Nightmares

I've been having really weird dreams lately and they're just so repetitive I don't know whether I should be amazed or scared.

Anyway, these dreams are usually about tsunamis. They'd be about I running away from one, or I fighting one, or I simply going with the flow. These dreams had been very vivid, in full color, and almost real. The thought that I escaped all these tsunamis was relieving enough. But will I be able to escape these huge waves the next time I go to sleep? Errr.  I was never afraid of nightmares, until now.

I don't have any emotional burden (except for occasional stress because of my job) that's why I find these visions (?) odd.

An online dream dictionary however said that dreaming about tsunamis means the dreamer is "being overwhelmed by some repressed feelings or unconscious material that is rising up to the surface. You are experiencing some unhappiness and emotional instability in some waking situation." Err. Creepy. I can't say this is so-so true but I can't also say this interpretation is entirely false. Hmm.

Maybe these dreams have something to do with my upcoming visit to the dentist. Again, I was never afraid of dentists, until now. Argh. I'm doomed! I don't want them to extract my tooth and I don't want to undergo a root canal either. What shall I do? I hate these impacted teeth! The pain is killing me! And I could not eat well (which is another nightmare since parties are everywhere nowadays!). Huhu. I only had occasional visits to the family dentist when I was younger and I don't remember anything traumatic about those trips. Tsk tsk.

Oh well I am still thankful. Despite my difficulty to chew, at least I still have something to eat, unlike thousands of civilians in war-torn Afghanistan. At least I'm still in a peaceful (?) country unlike Myanmar where a Japanese journalist recently died while covering a violent rally dispersal.

Going back to nightmares, maybe these tsunami-infested dreams are caused by reading Anita Pratap's Island of Blood--a good read for aspiring journalists. Imagine covering Afghanisan and Sri Lanka at the height of a war! Pratap's accounts were really devastating, scary, and exciting at the same time. (Pratap was the bureau chief of CNN. She also worked for Time). Her book is more exciting than my previous favorite, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward's All the President's Men, which tackled the Watergate scandal that eventually pushed then US Pres Nixon to resign.

Anyway, I should cut short this entry. But writing too much permits me not to go to bed first. And avoid that Tsunami dream.

zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Nixlove's birthday! :)

Start:

Oct 28, '07 04:00a

HMM. Ano kayang birthday gift ko sa kaniya this year? :)

This time, I will speak. (On bribery and other annoying rumors)

For the longest time, I opted not to comment on 'rumors' that I accepted an expensive watch from the highest ranking police official of the country. Lest I be accused of being defensive, I opted to stay silent.

But defensive, I am not. I simply choose my battles. But I could not and would not let it pass this time.

For the record, several concerned (and true) friends from the media asked me early this year if Director General Oscar Calderon (who will retire October 1st this year) truly gave me a Rolex watch. I laughed at the idea. Why would he give me an expensive watch? And why would I accept such an expensive gift if he really tried to give me one?

I wanted to keep mum because I don't want to waste energy. But this whole bribery (or to malicious minds--courtship) issue already annoyed me to the highest degree. It came to a point that I wanted to file oral defamation (because although she did not identify me in her blind item, she verbally told people it was I she was referring to) charges against the writer.

I asked her to issue an apology, which she refused to do. I then asked her to just clarify it was not I she was referring to in her blind item, which she also refused to do. Tsk tsk.

I have strongly condemned bribery since my first day as a journalist. I've always regarded this job as noble and I don't want to taint it in any way so you must know how irritating it is for me to be accused of accepting money, favors, or expensive items from my sources.

If I accepted every offer that came my way, I am really rich by now. But no! I'm still a poor little girl! haha. :) Honestly, I earn more than what I need! INQUIRER.net is generous enough and I don't need money from members of this ill government. And certainly I don't want to align myself with media practitioners who tarnish this profession! Do what you want, amass all the money in the world if you want..just don't drag me to your dirty game!

