Thursday, January 24, 2008

gut feel

You know what they say about gut feel or maybe instincts...
Well I think I have that in my system naturally. I have experienced a lot of times this feeling... it's actually hard to explain. But recently I have felt it.

It happened last week.

The invitations were out for a News Journalism Workshop to be conducted by the international news organization, the Associated Press. ABS-CBN hired them to conduct a 2-day training workshop for some selected employees. Well, I was not part of the list. I was really deeply saddened by that, because some of my co-workers were part of it. That workshop is really something big! Foreign journalists will come to Manila just to teach and talk to selected participants! It doesn't happen everyday. That day I really felt sad.

My boss then told me that she'll try to get me in. She said she really want me to be there. So there I was, just hanging by her words. But for some reason, I already think that I will be able to get in.

For days, I felt sad that I will be missing a big opportunity, but at the same time there was this feeling na makakapasok ako. I dont know why.. basta weird lang. Then a day before the training, my boss tod me na wala na daw slots talaga, but she will try again. So sabi ko, that's it wala na yan talaga.

The day of the training, I woke up around 6... then around 7... then around 8... just to check my phone if my boss txted me. No text arrived. The start of training is at 9am. Nothing happened so I slept.

Then just before 10am, my phone rang. It was my boss... telling me to go to the workshop at that very moment since may slot na! Wow, first time ko mag taxi going to work that day. And I did went to the training, which ended just today.

How weird that even at the last minute, I was told na I might not be part but I felt na I will be there. I dont know, I just find it weird. And it wasn't my first time to feel that "instinct".

Oh well... the workshop was really good! Buti na lang I was there. There were 2 speakers- one a British journalist who had several years of experience in Russia, the other was a a Hongkong-based Singaporean. ABS-CBN must have spent a lot on this training. I really learned a lot from the 2 experts. Not to mention there were a lot of free food!!!

We were even handed certificates after and some freebies of course such as ID lace, cap, t-shirts, Russian chocolates, original Russian vodka and a USB!!! (my very first USB). I felt really honored, cause ang mga "classmates" ko were reporters Timi Nubla, Cecille Lardizabal, Jenny Reyes, Jeff Canoy plus the executive producers of SOCO, XXX, NewsCentral, segment producer of The Correspondents and people from the News Desk. My co-worker Bettina and I were actually the youngest among the group.. it was an honor indeed.

Friday, January 18, 2008

new heights



Today marks a leap in aviation history in Bacolod City. The New Bacolod-Silay International Airport opened this morning. This will surely further boost the economic growth of Bacolod City, which was recently awarded as the Most Business Friendly City in the Philippines. The old airport served the city for more than 70 years and that was the airport I grew up with until college. The photo above shows the last flight departing Bacolod on January 17, 2008. It would be the last plane ever to use the airport.

Now a new milestone begins.

The new airport is situated not in Bacolod City, but in Silay City, north of Bacolod. It is actually quite far. It would take an hour or more for us to arrive at the airport. And to think that the airport is located in an isolated area, with all the sugarcane plantation surrounding the place.

Hopefully in the future, the airport would help boost the economy in the region and it might also help create a special economic zone in the area.

These are some pictures I got from various sources of the new airport...







Can't wait to go home!!!!!!


*pictures taken from flickr.com (just type new bacolod-silay airport) :-)

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

lucky day

Lucky? I don't know.

On the way to work this morning, I realized what date it is today. It's the 8th of January 2008. For the Chinese, 8 is a lucky number and today is the first 8 of 2008. I told myself this day must be lucky for many people. But then I remember saying to myself, I don't think it would be lucky to all, and especially to me. I just thought it would be a normal day at work.

I was wrong.

To make the story short: my boss in the afternoon shift told me that I will now be trained as writer officially and that I can start writing foreign news tomorrow. I couldn't believe what she just said to me. It was a big jump from being a "runner". I used to complain to myself that my work in the afternoon shift as a "runner" makes me feel under-employed. And all will be change tomorrow.

