On Heroism and Change

“Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need. So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell my co-volunteers … you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”

- Efren Peñaflorida, 2009 CNN Hero of the Year

The Power of Memory

Zeniba: I'm sorry she turned your parents into pigs. But there's nothing I can do. It's just the way things are. You'll have to help your parents... use what you remember about them.


Chihiro: What? Will you please give me more hint on that? It seems like I met Haku a long time before but I can't remember.

Zeniba: That's a good start. Once you've met someone, you'll never really forget them. It just takes a while for your memory to return.

How to Break a Spell

Chihiro: Haku stole this seal from Yubaba's sister.

Kamaji: Zeniba's solid gold, one of them seal. That's how powerful as it gets.

Chihiro: Look, he's changed back. Help me. What do we do? Haku! Haku, wake up!


Chihiro: Zeniba has put a curse on the seal.

Kamaji: That's her magic. It made him gravely ill.

Chihiro: Kamaji, what if I take the gold seal back to Zeniba? I need to get back this seal and apologize to her for Haku. Will you tell me where Zeniba lives?

Kamaji: You would go to Zeniba's? It would help but she's one dangerous witch.

Chihiro: Please? Haku helped me before. Now I wanna help him.

Kamaji: I know how you can get there. But you'll have to get back on your own. Wait here.

Kamaji: Found it! Here is it Sen. You can use this.

Lin: You've got train tickets? How did you get a whole of them?

Kamaji: I've been saving them for 40 years. Now listen carefully, the train will stop you on, it's called Swamp Bottom.

Chihiro: Swamp Bottom?

Kamaji: That's where Zeniba lives. The sixth stop.

Chihiro: Sixth stop.

Kamaji: Make sure you get it right. The train used to run in both directions but now it's only a one-way ride. You still wanna go?

Chihiro: Yeap. I'll back on the tracks.

Chihiro: Haku, I'll be back soon. Just hold on.

Lin: What's going on?

Kamaji: Something you would not recognize: it's called Love.

------------------------
Zeniba: Do you know anything about what this is?

Chihiro: Yes, it's a golden seal you're looking for. I'm here to apologize for Haku. I'm very sorry.

Zeniba: He sliced me in two, you know. When I'm still angry. But the protective spell is gone!

Chihiro: I'm sorry. You mean that black slug that's on your seal? I think I squashed it with my foot.

Zeniba: Squashed it?! That wasn't my slug! My sister put that slug into Haku so that she could control him. You squashed it?! What happened to my spell? Only Love can break it.

---

Spirited Away. The first Anime film that I have watched. I have loved. :)

Making Effective Interviews in Documentary

"Ask the most benign and simple questions first. Eventually, the subjects will forget that the camera is even there. When you feel they have reached a certain comfort level, ask them questions that get to the heart of the subject. If you build a rapport with your subjects, they will become very willing to dig deep and talk about how they felt during trying times. Memories will bubble to the surface and the subjects will begin to examine their role in the event or with the subject of your documentary. Be willing to follow whatever path they walk. Don't become so enamored with your list of questions that you don't let yourself delve into these very personal and usually immensely powerful moments.

Always keep in mind that it is all right to interrupt if the subject moves too far from the subject. However, don't be afraid to let the camera roll. Tape is cheap; the power of what you record will be worth it.

When finishing your interview, ask your subject if there is anything you didn't ask them. This will sometimes provide a very powerful and personal story or response that perhaps you didn't think of or felt would be too hard to get on camera. Don't be afraid to let the camera roll."

- Dr. Robert G. Nulph, Independent Video/Film Producer and Director
(Making Documentary Videos: The Interview. Retrieved from http://www.videomaker.com/article/12551/)

---

There is always something good about making documentaries. One of the things that I like doing most.

Delving into issues. Exploring lives. Discovering new perspectives. Studying reality.

D'CATCH season is on.

Don't dread Friday the 13th

... because sunrise tells how beautiful the day can be.

The sky's view at our rooftop on November 13, 2009 (Friday), 5:30 am.

H. Clinton Speaks

"Talent is universal, but opportunity may not be. With faith, perseverance, persistence and a sense of mission and purpose, you can make your contribution. Service has been in my heart all throughout my life."

- Hillary Clinton during the The Manila Forum

Hillary Clinton: The Manila Forum

Personal cameras not allowed. A shot of the forum during the day-long replays in TOMCAT (from the Trinity Globecaster Airing Room)

The forum started at 9 am and ended at 10 am, live feed from UST to ANC and CNN. Delayed Telecast at ABS-CBN.

6 am call time. The call time was my saving grace.

Having a class at 11 am, I ended up asking my fellow Kittens as to who could be available to represent our organization for the H. Clinton Forum yesterday. This was when the forum was still scheduled to be held at 11 am.

Nonetheless, when Bryan told me that an excuse letter would be provided to attendees, I volunteered myself, texting Cathy, "Prederrably president daw e. If you don't want, I'll be willing." To which she responded, "Ikaw na lang, gusto mo eh. Haha."

And so I came at the forum, wearing the OSA-provided UST yellow shirt, seated beside the about five rows away from where Pinky Web was delivering her spiels. Such a privelege to be there.

