hangover

Good morning Andre. Your head is on fire. Hahahaha. Crap.

I just woke up with a splitting headache. And it still hurts.

I don't know why.

I had nothing to drink last night.

I slept my normal six hours last night.

Maybe it was because I kept waking up every hour - for just a few seconds - before falling back to sleep. My mind was in extended overdrive, doubtless brought about by my report for BC 100 later today.

Or maybe it was because of that dream (nightmare?) I had where Teng was a psychotic ghost who haunted a department store and was deathly afraid of isopropyl alcohol. Weird? Yes. Edward was there, and I distinctly remember She as an extremely weird exorcist. Oh, and Erika was also being her usual tabachingching self.

Wala na ba akong takas sa AstroSoc?

Breakfast of corned beef, eggs, and fried rice. Orange juice and coffee. Yes.

a catalyst for truth

***This is a paper I wrote for yet another of my Journalism classes.

A CATALYST FOR TRUTH

It is only my first semester as a BA Journalism student, but I already have a good idea of what my life would be like after I graduate from college. Thanks to this interview assignment, I had a taste of what real journalists do out there in the field.

In our search for two broadcast journalists to interview, John and I went on a sort-of "Amazing Race" around Quezon City, visiting places which, until then, I didn't know existed. This assignment required us to find and interview one broadcast journalist from radio and one from television. We opted to go directly to a TV station and see if we could 'ambush' one unsuspecting reporter so in the early morning of November 23 we went to the Broadcast City, a place not far from UP where the offices and studios of RPN-9 and IBC-13 plus a radio station were located. However, we found out that we could not just walk up and interview people; we needed to have an appointment first. The guards there told us to try our luck at the Quezon City Hall instead. Unfortunately, when we got there all of the reporters assigned to that beat were out covering a story. The lone man in the press office referred us to a reporter named Angie Dela Cruz at the Land Transportation Office near Kamuning.

So far, this was the closest we got to finally getting to interview a reporter, so we went there only to find out that all the broadcast journalists there were also out looking for stories. Ms. Dela Cruz however was very accommodating, and she called up some of her friends in broadcasting. She set up an appointment with Alex Tinsay, a reporter for GMA-7, and she also told us to try the Central Police District in Kamuning, as she knew some of the radio broadcasters assigned there. That was how we got to meet radio broadcaster Danilo Santos at the Central Police District Press Office on November 26. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, I could not get there on time so John handled much of that interview by himself.

That same day, at lunch time, we went to the Department of Agrarian Reform to meet Alex Tinsay. It was my turn to be the interviewer, and I must say that I was really nervous then as it was the first time that I interviewed someone all by myself. The following is my attempt to translate that interview into a report.

***

"A catalyst for truth": that is what a good broadcast journalist is -should be- according to veteran reporter Alex Tinsay.

In an interview at the Department of Agrarian Reform Press Office last November 26, we asked Mr. Tinsay what being a broadcast journalist was all about.

Aside from being a catalyst for truth, Mr. Tinsay told us that a good broadcast journalist should also be driven, hardworking, and equipped.

He further explained that 'being equipped' meant being well-versed in current events, being able to research the background of stories, going by the ethics of journalism, and being able to dig out the truth.

When asked about the skills needed in broadcast journalism, Mr. Tinsay highlighted both the ability to determine the newsworthiness of a story on the spot and the ability to get both sides of the story.

Aside from these, the skills learned in school are also important, and when asked about the academic qualifications needed for the job Mr. Tinsay replied that every broadcast journalist should be a graduate of a mass communication course to ensure the quality of the broadcasting industry. He considered 'pseudo-journalism' a problem, as this often leads to news agenda and sensationalism.

Proper training is very important according to Mr. Tinsay. He doesn't believe in "getting people from nowhere and putting them on cam(era)" and having them report the news. Instead of having mere newsreaders, he wants to have newspersons that are credible. To him, one must "go through the ranks", so to speak, starting from the bottom –first becoming a production assistant or writer- before going on camera.