The exchange of jokes between me and Gen Calderon in this morning's TSIP (for more info, see NBN 4 tonight) was not, in any way, geared to revive the issue. If that's how you perceived it, I pity you. For me and Gen Calderon (and the rest of the PNP press corps), the issue you made was just a big joke. Turns out you took it seriously that you had to devote an entire blog entry for a long-dead issue.

It's also a pity that you had to delete Alcuin Papa's reactions in your latest entry. Do you think deleting his replies made your claims valid? I don't think so. I thank God that I have a friend like Alcuin (and several others who believe in me). I wish you had friends like them so you could lead a peaceful life. Really.

Muckraking and mudslinging is an act I am not destined for. So I hope this one's my last.

CONFUSED? CHECK OUT HER BLOG: HERE

____________________________

Here's her blind item purportedly referring to yours truly.

(FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2006 ISSUE)

HULI KA, NO?

Ni DIVINE REYES

GENERAL SUITOR

MUKHANG nagmumurang kamyas ang isang Heneral kung makasuyo sa isang batang-bata at baguhang reporter.

Bulong ng ating tagahuli, laging excited si Mr. General kapag may press conference dahil masisilayan nito ang ganda at kaseksihan ng kinahuhumalingang mamamahayag.  Todo smile at pagpapapungay daw ng mga mata ang heneral kapag ang paborito na niyang reporter ang nagtatanong.

Kung minsan, mismong ang kampo ng opisyal ang gumagawa ng aktibidad upang madaluhan lang ng babae?

Hindi rin napigilan si Mr. General sa labis na pagkatuwa sa babae at niregaluhan pa umano ng mamahaling relo kahit walang okasyon?! Totoo bang may exclusive chopper ride pa ang babae?! Hanep..

Sobrang espesyal na trato ang ibinibigay daw ng heneral na ito sa reporter na tila sinasamantala naman ang pagkagusto sa kanya para makakuha ng eksklusibong istorya (hmmm…wala pa naman akong alam na nakakuha ito ng magandang istorya mula kay Mr. General). Tila lunod sa tuwa at nabubulagan ang batang reporter sa atensyon na nakukuha nito sa Heneral at hindi na alintana ang pagseselos ng kanyang boyfriend? Tsk..tsk..tsk..watch out, gurl!

Parang anak daw ang tingin ni Mr. General sa dalaga kung kaya't kinatutuwaang makasama. Pero sa ibang nakakapansin, naamoy nilang may iba pang interes ang opisyal.

Ang ganda-ganda na ng puwesto mo, Sir. Huwag mong abusuhin, ocay?

-----------------

Love laboratory

I have had my share of heartaches before my one true love Nix came. And those heartaches had been totally painful. Corny as it may sound, I felt then it was the end of the world. You know how it feels.

First, the pain of parting with your 'first love.' Although I'm certain now that what I felt for him was mere admiration, I have to acknowledge that it felt different then. He was my first boyfriend (I was in 2nd year highschool haha), the first ever to give me a long, sweet love letter. He was the first to give me a ring, the first to utter promises of forever. (Yes, we were that serious! Crazy puppy love). After over a year of fickleness (it simply didn't work), I broke up with him. And haven't heard from him since. (Thanks to friendster though I know he's still alive hehe)

Then my childhood sweetheart suddenly showed up when I was in 2nd year college. He admitted liking me since we were in Grade Six. He was really down to earth although uber rich. Back then, my friends teased me that my future with him was already secure. After all, he lives in the posh Wack-wack subdivision and drives a Black Safari. But I wasn't really into him. I simply wasn't into him. There was no magic, not an inch of head-over-heels type of love. I merely saw him as a saving grace for a relationship with he-who-must-not-be-named (not Voldemort! hehe) that never flourished. The relationship lasted for over a month. Yes, just over a month. haha. I saw him unexpectedly at a mall recently. It's amazing how you can just laugh at your mistakes. hehe.

