Journalism and my place in it

I've been helping quite a bit with organizing the Asian Journalism Fellowship, an event that brings together for three months the region's finest journalists. The fellows will be staying here in Singapore, free accommodation and with monthly stipend, to attend workshops about the country's press, sightseeing, and working on their research projects.

Benedict of the Temasek Foundation (standing) tells us a story about farming, to explain why Temasek is supporting the fellowship. My super duper favorite, Prof. APH (second from left, wearing a blue shirt), had only this to say, "Corny story, Benedict!" Hahahaha! APH is such a big shot he can get away with making comments like that!

During the first orientation, the fellows introduced themselves and the kind of journalism they have done. Some are business journalists. One writes about cars. But the ones who have impressed me the most are those who write about human rights, political unrest--the nitty, gritty kind of journalism which I think I can never get involved in. See, while  I may have more education that is considered useful, I'm don't have enough guts and persistence to do investigative work. Guys like these have my utmost respect.

My work pales to theirs in comparison. I write mainly about entertainment and popular culture, with a little fashion and makeup mixed into the equation. While not as life-changing as other people's work, I still believe though that it still has a place in society. Like what another blogger, MC, said, what a boring world it would be if we all did the same type of job. What's more important is to have passion for one's job, and to do it ethically.

After school and achieving my nth diploma, I still plan to write about fashion, makeup, entertainment, and maybe even travel. These are what I live my life for. Maybe, someday, I'll write about politics. But at this point, I'd like to write about the beautiful things that life has to offer--even if some may think it's shallow.

Censorship Dinner

After being postponed, we finally had dinner with Cherian and Prof. Ang!

These professors were our teachers in our Censorship class, the module which has proven to be one of the most challenging during the semester. There were so many stuff to read, the paper was really tough to write... but everything paid off in the end. The class was intellectually-challenging and fulfilling, just the kind that I've always wanted to take.

Like a lot of things, my current interest in the issue of censorship was borne out of my years in YES! My editors were staunch anti-censorship activists, and I had the opportunity to write a couple of articles about censorship. Since then, I found the subject fascinating, which was the reason why I opted to stay in this class in spite of the long, scary list of readings.

Cherian and Prof. Ang made the class interesting and entertaining. These two guys are two of the most brilliant profs I've had, but they're so down-to-earth! Prof. Ang for example, is so open to listening to views that may be contrary to his. And he's so cool. His one-liners are the best, my favorite of which is, "Four floors of whores!"

Prof. Ang talking to LJ about a Shanghainese resto. Or at least that's what I heard. I asked Prof. Ang, "What's your weekend like?" Shaking his head, he said, "It's terrible! I wake up, I shower, I have breakfast, then I go for a walk. I have lunch. I take a nap. Then I have dinner. It's terrible."

I used to pooh-pooh Singapore's political issues. But Cherian's passion for teaching has made me somehow interested in the subject. He has this really interesting, funny way of discussing it, that even a foreigner like me soon found myself reading current affairs blogs to know more about the country that I've developed a lot of respect for.

Terrence (left) said, "Next semester is just going to be as shitty as this one." He turns to Cherian and asks, only half-jokingly, "Why do you have so many readings? Isn't one enough to prove your point?"

These guys are the best. I just wish I'll get a good grade from them. If that happens, I'll worship them until kingdom come.

After a month of studying for the exams and stress eating, here I am, with two of my favorite profs, Cherian George (center) and Ang Peng Hwa. I just wish I had enough time to put on makeup. Ugh. Oiliness is next to ugliness.

My Love Affair With White

After that exam that left me completely surprised (in a good way), I went off to Fair Price and Jurong Point (JP to us NTU students) to do some shopping.

Before I move on to important things, let me thank Terrence for unselfishly sharing us what he knows about statistics and numbers. Unfortunately--or fortunately--what he taught wasn't included in the exam. But still, I'm really grateful to this former banking and finance major for giving us some really much-needed tutorial. You know that guy in school who doesn't try hard but still aces his exams? That's the kind of dude Terrence is. While we mere mortals spend hours reading books, Terrence is the type who would enjoy the whole weekend chilling with his beloved daughter Kate and wonderful wife Dawn, but would walk in class, sit on an exam and get an A-- effortlessly. That's our dude, Major Terrence.

Anyway, as my usual practice, I rushed off to JP for some much-needed respite. I didn't want to stay behind and talk with the other students about the exam. What's done is done, and there's no way of changing it. Talking about the exam gets me antsy.

So I went to JP by myself-- I need some time alone-- and bought this really cute white top. I saw it last week when I went there to chill after an exam, and I liked it. But the cost, SGD 32, was a little turn off for me, a cheapskate, and I decided not to buy it.

But no! Days after, I'm still thinking about the top. And since it has been bothering me for a couple of days, I decided to get it. So here it is, all wrinkled and just out of the washing machine. I know it doesn't look that good in the picture, but it looks good when I wear it (hahahaha!). It shows off my curves (ahahahaha!). 