Mr. Tinsay considers broadcast journalism as a profession. Being a broadcast journalist entails heavy responsibility and the obligation to be a watchdog of society. Broadcast journalists must contribute to shaping or molding the opinion of society and they must give the people a better perspective on what is happening all around them for the good of society. Finally, broadcast journalists must work to expose all the lies and deception in society so as to "create a world that fits us all", a democratic society wherein everyone is free and has the opportunity "to rise up and reach his maximum potential".

He shared with us how he became a reporter at GMA-7. He said that he always had an "obsession to become an announcer, a 'news-cam person'". He started out as a radio broadcaster at the Far East Broadcasting Company but, given his obsession, he was not contented with being on radio; he wanted to be on TV. Someone later told him about an opening at GMA-7, so he applied there as a news writer.

This was where his 'big break' came in.

One Halloween night, a fire broke out at the Department of Labor. 5 people had died in the blaze, and ABS-CBN was already reporting the story. So far, GMA-7 had been silent, as the news anchors, Tina Palma and Raffy Marcelo, had already gone home for the holiday. Mr. Tinsay was the only one left at the newsroom, as he was the so-called balagoong, the new guy. The news director tried to recall the anchors, but they could not locate them. In desperation, the news director decided to put Mr. Tinsay on air. He still remembers his first words on live television: "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is Alex Tinsay straight from the newsroom of GMA-7. A fire broke out at the Department of Labor..." The impressed news director hired him on the spot, and the rest is history.

Mr. Tinsay attributed his success to preparation -he kept a good set of clothes with him just for such an event- and to practice.

To aspiring broadcast journalists, Mr. Tinsay said that there are only two ways to learn: the hard way or the easy way. "If you learn the hard way, it would be better. There is no shortcut to the ladder of success." Aspiring broadcast journalists should not be afraid of menial tasks and should be ready to sacrifice and give their all, as journalism "is a 24/11 job". However, he adds, it can all be very rewarding, as we would get to see the story unfold before our eyes.

"You are not told (what is happening); you are there as the story is happening."

***

"You are there." That is one of the reasons why I want to become a journalist in the future. Yes, aside from the skills and the experience I would be able to get and apply if I ever take up law, I want to be "there" when history is made.

The challenge, however, is in being "a catalyst for truth". How does one ensure that the truth comes out when there are a lot of obstacles –some can even cost you your life- in the way? How can one avoid being corrupted by the power given by the ability to control the flow of information?

From what I've heard during John's interview, I can say that Danilo Santos and Alex Tinsay believe in the same things, even though they work in two different areas.

They both consider broadcast journalism as a profession. Mr. Santos told us stories of media men who "received envelopes" and became rich, even though reporting the news was not a very high paying job. He told us not to follow their example, so as to maintain the professionalism of journalism.

Both value hard work. Mr. Santos kept telling us about the importance of research; about always checking the background of stories and digging deeper into them to find out the truth.

If there ever is one thing I will never forget from this exercise, it is that broadcast journalism is all about getting the truth. You find the true story and report it as best you can to the people. It is not all glitz and glamour; hard work is the norm and patience is a requirement, and compensation can be non-existent. Also, listening to both Danilo Santos and Alex Tinsay made me appreciate more their assertion that this job, this profession, can be very fulfilling and rewarding. It's not in their words, it's in how they said those words that you see how passionate and how happy they are in doing their jobs.

Now that I'm concluding this assignment, I finally understand what they meant. After all the hard work we went through, after going to nearly every single press office in Quezon City, after the interviews and the writing and the editing, I felt a sense of accomplishment. The experience was very rewarding.

In the end, it was all worth it.