I think there was nothing wrong with them. They simply weren't for me. And I consider them mistakes because they were not the right ones. I'm very certain of that. Although I still have to be thankful because I've been somehow shaped by these people.

Keeping a relationship work is an experiment. And you must find the perfect partner, else you end up blowing the whole laboratory. It is not just about chemistry and looking good together. A relationship is a theory in practice, where senses must work, where conclusions must be grounded on facts. Tried and tested formulas may not always work and so patience is the key.

And although experts find it hard to explain how people fall in love, we don't really need a genius to tell us what or who our true love is. :) As Jose Mari Chan's latest song says, "only you will know."

I now know. :) I've never been this certain. I've never been this sure. :) Woohoo! I Love You Nicolo! :)

(Nakakasuka na ba pagkamushy ko? hehe. Sorry, ganiyan talaga ang buhay. :p )

Less rants, halo-halo, Googolplex and ZTE

I regret that I had to rant about having this job. (See previous entry). I regret complaining when in fact a lot of Filipino graduates are still unemployed or underemployed. I think I just needed a little poke or I just had to let it all out. Well at least I had my thoughts immortalized. Where else in the world will I get a free laptop, blackberry and a phone line, a camera phone (and a digicam soon)? Nowhere but INQUIRER.net! haha. Above all these expensive gizmos, I should be thankful because a lot of young Filipinos are still working their way to the world of media while I'm already here. So now I'm happy. I've never been happier. :) Happy and working. And it doesn't feel work at all. :) 

I think I just needed that one glass of Razon's halo-halo to make me fine. haha! :) (Yes, I had one today and I even had to drag several of my Crame colleagues just to complete the minimum price for the delivery, hehe) Yumyum. :)

Dumdidum.

By the way, do you what a Googolplex is? According to Wikipedia, "One googol is greater than the number of elementary particles in the known universe, which has been variously estimated from 10⁷⁹ up to 10⁸¹. Since a googolplex is one followed by a googol zeroes, it would not be possible to write down or store a googolplex in decimal notation, even if all the matter in the known universe were converted into paper and ink or disk drives."

Imagine just how big that number is! And what would you do if your boyfriend told you that his love for you is as big as Googolplex? Hihi. Kilig :D Mylooooove :) If there's a number greater than Googolplex then that would be the measure of my love for Nix. :) hehe :)

I'm about to go home any minute now but primetime news pinned me to my seat.

Oh well, Jose De Venecia III should become the person of the year. haha :) Who cares if he's got thinning hair and that he was once a Marijuana addict? I just hope he's got hard proof that FG Mike Arroyo told him to "back off" from the multi-million National Broadband Deal with China's ZTE corporation.

But I do care that presidential daughter Luli Arroyo is guilty of ad hominem. "I dont know if his old drug use affected his thinking," said Luli of JDV III after his expose. hahaha. Look who's talking. :p

yUPieLBi online community :)

http://www.yupielbi.org/news.php
I heart UPLB!! :)

What I hate about this job

I’ve always bragged about my job. That to become a journalist is a dream come true, that this profession is noble, that this is somehow high-paying, etc etc. Maybe I was just painting the wrong picture.

 

First, to be a journalist means you have to deal with people. And before you deal with people within or outside your beat, you have to face the hair-raising, traumatic, and horrifying experience inside the editorial office.

 

Editors are probably the most ruthless people in the world of media. Just so you know, I did not spend all those sleepless nights studying at the country’s premiere University just to be shouted at, cursed and reprimanded. Yes, I admit I had occasional (and ehem, minor) errors in my news stories but I believe that doesn’t warrant them from saying what I would like to call “hurt words.” Call me sensitive, call me infantile but I think I’m just human. I hurt, I bleed, I cry. If one story in a day doesn’t make much difference with six stories (or more) in a day, then I’m doomed. What do they want then?

