WARNING: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows spoiler :)

I have the book already (hehe) and has so far read chapters 1-5.

Hedwig dies in the 4th chapter, as Harry Potter fights off Lord Voldemort. Yes, as early as the 4th chapter, the scenes are already gripping. For the first time in the final book, Harry escaped he-who-must-not-be-named. But will he be able to escape death until the end? Let me read on first. hehehe :)

But according to an Agence France-Presse report, "Fans are itching to discover which of the book's characters die -- Rowling has announced the demise of two, both unnamed, while a New York Times review of the book Thursday said the figure would be six."

"An AFP correspondent who received an early copy of the 607-page book said that Harry kills evil Lord Voldemort, his nemesis, and survives to the end."

One of Harry's teachers also dies.

"I've had enough trouble for a lifetime," is the last sentence of the book, spoken by Harry, said the report.

I can confirm that report. That was what Harry really said. hehe :)

In the epilogue entitled 19 years later, the last sentence is: "The scar has not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well."

Oh well. I'm such a spoiler! hehehehe :)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!! :)

Start:

Jul 21, '07 07:00a

yipee

Of love and photography

Photography is a wonderful invention. Photography helps us travel back in time, could even help us see people and places that have long been gone. A photograph is a memory, one that is immortalized in a glossy sheet of paper (or in a computer file), a solid (or digital) proof of the past.

As I was browsing hundreds of photos in my laptop, I suddenly had this thought: Nix is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me. Ok, here I am again, bragging about my one true love. But you can't blame me. I feel that I am the luckiest woman on earth. :)

Life was so simple then. We had dreams. Hay, I can't believe we're now making all those dreams come true. :) Three years na kami! :)

Gracias, Maam Fely.

I have long known I wanted to write, that I wanted to get into print. I knew back then that I wanted to be a journalist. And she, too, might have known.

I was then a sickly, skinny grade six pupil when she asked if I wanted to join the school publication. Needless to say, I joined her 'army' and went to saturday pressworks, which went until I was in highschool.

In those days, I learned how to write a lead or what an inverted pyramid is--a useful heads-up of almost all the things I needed to learn in college. Maybe back then she knew I could write and edit news stories that she had no qualms sending me to inter-school competitions.

But more than just a mentor or a publication adviser, she was also a friend. When my first boyfriend, who was an editorial cartoonist, won a national competition, it was she who broke the news to me. She knew how inlove we were back then. She even hoped that guy and I would end up together (which is, as of this writing and in infinity, is impossible).

She helped me see what I wanted to be. She was one of those who first believed, one of those who opened the gates to my dreams. And I would always owe it to her that under her wing, I first experienced the joy of seeing myself immortalized in print.

Gracias for everything Mam Fely Ibarientos, may justice be served.*

*Mam Fely was brutally raped and killed. Her body was found in Daet Tuesday morning. This is a real story.

The search for Jonas Burgos -- 'desaparecidos'

When Jonas Burgos, son of the late press freedom icon Jose Burgos, was reported abducted, I did not care much. I was then too consumed with other breaking news stories that I was compelled to write about him only until one of the editors bugged me to.

However, after my first story about Burgos, came another and another. At one point I got too tired of writing a 'Burgos story' because of different reasons--one, the desk is no longer paying too much attention; the reader might soon lose interest; and finally, there was simply no update, nothing new I can really write about. What kept me going was my wanting to help the Burgos family, a clan I have never met, or simply just to find out the truth for myself. And I found out that Burgos was abducted by the military themselves. Is it the truth? My sources say it is. But I'm giving the AFP the benefit of the doubt.

It must be true that if a story is meant to be yours, yours it would be. A friend suddenly asked me one day if I'd be willing to interview a military intelligence agent and I said yes, without any hesitation. On second thought, I had some hesitation--only for my security. Luckily, 'teamwork' has it that my colleague Alcuin Papa was also present during the interview. An INQUIRER.net and a Philippine Daily Inquirer exclusive, indeed :)

When I met the agent, I was certain of the possibility that there were more than two pairs of prying eyes, that in the coming days my phone could be wire-tapped. Maybe this is just an illusion, maybe paranoia. But who really knows? I am maybe already included in the dossier of the security forces.

The desk editors had second thoughts, and as always, played devil's advocates first. They asked for every detail of the story, watching out for loopholes. This time, fortunately, they unanimously agreed it could make a banner story. And I am really really happy my efforts paid off. :)

Oh well, this is what I like about this job. I get to find out the truth. And on my way to finding the truth, skepticism is my keyword.

Read the story here: ‘Military behind Burgos abduction’ -- intelligence agent

Me chasing Bedol

Hay naku, he never said a word! So much for waiting at the airport! Grr. So much for a Bedol-day.

See Video: here

Links:

Bedol in Manila tonight (Monday; a day after his arrest)

Bedol flown to Manila under heavy guard

Bedol to spend the night in hotel, says police official

Police turn over Bedol to Comelec

Bedol says he was misquoted on armory claim--police