loft-mates updates

Nakaka-inggit. That's all I can say on Archie's P&G perks.
As of this writing, my roommate is on his way to NAIA to board an Emirates Airline flight that will take him to Johannesburg, South Africa. Which by the way will also pass by Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He told me he will be staying at the Hilton Hotel for a week and be back to Manila next Sunday. Oh and did I mention that he is on Business Class? Yup yup. I'm really happy for him. I hope he is for himself.

Moving to another roommate. Jeff has returned home from Shenzen, China this week. After Jollibee Shenzen opened, he immediately returned to Manila to renew his contract. I don't know when he is going back to China, I think next week. He also told me that he might also work on the Jollibee Beijing project (he might acually be there on the 2008 Olympics).

As for my other roommate. Harvy just finished his first year as medical student of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health. And I would like to assume he passed all his exams with flying colors. I think he is with his family in Pampanga right now enjoying the summer break. Surely, he will be a Doctor Liwanag soon.

Those are happy updates on my roommates. Haay, it's hard to have "high-caliber top-rated" roommates. You always tend to compare yourself with them. And here I am just at the condo, came from work and will work on Monday. The great thing about me as of this week is that I am already writing National news, aside from the international and sports news that I usually write.

That's just it
for now.

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holy week so far

Aside from the fact that today is Black Saturday, it is also a Non-Working Holiday... but I am typing this post at work. Yup, I have work today. Well, just some light work. We were assigned just one day of work- either Maundy Thursday, Good Friday or Black Saturday. I was assigned for today. And since there are just a few people here (actually 3 lang kami working for ANC), it's really cold here at the office.

As for my "free days". I had a great Thursday and Friday. It was tiring, but very 'reflective'. Maundy Thursday, Doryll, Archie and I went to 7 churches in Manila for the Visita Iglesia tradition. We just rode jeeps, trikes and cabs. We visited historical and popular churches. We of course prayed... and had fun along the way. We walked the streets of Quiapo, Chinatown, Intramuros and even the Mall of Asia complex.

Good Friday, Archie, Coy Coy and I went to Antipolo for our "pilgrimage". We visited the famous Antipolo church and had our Stations of the Cross at the Via Dolorosa complex. It was a great stations of the cross, since there were life-sized statues of Jesus and other Biblical personalities...and all the stations are situated on a hill. We were climbing from one station to another (just like Calvary.. hehe). Pictures were not allowed inside, but we still took some (mga pasaway).

Holy Week in Manila is very different compared to the provinces. I was expecting the city to be less silent and more peaceful. But no, the city is still very much alive. Many establishments are still open. It's just like an ordinary day. But on the other hand, I am happy many people still visit the church and actually observe the lenten traditions.

This is my 2nd Holy Week away from family. Here are the pictures of the churches we visited last Thursday:

Quiapo Church

Sta. Cruz Church

Binondo Church

Manila Cathedral

San Agustin Church

Malate Church

Shrine of Jesus Christ

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sick

I'm sick. I don't really get sick. I would like to think I'm healthy. I can't even remember the last time I had fever. But now, I do. Not to mention I also have cough and colds. The worst part is I am still working.

No, I'm not workaholic. It's just that I am not too sick not to go to work. And that sucks. Cos if I were too sick then I would have the reason not to go to work. I am sick but I can still walk around and do stuff, that's the reason why I can still work, even though if at times I feel sick. If I were sick... really sick, then the only option left would be not to go to work. But since I am not that sick, then I am here at work writing this blog. (It's a good thing, flu virus couldn't pass tru wires or else I'll transmit my sickness to anyone who reads this entry).

I'm sure you're kinda sick reading all the "sick" words I have been typing. Hehehe. Well, at least there will be no work on Thurs and Fri. Rest day for everybody and for all the sick people of the world.

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Six Months

Today marks my 6th month anniversary of working for the Philippines' largest network (hehehe)... specifically at the Philippines' only 24/7 news channel. I started September 5, 2007 and from then, so many things happened already. In fact, my line of work 6 months back is different from what I am doing now. Time surely flies fast.

I started as a PA/Runner. I did a lot of things from delivering scripts to monitoring interviews. Now I am a PA/Writer. I write international news for the 2pm, 4pm and 5pm news programs. I also write sports news for the 7pm news programs. And on Saturdays I write both foreign and sports news. Not to mention, sometimes I do write feature stories and at rare times, they let me write the national news. Of course, I still do monitor interviews and senate hearings.

In my 6 months of stay, big news never seem to fade. I experienced huge news such as Erap's pardon, the Glorietta 2 blast, the Batasan bombing, the Manila Pen stand-off, the Sumilao march, the Palace payoff scandal, the ousting of JDV, the ratings war, the rise of the Peso and of course the NBN-ZTE Controversy. Add to that the many rallies and typhoons that plagued the country.

Working for a news organization is such a colorful job, yet at times boring too. It's nice that I get to contribute something to society, whether it be helpful or maybe not. I also feel honored to be part of ABS-CBN. Although the network has a lot of share of controversies, working here is a fulfilling job since I know more people worldwide can be touch by what I do.

6 months is gone and I look forward to another. I have huge ambitions for the next 6 months. I hope I can achieve it. As of now, I can say I will work for media. I have found my niche already. I may not be so completely happy now, but I think this is the industry where I should be. I have found my home... in my first job.

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