 

You obviously can’t get an exclusive story everyday (unless you are the President of the Philippines, thank you very much.). And you can’t possibly beat all news wires with every crime or political story this over-populated country has—especially if you’re the lone reporter for a nationwide beat. If skipping meals and running in high-heels just to be able to produce a story aren’t enough, then I might as well kill myself. Haha J I know I am a slave of the most-read (ehem.hehe) news site in the country, but I need no reminding that I am. Alila na ako, huwag niyo na akong apihin! Haha J

 

Thank God though for the endangered (hehe), heaven-sent editors. They keep the balance. And that’s why I’m still here.

 

Rant number 2.

 

We in the media obviously don’t know what a holiday is. Holiday does ring a bell (cleng cleng!! Double pay) but I don’t think I would experience what 8-5 workers have (read: rest). And I’ve been missing too much with this no-holiday scheme. While my family and friends are getting busy filling their bellies with yuletide food, I was at the beat trying to figure out if any crime occurred on Christmas day.

 

And my day-offs (yes, day-offs) have not been spared. For six months in a row, the weekend desk editor never failed to cut short an anniversary date, or a movie date, or a sweet weekend getaway. I think my blackberry already had a thousand (seriously!) registered calls since I acquired it June last year. Only when I had the courage to cancel the calls and to remind the editor that it was a Saturday or a Sunday that the weekend calls stopped. But those calls did not really cease.

 

On weekends like Julia Campbell’s autopsy and during the election week, among others, I had no choice but to drag my boyfriend or my mom or my friends to a coverage. They enjoyed it but I don’t think they would if it happened all the time.

 

Rant number 3.

 

Cruel sources, insecure police officials and rude politicians will always haunt a journalist’s career. They will either scare you, tease you, at times hurl green jokes (which I hate most. Thank god I don’t own a gun—yet.) And like editors, you have to deal with them most of the time. It’s a good thing though that there are people professional enough to make you stay in the game. Else, if everyone is a monster, then I’d have to say bye-bye.

 

With all these (and more) I don’t know why I’m still here. And why I still want to be here. And why I would rather die here.

 

Tsktsk. Addiction na ata ‘to.

If ABS-CBN reporter RG Cruz becomes president, I'd be the press secretary

Out of boredom (yeah we still get bored despite our busy sched), my friend RG and I had a nice (silly?) thought: What if RG (who currently covers Malacanang) becomes president? haha :)

Well, I'd become the new press secretary and presidential spokesman! I already got my appointment, way before he gets elected as president. haha! Do you think I'd make a good spokesman? Maybe. Maybe no. I don't think I can deal with annoying people in the business. Not all reporters, journalists and definitely politicians are fun to with, you know. haha :) Anyway, RG, just make sure you don't have 'Hello Garci" to put me (us) into trouble. I don't want to share Bunye's fate. haha :) Wow, I'm gonna be a presidential spokesman..tv guestings, radio interviews, perks. haha. Corruption! Kidding. :)

RG said he would want Dick Gordon to become his vice-president while for his cabinet members, he will appoint Ch2 reporter Adrian Ayalin as Tourism Secretary (because he loves to travel daw); PDI columnist and explainer host Manolo Quezon as Dep Ed or CHED/UP president; ANC's Ricky Carandang as Finance Secretary; Miriam Santiago (if Raul Gonzales is already gone) for DOJ; ABC 5's Jove Francisco as Foreign Affairs sec; Mike Defensor as Executive Secretary; Mar Roxas for Dept of Trade; Winnie Monsod in NEDA; Bayani Fernando for DPWH; Juan Flavier for DPWH; Oscar Orbos for DOTC; Chris Monsod and Rosa Rosal (yes! the red cross queen) for DOH. hahaha :)

