Friends around the world

My high school classmate Haziel described me as gregarious. Well, yes I am! I consider myself sociable or better term, friendly.

God has richly blessed me with so many friends. I treat them as my treasures. Hindi ako mayaman pero sa kaibigan, I am truly blessed! I really thank God for giving me genuine friendships, walang halong showbiz! Haha

All these years, I've concluded that friends are important to me. I have shared good times with my friends, attended birthdays, weddings, reunions and other celebrations. Sometimes, the event is just so simple, you have to accomodate a friend to a place or you eat with them with calamares na mabibili sa kanto, squid balls or fish balls or sometimes mais or chicharon and just sit, relax and chat (a chat that will last a day!). Sometimes, there are unscheduled overnights, you have to have sleep overs as soon as possible for a heart to heart talk because of tooot, honestly because of lovelife, because of guys! Or sometimes for the reason of missing each other, you go to their house, visit them, talk to them and eat everything that their fridge can offer. There are also moments like confinement in a hospital or even funerals, these sad moments are important for me to because these are the times you need your firends' presence the most. Their shoulders, their hankies, their advice, their words of wisdom, or simply their naughtiness to make you laugh in these sad moments.

Truly we need our friends beside us but what if some of your friends are not with you anymore for some reason?

Ahh, I wanna cry, cry so loud that people can hear it and understand my situation and see my heart. Honestly I am missing some great friends, hay life...

This month of March is truly the month of march. My elementary classmate and long time friend Jianicka went to Australia to work. She did it sacrificially for her family. Though I can feel her loneliness, as one of her good friends, I can't do a thing to ease the loneliness, the homesickness that she's experiencing right now. We just keep forwarding messages to her, good messages to let her sanity stay. Hahaha

Jianicka has been a great friend, she's been there for a long time. I've seen her getting fat, thin and sexy and getting toot again. I really miss her coz she's a sister to me. There was this time that I was so broke, just 1 text, Jianicka answered immediately and provided the money for an important matter. I'll never forget that. Of course I paid that, usapan yun but you know the point of running to someone because ypu are really in need of something and you know that someone will never fail you, well, it's Jianicka and yes, she never failed me.

Okay fine, Jianicka left and now, it's Anne...

She's going to Texas for a different reason, to get married. I remember last year when she gave me the news that she's getting married, I was so shocked coz she's the same age as mine, I find her so young for that and even asked her a lot of times if she's really sure about her decision. Nagmistulang nanay ako ng sinabi ko sa kanyang ang pag-aasawa ay hindi parang kaning mainit na pag sinubo mo na at nainitan ka, pwede mo pang iluwa. I know you know that coz we keep hearing them from our grandparents.

Anne is marching, I mean leaving the country for that reason. UntiI now, I am half-hearted. Half of my heart is overjoyed because she found the man who will spend the rest of his life with her, her love of her life Harry and ready for that matured decision of settling down and build a family in Texas and half of me is so sad because it's gonna take a long time for us to see each other eye to eye again. Maybe when she comes here in 2010 to visit. Hay, kahit pa sabihin ng iba, mabilis lang yun, para sa'kin matagal yun!

As of the now, I feel so sad coz I miss some great friends who left the country. Hay, namimiss ko na kayo!! I miss the great moments we've shared. I have Donna in Canada, I have ate Janna and ate Pau in CA, I have Angela and Via in New York, I have Dave in Alaska, I have kuya Imman in Chicago, I have Marie Grace in Switzerland, I have Jessica in Japan, Hero and Jona in Tokyo, Jianicka and Maan in Australia and Anne in Texas. Hay, these are my friends around the world. Friends who touched my heart and friends who made a difference in my life in their own little and unique way. They made my journey so memorable that's why it's worth-remembering! I've shared text messages with them, shared great moments, (laughters and tears) and listened to their advice. Hay I miss the moments with you guys!

Though I have two friends who went out of the country this year, I have three friends who are coming in to visit. Jessica is coming this April, kuya Imman is coming as well as Marie Grace. Can't wait to see you great friends, we haven't seen each other for a long time so we have to make it up. We deserve a great reunion that is worth blogging!