TOMCAT holds SemBreak Workshop 2009

Tomasian Cable Television (TOMCAT), the closed circuit TV network of the University of Sto. Tomas, held its annual SemBreak Workshop at the Educational Technology Center (EdTech) a month later than the usual workshop dates because of class suspensions.

Asst. Prof. Faye Martel-Abugan gives lecture-workshop on basic video production

From November 5 to 6 and 10 to 11, speakers were invited to give lectures and workshop activities to TOMCAT members on basic TV and radio production, news production, TV presentation, scriptwriting and newswriting, and DJ-ing for radio DJ aspirants. Invited speakers were Mr. Jaime Bolok (ABSCBN TV Patrol Story Supervisor), Asst. Prof. Faye Martel-Abugan and Engr. Emmanuel Guevara (TOMCAT advisers), Judy Joy Nuñez (outgoing TOMCAT Technicals and Scenic Crew Division head), Jamelle Ann Catapusan (outgoing TOMCAT Management and Properties Division head) and Mr. Miguel Villaroman (DJ, 99.5 RT).

(From left to right) Mr. Jaime Bolok (ABSCBN TV Patrol story supervisor), Jamelle Ann Catapusan (Outgoing Management Head) and Catherine Recio (Incoming Management Head)

Participants did program segments for the eyed-magazine show "Lunchbox", where four groups were tasked to produce two to three-minute videos in various topics. Unfortunately, two teams were only able to present their final outputs, as technical problems lured the video editing process of the two groups.

TOMCAT participants keen on details given out by the speakers

In addition, two groups from the rado production team did 30-minute radio programs as their output for the workshop.

Participants who attended the workshop were estimated to number around 60.

Gaydays with Beyonce

If Mitch Albom has "Tuesdays with Morrie", I have my "Gaydays with Alexis". Gay connoting two meanings: first, gay as happy; and second, gay as of the third sex. Hence, happy days with a gay friend.

Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh. Oh, Oh oh.

No, Alexis is not a teacher as Morrie is to Albom. Rather, he is a friend who claims to be a woman trapped in a man's body. Moreover, he doesn't give lectures that inspire, but throws out jokes that make you perspire (literally and figuratively) every now and then. In seven days of working on checking boxes and crossing out bullets in one's "To Do List", being with Alexis can be a delightful break.

Last October 29, after our meeting-cum-lecture with a local cable TV for a tie-up project, Alexis and I were left at the office, editing and printing out the proposal for our organization's SemBreak workshop. Having casual conversations on "who's it's" and "what about's", he asked me to come with him to his dormitory. "Samahan mo ako sa dorm," he said. "Bakit?" I responded, sensing that he badly needs to get something important before going to his home in Rizal. "Kukuha ako ng Pond's." Very important. Indeed, Pond's is essential in every girl's life.

We stayed for a while at the conference room where I checked my grooming at the big mirror that was in there. Before we went out of the office, I caught him staring at his body - left to right, front to back - then uttering, "Sayang ang boobs ko, ang laki... di naman nagagamit." I almost laughed my lungs out upon hearing this remark. Minutes later, we were walking along the QuadriSquare where we young couples did intimate talks during a SemBreak. We chanced upon a guy walking alone; unsurprisingly, Alexis noticed him. "Ay, ang gwapo ni Kuya!" He complimented. "..kaya lang nangungulangot." The guy's index finger seemed stuck in his nostrils. We both laughed.

So we went to his dorm. After finally being able to get himself a Pond's, we met his dormmates on our way out of his dorm's street.

Guy Dormmate (to Alexis): Dito ka matutulog?
Alexis: Hindi e, uuwi ako.
Alexis (turning his back from the friend and continues walking a la Beyonce): Uuuui... bakit mo tinatanong kung dito ako matutulog? (in a flirtatious tone, she shouts) Ayoko!!!

Sensual and confident that has made him sexually appealing. Be that as it may, he has always been chubby, healthy and oh-so-huggable. While walking along the Lacson sidewalk, a tricycle drove by in front, crossing path with us. Irritated, he shouted, "Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit 'to dinadaanan ng tricycle, e sidewalk nga. Banggain kita diyan e, sira ka!" How I wish the driver heard this so as to frighten him not to drive by the sidewalk ever again. Banggain kita diyan e, sira ka! Poor tricycle.

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

We had our turn-over dinner for the outgoing and incoming heads after our workshop closing program. In the place where we had shared our nights together, cute guys also dined in. Enthused and heartfully-delighted, Alexis turned his chair in favor of the cute guys and uttered, "Ang daming choiceeees!" Choices, referring not to the food menu, but to the guy menu (laid down around).

The outgoing Management Head (right) and Incoming HR Head (left) during the turn-over dinner

Waiting for minutes, his and a fellow's order came. "Oyakudon," the waiter announced, asking whose the food he was serving for. From behind, Alexis quickly and seriously answered "Ano yun?". We all laughed at his quick response. "'Di ko maintindihan e," he defendingly said.

Alexis knows fully well how to make people laugh. Above all, what makes him lovable is his ability to indulge in serious conversations, whilst making it lively and fun at the end. And oh, by the way, he is so much into Beyonce. The walk, the moves, the dance. And s/he acts as if s/he is Beyonce.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

~ Mark Twain