Read this! Oh no. (We might get arrested for this blog! hahaha)

newsboy_argie419: alam mo...first thing ill do if i become president---
newsboy_argie419: declare martial law---shut down congress--impose one man rule
thea alberto: totoo?
newsboy_argie419: then get all of the corrupt people---and exile them--no maroon them in boracay for the rest of their lives

hahaha! :) Eto pa:

newsboy_argie419: UP profs will be the highest paid teachers in asia--better than japan
newsboy_argie419: we give them car plans and they will become tax free
newsboy_argie419: no--we give them cars
newsboy_argie419: UP students naman lahat bongga ang dorms
newsboy_argie419: each UP unit will have an elementary and has catering specifically to poor students
newsboy_argie419: for free
newsboy_argie419: bawat estudyante bibigyan ko ng macbook
newsboy_argie419: sosyal ano?

Ito pa..

newsboy_argie419: ay ito pa pala
newsboy_argie419: gagawin kong isang malaking wifi zone ang pilipinas!
thea alberto: yan!!! yan ang the best!! haha
newsboy_argie419: its the nbn deal--ony better
thea alberto: para saan pa mac ng up studes hahahah a
newsboy_argie419: ill fully computerzie government

If all these (and more) would happen, astig! hahahaha :) It's a crazy world after all.

I'll create a part two for this blog entry. Ang daming plano ni RG sa Pilipinas! hahaha :)

Estrada sons reconcile in ‘emotional moment’

Estrada sons reconcile in ‘emotional moment’ By Thea Alberto INQUIRER.net Last updated 03:32pm (Mla time) 09/13/2007 MANILA, Philippines -- If there was any light at the end of a dark tunnel for former president Joseph Estrada after he was convicted of plunder by an anti-graft court Wednesday, it was the reconciliation of his two sons. In an “emotional moment,” San Juan Mayor Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito said Thursday that he and Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada patched up their differences for the sake of their father. Ejercito was at the meeting of the United Opposition at the office of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. "We will do anything for our father," said Ejercito, as he related that his father had sought the reconciliation with his brother moments after the Sandiganbayan handed down its verdict. "It was a very emotional moment. Nag-iyakan kaming dalawang magkapatid [My brother and I cried] but President Estrada remained very strong," said Ejercito. That “moment” lasted for about 10 minutes inside the court’s restroom, Ejercito said. Ejercito, Estrada's son by former actress Guia Gomez, and Senator Estrada by ex-senator Luisa "Loi" Ejercito, had a misunderstanding after Estrada supported his brother's opponent in the San Juan mayoralty race in the mid-term elections last May. The rift worsened when Senator Estrada told INQUIRER.net that he was invited by Ejercito to his wedding only on the day itself in June. "Sabi niya [Estrada] sa amin, kayong dalawa ang inaasahan kong magpatuloy ng laban kaya sana magkasundo na kayo [He said that he was counting on us to continue the fight that was why we should reconcile]. And you know we would do anything for our father," the San Juan mayor said. Estrada, an action star before becoming a president in 1998, was ousted in a military-backed popular uprising three years later following allegations of graft. On Wednesday, Estrada was convicted of plunder and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or from 20 to 40 years imprisonment. ---------------- See story as posted in INQUIRER.net

Estrada verdict: An anti-climactic courtroom scene

Today, I woke up earlier than usual (way way earlier than usual) to prepare my paraphernalia (laptop, camera, tape recorder, etc.) and to monitor news over the radio. I submitted my first story shortly before 7 am, thinking it was just the start of a long, tiring, story-packed day.

I left the house without eating breakfast and grabbed a bite before waiting for a cab that would bring me to Sandiganbayan. But lo and behold, not only once but thrice was I rejected by cabbies. They were too afraid of the supposedly heavy traffic that even a promise of additional fee did not do the trick. Knowing I was running late (and rain suddenly poured, arg!) I took the first jeepney en route to Cubao. Fortunately, I got a cab after the jeepney ride (which I ironically lamented afterwards). The cab driver gave me a lot of unsolicited advice when all I wanted him to do was drive fast!