It's also available in black, but I've always liked white tops. I like how they can make you look sexy and decent (ahahaha!), and how it makes you feel cooler in the tropical climate. I first fell in love with white during my Summit stint, when I noticed that our good-looking art director would wear a white shirt everyday. And for some reason, that summer in good old Manila was really, terribly, hot. And it didn't help that our aircon in the Robinsons office was malfunctioning, dying in the middle of the afternoon, sputtering like an old motorboat before it would finally fall silent, making the whole office unbearably warm, and setting off my boss's blood pressure. Well, there were other reasons why her blood pressure went up. But that's another story. Ahahaha! 

Anyway, because of the heat, I decided to wear white more often. And maybe, out of habit, I now always buy stuff in white, whether in the middle of summer or, in this case, in spite Singapore's cool December breeze.

I'll wear this top on Thursday during our censorship dinner and our after sem party at Brewerkz. I'll blog about those parties later, but now, give me the space and time to swoon over my white top. :)

Now, if I can only iron those wrinkles away, everything would be perfect.

YES!

I started reading YES! in college. Back then, even before it became a cultural phenomenon, the mag was already a standout, in the sense that it took its subjects seriously, and its readers even more seriously. For a couple of years, I was hooked on the magazine. I knew then that if there was one Summit title I’d love to work for, YES! would be it.



The YES! team, circa... I dunno. I forgot to get a digital copy of the last staff picture. Gab, do you still have it? :) (L-R) Mommy Analyn, flamboyant Gab, lovable Candice, handsome Anna, the venerable Pete, short-haired me, the hot Nat, stylish Melissa, and the cute as a button Glaiza.


I only got the opportunity to send my application to the magazine when I was suspended from work, a few days after Christmas in 2003. I got a three-day suspension for being late 11 times in a single month. While my then editor seethed at my display of irresponsibility, I was happy to be stuck at home, surfing the Net. Those were Facebook-less days, so if you’re bored, like I was, you’ll end up logging on to Jobstreet. I didn’t know what hit me, but I suddenly thought of sending a resume to YES! One month later, I was in. Thus began the four years that defined me, as much as my years in UP did.

I quickly learned that YES! is not a place for the mediocre or the onion-skinned, both of which I am. All egos are left at the door. You can pick it up before you leave—if you ever get to leave at all. There was a time when we worked a total of 24 hours in Galleria. When we left at 7 AM, we were too tired and too bleary-eyed to remember to pick up what was left of our egos.

But I owe a lot to YES! It taught me to think on my feet. And if UP taught me how to stand up for myself, I learned from YES! that you also have to choose your battles wisely. Pete Lacaba taught me that the phrase “brief fling” is redundant, that there’s no such word as “furnitures,” and that word “bumubulusok” means a fast, downward movement. Anna Pingol taught me, through example, that a good relationship with your subjects will help you get that interview. Nat Clave taught me how to discern what makes a good and bad photo. Joan Ariete introduced me to Haruki Murakami and taught me to never lose faith in myself. Divine Mesina taught me that opportunities are fleeting, and that you have to grab it as soon as you see it. Judy Dimayuga-Magdame told me not to get married—an advice I have no problem following. Candice Lim taught me that I should be comfortable in my own skin—which I took too much to heart. Glaiza Seguia, my office panda, taught me what the word “momol” means and that it’s cool to be kind. Analyn Alcala never failed to encourage me to go for the guy I like, even if it’s wrong in so many levels. Roan Pena was my walking, talking boutique shop. Gabby Villegas taught me to... um, never mind. Melissa de Quiros gave me fashion advice. Jo-Ann Maglipon taught me that there’s no greater job in the world than to write and get paid for it.




Batanes team-building, year... I forgot. What is obvious was this was taken during my rebonded hair days. I have now accepted the fact that I will always be curly, no matter what I do. (L-R) Fatima Parel, Diwa Gacosta, the now New York-based Joan Ariete, me, and Anna. That's Nat comfortably lying on Batanes ground.


When I left YES! after 4 years, I took on a well-paying government job. It wasn’t what I expected. After years of being creative, of being encouraged to think, act, and write well, it left me feeling unfulfilled and unchallenged. It made me realize I wasn't made for the corporate world. I realized how I much I missed writing, and how much I miss being a reporter.And that's what I plan to do after I'm done with school.

Let me get this straight: I no longer plan to return to YES! I leave that to the next generation of reporters. But in spite of how hard it was, I’m glad I worked there. I met and worked with some of the most brilliant people. And I know I will not be going to NTU if not for my experience in YES! For that, I am eternally grateful.



Judy Magdame, pixie-haired me, Nat, Jo-Ann, Pete Lacaba, Fatima, and Divine Mesina. Seated: Anna.