Karlo’s entry: #4 slice

Karlo Jose Pineda

i.

My article with no red marks was a nice way of starting my OJT day yesterday.

Later on, I found out that what should be scrawled in red—remarks—were written in blue, and they were all over my article. My article was a candidate for the major overhaul category. This was evidenced by a final say from Sir Villy: “what’s the main point of the story?” But that’s just fine. There was something to compensate it with—“nice lead.”

I swear to keep my very first edited article from OFWJC. It was edited by a professional journalist and that matters to me a lot. After all, it appears to be fancy printed on pink paper.


ii.

Sir Villy and I went to Manila Diamond Hotel to attend the 4TH UNICEF-PPI Child-Friendly Newspaper and Journalist Awards, Year 2004 last night.

It was a cozy night of notable journalists, fair food (anybody heard of steamed tacos and fish fillet in avocado sauce?) and child awareness. Personally, I was inspired y the awards dinner because I got to see writers go up the stage and receive the glory of their masterpieces. At the back of my mind rested a wishful thought that someday, I could be one of them. Though I felt out of place—men and women there were all professionals—I still had a nice time.

As the program went on, Sir Villy also taught me things about journalism that weren’t discussed inside the classroom. Some bonuses I could use if ever God allows me to be a warrior of the pen.

I’m still a “young” writer (even if you see it terms of age, I would still be fit to be a member of the youth) and I deem that there’s still a room for improvement; for growth in order for me to attend such awards night, not as a spectator but as an awardee.


iii.

“Mas magaling kang magsulat sa blog.”

This statement from my mentor as we parted was a knife. Something that could be used for stabbing or for carving (it’s a form of art, you know). It stabbed me in the sense that blog writing is light-years away from journalism—what I should be polishing this summer and what I should have excelled in for the past three years. On the other hand, Sir Villy’s statement somehow “carved” something positive in me. At least, my mentor was impressed in the way I write, personally.

Here arises my chronic predicament. How can I, a wannabe journalist/poet, pursue a career in writing if all I know is how to express myself against, maybe beyond, the standards of journalism and poetry? Do I have a future in writing if the way I write is light; so light that it appears to be me talking casually as I write (here’s the catch: even if I speak casually, I won’t be able to say all that my pen conceives for eloquence is not my friend)? I want to be a good all-around writer. Period. How? That still I can’t put a period at.