Anyway, when I arrived at the area, I was surprised to see only about 500 protesters. It was supposed to be a big day and where were all those rallyists? Jiggy Manicad and I were already joking about how media made a big fuss about the rally. It was almost an overkill, so to speak. There were four tv reporters from GMA 7 alone while we at Inquirer and Inquirer.net had around five, including photographers, not to mention other local and even foreign press. And all we got was a flimsy rally story (and a darker skin). We were all done by lunch time. No riot, no clash, nothing much to remember.

And I thought it could be one of the biggest coverages in my young journalistic career. Why not? It's the former president we're talking about! But it was seemingly downplayed. A story we followed for six long years ended in a 15-minute anti-climactic courtroom scene. Errr.

It was a dull day, a boring coverage, and certainly not exactly the out-of-the-ordinary type I hoped for. Oh well, at least nobody got hurt.

I went back to the beat (Camp Crame) for a rest. But the much-needed rest was disrupted when I was asked to cover the rally in Paseo de Roxas, Makati around 3 pm. Hopes of getting something memorable suddenly went high, only for me to be disappointed afterwards. The crowd peacefully dispersed after two hours.

You get the picture.

Oh well. We enjoyed the photo-op anyway. haha :)

(Carlo and I gamely posing with anti-riot cops.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(seryoso si Raffy dito. Hindi bagay! haha :) O Raffy, grab mo na)

(Business goes on for this little boy. Looking for plastic bottles to sell, the boy crosses the street as a phalanx of police look on.) This photo was placed in INQUIRER.net's index page. :)

 

Jollibee :D

Just wanted to post something light, heart-warming and funny before my action-filled Estrada verdict (rally) coverage :) hehe :)

Do you know Jollibee? If you're a Filipino and you don't know him. well I guess I would have to call you an idiot. :)  Of course everyone knows him! Who would not know the famous larger--than-life busy bee tilting his butt to kids ardently following him? We might have forgotten who Jolly twirl is but definitely not Jollibee. :)

Anyway, I grew up with Jollibee--most Filipino kids do. :) When I was younger, a good meal with a good toy from the buzzing bee was more than enough to make me happy. Oh how I wish life was always like that. Just as simple and easy like that. Oh well.

I was supposed to go to sleep until I saw (again) this funny picture, :)

And dami nila!! hahahaha :) And it made me happy so much I think I'm becoming crazy. hahaha :) Weird me, I know. Maybe I just lack sleep. hahaha :) But it's really funny, isn't it? It doesn't seem to be 'photoshop'-ed at all. I'd love to pose with this bee bunch.

Oh well, good night folks. :)

THE VERDICT

This, I have to say, has got to be the biggest coverage (yet) in my journalistic career. I've done much or something similar in the past but this one could probably be the most earth-shaking.

I was tasked (or should I say I requested?) to be at the rally outside Sandiganbayan, where the verdict would be handed down. At this point, I can say rally coverage is becoming my expertise; I'm afraid, however, that the upcoming protest could be entirely different.

(photo taken today, Sept 11, near Camp Crame gate, hours after police declared a full alert.)

Should deposed president Joseph Estrada be convicted of the 4-billion peso plunder case, expect that his supporters become emotional, and we know that being too emotional could be bad. They could get rowdy, you know. And although a rowdy throng could mean news story (which means I should be glad because I've got work to do), it still ain't something to be happy about.

Should Estrada be vindicated, his loyal supporters could also become too euphoric. Again, this could be bad.

Either way, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is doomed.

Anyway, although I have long been with the security beat, I think I have yet to reassess how secure I feel. Oh good heavens, spare me from pick-pockets at the rally tomorrow.  And please please, spare me from a super duper violent dispersal. I don't want to be the subject of flying stones  hehe :) (weird, I know.)