It’s astronomy, stupid

***This is a paper I wrote for one of my Journalism classes. I'll be posting some of my other papers sometime soon.

IT'S ASTRONOMY, STUPID

Star light, star bright

First star I see tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight

Who hasn't wished upon a star? I used to recite the rhyme above when I was little, usually with hopes of getting this or that new toy or book. I remember sitting on the window sill, looking up at the sky at dusk as the stars started to twinkle. What is it with stars anyway? They are just tiny points of light in the black of night, right?

Wrong. The stars are more than just bright dots in the sky. They are more important than you think. You learn that –and more- when you study Astronomy.

First off, let's get one thing clear: Astronomy is NOT the same as Astrology. This is one problem I've encountered a little too often with a lot of people; fellow UP students, high school teachers, and even National Bookstore are the worst examples. It's really annoying to have to correct people about this every time, so I'm saying it here and now: it's Astronomy, not Astrology. It's UP Astronomical Society, not Astrological Society. Philip's Astronomy Handbook is not in the same line as Chinese Astrological handbooks.

Astrology is the same with Astronomy only in the sense that both observe the meanderings of celestial bodies. It is also worth noting that both have a shared history; before the Renaissance, Astronomy and Astrology were one and the same thing. It was only the advent of scientific reasoning which differentiated the two into the disciplines we know now.

Astrology diverges from Astronomy by going beyond scientific study and into the realm of divination, superstition, and even religion by relating the movements and placements of stars and planets to past, present, and even future events here on Earth. In short, astrologers believe that everything that happens here is influenced –even determined- by the cosmos.

What is Astronomy then? Wikipedia defines Astronomy as the scientific study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere (such as cosmic background radiation). It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe. Astronomy does not try to relate celestial events with your mood nor does it try to predict who is going to be lucky or not in the New Year.

Sounds daunting? Just remember this: Astronomy is simply the study of everything beyond our own little planet, from the Solar System to the farthest reaches of the known universe.

Still too heavy? Don't fret. The good thing about Astronomy is that you do not need a doctorate in Physics to partake in it. Of course there is Math involved –formulas, equations, calculations- but you can safely ignore it and still enjoy the wonders of the cosmos.

Don't get me wrong though. Astronomy IS a science, but it is one science which is easily accessible to anyone, not only to the so-called "geeks" or "nerds". As I said, you don't need a doctorate in Physics to participate in it. It's really quite simple; you only need your eyes. Binoculars are good, and even a simple telescope would be better, but to "do" Astronomy, your eyes would suffice.

While professional astronomers do try to unravel the secrets of the universe –searching for extraterrestrial life, determining how everything began and how everything will end, exploring the planets of our solar system, etc.- we, as amateur astronomers, can just observe and take in the grandeur of the night sky. The majority of people who are interested in Astronomy are simply sightseers who want to know what's what in the sky over their heads.

So what is in the sky over our heads? Obviously, there is the Moon. Here in the Philippines we can also see the constellations of the northern hemisphere which include the well-known Orion, Ursa Major, and Cassiopeia. With a good telescope, the details of planets such as Saturn or Jupiter can also be seen. Nebulae are also visible, if you know where to look. A comet can pass by from time to time, and then there are the annual meteor showers… Whew. There is a lot more to see, but I will run out of space trying to fit them all here.

Aside from the "wow" factor, there are also more practical uses for knowing the stars. No, it's not the horoscope –that's Astrology. Knowing the positions of stars can aid you in finding your way around. In fact, the exploration of the world would have been extremely difficult –if not impossible- without the aid of the stars. Certain stars and constellations are visible at defined locations. Take for example the star Polaris. If you know where it is, you would be able to know where north is –that's why it's called the North Star. But how do you find Polaris? I'm sure you know the Big Dipper –it's not a constellation, by the way. It's an asterism, a pattern in the sky. A constellation is a region of the sky which is defined by a set of stars present at that location. Now the Big Dipper –part of the constellation Ursa Major- points toward a single star. That star is Polaris. It's easier than it sounds, believe me.

