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.