Wish me luck! :)

For more Estrada stories: click here: THE ESTRADA TRIAL

------------

This blog was cited in Manuel Quezon III's blog. And it's such an honor. :) Nailang na tuloy akong magblog! hahaha :) Thanks Manolo! :)

Love, actually :)

Yes it is. :)

Just another uniquely happy day with my one true love. :) Obviously, he is my favorite blog topic. :)  And why won't he be my favorite? He's simply one of the best things that ever happened to me--so cliche-ish but true. :)

 

And I've never been afraid to be myself whenever we're together :) With him, I'm a natural..nothing contrived. :)

For sharing your dreams and fears, for the kilig moments and the arguments and everything in between, for being my dream come true, and for the love all these years, thank you my nixlove :)

I love you :)

Good night everyone. :) I wish you find what your heart wishes for. :) Life is good :)

Writing about UP made me miss UP. :(

QCPD promises deeper probe of UP student’s hazing death

Nemenzo urges end to ‘culture of violence’

By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 04:52pm (Mla time) 09/03/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- As the University of the Philippines (UP) community continued to rage, Quezon City police have promised a thorough investigation into the death of graduating UP Diliman Public Administration student Cris Anthony Mendez, allegedly from hazing.

At the same time, former UP president Francisco "Dodong" Nemenzo called on fraternities, sororities and other organizations throughout the entire UP system to stop the "culture of violence."

Superintendent Franklin Mabanag, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said they are working with the UP police on additional evidence that might establish whether Mendez was indeed a victim of hazing, which has been outlawed.

Officials of the Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame have refused to release Mendez' autopsy report.

Mendez was brought to the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center by a certain Dr. Francisco Cruz Monday last week and was declared dead on arrival. Reports said Mendez' body bore bruises in his legs and shoulders.

Mendez was reportedly recruited into the Sigma Rho fraternity, which has neither denied nor confirmed this. Sigma Rho members have since been suspended and have not been seen in the UP Diliman campus.

"These fraternities and organizations must police their own ranks because the name of the fraternity is also tarnished. They will surely have difficulty recruiting new members," Nemenzo told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

Nemenzo, himself a fraternity member, said those behind the alleged hazing must face the consequences of their actions.

"The Grand Archon [head] of Sigma Rho has command responsibility over this. I cannot and would not believe the Grand archon was not aware," he added.

Nemenzo acknowledged it would be hard to change the culture of fraternities but said there are ways to prevent cases such as Mendez'.

Nemenzo said fraternity advisers and university officials must be able to monitor the groups' activities. He suggested a young university official who could also be a fraternity alumnus.

"UP students are enraged by authoritative figures. Even the fraternity adviser does not know about this hazing. There should be someone that could relate to them, someone who they would not regard as person in authority," he said.

Nemenzo also said the UP community must take part in the investigation, especially probable witnesses from the Sigma Rho fraternity.

"Every time it happens, the UP community is mad. We just never learn from our mistakes," Nemenzo lamented.

See article as posted in INQUIRER.net

The JOB

This entry was lifted from my wordpress blog, which had been freely accessible to my desk editors.  However, I found it necessary to re-post it here--probably to remind myself that I am an online journalist or probably because I have no other available topic in mind.

 

Originally written on April 3, barely a month before my first anniversary at INQUIRER.net.

 

--------------

 

Writing for a news wire is indeed rewarding, but could also be annoying sometimes. For almost a year that I have been covering for INQUIRER.net, I realized that being a reporter, more so a wire reporter, is truly challenging.

 

Challenging it is that I have to get the story first, I have to get it right, and I have to be accurate as much as possible. The slightest error–like a misspelled nickname–means losing much credibility for my usually hard-earned story, and worse, a string of sermon from my editors.

 

Barely two months before graduation and I haven’t even finished my thesis at the time, I applied at then INQ7. net, where I was an intern a year before. Armed with optimism, confidence, idealism, and much passion to bring stories to the readers, I started my job on May 1, exactly two days after I marched at the UPLB Freedom Park grounds. And yes, that was May 1, Labor Day, and rallies were everywhere. My first was a double-pay day and needless to say, that was more than enough to make me happy.