You would also be able to tell time –what hour it is, what month it is, and what season it is- by looking at the stars and the Moon. It's hard to discuss it here, but the simple explanation is that since the Earth revolves around the Sun, the locations of the stars in the sky change relative to where the Earth is at that point in time. The Moon will help tell what hour it is by its location in the sky and by what phase –crescent, gibbous, full- it is in.

Finally, knowledge of Astronomy can give you valuable insights in culture and history. People have been looking up at the stars ever since we have been here on this planet, and a lot of myths and legends, traditions and practices, and superstitions and beliefs are based on what our ancestors saw in the sky. You don't even have to look far for an example.

Here in our country, the indigenous peoples have been practicing Astronomy even before Magellan was born. Just recently, the Philippine Daily Inquirer published an article by Prof. Dante Ambrosio about how people called the Samas used and interpreted the skies. Would you believe that ancient Filipinos had their own versions of the constellations, that they had names for the stars? Read the Inquirer Talk of the Town article "'Mamahi:' Stars of Tawi-tawi" (PDI 01/26/2008) to find out more.

Astronomy is a fascinating science. It can also be a very rewarding experience. I should know; for the past three years I've been a member of the UP Astronomical Society, and much of what I have written here comes from my own experience. But don't take my word for it.

Try it for yourselves. Instead of just lying down and watching television tonight get out of your house and look up at the stars. Who knows, one of your wishes might be fulfilled.

Ad astra per aspera.

boom!

From the BBC News site: US missile hits 'toxic satellite'

Just watched a press briefing at the Pentagon live on CNN. The officer giving the briefing showed a video showing the SM-3 missile hitting and subsequently blowing up a defunct US spy satellite.

Hope someone puts the video up on YouTube.

again

I have to pass my Journ 109 paper tomorrow and I haven't even started writing it yet. History just keeps on repeating itself. Hahaha.

***
My phone is such a pain

Its battery suffered a drain

In the space of thirty minutes

The power dropped to tidbits

And yes, I went insane

Hahaha.

ironic

There. I've finally pulled myself away from Company of Heroes.

Yes. I bought another new game last Saturday. So shoot me. Hahaha. Just a few more to go and my wishlist will be completed.

I should be writing a paper for class right now. Actually, I should have started on it days ago. Procrastination again. Hehehe. Or is it something else?

Call me crazy, but I feel like I've lost much of my drive to write.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against writing. It's just that I feel like I have precious few things left to write about and so I end up not writing at all.

Weird? It gets worse.

The ultimate irony is that this all started once I got into Journalism. That course is mostly about writing, and now I find myself hard pressed to even START writing about ANYTHING.

Normally, I would have a blog entry every two or three days. Normally, I would be happy to take on a writing assignment or a paper or an essay. Normally, I would jump at every chance to check and edit papers passed to me.

Normally, I wouldn't complain about writing.

Maybe it's because I've become so saturated with papers and exercises and assignments and letters and proposals and reports. It's as if I'm breathing ink and paper.

Maybe it just became routine; a job, a chore, a requirement for advancement. A measure of ability. A benchmark of excellence. A definition of my worth as a student.

Or a person.

It's no longer stress relief; it's what stresses me out. I feel frustrated whenever I sit here and find that my fingers would freeze at the keyboard, when my mind would flash error messages whenever I try to think of something to write about, when a good idea comes along but then vanishes into oblivion.

Frustration. That's it.

But look at me now. I've just written more than I had planned.

Another stupid irony: I can easily write about my frustration with my writing.

Hahaha.

Enough of this. It's a good thing that I've got no class tomorrow. It's an even better thing that there would be no classes on Monday. I need to rest.

argh.

Tinatamad akong pumasok.

Hahaha.

so tired and handsome

Four days straight, and I'm still standing.

I haven't slept for more than six hours a day in the past four days thanks to back to back reports.

Let's look at the bright side: I'm getting used to speaking before large audiences and preparing Powerpoint presentations.

Hahaha. I need a cup of coffee.