Truly, we need great friends. Friends who will laugh with us, cry with us, joke with us, share great stories with us and friends who just sit with us without uttering any word. Their presence are so important for our well being, for our improvement as a person and for growth as living individuals. Though they went abroad to study, work, getting married or for good or for any reason, we remain friends by heart and by soul. Thanks to the web, we continously communicate and keep in touch. Today, I am enjoying great times with great friends who are so makabayan! I'm not sure how long this friendships will last because of some life's decision and unforeseen circumstances but as long as God is the center of the friendship, it will truly last! That's why I like the friendship of David and Jonathan in the Bible, you may read that for a great insight.

This has been taking long, I have to end it, bottomline, MISS YOU ALL FRIENDS!!!

Advice for practicumers in Communications field

Recently, I received a message from Abi, my schoolmate in college (I was a senior while she was a sophie) who will have her practicum this summer 2008. And her message, I posted below...

Hi ate monette! Still remember me? hehe Ate OJT na nmin this summer and gusto ko po sana itanong kung anu ung mga dapat ilagay at di dapat ilagay sa internship resume. Eto po kasi ung resume ko. ok lng po ba to? Advice naman po, ate salamat po., Pasensia na sa istorbo. Godbless po

Of course, I replied as soon as I read the message. There's this feeling in me of being an "ate" to Abi to give advice (hope it's a good one) or should I say there's this feeling of confidence to say, been there, done that!

Hoo! Time flies, I remember the days when I sought for advice as early as a freshie student about practicum and was very excited about it. And now here I am, giving advice. Is that a sign of old age or a sign of wisdom? Either way, I am happy everytime I share what I've learned to others coz by that, I am assured that learning will come my way. That's the principle of giving and receiving

Now, as a graduate of Communications (it's been a year but it's still fresh in me). I give every communications student advise of everything I have learned in my practicum days. From the experience itself, from the people I've met, from my co-practicumers, from my supervisors, from my professors and from my classmates who ventured to different fields (print, advertising, public relations, etc). Communications is a huge field but I'll be focusing in general so please bear with me. If you are a communication student, treat this as an "ate's advice," if you are in the field already, feel free to post a comment and share your wisdom as well, if you're just reading this, just enjoy and I welcome you to the field of Communications! (Waah, I miss college days!!)

Advice number 1: Dress appropriately

In this field, you have to attend a lot of events. As in! Yes, it could be one or two but if you'll be fortunate to land in the news department and most of your time will be in the field, gathering news, get ready for the approriate "get up." From my experience, I attended a sports event in the morning then headed to a "sunog," at Sta. Mesa, then rally in Makati. Everyday is full pack so you have to be prepared by dressing appropriately. I remember when I interviewed Mr Requintin of Manila Bulletin when I was a sophie in college, he told me that and now, that's what I am doing. (If you are in the news, dapat madalas may collar ang suot mo. That shows formality).

Advice number 2: Be friendly

Attending a lot of events imply that you will meet a lot of people. From the powerful senators to ordinary men like "ate" and "kuya" sa kanto. Even your supervisors and co-trainees, the trick is establish friendship (Of course, the genuine one). You are in this field and you know that communication is all about people. You don't have to please everyone coz that will never happen. However, be who you are, show your true color and I tell you, you will attract good friends that you can keep for life. Let me mention of ate Michelle and kuya Edward of RPN, we establish good friendship, also with my co-trainess in PBS, until now, we're texting each other and updating each other's lives. Believe it or not, we have reunions and I think it's yearly. All of you have same interest and same passion and you gotta pull each other up. I remember Rico Hizon when he said, establish friendship not enemies. That's a great advise!

Advise number 3: Be a hardworker

Given that you will have home works, do it properly and do it with hardwork. You will have lots of research and just enjoy it. It's a learning experience for you. It's not gonna be that hard anymore to do some research stuff coz we're in the generation of technology (thanks to the web, it makes life easier). When you are hardworker, people notice it especially your supervisors and they will commend you for that, believe me.