 

But then, I did not aspire to become a journalist because of money. I wanted to be a journalist because I felt the need to be one. This is a very noble career.  But this job, as my disillusioned colleagues would say, is a thankless job, an occupation that would probably be not enough to keep one going if there is a family to feed. I am lucky, however, that my present employer is generous enough.

 

Oh, how excited I was when my editor told me to stake-out at former President Joseph Estrada’s Polk St. residence last May. Wow, I would be covering Erap two weeks after I was hired! I was so amazed that I was actually interacting with people I just watched in news programs (Dan Campilan, who now rests in peace, was one of my companions in this 2-day Estrada coverage), and that I was already interviewing people who have been in politics even before I was born! But the euphoria, as expected, would eventually subside.

 

News writing has since been ‘normal’ for me. Attending press conferences and running after sources were suddenly just part of the routine. The dream became a routine. The glory of the by-line, however, remains especially because I’m in an ‘intangible medium’—the internet. hehe

 

The once giddy, star-struck cub reporter, somehow lost the excitement of meeting popular people. I felt that the calling for the job was more than just getting humdrum and hypocritical quotes from people in power. My growing interest for the poor was further nourished with my continued rally coverages. Never mind the heat, the unfilled stomach. Feeling dust from the grubby streets of Mendiola became something to be proud of.

 

I am currently covering Camp Crame, which houses the National Police Headquarters. Seeing dead people (literally) and raiding drug dens have been part of my routine. Talking to generals (and stealing documents afterwards hehe), and meeting suspects comprise my usually colorful day.

Until tomorrow our dearest readers. J There would be another story to tell.

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Post script:

I'm afraid I want a new beat soon. Crame has turned into a dead beat these past few days. After all, I've been here for 1 year and 3 months.  

Their short but essential lives

(photo by Joel Guinto)

I've never been to Sulu or Basilan. And I have long wished to be there. Unfortunately, I suppose the editors would not allow that--military is not my regular beat, and well, I'm not yet married (publicly, that is. haha!). Rumors has it that a woman must never go to Basilan or Sulu until she's gotten her wedding ring. Else, she couldn't leave the place single in status. (Fe Zamora used to joke about this. And I quite believe her. After all, she's been there tons of times!)

My mother and Nixlove are also skeptical about allowing me ride that plane to war-torn Mindanao. And I could not blame them. Although I would certainly love to feel what my media colleague Jun Veneracion* (GMA 7) experienced in Basilan, I know I'm not one to play with fate yet. Not now.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines already made calls to the Armed Forces to stop the offensives. Over 50 soldiers, 10 of whom were even mutilated, had been killed and the CBCP is obviously afraid for a highly probable increase in the number of casualties. True, nobody easily wins in war. But stopping the offensives is tantamount to wasting the lives of the soldiers who were earlier killed. I believe the AFP did right in pursuing the bandits.

I salute our soldiers. Each has a story, each has a struggle. I would love to hear their stories, their woes, their worries. I would love to share meals with them while in battle field. Oh it's in these times that I wish I was a man. :p

The way I see it, going to battle is like digging your own grave. For these soldiers, death is seemingly a fulfilled mission. They would rather die with a purpose. And a Philippine flag draped on top of his/her coffin is what it's all about.

I read a Marines shirt (shown at Wowowee) that said: "You may pay our salaries through your taxes but we repay you with our lives." And it hit me. Ok, I won't rant anymore if they cut my hard-earned money. I just hope that the tax goes to its proper destination. Corruption is such an ugly word, you know. But that's another story. 

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Links:

Nobody will be left alive in Basilan, Sulu, Rosales warns

Tears flow in ‘Wowowee’ tribute to dead soldiers

INQUIRER.net special site: The Southern Campaign