Lower than pond scum

Is consistency and asking for courtesy a bad thing? To some, it’s yes.

It all started when they all went down to the new press office and I opted to stay at the old one even if the aircon has been removed. Why did I do that? Because I am being consistent with the group’s original position which was to fight for our old press office for its proximity to the Office of the Secretary and a good view of the Supreme Court.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) wants us away from the executive offices for several reasons:

1. The media is a security threat as reported by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

2. The executive officers cannot work well. Communication is hard with media entities occupying two rooms where only executive officials are supposed to stay.

3. One official needs a bigger office while the other wants an extra storage room.

The media occupied those spaces for decades. Justice secretary after justice secretary welcomes working closely with the media.

After the dialogue with the media, articles were written, published and reported over the media about us, being branded as security threat. My colleagues (who now are ignoring me) even had luncheon meeting with a former mediaman, now a lawmaker asking for help. I was designated to write statements, letter of appeal and more.

But things changed, when the shiny press office was almost ready, position has shifted. From demanding that a copy of the NICA report be given to us to simply just going down and be happy. Now, we will never know why we are a security threat.

The manner of evicting us was also foul. Airconditioning was removed without our knowledge. Lockers were transferred without informing the members about it. The Information Office said they informed our President. But the information never went down to the lowly members of the organization (or was it just me because I am part of the minority). The locker was removed from our old press office with my laptop still inside.

I told our President that I am part of the minority. BUT if majority wants to go down, I will too, as a respect to the majority.

Not informing me when the transfer would be, especially the transfer of our things from the old press office at the second floor to the other building is, well, I cannot classify as courtesy at all. Not one even asked if i had valuables inside the locker before it was removed. Even if i belong to the minority, i have the right to be informed of the goings on at the organization since I am still a part of it. I still deserve to be respected and still damn deserve courtesy.

The other organization, they asked the utility people not to immediately transfer their locker to the other building. Why? Because they believed that one of their member who was out of town that time left his laptop inside the locker. It might get lost or might get damaged in the process. When their member returned, only then that they allowed the transfer of the locker. Now, that’s courtesy and respect to a colleague. Don’t i deserve that? Instead of apologizing, they all hate me for being consistent and for getting angry at the uninformed transfer of the locker. Even the “not so gadget loving people” would understand me.

Good thing my laptop was not damaged. They can hate me all they want, one of them (or is that the stand of their group) even wished me dead after physically insulting me online.

Anyway, I know me. I am consistent, I know what respect is, I may not be as HOT as you but am not the type who would resort to name calling or insults or wish ill will of others.

Still, I wish them well in all their endeavors and good health. Sana lang, if your wish came true, don’t forget magpakain ka sa juror

Who’s the boss?

I will never forget this month, in my years of being a reporter, this was the first time I was bullied by a government official over a story that I did not even write.

I was only asked to get this official’s side (again) because in the story that this person was protesting, he was already interviewed.

Apparently, he was not satisfied with what was written. When I called him, he had an outburst and i become a shock absorber. But he apologized later. I told him I understand why he’s angry. He asked me to write his side which I did, more extensively.

He called me after seeing over the internet what I have written and said he was not satisfied. He even asked me if I belong to a particular religion, whom he said was conspiring against him. I said no.

“You should have written that you made a mistake! You should have said that your writer made the mistake! You should admonish your writer! That is what you should have written. You should change it [what I have written]. I want you to change it now! NOW! ” he bellowed.

I kept telling him that I am merely a reporter and has no say on what he wanted me to do. I also told him that not even my editors can tell me what to and what not to write. I told him to better put his complaints in writing and send letters to my bosses.

Indeed, its hard to talk reason to a close minded person.

I even heard him say “tangina” but as the Supreme Court has said, it is really not meant to slander but merely an expression of anger although I heard him utter it again when his aide gave him the wrong mobile phone charger.

Government officials are expected to exhibit a degree of professionalism, learn to respect the rights of others and refrain from acts contrary to good morals and good customs as demanded by Republic Act No. 6713 which, inter alia, enunciates the State policy of promoting a high standard of ethics.

Unfortunately, not all knew that this should be practiced even behind closed doors.

Truly, when the mind is closed, the mouth is always open. I had to endure almost two hours of him calling me. Mind you, that was the only time I was very thankful for a weak Globe signal.

Write’s block

Wow, I haven’t updated this since I don’t know when. Anyway, here i am now and a lot of things happened to me (which is why I cannot find time to write it here).

I want to write a lot of things but I can’t. I just do not know where to begin…Let’s see…

Dolphy ‘a quiet, thoughtful man who loved steak, chocolate cake’

Dolphy ‘a quiet, thoughtful man who loved steak, chocolate cake’.

DoJ in hot pursuit of, well, cats

DoJ in hot pursuit of, well, cats.

SC: Ruling on Luisita final; guideline for breakup out soon

SC: Ruling on Luisita final; guideline for breakup out soon.

Click here for the video: SC Presscon on Hacienda Luisita ruling

How am I?

Every time I try to start chasing my dreams, always, there are adversities.

Last year, three months away to make my move for my dream-turmoil. One problem came after another. Swollen face because of toothache, people hurting my feelings, I had a bad case of flu for three weeks in November, family issues, financial woes, requirement issues, court case that caused my focus to hit rock bottom. It seemed that the three months I took a leave from work would simply for me to be able to concentrate on my other problems, not on my dream.

True enough, the result was a disaster. Now that I am making my moves again, problems are coming again—people stressing me out thinking that I am superwoman and can help solve their (much, much lighter problems), people ranting at me about their miserable lives, again the financial woes tied up with family issues, close to being evicted, health problems with expensive medical expenses, tight work load and oh yeah, my baby Chuchay (dog) accidentally bit me too. Mess loves me, truly.

Why is this happening? Is this a sign that the dream I am chasing is not for me? Is it my purpose to just listen and help all these other people who cannot help themselves and appreciate their own blessings? Is it my purpose to work for others’ concern and disregard my own for obviously, no one is asking “HOW I AM?”

Well, I have faced many adversities even before. Let’s just say, I am used to living in a thunderstorm. If no one asks how I was, its ok. At least I can separate the fair weathers to those people that I should hold dear. Everything I have, I have worked my way through the storm without stressing other people’s lives. I remember The SingleWoman said in one of her weekly letters that “all miracles are birthed from pain…You can’t have a testimony without a test or a message without a mess.”

Looking closely at what is happening to me right now, it seems that some unseen hand is leading me to where I am supposed to be-broken, in pain, waving that white handkerchief of surrender.

But I will try not to budge. I will continue to fight this war called life because once I reach my dream, my target, the victory would be way too much sweeter.

As TD  Jakes said “Remember: Nothing worth having ever comes without a price. If your destiny was handed to you on a silver platter, I doubt if you’d even want it. It would be meaningless. The sweetest victories always lie on the other side of the most hard-fought battles.”