a group of like having a one-year trip because of the things we brought. We reached the city before 12noon. We then proceed to the house where we’ll stay for more than a month, and ate lunch which offers nothing but chicken viands. It was affordable!

We returned and arranged, clean our every room. We went for a grocery, ate supper, and that ends our first day in Cebu, living as classmates, board mates, and interns.