I love my life.

*click!*

This is really weird. Even with problems pouring in from all over I feel refreshed. Happy, even.

Right now I'm calling up public schools from all over the National Capital Region for our quiz bee two weeks from now. Our Astronomy Week preparations have been wracked with all kinds of problems and delays -the latest casualty was Erika's old laptop- hence all the late night meetings.

All the late nights plus everything else I have to do for my Journalism classes have helped turn my handsome face into a very tired puffy-eyed yet still handsome face. Hahaha. That's optimism for you.

Paparazzi
I was at CASAA yesterday for lunch when these two lovely ladies (hahaha I know them) come up to me and say "Kuya, can we take your picture?". They said it was for an exercise in Experimental Psychology; I get shivers thinking of what that really meant. So I smiled -tired, stressed, and very hungry- for the camera. *Click!* It's really nice to help out, but I still want to know what they will do with that picture! Hahaha.

Gate keeping
Speaking of CASAA, I've been sitting on this story for weeks now. I was buying lunch at one of the stalls there when one of the ates behind the counter looked at me and asked, "Sir, gaano na kayo katagal dito sa UP? Naalala pa kita a!" Shock and awe. I laughed and just gave my standard "pangalawang course ko na po e" line. *Click!* Am I really that old?

Institution
It's not only at CASAA where that happens. I just get waved through whenever I enter Palma Hall. Before I thought that it was only because the security guards had relaxed the "No ID, no entry" policy. But yesterday, I got waved through again but the people behind me -all of them- were checked for ID. Yikes. Please tell me I'm just being paranoid. At the Economics library I no longer have to give out my name when I get my ID; the person at the ID desk just looks at me and hands me the ID. It's probably the picture. Yes, the picture. Hahaha. *Click!* Paranoid.

Ambition
I'm old. Hahaha. I want to work already! Money, money MONEY! However, listening again to our interview with Alex Tinsay made me think about what I REALLY want to do with my life. *Click!* I want to be there when history is made. Period. Of course I still want to make history, but somehow I think that covering events and understanding the media would help me reach my ultimate goal.

Power
Control the media, control the mind. Hahaha. Be afraid. But that's a long way away. I still have to graduate first! I'm still calling schools. It's like some sort of weird drug -you feel "high" when people jump at the sound of your voice. HAHAHA. That is how Christa talked me into helping out the EdRes Cluster with the schools. It feels good when you say "Good morning, I'm from the UP Astronomical Society..." and the voice on the other line suddenly perks up. *Click!* It's addictive, I tell you. And I am in danger of being late again for my 1 PM class because of all the things I'm doing right now.

Clarity
I have a lot of things to do; reports for the most part and all the preparations for Astro Week. Oh, and I have to cover something between today and March 1 in preparation for our BJ 101 news production. Hahaha. More stress. But, as I said before, I actually feel refreshed. Happy. In control. *Click!* My mind is so clear. It's as if I'm finally "in the zone". A big part of that would probably be because I'm really enjoying my course. It may be hard at times, but I enjoy what I am doing, and that's what's important. An equally big part would be because of AstroSoc. The work there may be even harder -midnight meetings, anyone?- but the feeling of belongingness, of being part of something great drives me even harder to perform and serves as the fuel which keeps me up until the wee hours of the morning.

Night life
As I said to a friend just the other day, my day life is nothing compared to my night life. Tambay at AstroSoc -with all the crazy people there- really brightens up my day. Everyday. Thanks for the eye bags guys. Hahaha! But that is why I feel so happy, so ALIVE. I don't even mind the stress anymore.

*Click!*
Thoughts just flow from my mind; no barriers, no traffic, NO FEAR. They just flow out, like right now. I think, I write. Easy. Last night I won two straight games of cards; it was as if the cards just played themselves. I was relaxed and in control. The force is with me. Hahaha.

And I love it.

***
Thought for the day:
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.
- Sir Francis Bacon