Kassey’s entry: Mis/Adventures of the Womanizer

Kassey’s entry
Mis/Adventures of the Womanizer
18 April 2005

I am a rock star. I love seeing silver/black accessories around my body. Because of that, not everyday in my life I wear girlie stuffs like skirts, sleeveless blouses, slip-ons, and headbands. But since my internship mentor asked me to wear something that would give me a not-so informal look, I’ve decided to wear those girlie things that I mentioned. And, maybe I was lucky today, I got a positive comment: Oh, you’re so cute.

Now, let me start telling about my mis/adventures the whole day.

Our (me and my mentor, Ma’am Julie) call time is 9:30 am at the lobby of Kassel Condominium in Taft Avenue. Since I wanted to be professional, I woke up early to arrive early at our meeting place. And yes, I reached my destination at around 9:00 am. I texted my mentor to inform her that I was already there at the lobby waiting (at first, I was standing because the chair for the visitors were already occupied by other guests). Ma’am Julie called me and told me that she still couldn’t leave because the nanny of her two kids was affected by the jeepney strike and was not yet home to take care of her kids. So, I told her that I’d just be there. After an hour, I was stunned after Ma’am Julie called me, again, telling that she was still home and if I could buy ticket to Buendia station at the LRT station near the condominium because she was planning to just meet me there. I said okay. But after realizing that my throat’s going to scream of thirst, I bought a big-sized Slurpee. However, after buying the ticket (and without even looking at it), the guard at the LRT station called my attention and told me that I couldn’t bring the drink inside the train. So, what I did was, instead of throwing it, I went down the stairs of the station and gave the drink to the children begging for alms.

Afterward, uneasiness was trying to take over me. I didn’t know what train Ma’am Julie was in. I texted her and asked her if she could give me a ring when the train she was riding was already near. She said okay and that she was already near. So, assuming that the next train that will pass would be the train Ma’am Julie was riding, I rode it.

Now, the biggest mistake that day happened.

As what I have said, I bought the ticket without even looking at it. Upon becoming conscious that the BUENDIA STATION was not written there, panic ruled over me again. And without my knowledge, Baclaran station was where I went down. I asked an officer where I should go down if I would go to Buendia. He told me that it was at the Gil Puyat station, the station next to Vito Cruz (where I came from). Anyway, Ma’am Julie called me again asking where I was because I should have arrived at the Gil Puyat station first. I told her that I went off the wrong station. Stupid, isn’t it?

So, here’s the journalistic thing that followed.

Upon arriving at the OWWA center, people wearing barongs were already aligned at the entrance door of the building as if waiting for Britney Spears. Ma’am Julie was welcomed by some of the employees there with a smile. They led us to the third floor of the building where the first event would happen. To my surprise, Ace and his mentor, Sir Leo, were there too. By the way, they were wearing polos with the same color (as if they talked about it but apparently, Ace cleared that they didn’t). Then, Ma’am Julie pointed at two persons and told me that they were writers from known newspapers. They were already interviewing the USec of DOLE, Jose Brillantes. After some moments, the blessing of the third floor where the Halfway Home center (program of OWWA for OFWs) is located happened. DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas was there, so were some media giants (ABC 5, RPN 9, GMA 7) rolling their videos and cameras. After that, we went to the fifth floor for the blessing of the TULAY center (an IT program initiated by the OWWA and the Microsoft Unlimited Potential for OFWs and their dependents). Then, a fellowship lunch with the media occurred.

I asked Ma’am Julie if there was supposed to be a press con. She said yes. But long before lunch this was what happened: the media gathered around the table where the higher authorities were seated and threw questions. For our articles, Ace and I went there too to ask some questions regarding the programs. But to our surprise, most of the questions were irrelevant (e.g. about the case of Robert Tarongoy and other issues regarding labor matters). By the way, when OWWA employees saw us being last on the line for food, they told us: “Oh, mauuna na kayo. Di ba you have deadlines to beat?” See, media really get big importance even if you’re still a young in the field.

Since, we (me and my mentor with Ace and his mentor) didn’t get much from the questions by the media, our mentors asked an OWWA employee if we could talk with any officer about the programs. Then came Ms. Laurie (PR manager of Microsoft Philippines), with Dir. Rustico dela Fuente and Mr. Marianito Roque (Chief Administrator) of OWWA. We had an interview with them that cleared some of our questions regarding the programs. After the interview, Ma’am Julie and me parted ways with Ace and Sir Leo. We headed to OFWJC office at the Kassel. Then, Ma’am Julie invited me to go to her house to transcribe the interview we had that was recorded at my tape recorder. I was not able to finish it since the transcription’s the hardest part of getting information. I had to continue it at home.

That’s it. A very complicated day for a very complicated job.