Advice number 4: Learn everything you can

Seek advise, that's what I did when I had my practicum. It varies from person to person so you have to prepare yourself to be a sponge and don't be shy to ask them. They have a lot of experience, wisdom I may say than you do. They've been in the industry for 10 or 15 years so respect their wisdom by listening to them and put every learning inside your heart. You can learn even from everyone even the camera men and the drivers. Sometimes, you'll question yourself, "bakit kaya di na lang to nag reporter?" He can tell stories in a good, appealing way! (I miss kuya Jerry!)

Advice number 5: Take advantage of the experience

It happens only once so make the most of it. Enjoy and love every minute of it. Even if you feel tired for the next day, it's a NO-NO to be absent coz everyday is a new journey. Two days are never the same. From my experience, I feel so accomplished coz I've done a lot of things for a day and so excited to wake up the next morning for another adventure. Like what I've mentioned, two days are never the same. Because of taking advantage of every experience, I've learned how to live in the present (everything is in the "NOW"). Hehe

Advice number 7: Apply the Code of Ethics

You will have your co-trainees from different schools so different cultures and different backgrounds. You have to be who you are so NO pretensions! Some students are rich and some students are in the middle class but you have to look them staright in the eye. You are all equal, there's no superior or inferior though we can't separate the tradition of connections in the media field, you still need to be brave alone. You have to stand your ground always, stand in what you believe in. Stand in your principles and apply the code of ethics. Yes, we have Envelopmental Journalism, we have the image building in Public Relations but you really have to stand your ground! You'll know this for sure.

Advice number 8: Express yourself well

You chose this field so you gotta prove it. Learn to express yourself well, whether speaking or writing. Of course, we still have a lot of things to learn but practice it everyday. Speak English well. Nakakahiya naman kasi coz we're communications student and we can't express ourselves freely. It should be in the blood. In brain storming, express ideas and pour out your mind. Make suggestions, they'll appreciate it.

Advice number 9: Be your own documentarist

I've been keeping a folder with all the lessons I've learned and all the photos I've captured. My close friends have known about it and my classmates have seen the photos I've captured coz I pasted it as the front cover of my notebook when we were in college. (Yea, personalize ang notebook ko!) Hehe. If you have a DG cam, bring it all the time, I'm telling you, it's worth bringing coz it will never happen again. Yea, you may meet the people again once in a while but the event, never. Blogs? Yea, I advise that you blog everything so that you can share your experience to the web or to the public (Just be very mindful of what you post, ).

Advice number 10: Bottomline, just ENJOY

Dont think about it as a pressure or as a requirement but treat it as a precious moment of learning and penetrating little by little in the media industry. Believe me, I have good friends, classmates, batchmates who are now working in the media field and they love every minute of it. Though it's tiring but it's worth all the effort and hardwork, I remember when I visited my close friend and classmate Gaile in ABS, she said, Monette, ang sarap ng feeling na makita yung name mo sa credits! Some people may not understand it but that's the feeling of people in the media field, though the salary was not that appealing at first, one day, you'll see the fruit of your toil.

These are the top 10 advice I could give to Abi and her batchmates and to other practicumers in the communications field this summer 2008. If you're scheduled for an interview, just be confident, (not to the point of bragging, you should know the difference) be honest, and just be yourself.

God bless Abi, hope to hear good stories from you.

cleaning and organizing...

"Chaotic walk-in closet"

Clothes, bags, books, magazines and other stuff, waaaah!! Everything is in chaos s0oo I need to give time in cleaning and organizing our room. I think Holy Week is the best time to clean up and get organized! Clean the room and put everything into their right place; also clean my heart and get organized in my life. Thank you gracious Lord for giving us this time and chance to clean up and get organized.