Then Aiza, my officemate, and I inquired at Fitness First coz we really want to enroll in the fitness program. It was quite expensive but I feel it will be worth it. We didn't enroll just yet, but we might soon. In a sense, the idea of going to the gym for real excites me.

Another good thing today was when Pres. Erap had a rare visit in ABS-CBN this afternoon. People were really anxious to see him. There were a lot of cameras. People in the newsroom are used to seeing Erap on TV, but it was different if you see him in person. I was quite surprised that the news writers, producers and everyone else were actually curious and very much eager to see the former president in person.I myself was also eager to see the most popular man in the country, after all he is not just a super sikat artista, but a Philippine president (who went to prison pa).

Of course, it was not the most perfect day. But I really felt happy because of all the things that happened today. Not to mention, my 2 sports articles were minimally edited (meaning, my work now has improved). And to think that I am actully en route to fulfilling some of my resolutions in my Big 8 List (see previous blog entry). What a cool way to start the year (even if nasa 2nd week na tayo... hehe)

Lucky? Maybe. But I feel it's more than luck.
It's a blessing.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

the Big 8

It's the first week of 2008 and so far since Day 1 of the year, I was working (yup even New Year Day). And tomorrow (Sunday) will be my first "rest day" of the year. Working for the first 5 days of the year would mean, I guess, that this year would be totally hectic and all work-related.

I don't usually make resolutions, coz I know I will not be able to follow it. But I will just list the things I hope to do this year (sorta resolution na rin). At the end of the year, I will check what I did and what I failed to do. Here it is:

This 2008, I will...
1. hit the gym (on a regular basis)
2. be seen on TV (preferably as reporter pero kahit hindi muna)
3. be promoted (kahit as writer or researcher)
4. visit Bacolod (minimum 2X this year)
5. gain 20 lbs (hopefully hindi puro fats)
6. visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site (kahit sa Philippines lang)
7. go to a province/country I have never been
8. have a girlfriend... hehehe

these are my BIG 8 this 2008!!!

Hope I can achieve this. Well, hindi naman ito mga impossible eh and if you look at it, inter-connected din sila, so I think I can make it. hahaha

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

first timer

It's 2008 already!!!! Year 2007 was a generally good year for me. A lot of changes occurred in my life this past year. I did a lot of things in 2007 that I haven't done before and I experienced a lot of good things too. Of course, there were difficulties, but there was also joy.

Here's a tibute to 2007!!!! The many firsts in 2007:

- First time to graduate college ! (duh)
- First time to climb a mountain (reached summit then climbed down on same day)
- First time to camp (set up tent/cook own food/etc)
- First time to sleep/swim in pure white sand beach
- First time to ride a plane with friends (I usually fly solo or w/ family)
- First time to "swim" in deep sea (w/ life jacket hehehe)
- First time to go to my birthplace after a very long time (Baguio)
- First time to return library books late (PHP360 fine)
- First time to have lots of relatives to visit me in my dorm
- First time to go to Embassy (hahaha)
- First time to Bisita Iglesia in Cabanatuan
- First time to have a full body massage
- First time to go to an unknown place unplanned (Pampanga)
- First time to go to Chinatown!
- First time to go to Star City and Baywalk in Manila
- First time to go to Taal Volcano (crater mismo)
- First time to vote!!!!
- First time my dorm gate was locked, so I couldn't enter!
- First time to transfer esidence after 4 years in Katipunan
- First time to have roommates
- First time to have job interviews/exams
- First to have inuman with friends at 6am onwards(twice pa)
- First time to attend a 10-day training every night
- First time to have a job (ANC)
- First time not to go home on a sembreak
- First time to celebrate my bday in Manila w/ friends
- First time to celebrate New Year alone

and many more.. nakalimutan ko na!!

I vow to make many more firsts this 2008!