Sunday, 7:30 AM

Sunday Special

Yippee!! It's Sunday again, my favorite day. This day is created for me to go to church. I just love going to church, reason? I learn a lot, as in!! This day is also created for me to spend time with my family and friends. After all the tiring working days, this is a good day to start fresh. Naks, as if it's my day off. Well, even though I'm working on Sundays, I still find a way to make my Sunday be my best day of the week. Of course, we have to live ourlives to the fullest everyday but I just find Sunday S0oo Special. Thank you Lord for Sunday!!

A new hobby

Since Puerto Gallera is still fresh in me and I still have the souvenirs that I got from the place (kagat ng dikya, also known as jelly fish at ang sunburn). As in hanggang ngayon nasa puso't isipan ko pa. I have a new hobby and that is magkutkot at magtanggal ng sunburn. I just find pleasure peeling it off. You may find that funny pero yung katabi ko sa bus, tingin ng tingin sa'kin kasi kinukutkut ko yung balat ko sa mukha.

I am different these days coz I have a different skin color. Pure Tan because of sun bathing (Ouch!! Ang hapdi pa!!) I feel s0oo Asian these days, of course we have to be proud of our oriental beauty. Hahaha. Hmmm, that's just a joke, I'm not different. Sabi nga nila, hindi sa kulay nasusukat ang pagkatao ng isang tao. Ewan ko kung tama yung linyang yun, basta I love my color these days.

A new phrase, just observing

Are you riding a jeepney or a bus?? So you are familiar with the phrase BAYAD MUNA BAGO BABA?? Well I rode a bus and I saw a new phrase, it says, BAYAD MUNA BAGO TULOG. I've been commuting for the longest time and I haven't seen such phrase until this morning. Since I was seated near manong driver, I asked him kung bakit ganon ang statement...he just answered, ang dami na kasing natututulog ngayon e, hindi pa naman nagsisibayad. (Ouch!! Tagos sa laman!! Sorry na po manong. Isa po ko dun, antukin lang po talaga). I didn't had a chance or maybe I didn't had the guts to take a photo of the phrase, kapal naman ng mukha ko, mamaya magising pa yung mga antuking tulad ko e.

So it's Sunday Special people, go to church and make the most of the day. God bless you all!!

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness

and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

A different post

A third ear??

Few months ago, Joy was taking a shower and heard a child crying. So she went out and asked my aunt if she heard the cry. My aunt said yes. So they both heard it. (May kakampi ka Joy) This past week, Joy was doing something late at night and she heard a sob again. Since it was so late, she ran to the room where my tita Belen was sleeping and woke her up and told her to be with her since she's finishing something. Sigh

Left: Minnie Mouse

Right: The Gold thing at the back

Last night, it was different. Again, Joy was inside the shower room and suddenly the Minnie Mouse (photo above left) that she bought two years ago played its music, It's a small world after all. Hmm, I find it ironic since you can't hear its music without rotating the gold thing at the back (Photo above right).

That's why I hate horror films! It really affects people. Sigh. Well, is it really because of the horror films that she has watched or she has a third ear??

Sony event at Megamall

By the way, last Saturday, I went to Megamall and witness the event of Sony (I told you I'm loving gadgets these days, salamat sa impluwensiya nila...special mention to Eric Mack and kuya Terd. Hehe) Astig, kakatuwa mga nakita ko! Busog na busog ang mga mata ko. Thank you Lord dahil buhay ako sa High Tech na henerasyon na ito! The event last time was similar to the place I saw in Akihabara Tokyo, the only difference is kapwa ko Pinoy and nandun sa Sony event at napakasarap ng feeling.

I took a photo of this cool car using my tinotopak na mobile. (Kuya Imman, kala mo dyan lang meron ah. Di tayo pahuhuli.)

Share ko lang. Enjoy the day people. God is s0oo g0od!

Weddings for 2008

There's this famous quote that goes like this... "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." Naks, kakakilig. Yihee! Since I blogged last December that I'll be attending weddings this year (we're now in the quater) so I wanna share with you the amazing and definitely creative weddings I've witnessed these past months. I am speechless because of the love I felt in the air these past months. Hmmm, sige na nga, I'll give two words to describe the weddings, take note, both start with letter K! Kakatayin?? N0ooo!! Seriously, two words...Kakakilig at Kakainggit. Hehe

So here they are...Sing with me people...tan tan tanan...tan tan tanan...tan tan tatan tan tatan tan tanan.

Kuya Mark and ate Dani's wedding

Ate Dani is one of my newest friends. We met just last year in the dubbing workshop. Then we established this closeness thing. Naks!! She's an elder sister to me. She told me her love stories and lessons included of course She's terrific! I love her attitude and the way she looks at life. She left a good mark in my heart that's why I really miss her. Anyway, what's creative about her wedding, there was this last scene where she and kuya Mark dived into the pool. Yes, with the her gown and kuya Mark's outfit. The wedding pastor explained to the guests that the couple planned that because they are diving in a new life. Actually kuya Mark told the us that it wasn't planned, it was just a joke at first and then they thought, why not do it?? Oo nga naman!! So for the audience including me, it's very unusual and of course very creative.

Kuya Mark assisting ate Dani. I love this shot!! I adore Black and White.

1, 2, 3.

SPLASH!!

Can you feel the joy and the love? Hehe, natuwa ko sa photographer for capturing this moment well. Kudos Mr. Photographer!

The wedding is still fresh in my mind. It's just unforgettable. They're very creative and it amazes me! I was so happy to witness ate Dani's wedding so I texted her and told her that I had a great time in her wedding. Then she replied, di pa nga ganong handa e, dami pa naming gustong gawin ni kuya Mark mo pero lack of time na. Well, ate Dani, I want you to know that your guests especially ME enjoyed your wedding very much!

In their honeymoon (Ang saya!)

Ano ba yan...

Tsk, tsk, tsk. I promise to post good stuff in this blog. At this moment, I’m thinking (To post or not to post? That is the question!) Sigh, okay fine. I'll post it.

May mga tao, bagay at mga pangyayaring nakakainis. Naku, naku!! Hay, talaga naman.

Two things that happened last Sunday that made me say Ano ba yan!

1. I was inside the church, very attentive to the sermon. I saw a teenager reading a novel, ok lang sana kung Bible e, but a novel??

My message to you cutie teenager: (Wish ko lang mabasa mo ‘to) Respect naman tsong, may oras para dyan and that’s not the right time to read a novel. Mukhang ok yung book mo, pero you have to have self-control. Respect God, it’s His day or kahit an hour. Listen to the pastor or you might miss out good insights from God’s message. Kung book reading yan requirement sa school, e di sana nag stay ka na lang sa bahay niyo.

2. Right after the Professional’s Fellowship, I headed directly to LRT. I was holding a crumpled tissue and searching for a trash can or any bin. Since I can’t see one, I asked the lady guard, “Ms, excuse me, san basurahan niyo??” Then she answered me, “Wala e, tapon mo na lang dyan o sa labas”(with an expression in her face as if it's very okay). She’s pointing somewhere, ayun pala yung sa may bintana. I just ignored the lady and checked the so called trash can, Shocks, mukha ng basurahan! Naku, naku!

My message to you Ms. lady guard: Ate, wag naman po ganun. Mag suggest po kayo sa management na maglagay ng trash cans dun. Sa totoo lang po, napapaisip po ako kung wala po ba talagang basurahan dun o tinatamad lang po kayo. Hay ate.

These are just two scenarios of daily life. I know you have encountered situations like these. Maybe you’re like me who just say Ano ba yan! Oh please, don’t be a coward like me, my conscience has been bothering me, dapat kinausap ko yung teenager at dapat sinabihan ko si ate. Sayang yung opportunity for them to learn and I know it’s my fault.

Hay, wish ko lang nagbabasa yung teenager at si ate ng blogs at sana mag drop by ka sa page ko at mabasa mo 'to. Imposible yata yun kasi may trabaho si ate at kalahati pa lang si teenager sa book niya.

Pagpasensyahan niyo na ang blog post na ito. Bothered lang ako talaga.